NFL Divisional Playoff Picks 2023: Best Bets For Straight-Up Winner, Upset, Spread Prediction
With four games on the schedule for the 2023 NFL divisional playoffs, bettors have plenty of options when it comes to making wagers. There are numerous legal sportsbooks that allow fans to put their money on which team will win and by how much, among other possible bets.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the biggest favorites in the divisional playoffs. The Philadelphia Eagles aren't far behind, laying more than a touchdown against the New York Giants. A win for the Cincinnati Bengals over the Buffalo Bills would be considered an upset, according to both the betting odds and the playoff seeding. The matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys features the weekend's smallest point spread.
Here's a look at the best bets to make for the divisional playoffs. Picks include a straight-up winner, an upset and the best pick against the spread.
Straight-Up Winner: San Francisco 49ers -185 at BetMGM
It doesn't matter that the Eagles are the NFC's No. 1 seed. The 49ers are the best team in the conference. It's why San Francisco has better Super Bowl odds than Philadelphia at the start of the divisional playoffs. The 49ers have won 11 straight games. Brock Purdy looks like a seasoned veteran, and San Francisco has the top-ranked defense. This 49ers' team is better than the one that defeated the Cowboys 23-17 on the road in last year's playoffs. The 49ers have a two-day rest advantage on the Cowboys. Dating back to last season, San Francisco is 13-1 in its last 14 home games.
Against The Spread: San Francisco 49ers -3 (-118), FanDuel Sportsbook
Take advantage of the fact that the Cowboys played so well in their wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dallas is only getting a field goal at FanDuel after its big victory against Tom Brady. The Buccaneers were a mediocre team all season long and didn't even deserve a spot in the playoffs. San Francisco routed Tampa Bay 35-7 in the regular season, just as it cruised past most of its opponents. Every win during the 49ers' 11-game winning streak has come by at least six points. All but three of those victories have come by 13 points or more. All five of the Cowboys' losses have come by at least a field goal, and they've been defeated three times by at least two scores.
Upset Pick: Cincinnati Bengals +195, DraftKings Sportsbook
There isn't much of a difference between the Bengals and Bills on a neutral field. An argument can even be made that Cincinnati is the better team, though that certainly isn't reflected in the betting odds for Sunday's matchup in Buffalo. The Bills have become bigger favorites as the divisional round has gotten closer, likely because of the injuries to the Bengals' offensive line. Cincinnati still has the edge at the most important positions. The Bengals have a better receiving corps than the Bills, and Joe Burrow has been a more trustworthy quarterback than Josh Allen. Between Allen's penchant for turnovers and Burrow's performances in big game, the Bengals might be primed to upset the Bills and make a second straight AFC Championship Game.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.