The NFL Divisional Round is upon us and there are four cracking matches set to take place this weekend.
After one of the most exciting Wildcard Rounds in NFL history last weekend, there are now just eight teams battling it out to reach the Super Bowl.
The number one AFC seed Denver Broncos face the Buffalo Bills in Saturday’s curtain-raiser before the Seattle Seahawks take on the San Francisco 49ers in the night’s later kick-off.
On Sunday, the Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots before the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears round things off.
Best Bets
Buffalo Bills to beat the Denver Broncos @ 1/1
San Francisco 49ers +7.5 vs Seattle Seahawks @ 5/6
Under 40.5 total points in Houston Texans @ New England Patriots @ 20/21
Under 48.5 total points in Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears @ 10/11
Allen can lead Bills to more success
Josh Allen showed once again last weekend why he is the most important player remaining in the NFL postseason, with two rushing touchdowns and a passing TD from 316 total yards in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Denver Broncos may have a fine defence but the Bills have a habit of turning games into a shootout, and they have a much better quarterback than Bo Nix.
Buffalo’s running game should improve and they are fancied to win this one.
Tip: Buffalo Bills to beat the Denver Broncos @ 1/1
Question marks about Darnold make Seattle worth opposing
The Seattle Seahawks came into the postseason as ante-post Super Bowl favourites but they have been dealt a big blow with news of quarterback Sam Darnold suffering an oblique injury.
He is questionable to play against the San Francisco 49ers and it is worth taking them on the handicap as a result.
San Fran showed their fighting spirit with a road win over the Philadelphia Eagles and are fancied with a 7.5-point headstart.
Tip: San Francisco 49ers +7.5 vs Seattle Seahawks @ 5/6
Defences to dominate in New England
The New England Patriots and Houston Texans’ defences gave up just nine combined points in their Wildcard Round wins and this should be another low-scoring affair.
The Houston Texans have allowed 17 or fewer points in eight of their nine road games and with a quarterback in C.J. Stroud who is struggling himself, this could be another matchup that the defences dominate.
Drake Maye faces the toughest test of his NFL career against a Houston Texans defence which blew away Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers last time out.
Tip: Under 40.5 total points in Houston Texans @ New England Patriots @ 20/21.
Brutal conditions may stifle Rams
One of the coldest games in NFL history is expected at Soldier Field as the Chicago Bears host the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams are not used to such conditions and it is likely to stifle their passing game in a major way. Snow and wind are also on the menu and this could become an attritional clash as a result.
Six of the last seven regular season games in Chicago went under the total and this looks likely to follow suit.
Tip: Under 48.5 total points in Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears @ 10/11
