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NFL Divisional Playoffs Early Odds, Picks & Predictions (2023)

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If you peaked at last week’s article for the Wild Card Weekend, you went 2-0 with the Texans and Buccaneers against the spread.

You didn’t even need the points, but a win is a win, after all!

Let’s keep that same momentum and energy heading into the Divisional Playoffs. I’ve got two more bets for this weekend that I’m confident in.

Early NFL Divisional Playoffs Weekend Best Bets

All wagers are 1 unit | Odds courtesy of BetMGM

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens

Saturday’s slate has multiple games with vast spreads, but if I’m going to pick a favorite to bet on with Saturday’s slate, it’ll be this game. The Ravens have looked like the best team in the NFL. That’s ultimately why they got a bye week during the Wild Card Weekend.

The Ravens finished the season 13-4 but earned massive wins against playoff teams recently, including the Dolphins, 56-19, and the 49ers, 33-19.

Baltimore allowed just 191.94 yards passing and 109.41 yards rushing per game this season. The defense has a dominant secondary and a pass rush that has played very well throughout the season. That should at least throw C.J. Stroud off. It’s essentially shaken up many top-caliber quarterbacks, like Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa.

On top of the defense playing lights out, the offense averaged more than four touchdowns per game, scoring 28.41 points per matchup. They finished with a differential of nearly 12 points per game and added 156.53 yards rushing per game behind Lamar Jackson.

Jackson will win the NFL MVP after throwing 24 touchdowns, rushing for five and adding about 4,500 combined yards throughout the season. Remember, he didn’t even play in Week 18 against the Steelers to enhance his stats even more.

Houston’s offense won’t score 45 against the Ravens. In Week 1, the Texans managed just nine points in the regular season. Things have changed for the Texans since then, but the Ravens, at home, will be a tough out.

Give me the Ravens at -9, especially with Mark Andrews expected back in the lineup.

Bet: Ravens -9 (-110)

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills

The Chiefs always break Buffalo’s hearts in the playoffs. Will that finally change this year? I think so.

In the Wild Card round, the Bills just knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-17. Now they’ll stay home against the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Earlier this season, the Bills beat the Chiefs on the road, 20-17. That’s when things started to click for the Bills. Buffalo defeated the Chiefs, then the Cowboys, Chargers, Patriots and Dolphins before earning the postseason win over Pittsburgh.

The offense has been consistent, especially in the run game behind Josh Allen. The Wyoming product doesn’t even lead the team in rushing anymore. It’s James Cook, who finished with 1,122 yards on 237 carries this season. His workload increased when Joe Brady took over as the offensive coordinator. When his workload increased, the Bills’ offense started to really shape into a dominant group.

On the other hand, the Chiefs have been playing tremendous defense. They’ve allowed no more than 20 points in five straight games, including their win against the Dolphins in the Wildcard round. Still, the defense doesn’t look better than the Bills analytically. Buffalo has the better secondary and probably the better pass rush. Sure, the Bills have missed more tackles, but the Chiefs have actually allowed more rushing yards per game.

I’ll take the Bills at home to earn their revenge against the Chiefs in the playoffs, finally.

Bet: Bills -2.5 (-110)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Tuesday:

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