Wild Card NFL best bets: Back the weekend’s hottest underdog

Wild Card Round NFL Betting Lines, Odds, Spreads

All odds via ESPN BET Sportsbook

• Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans: +1.5
• Miami Dolphins @ Kansas City Chiefs: -4.5
• Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills: -9.5
• Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys: -7
• Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions: -3
• Philadelphia Eagles @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +3

Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are enjoying an impressive turnaround season after having the second pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans finished the regular season with 10 wins and won the AFC South. The Cleveland Browns also enjoyed their 2023 season, racking up 11 wins and the top wild-card spot in the AFC.

The Browns’ defense has been one of the best units in the NFL all season. Their defensive line, led by Myles Garrett, continues to wreak havoc against opposing quarterbacks every week. The secondary is just as dominant and should get a nice boost when safety Grant Delpit returns this week from a hamstring injury.

We know the Browns are going to try to run the football all game as that is their true identity as a football team. But I anticipate the Texans easing their way into this game with a rookie quarterback making his playoff debut. That should keep the clock moving early and limit the chances for big plays.

I expect the NFL playoffs to open up with a low-scoring battle in Houston.

The play: Under 44.5

Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys

The Green Bay Packers enter round one of the postseason gaining some serious momentum with Jordan Love under center. The Packers finished their last eight games with a 6-2 record down the stretch and were one of the best offenses in football during that period.

In the last three weeks, the Packers offense is averaging just under 28 points per game and 424 yards per game. Love has gotten better every week and is showing he can compete with the best in the game. He has quietly thrown for over 4,100 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. He has only thrown one interception in the last eight games.

The Dallas Cowboys have been dominant at AT&T Stadium as they are 8-0 at home with five wins by at least 20 points. However, with one of the hottest quarterbacks and offenses in the league, I think the Packers will be able to keep this game close and give the Cowboys a run for their money.

The play: Green Bay Packers +7.5

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