We’ve been here to guide you with weekly picks against the spread every week throughout the 2022 NFL season. Here are half-a-dozen more for wild-card weekend.
Odds from Draft Kings midweek (bet $5 and win up to $280 in FREE BETS!!)
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (-9): 49ers
Seattle is really just happy to be here. San Francisco is the best team in the NFC. At home, they dominate just as they did in their two regular-season matchups with Seattle.
Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars
I just don’t trust the Chargers enough to lay points with them on the road, and the Jags have less to lose in an ascension season.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (-13.5): Dolphins
For the most part, the Dolphins hung with teams even without Tua Tagovailoa down the stretch. They know these Bills and play them tough, and I think they’ll have fight here. The back door is also a factor with such a big number.
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings (-3): Giants
The Vikings are imposters. This line takes that into account, but not quite enough. That said, I’d consider taking them at -2.5.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (-8.5): Bengals
On the road against a hot and experienced opponent without their star quarterback, it’s really hard to see the Ravens having much fight here.
Dallas Cowboys (-2.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buccaneers
A team quarterbacked by Tom Brady is getting points in a home playoff game from a team that has proven to be mistake-prone and unreliable. This is silly. Tampa is my best bet of the weekend.
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Archived NFL Wild Card Picks article from Jan. 13, 2022
Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals (-5): Bengals
The Raiders are riding a lot of momentum with a four-game winning streak, but this is a bottom-12 team in terms of DOVA that has a negative scoring margin and might be out of gas. Meanwhile, the Bengals should be energized coming off a week of rest. They dominated the Ravens and Chiefs offensively in Weeks 16 and 17 and should walk away with this at home.
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (-4): Bills
There’s a mystique with the Patriots — I get it. But they’re just not on Buffalo’s level on either side of the ball and it’s not easy to trust rookie quarterback Mac Jones in this spot. I’d try to buy down to a field goal if possible, but I’m on the stronger home side.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-9.5): Buccaneers
This number is big and I want to fade the public, but this isn’t a good matchup for the Eagles’ run-oriented offense and the Bucs deserve the benefit of the doubt based on their dominant run last January.
San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys (-3): Cowboys
Rolling with another favorite here because I’m confused as to why the Cowboys are deemed to be on the same level as San Francisco based on this spread. They’re a lot healthier, and a much better team overall. An upset is a possibility considering the 49ers’ pedigree, but I’d need more than a field goal here.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs (-12.5): Chiefs
I have this feeling Ben Roethlisberger might go out the way Dan Marino did. The Steelers offense has become extremely inept, and Kansas City had five double-digit victories in the second half of the season. This one won’t be close.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (-4): Cardinals
Finally an underdog! Neither team is trustworthy but I’ll take Kyler Murray over Matthew Stafford right now. Arizona’s Week 17 win in Dallas meant a lot, and I think they could put forth a similar effort here. They’ll at least keep this close, so I’m taking the four points.
