We at 5 Bets couldn’t be more excited that the NFL Playoffs begin this weekend. Two games on Saturday, followed by three on Sunday.
5 Bets to Make this Week
Kansas City Chiefs -4.5 over Miami Dolphins
Pittsburgh Steelers +10 over Buffalo Bills
Los Angeles Rams +3 over Detroit Lions
Dallas Cowboys -7.5 over Green Bay Packers
Cleveland Browns -2.5 over Houston Texans
I made predictions on the spread for the five games. I feel pretty confident about my selections. Let’s see how my picks play out.
Last week’s record: 2-3, overall record: 2-3.
Kansas City Freezes out Miami
It seems like the Miami Dolphins have been great against lesser competition. When it comes to playing playoff teams, however, they fold.
That should be the case again this Saturday as they face the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Dolphins are 1-4 against the teams in the playoffs. That includes the Chiefs, who they lost to, 21-14, on November 5. Throw in the fact that they will be without defensive players Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Jerome Baker.
The offense is banged up as well. Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert are questionable. So is Tyreek Hill. All three will probably play, but how effective will they be?
The game is in Kansas City, where the Chiefs are 6-2. The Dolphins are 4-3 on the road.
The forecast calls for temperatures near freezing with the possibility of snow, not exactly ideal conditions for a team from Southern Florida.
Prediction: Chiefs -4.5 over Miami (-109 at BetRivers)
Watch: Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Peacock
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Buffalo’s Failure to Cover Continues
Let’s get this out of the way, the Buffalo Bills are going to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers. More importantly to bettors, however, they will fail to cover yet another double-digit spread.
The Bills are 0-4 against the spread when they are laying 9.5 or more points. They won all four of those games outright. There is nothing to suggest they won’t do the same thing on Sunday against the Steelers.
It does help that Steelers’ defensive standout T.J. Watt won’t be playing. That shouldn’t be too much of an issue, however.
Pittsburgh will try and slow down quarterback Josh Allen and should have some success. I see this game as a grind with the Bills winning by a touchdown or less.
Prediction: Steelers +10 against the Bills (-110 at Caesars)
Watch: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS or fuboTV
Coaching Gaffe Costs Lions
Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions head coach, has had a tremendous year but made a huge mistake in the last week of the season. He kept a lot of his starters in a game that didn’t matter and as a result Pro-Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta suffered a knee injury.
He is listed as doubtful for the team’s playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. If he can’t play, it will be a big blow for the team’s chances to advance to the next round.
The way Los Angeles is playing right now, however, LaPorta might not have been a factor. The team is peaking at the right time, winning seven of its last eight games.
No one wants to face them. Detroit will find that out this weekend. The line has been bet down from 3.5 to 3 but I’m still taking the Rams.
Prediction: Rams +3 against the Lions (-110 at Caesars)
Watch: Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC or fuboTV
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Dallas Derails Packers
The Dallas Cowboys have been a disappointment the last few years in the playoffs. That will continue this year, but not this week when they play the Green Bay Packers.
First off, the Cowboys are at home. They are 8-0 at AT&T Stadium. QB Dak Prescott seems to be a different player when he gets to sleep in his own bed. The team is averaging 38 points at home.
The Packers QB Jordan Love has little playoff experience. It will show against a Dallas defense that should be in his lap all game.
Prediction: Cowboys -7.5 over Packers (-110 at BetMGM)
Watch: Sunday 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX or fuboTV
Flacco Continues Magical Season
No team has had a more surprising season than the Cleveland Browns. Being led by 39-year-old QB Joe Flacco, who came from the couch to the huddle midseason.
The Browns hope to continue this ride when they face the Houston Texans. The Texans have had a stellar season as well.
This game, though is going to come down to the better quarterback. I think C.J. Stroud is more gifted, but obviously Flacco is more experienced.
Prediction: Browns -2.5 over Texans (-115 at BetMGM)
Watch: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, NBC or fuboTV
