5 betting tips for the NFL divisional round
Need some help spotting situational edges with a new slate of NFL playoff action fast approaching? We've got you covered.
Here are five tips as you do your homework for the divisional round.
Philip Rivers aiming for 1st win over Tom Brady
Fifteen-year veteran quarterback Philip Rivers is looking to play in his first-ever Super Bowl but must beat New England Patriots counterpart Tom Brady to do so. Rivers is 0-7 lifetime against Brady, going 1-6 against the spread and 7-0 to the team total under with an average of just 16.4 points per game.
Patriots might be in for scoring barrage
We mentioned last week in our general postseason piece that the Patriots have lit up the scoreboard in their first playoff game over the previous seven years. While they're 6-1 against the spread, they've relied on their offense to the tune of 37.1 points per game on average, hitting the team total in all seven divisional-round games.
Cowboys defense shows up on the road
The Dallas Cowboys will face their toughest test of the year on defense against the Los Angeles Rams, who ranked No. 2 in the league in scoring offense at 32.9 points per game. However, the Cowboys were one of the best road defenses in the NFL, allowing just one opponent to hit the team total over - the New York Giants in a meaningless Week 17 game. Aside from that, the Cowboys didn't allow an opponent to score more than 24 points in a single road game all season.
Underdogs gaining traction
After all four underdogs covered - with three winning outright - playoff teams getting points moved to 14-1 against the spread dating back to last postseason. It's a trend the public apparently likes, too, as three of the four underdogs playing in the divisional round were getting the majority of early money.
Chiefs look to break postseason skid
The Kansas City Chiefs have been brutal for bettors in the postseason, going 1-9 against the spread in the previous 10 and a dreadful 0-6 at Arrowhead Stadium. Head coach Andy Reid has an even smaller sample size in the playoffs with five games but is still an underwhelming 1-4 against the spread, including three heartbreaking outright losses during that stretch.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.