Sunday NFL Wild Card Betting Info

Baltimore at Miami

Though it won’t matter to the loser of this AFC Wild Card contest, each team will have made tremendous strides in just one season. What a difference a year has made for these two teams. Last January the Miami and Baltimore were in the market for new head coaches after a tough campaign that saw them finish 1-15 and 5-11, respectively. This January they’re meeting in an AFC wild-card game after winning 11 games apiece.

Has Baltimore really gone from a three point underdog to three point favorite in the same venue since Week 7? The oddsmakers believe so and answers why are just below the surface. Miami’s running was 15th in yards per carry at 4.2. Strip away the success of the Wildcat formation and that number tumbles to 3.8 YPC, which matches up with what Baltimore allows at 3.6, which was fifth in the NFL. Baltimore can also guard the Dolphins receivers, since they might have speed like Ted Ginn Jr or hands like Devone Bess, both are only average in height. Miami will have to continue to use their trio of tight ends to score points if the running game is stuffed in the red zone. The Fins are 18-6 ATS revenging a loss against opponent by 14 points.

A number of intangibles for Baltimore arise. Can Joe Flacco continue to show the poise in a road game where everything is geared towards playing faster in January? His steadiness will be tested. As the season wore on, the coaches had more faith in the deeper passing game and the Dolphins were 25th in yards allowed via the air. Will John Harbaugh and the offensive staff have faith in the rookie signal caller to throw down the field if he has shaky start? The Baltimore defense must play assignment football against the run and not allow Ronnie Brown to cutback to the weakside. The Ravens covered five of last six road games, but are just 1-8 ATS as road chalk.

Teams like Miami that have not been in the playoffs for three or more years are 18-8 ATS in the Wild Card round.

Philadelphia at Minnesota

Intriguing coaching matchup, with Brad Childress going up against his former boss Andy Reid. If Philadelphia gets off to good start, Reid is more inclined to stay with the run, which helps McNabb immeasurably. In this playoff contest, Reid should have a greater focus than Donovan McNabb for how the offense performs. Look DC Jim Johnson to demand gang-tackling on Adrian Peterson, feeling very comfortable his secondary can handle the pedestrian Vikings pass-catchers. Expect Johnson to work on getting into Tavaris Jackson’s head with exotic blitzes to confuse and force bad decisions. The Birds are 10-4 ATS on the road.

Talk about responsibility, Jackson and Peterson will be the two most important offensive players on the turf for Minnesota and both have been shoddy in pigskin protection. If they continue to not be mindful, they open the door for Philadelphia to run thru. Defensively, the Vikes are capable of taking away Eagles running game, which sets up the pass rush on McNabb which is particularly potent at home.

This might not be the right matchup for Minny who is 1-8 ATS vs. good teams outscoring opponents by six or more points per game on the season.