NFL betting tips: Josh Allen to carve out a win in Denver, Houston Texans and New England Patriots prepare for battle
Only eight teams remain in the NFL playoffs, a number set to be halved as the divisional round kicks off on Saturday, January 17.
The Denver Broncos kick off the action, hosting the Buffalo Bills, while the Los Angeles Rams travel to Chicago, closing off a weekend of gridiron action against the Bears on Sunday evening.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Sam Condy breaks down each match-up this week, revealing his favourite picks as the Super Bowl LX edges ever closer.
Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos
After edging past the Jaguars in the wildcard round, the Bills will be looking to continue their playoff journey with a win over the Broncos this Saturday.
Things are tough for Buffalo at present; their receiving outfit has been drastically thinned due to injuries to the likes of Joshua Palmer, Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers, while the Broncos' secondary has been a highlight of their season.
However, that's where Dave Allen comes in clutch. The Bills' QB rushed for two touchdowns last week, and his ability as a runner is by far Buffalo’s most devastating weapon.
I have a feeling he will repeat the process one more time, carrying his outfit one step closer to Super Bowl LX.
Suggested Bet: Josh Allen - Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ 1/1 with Betway
Houston Texans vs New England Patriots
Football fans are in for an education on defensive mastery on Sunday. Both teams showcased how to stop the drive in the Wild Card round.
Houston has totalled less than 45 points in all 18 of their games this season, and stole the show with two defensive touchdowns against the Steelers last week.
Equally, the Patriots are a team who like to win ugly. With an in-form defensive line, their offence is asked only to avoid mistakes.
It’s hard to call a winner here, but I can almost guarantee that we are in for a dog fight in Foxborough.
Suggested bet: Total Points (Under 40.5) @ 1/1 with Virgin Bet
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San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks
Reigning Super Bowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles saw their back-to-back dreams crushed, as they were outpointed by San Fran last week.
The 49ers looked much more like a playoff team last week, after a lacklustre season, and despite being major underdogs, I have a feeling we could be in for a close game this weekend.
The pair faced each other twice during the regular season, going one apiece in low-scoring affairs, and this week should be no different.
Across their two meetings this season, there have been a combined total of just 46 points.
Expect another cagey encounter, and one where the 49ers may just edge it.
Suggested bet: Total Points (Under 43.5) @ 29/25 with Bet365
Los Angeles Rams vs Chicago Bears
The Rams might be falling off the wagon.
For a majority of the season, they looked like an NFC powerhouse, but after succumbing to the Seahawks in Week 16 and barely scraping by the Panthers in their wild-card match-up,
I’m beginning to feel slightly skeptical about their playoff hopes.
Matthew Stafford will be vital for the Rams to progress unscathed. The veteran QB has the edge in the NFL MVP odds, and his consistency has been a key component of the Rams' success this season.
He is currently nursing a sprained index finger in his throwing hand, but regardless, as long as he can take care of the ball and make intelligent plays, he should fare well against one of the league's worst defenses.
I reckon the Rams will scrape through, but given their dip in form, I have a feeling they will be held close, so choosing the Bears to cover the spread seems the smart play here.
Suggested Bet: Chicago Bears (+3.5) @ 1/1 with Coral
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