Wildcard Weekend NFL Predictions & Against the Spread Picks

| Tuesday 7th January 2025, 14:19pm

Tuesday 7th January 2025, 14:19pm

The NFL play-offs are finally here with Wildcard Weekend kicking off on Saturday, and there are six games taking place. Who do our tipsters think will advance to the next round?

For our full season-long record check out the bottom of the article. Please read on for all of our Wildcard Weekend NFL Predictions & Picks.

*All Prices correct as of 09:00 on Tuesday, January 7, 2024. Prices subject to change.

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Saturday - 21:30

Chargers (-2.5) @ Texans

Picks ATS:

Adam: Chargers
Alan: Texans
Jonny: Chargers
Neil: Chargers

Moneyline: Texans 13/10, Chargers 8/13

Straight Up:

Adam: Chargers
Alan: Texans
Jonny: Chargers
Neil: Chargers

Comments: The opening game of Wild Card Weekend comes from Texas, where the AFC South-winning Texans are a home underdog against the 11-6 Chargers, who finished in second spot behind the #1 seed Chiefs in the AFC West.

CJ Stroud has improved for Houston in recent weeks but isn't hitting the levels that he did in his amazing rookie season and is still too liable to be sacked behind a shaky o-line.

Meanwhile Jim Harbaugh has worked miracles in LA and has the Chargers looking way more efficient with a dual-threat, thanks primarily to RB JK Dobbins. Justin Herbert looks more controlled this year whilst still able to deliver absolute darts when needed.

I'm taking the Chargers to pull off the road win and cover the spread - Adam

Sunday - 01:00

Steelers (+9.5) @ Ravens

Picks ATS:

Adam: Steelers
Alan: Ravens
Jonny: Steelers
Neil: Steelers

Moneyline: Ravens 2/11, Steelers 19/5

Straight Up:

Adam: Ravens
Alan: Ravens
Jonny: Ravens
Neil: Ravens

Comments: For me this is one of those classic cases of believing defeat for the heavy money line fav (Ravens) is near-unthinkable; but do they cover?

Winning Super Bowls as a Wild Card team isn't remotely unheard of - Pittsburgh managed it themselves in Feb 2006, in the days of Ben Roethlisberger et al, and more recently TB12 inspired Tampa Bay to do similar four years ago. Are the Steelers a potential SB-winning outfit right now?

In an ordinary year they'd have a squeak of some sort - and this is a case in point. However - they arrive here having lost four on the spin, and need to contain a generational talent in Lamar Jackson.

In Pittsburgh, in November, the Steelers beat their AFC North rivals narrowly; but the Ravens exacted revenge with interest at M&T Bank just before Xmas. Ravens have significantly more offensive weaponry, but the Steelers have a pretty effective D - boasting similar stats to Baltimore.

Ravens all the way for me - and on a win streak of four let's take 'em to cover, too - Alan

Sunday - 18:00

Broncos (+8.5) @ Bills

Picks ATS:

Adam: Broncos
Alan: Broncos
Jonny: Bills
Neil: Bills

Moneyline: Bills 2/9, Broncos 100/30

Straight Up:

Adam: Bills
Alan: Bills
Jonny: Bills
Neil: Bills

Comments: According to the spread, this is the second-biggest mismatch of Wildcard Weekend and whilst I like Pittsburgh to cover in the big rivalry game in Baltimore, I do not expect the same in up state New York when Denver roll into town.

The Bills benched most of their starters to give them a nice weekend off and thus saw them fall to defeat in New England. That result meant far more to the home side, who actually fell from the number one overall seed in the draft with that victory.

Josh Allen and company will enjoy the freezing conditions, with the weather not expected to be above freezing at game time, with snow showers in the forecast. Buffalo run all over the Broncos with James Cook having a field day - Neil

Sunday - 21:30

Packers (+4.5) @ Eagles

Picks ATS:

Adam: Eagles
Alan: Eagles
Jonny: Eagles
Neil: Eagles

Moneyline: Eagles 2/5, Packers 15/8

Straight Up:

Adam: Eagles
Alan: Eagles
Jonny: Eagles
Neil: Eagles

Comments: Just like Buffalo above, Philly benched most of their starters last weekend as they were already locked into their seeding heading into the postseason.

The Eagles have been tremendous in the past three months or so but they'll be waiting anxiously as to whether QB Jalen Hurts will be available. The chatter early in the week is that he'll play and should he do so, it will mean Green Bay have to respect both his arm and his legs, which will open up avenues for his star receivers to get open as teams have to load the box to stop Saquon Barkley.

The former Nittany Lion reminded everyone as to just how good he could be if playing behind a good o-line and a 2,000 yard season is testament to both him and the five-men upfront.

I like the home side to get out to an early lead before Green Bay try to mount a comeback but I'd take Philly -6.5 all day long and the line is a lot shorter than that - Neil

Monday - 01:00

Commanders (+3.5) @ Buccaneers

Picks ATS:

Adam: Commanders
Alan: Buccaneers
Jonny: Commanders
Neil: Buccaneers

Moneyline: Buccaneers 4/7, Commanders 7/5

Straight Up:

Adam: Buccaneers
Alan: Buccaneers
Jonny: Commanders
Neil: Buccaneers

Comments: For me this could be the tie of the round and that's reflected in this tight line.

A lot of people will be taking the Commanders, primarily due to their ultra-impressive rookie Jayden Daniels, who has pulled off some miraculous plays this season, whilst maintaining good control of the ball.

However, I'm gonna lean with the veteran in Baker Mayfield, who has found new life in Florida and recorded four passing TDs in their meeting earlier this year. The Bucs are on a hot streak right now and I expect that to continue in Tampa on Sunday. - Adam

Tuesday - 01:00

Vikings (-1.5) @ Rams

Picks ATS:

Adam: Rams
Alan: Rams
Jonny: Rams
Neil: Vikings

Moneyline: Rams 1/1, Vikings 4/5

Straight Up:

Adam: Rams
Alan: Rams
Jonny: Rams
Neil: Vikings

Comments: The final game of Wild Card Weekend features a rematch from Week 8 when the Vikings suffered a 30-20 defeat to the Rams on Thursday Night Football at SoFi Stadium.

That game marked a turning point in LA's season, as they went on to win eight of their next 10 to clinch a play-off spot before resting their starters in Week 18.

The Vikings are coming off a brutal loss to the Lions, and Sam Darnold could be feeling the pressure in his first play-off appearance. Rams head coach Sean McVay also brings a wealth of post-season experience (six play-off appearances in eight seasons) to the table, which makes me lean towards an LA upset here. - Jonny

Season Records:

Against the Spread: