Picks against the spread for both Saturday games…
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Welcome to the NFL’s wild-card weekend, the soccer followers and bettors’ reward for having needed to endure 18 weeks of mediocre, unhealthy and horrible groups.
It’ll be wall-to-wall playoff games from 4:30 Saturday afternoon till about 11:30 Monday night time.
And there gained’t be a Giant or Jet in sight — until you’re counting Saquon Barkley of the Eagles or Sam Darnold of the Vikings or Todd Bowles of the Bucs.
Let’s dig proper in.
SATURDAY
Los Angeles Chargers (-3) over HOUSTON TEXANS Under 42.5: There’s playoff expertise, then there’s Justin Herbert’s playoff expertise. The Chargers’ quarterback has performed in a single postseason recreation and it began out great, with a 27-0 lead against the Jaguars in 2022. But that was in an period when the Bolts have been blowing games in all types of methods, and so they ended up shedding, 31-30.
C.J. Stroud’s playoff debut final season was a lot better. He threw three landing passes in the first half, then watched Joe Flacco throw two pick-sixes in what turned a 45-14 blowout for the Texans (then 9-7) against the Browns (who got here in at 11-5).
This needs to be a aggressive recreation, with the distinction being first-year Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. He has taken the 49ers to the Super Bowl, gained the national championship at Michigan and now succeeded at getting the Chargers to stop capturing themselves in the foot. Their 9 giveaways (three interceptions and 6 misplaced fumbles) have been the second-fewest in the NFL this season.
C.J. Stroud and the Texans host the Chargers in the first recreation Saturday. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Stroud shall be with out his No. 2 receiving risk, Tank Dell, and the offense has been off-kilter all season.
The Chargers have damage questions on both working backs, with J.Ok. Dobbins listed as questionable and Gus Edwards lacking the final two games.
But Herbert and Harbaugh have been figuring it out all season, going 7-2 against the spread (ATS) on the street as half of a 12-5 ATS mark.
Chargers, 23-17
The Ravens are huge home favorites against the Steelers. Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers (+10) over BALTIMORE RAVENS; Under 43.5: Next Harbaugh up is John, and if you wish to back him, you need to lay double digits against the Ravens’ death rivals, the Steelers.
Those into recency bias can fixate on Baltimore’s 34-17 hammering of Pittsburgh on Dec. 21. But in the event you contemplate the 10 conferences earlier than that, the greatest margin of victory by both crew was seven factors and the average margin was 3.7 factors.
Betting on the NFL?
In the Dec. 21 matchup, Zay Flowers had 100 yards receiving for the Ravens, however he’ll miss this recreation with a knee damage he suffered final week.
The coaches, Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin, know one another so nicely, and the gamers hate one another a lot, and Russell Wilson ought to make enough performs to keep this close all through.
Going to take the Under as a result of in the 10 Ravens-Steelers matchups this decade, the average complete rating was 35.1 factors.
Ravens, 24-16
LOCK OF THE WEEK: Steelers (Locks 9-9 in 2024).
LAST WEEK: 9-7 total, 1-2 Best Bets.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Dave Blezow’s one of the longest tenured NFL handicappers at the Post with picks relationship back 31 years. He gained the Post’s NFL betting standings in 2021 and the Playoffs most just lately in 2023.
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