AFC Divsional Round Betting Odds, Analysis

The New England Patriots begin their playoff run on Saturday as huge favorites at home against the Houston Texans.

At the Bovada sportsbook the Patriots are being listed as a 16-point favorite. They finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak straight up, with a 6-1 record against the spread. When favored by 16 points or more the Patriots are a perfect 10-0 SU and 4-6 ATS.

Houston opened the postseason last week with a 27-14 win over the Oakland Raiders as a 4-point favorite. That win came at home, which is where most of the Texans' wins came this season. On the road it was a different story, as they were 2-5 SU and ATS this season. They’ve lost their last two road games in the playoffs, including a 41-28 loss to the Patriots in 2013 as a 9.5-point underdog.

New England hosted the Texans in Week 3 and blanked them 27-0 as a 1-point favorite. The bad news for Houston was that New England played without Tom Brady in that game as he was still suspended. Including that win the Patriots are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in their last eight versus Houston.

In the other AFC matchup the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Kansas City Chiefs as a 1-point underdog this weekend.

Pittsburgh had no trouble taking care of the Miami Dolphins last week in a 30-12 victory as 11.5-point favorites. That was their eighth straight win during which they are 6-1-1 ATS. The underdog label this week isn’t good though, as the Steelers are 1-4 SU and 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games as the underdog.

The Chiefs closed out the regular season 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six games. At home this season they were a solid 6-2 SU, but only 3-5 ATS. In their last 13 home games the Chiefs own an 11-2 record SU and a 5-8 mark ATS. In the playoffs the Chiefs have had horrible luck at home, having lost four straight SU and six in a row ATS.

The Chiefs and Steelers met up in Pittsburgh in Week 4 and the Steelers crushed them 43-13 as a 3.5-point favorite. Pittsburgh is also 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five versus the Chiefs. However, in Kansas City the Chiefs are 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in their last four against Pittsburgh.