NFC Wild Card Weekend Betting Odds, Analysis

The Detroit Lions will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday when they meet up with the Seattle Seahawks in the opening round of the playoffs.

Not surprisingly the Seahawks are an 8-point favorite at the Bovada sportsbook. Not only are the Lions on a three-game losing streak straight up and a four-game skid against the spread, they’ve dropped eight straight in the postseason. The last time Detroit won a playoff game in 1992 their starting quarterback Matt Stafford was three years old.

Seattle didn’t finish the regular season in overly impressive fashion either at 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS in their last six. However, at home they were always tough with a 7-1 record SU and 4-3-1 mark ATS. The Seahawks are 4-1 SU and 2-3 ATS in their last five games versus the Lions. In their last seven games when favored by eight points or more the Seahawks are 5-2 SU, but only 3-4 ATS.

In the Sunday NFC matchup the New York Giants visit the Green Bay Packers as a 4.5-point underdog at Bovada.

In their regular season finale the Giants were a 9-point underdog in a 19-10 win over the Washington Redskins. With that win they improved to 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS on the season and they were 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five as an underdog.

Green Bay has won six in row SU at 5-1 ATS. The reason for the dominant run to end the season was quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In those six wins for the Packers Rodgers completed 71 per cent of his throws for 1,667 yards with 15 touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Giants and Packers did meet already this season back in Week 5 in Green Bay. The Packers were a 7-point favorite and won 23-16. Rodgers passed for 259 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the win, while Giants QB Eli Manning had 199 yards passing with a touchdown and a lost fumble.

Including the Week 5 matchup the Giants are 3-2 SU and 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games versus Green Bay. In their last 10 versus the Packers the Giants are a solid 6-3-1 ATS.

Green Bay has historically been a strong play at home, including this season at 6-2 SU and 5-2-1 ATS. However, their recent playoff record at home hasn’t matched the hype. In their last nine home playoff games the Packers are 4-5 SU and 2-6-1 ATS.