NFL Wild Card Saturday Betting Preview

The NFL playoffs begin Saturday with the wild-card round. Getting things started is an all-AFC South matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, while in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks visit the Dallas Cowboys.

At Bovada Sportsbook, the Texans are a 2-point home favorite. In Week 4, Houston edged Indianapolis 37-24 as a 1-point road favorite. In the rematch in Week 14, the Colts won a close 24-21 contest as a 4-point road underdog.

The Colts are 3-1 straight up and against the spread in their last four vs Houston, and in their last 30 against the Texans they’re a strong 22-8 SU and 15-13-2 ATS. Indianapolis has dominated this matchup on the road with a 5-1 SU and 5-0-1 ATS record in its last six games in Houston and a 12-5 SU and 8-8-1 ATS mark in their last 17.

The Colts enter the playoff rubber match on a four-game winning streak at 3-1 ATS, and in their last 10 they’re 9-1 SU and 6-3-1 ATS. However, as an underdog this season the Colts were 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS. In the postseason the Colts are 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS in their last seven overall, and they struggle on the road at 3-10 SU and 4-9 ATS in their last 13.

Houston was 2-2 SU and 1-1-2 ATS in its last four games, but at home is 6-1 SU and 4-3 ATS in the last seven. When favored this season Houston was a lackluster 5-6-1 ATS. In the postseason the Texans are 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS in their last seven, while at home in the playoffs they’re 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four.

Cowboys a slight favorite over Seahawks

In Saturday’s other game, the Cowboys are slim 1-point home favorites at Bovada Sportsbook. Dallas and Seattle met up in Week 3 and Seattle came out on top 24-13 as a 1-point home favorite. Including that win, Seattle has won three straight against the Cowboys at 2-1 ATS.

Heading into the weekend, Seattle is 6-1 SU and 4-2-1 ATS in its last seven games. The Seahawks have also been a heavy OVER play at 7-1 OVER in their last eight. They have been a strong play as an underdog with a five-game ATS winning streak and an 8-2-1 ATS mark in their last 11. In the playoffs it’s been a different story as Seattle is 2-10 SU and 4-8 ATS in its last 12 playoff road games, and as an underdog is 3-10 SU and 6-7 ATS in the last 13.

The Cowboys are 7-1 SU and 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight. They were successful at home this season at 7-1 SU and 5-2-1 ATS, and when favored at 6-2 SU and 4-3-1 ATS. In the postseason the Cowboys are a dreadful 2-9 SU and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 and being favored in the playoffs hasn’t helped much lately, as they are 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS in their last six.