Super Wild Card Weekend: Picks and Predictions

The NFL playoffs are here. While it’s sad to watch the final week of the regular season where some of our favorite players and teams end their season, it’s time to turn the page to the teams that have outpaced the others and managed to secure a spot in playoffs. There are some clear cut favorites, and some teams hoping to make a Cinderella story run. We have some great story lines with five quarterbacks getting their first career playoff start. Joe Burrow, Derek Carr, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and rookie Mac Jones. On the other hand, what would the playoffs be without the hard hitters, the big players, the superstars. We have Tom Brady, Erin Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen. Let’s get on to the picks and previews for these highly anticipated matchups. We’ll release Saturday’s picks first and Sunday’s picks in a separate article to follow. Stay tuned for that one and make sure to check out our twitter @LoonStateSports for all of our bets for the weekend!

Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals 3:30 CST

(Bengals -6, O/U 48.5)

The first matchup of the weekend features two teams that haven’t won a playoff game for 20 years with the Raider’s last victory in 2002 and the Bengals in 1991 beating the Houston OIlers. Cincinnati’s playoff win drought is the longest current streak in the NFL tied with the woeful Detroit Lions. However, this should be a great opportunity for Zac Taylor and company to take down a Raiders team who comes into the playoffs playing great football as of late. These two teams faced off in week 11 where the Bengals took down the Raiders 32-13. This will be a big test for both teams as it’s both Derek Carr and Joe Burrows first career playoff starts. We predict this game is a tighter matchup, with the Raiders covering the spread, but I think the Bengals will survive and advance in this one. Keep an eye out for the sensational Ja’Marr Chase as we think he’ll find the endzone in the playoff opener. 

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills 7:15 CST

(Bills -5, O/U 43.5)

This is the third matchup between these two division rivals this season, but this one is for all the marbles. Winner moves on, the loser goes home. In their last matchup the Bills took care of business 33-21, while in their week 13 matchup (who could forget) coach Bill Belichick came up with a master plan to beat the Bills 14-10 in a game with some of the most brutal weather we’ve seen this season. Rookie QB Mac Jones only threw the ball three times in that victory, but we expect he’ll have to do a lot more throwing the ball to get the playoff win here today. Our prediction: the Patriots find a way to pull out the win and send the Bills home. 

– Schmidt