Wild Card Round: Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Wild Card Round matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

The Seattle Seahawks (11-5) and Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) will wrap up Wild Card Weekend Sunday at 4:40 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. We analyze the Seahawks-Eagles odds and sports betting lines, while providing NFL betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Seahawks at Eagles: Wild Card Round preview, betting trends and notes


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  • The Seahawks-Eagles is the only rematch from the regular season of the four wild-card games. Seattle won in Philadelphia by a 17-9 score in Week 12.
  • The Seahawks are going to enter this one awfully angry after blowing a chance at the NFC West Division crown and a first-round bye on their home field against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17.
  • Seattle’s offense ranked eighth in total yards (374.4), while ranking 14th in passing yards (236.9) and fourth with 137.5 rushing yards per game. They also scored 25.3 points per game to rank ninth in the NFL.
  • Defensively, the Seahawks struggled mightily all season, ranking 26th in total yards (381.6), 27th in passing yards (263.9) and 22nd in rushing yards (117.7) allowed while yielding 24.9 PPG to rank 22nd.
  • Philadelphia posted 360.8 total yards per game to rank 14th, and they were 11th in both passing yards (239.6) and rushing yards (121.2) per game while ranking 12th with 24.1 PPG.
  • The Eagles were 10th in the NFL with just 331.7 total yards allowed, and they were 19th in passing yards (241.6) allowed and third against the run (90.1). They allowed 22.1 PPG, ranking a rather middling 15th.

Seahawks at Eagles: Key injuries

Seahawks

  • TE Luke Willson (hip) day-to-day
  • LB Mychal Kendricks (knee) out
  • WR Malik Turner (concussion) questionable

Eagles

  • WR Nelson Agholor (knee) questionable
  • TE Zach Ertz (ribs) questionable
  • OT Lane Johnson (ankle) questionable
  • RB Miles Sanders (ankle) questionable

Seahawks at Eagles: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Seahawks 23, Eagles 19

Moneyline (?)

The SEAHAWKS (-133) are mild favorites on the road. While they have some injury issues in the backfield, as they were forced to turn to RBs Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin out of desperation, their injury problems pale in comparison to those of the host Eagles (+110).

Against the Spread (?)

The SEAHAWKS (-1.5, -115) are cheaper against the spread if you’re feeling them to win outright. Seattle is just 2-5 ATS in their past seven playoff games, but they’re 5-1 ATS in the past six in the Wild Card Round.

The Eagles (+1.5, -106) are 5-0 ATS in their past five playoff games, but just 5-12 ATS in the past 17 as a home underdog.

Over/Under (?)

The UNDER 45.5 (-115) is the way to go here. We had a total of 26 points when these teams met about six weeks ago. There will be a little more production in this one, especially since the Seahawks figure to have their offense a little pass intensive. Still, the Under is 5-2 in the past seven for the Seahawks as a playoff favorite, and 8-2 in the past 10 as a road favorite. The Under is also 8-1-1 in the past 10 playoff home games, and 5-1 in the past six in the Wild Card Round.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Wild Card Round: Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Wild Card Round showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, with betting odds, picks, tips and best bets.

The Buffalo Bills (10-6) and Houston Texans (10-6) kick off Wild Card Weekend Saturday at 4:35 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium. We analyze the Bills-Texans odds and sports betting lines, while providing NFL betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Bills at Texans: Wild Card Round preview, betting trends and notes


Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.


  • The Bills return to the playoffs for the second time in three years after a 17-year postseason hiatus. They haven’t won a playoff game since 1995.
  • The Texans won their fourth AFC South title in five years but they’re looking to win just their second playoff game in that span.
  • The two sides last met Oct. 14, 2018, with the Texans winning 20-13 at home.
  • Houston ranked 14th in the NFL with 23.6 points per game and 13th with 362.0 total yards of offense per game. Buffalo was 23rd in points per game (19.6) and 24th in yards per game (330.2).
  • The Bills had the No. 2 defense in the NFL with 16.2 PPG allowed per game. They ranked third in yards allowed per game (298.3). The Texans rank 19th in PPG allowed (24.1) and 28th in YPG allowed (388.3).
  • Both teams produced one 1,000-yard receiver in Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (1,165) and Bills WR John Brown (1,060). No Bills running back topped 775 yards, while Texans RB Carlos Hyde rushed for 1,070 yards.
  • The Bills had a turnover differential of plus-4 to the Texans’ neutral rating.
  • Buffalo finished the regular season with 44 sacks to Houston’s 31. The Texans gave up more sacks (49-40).

Bills at Texans: Key injuries

Bills CB Levi Wallace (ankle) is considered day-to-day.

Texans WR Will Fuller (groin) is expected to play. DL J.J. Watt (pectoral) is aiming to return from the Reserve/Injured list either this week or next.

Bills at Texans: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9:20 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Texans 21, Bills 15

Moneyline (?)

The Bills (+130) have the better defense, but the TEXANS (-154) have the more balanced offense and will be inspired in front of a home crowd desperate for a postseason win after so much failure. The return of Watt hangs huge in this one. He’ll be needed to help contain Bills QB Josh Allen, who has 510 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground this year.

The Texans went 5-3 at home while the Bills were 6-2 on the road. Week 17 was a glorified bye week for both sides, and they both lost.

Against the Spread (?)

Get better value on the TEXANS (-2.5, -115) by backing them to win by at least a field goal. Houston was 7-8-1 against the spread overall while Buffalo was 9-5-2. The Texans were just 2-6 ATS at home and the Bills were a league-best 6-0-2 ATS on the road.

The trends can be thrown out in the playoffs, especially with such a small gap.

Over/Under (?)

Take the UNDER 42.5 (-110). The Bills have the stronger defense while the Texans will be extra motivated if Watt is able to line up along the defensive line. It’s also the first career playoff game for Allen under center and some early contact by the Texans’ pass rush could force some costly mistakes.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NFL betting record: 54-48

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NFL announces wild card and divisional round playoff schedule

Following the Seahawks loss to the 49ers, the NFL announced the wild card and divisional round playoff schedule for the following weekends.

The Seattle Seahawks fell to the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night in their final game of the regular season, losing the NFC West title and entering the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the NFC.

Seattle will travel to Philadelphia (NFC East winner) next Sunday to face the Eagles.

Here’s a look at the wild-card schedule for next weekend and the potential divisional round matchups to follow, per NFL Communications.

NFL WILD CARD PLAYOFFS

Saturday, Jan. 4

AFC: 1:35 p.m. (PT) Buffalo at Houston (ESPN, simulcast on ABC)

AFC: 5:15 p.m. (PT) Tennessee at New England (CBS)

Sunday, Jan. 5

NFC:    10:05 a.m. (PT) Minnesota at New Orleans (FOX)

NFC:    1:40 p.m. (PT) Seattle at Philadelphia (NBC)

NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Saturday, Jan. 11

NFC: 1:35 p.m. (PT) Philadelphia/Seattle/Minnesota at San Francisco (NBC)

AFC: 5:15 p.m. (PT) Houston/Buffalo/Tennessee at Baltimore (CBS)

Sunday, Jan. 12

AFC: 12:05 p.m. (PT) New England/Houston/Buffalo at Kansas City (CBS)

NFC: 3:40 p.m. (PT) New Orleans/Philadelphia/Seattle at Green Bay (FOX)

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2019 NFL Playoffs: Saints vs. Vikings wild card game time, date established

The NFL announced the time, date, and broadcast info for its wild card round matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings.

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The New Orleans Saints will host the Minnesota Vikings during the wild card round of the NFL’s 2019 playoffs schedule, but they won’t have the most prominent time slot. And that may be a good thing.

Next weekend’s Saints-Vikings kickoff at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome is scheduled for Jan. 5, at 1:05 p.m. ET. (or 12:05 p.m. CT). The game will be broadcast on FOX. That lines up with a typical noon game for Saints fans, players, and coaches, which the team will probably appreciate. They won’t have to change their normal weekly practice schedule in any way, allowing them to proceed with business as normal.

Considering the single-loss elimination nature of the NFL playoffs, that’s all you can ask for.

The remaining games in the wild card round are scheduled for:

  • Saturday, 3:35 p.m. CT: Bills at Texans (ESPN/ABC)
  • Saturday, 7:15 p.m. CT: Titans at Patriots (CBS)
  • Sunday, 3:40 p.m. CT: Seahawks at Eagles (NBC)

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