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Divisional NFL Point Spreads: Betting Tips & Expert Free Playoff Picks

Expert NFL Cappers – Divisional Playoff Projections

The NFL’s Elite Eight have been determined – it’s down to the nitty gritty in the NFL season and if the Wild Card Weekend was any indication of what’s to come, it should be a very interesting Saturday and Sunday of football.

Divisional Pointspreads & Handicappers Insight

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It’s never too early to take a look at all the games on the schedule, the early odds that accompany those games and what could happen in each.

So, without further adieu here is a breakdown of all four games on the schedule.

Saturday, January 10

Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots (4:35 PM ET)
2014-15 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Point Spread: Ravens +7

Matchup | Preview

The Ravens have had a history of playing the Patriots tough especially in the playoffs – they are 2-1 in the last three matchups and should be 3-0. The Ravens are coming off a character building 30-17 win over the Steelers – confidence won’t be an issue!

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The Patriots on home turf are virtually untouchable though – they are 18-2 in their last 20 games at Foxboro. The Pats will have their hands full with Elvis Dumerville and Terrell Suggs who could reasonably exploit the only perceivable weakness on the New England team – their offensive line.

While I expect Tom Brady and company to be able to wear down a questionable Ravens secondary, Baltimore showed last week that their pass defense can rise to the occasion. There is no way that I think Baltimore can win, but I do think the Ravens keep this game closer than most think.

Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks (8:15 PM ET)
2014-15 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Point Spread: Panthers +10 1/2

Matchup | Preview

The Panthers and the Seahawks always play close games – period. So why the 10 1/2 point spread? The Panthers have lost by four (twice) and five points in their last three meetings against Seattle and should have beaten the Hawks earlier this year, only to lost 13-9.

Carolina is playing their best ball of the season – six straight wins ahead of this game. Their defense has finally figured a few things out, the running game with Jonathan Stewart has hit a new level and Cam Newton has been as good as he has been all year long.

That said Seattle has allowed just three touchdowns and 39 points in the past six games – they will be tough to score on especially at home where they have lost only twice the last two seasons.

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The defensive advantage goes to Seattle and Seattle’s offense gets the nod over Carolina’s.

In a typically close, low scoring game, expect the Seahawks to win in front of their rabid home crowd but for the resurgent Panthers to keep in close.

Sunday, January 11

Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers (1:05 PM ET)
2014-15 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Point Spread: Packers -6 1/2

Matchup | Preview

The Green Bay Packers are 8-0 at home this year while the Cowboys are 8-0 on the road – interesting indeed!

The Dallas Cowboys received a gift from the officials Sunday and rode that gift to an impressive win against one of the best defenses in the game – Green Bay’s defense won’t resemble Detroit’s!

The problem for the Cowboys in this one is the fact that they had their issues protecting Tony Romo on Sunday – you can bet that the Packers would have been taking notes in that game. In a cold weather game those hits will hurt Mr. Romo more and possibly create a potential game-changing mistake.

The Packers will be a rested crew and will out to build on a perfect home record in which the margin of victory was 19.4 points – they have simply rolled their opposition on home turf! Matthew Stafford had his way with the Dallas secondary – imagine what Aaron Rodgers will do!

The clock has struck midnight for Dallas – karma will catch up to them this week.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos (4:40 PM ET)
2014-15 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Point Spread: Broncos -7

Matchup | Preview

These two teams have played each other tough the past few seasons – each team has won once and the combined score is a razor-close 64-63. The Broncos possess a better defense than they have had in any one of the last two matchups however – #3 against the run and pretty good against the pass.

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And then there is the emergence of Denver’s running game, Denver’s perfect record on home turf this season and the fact that Peyton and the boys got the week off. CJ Anderson could be the difference on Sunday – he will do his best to shred the Colts defense and keep Andrew Luck off the field – he has 95 yards or more and 10 TDs in seven of the last eight games and is a weapon that the Broncos haven’t had since Peyton arrived in the Mile High City.

It is difficult to imagine that Daniel Herron will be as good as he was against the Bengals and it is unfathomable that Manning is as average as he was the last month of the season.

Denver knows that its window is closing. I expect to see the best from this healthy squad Sunday in a 34-24 win.

Check out our Updated NFL *Wildcard Point Spreads*.

CHECK BACK HERE SOON. EVERY 4* Wildcard NFL Free Pick we make this week will be listed here. This page will update.

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By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.