Go with underdog to cover, Bills to win
Top wagering picks for the NFL divisional round based on these early lines from Tipico Sportsbook.
Bengals at Titans
The AFC’s top-seeded Titans draw Joe Burrow and the upstart Bengals, fresh off the franchise’s first postseason triumph in 31 years. The teams didn’t meet this season. RB Derrick Henry is likely to return this week after spending the second half of the season on injured reserve. Burrow and the potent Bengals’ aerial attack isn’t the best matchup for Tennessee, which surrendered the eighth-most passing yards per game (245.2) during the regular season. However, the more postseason battle-tested Titans still should hold serve and win a tight one while the BENGALS (+3.5) will have to be satisfied with the cover.
49ers at Packers
Green Bay won a 30-28 Sunday night road victory in Week 3 as the Aaron Rodgers-toDavante Adams connection moved the Pack 42 yards in the final 37 seconds, setting up Mason Crosby’s winning 51-yard field goal on the final play. Count on San Francisco to rely on RB Elijah Mitchell and do-it-all WR Deebo Samuel
to attempt to keep Rodgers and Co. on the sideline. But after back-to-back NFC title game losses, top-seeded Green Bay looks to be on a mission, and it is a league-best 24-3 straight-up and 19-8 against the spread at home over the last three seasons. Back the PACKERS (-5.5) and lay the points.
Bills at Chiefs
K.C., of course, rolled to a 38-24 win last January to advance to its second straight Super Bowl, but Buffalo dominated the Week 5 regular-season meeting in early October at Arrowhead, rolling 38-20 while taking advantage of four Chiefs turnovers. Fresh off a 42-21 wildcard rout of the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, Patrick Mahomes and Co. are 7-1 at home in the postseason over the last four years, while the Bills have dropped six straight road playoff games. They are 0-3 (0-2 with QB Josh Allen) since head coach Sean McDermott took over in 2017. Giveaways, though, continue to be an issue for the Chiefs (27 in 18 games) while Buffalo profiles as the league’s best all-around team, ranking third in scoring offense and No. 1 in points allowed coming off a 47-17 wild-card thumping of the New England Patriots. Bet on the slight-underdog BILLS (+2.5) to win outright.
2021-22 ATS record: 36-21 (1-2 last week)