NFL Divisional Playoffs Predictions

The NFL Divisional playoffs round is one of my favorites, especially considering this is the last time in the season we get to see more than two games in a weekend.

Here are the NFL Divisional Playoffs Predictions:

New Orleans Saints +7.5 at Seattle Seahawks -7.5. Game Total: 48.

The Saints want some payback after leaving Seattle humiliated in week 13. The task in hand for New Orleans is monumental because, before last week, they hadn’t won a playoffs game away from home, now they will have to do it in back to back weeks.

“We took one in the chin today,” Saints QB Drew Brees said after that 34-7 loss to the Seahawks. “We got outplayed today. They played great. They made a lot of plays, and we didn’t.”

The Seahawks are 15-1 at home with Russell Wilson under center, with that only loss coming against the Cardinals in week 16, in a surprising way.

Despite the fact that New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle, this game should be closer than expected.  Grab the points.

Prediction: Seattle by a TD.  Take the Saints +7.5.

Indianapolis Colts +7.5 at New England Patriots -7.5. Game Total: 53

This is the only matchup where the teams didn’t face each other in the regular season.

The Patriots ended the season 8-0 at home and 6-2 against the spread, but they easily could have lost to the Saints and Browns.

Tom Brady said he didn’t watch a single snap of the Colts and Chiefs game.

“Truthfully, I’m not worried about the opposing quarterback. I’m thinking about the defense and what I need to do to play against them. I didn’t watch one snap of Indy’s offense, nor will I this week. I’ll be focused on the defense and what we need to do score points because that’s what my job is”, Brady said.

The Colts are a team that fights back no matter what, that’s why I think this is a less than a touchdown game.

Prediction: Colts +7.5.

San Francisco 49ers -1 at Carolina Panthers +1. Game Total: 42

The 49ers are the only away team that’s favorite in the NFL odds.  I’ll bet the Panthers must feel disrespected.

Carolina is 9-1 against the spread facing San Francisco since 1999, including a straight up victory this season at California.

However, I will go with the hot team; the Niners have won the last 7 games in a row, and the addition of WR Michael Crabtree gives this offense a different aura.

Prediction: San Fran by a field goal.

San Diego Chargers +10 at Denver Broncos -10. Game Total: 55.

The Chargers beat the Broncos in Denver in week 15, have won five in a row, and yet they are a 10 point underdogs for this playoffs AFC West matchup.

Philip Rivers is 2-0 against Peyton Manning in the postseason, not to mention Manning is 9-11 on his playoffs career, which includes eight ‘one and done’ participations.

Prediction: Take the Chargers +10.