NFL Playoff Odds & Picks – Best Value Bets to Make & Miss the Playoffs

• The 2022 NFL playoff odds have been updated ahead of kickoff on Thursday night
• See where your team ranks heading into the 2022 regular season
• We give the best bets to make, and miss, the postseason according to the NFL playoff odds

We are just two sleeps away from the 2022 NFL season kicking off. And while fantasy drafts all over the continent are wrapping up, there’s one thing football fans need to know, regardless of their rooting interests.

What are my team’s NFL Playoff Odds?

After decades spent in purgatory, Bills fans finally deserve to be among the shoe-ins in the eyes of Vegas. So, as expected, are the defending Super Bowl Champion Rams.

But what about the rest of the field?

2022 NFL Playoff Odds

Odds as of September 6th from Caesars Sportsbook

Minnesota Vikings Lurking in NFL Playoff Picture

Sure the payout on the Vikes’ NFL playoff odds were better before the Davante Adams trade, but they can still be had for a way better price than Green Bay. Which is significant if you think the Packers can be caught this year.

The fact is, Kirk Cousins isn’t a bad quarterback even though he takes a lot of heat. Minny will be employing a system that plays to his strengths, and he’s throwing to Justin Jefferson.

Not quite sure why the #Vikings aren’t a CONSENSUS playoff team.

▫️Consistent Top-15 QB Kirk Cousins
▫️2 ELITE skill players on offense
▫️Defense that is returning STAR Danielle Hunter (missed 10 games)

They also lost 7 of 9 games by one score. Hammer them this year👏 pic.twitter.com/tKhR5lTax5

— Daniel Alameda (@AlamedaViews) September 2, 2022

If airing it out doesn’t work, there’s always Dalvin Cook in the backfield.

The Vikings are a team that has under performed considering the talent they have. Chicago and Detroit should still provide fodder for them, and if they split with the Pack, it’s a clearer path to the postseason.

It’s a low reward but you can back Minny to get to January.

The Pick: Minnesota Vikings to MAKE playoffs (-120)

New Orleans Saints Eyeing NFL Playoff Spot

There’s a lot to like in New Orleans.

It looks like Alvin Kamara should avoid a suspension this year, and we should get to see a relatively healthy Michael Thomas. That, combined with rookie Chris Olave and veteran Jarvis Landry should allow Jameis Winston to sling it.

And sign me up for that.

"I don't think there's anybody that works harder than him… the kid has been a Heisman trophy winner, he's a national champion… his talent and his work ethic, you know, they match, and he has success with it."

– #Saints QB Coach Ronald Curry on JAMEIS WINSTON#ALLin #WhoDat https://t.co/IcvO59boxI

— Author Jameis1of1 (@jameis1of1) September 2, 2022

Excluding Week 7 when he left injured, Winston was on pace for 37 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in 2021. That’s an unheard of ratio for him.

The Saints’ NFL wins total is set at 8.5, which puts them on the cusp of the playoff picture.

New Orleans has a harder schedule in 2022 than 2021 (7th hardest vs 22nd), and there are questions on what the post-Sean Payton era will look like. But so long as Taysom Hill isn’t throwing passes, they should be good for second in the NFC South and in the hunt come December.

The Pick: New Orleans Saints to MAKE playoffs (+105)

One of 49ers, Ravens Will Struggle to Make NFL Playoffs

An interesting trend has emerged among the SBD Against the Spread NFL Power Rankings. Typically four of the top 10 teams end up missing the playoffs.

And both the 49ers and Ravens find themselves among the top 10.

San Fran are turning things over to Trey Lance, but surprisingly restructured Jimmy Garoppolo’s deal. Everyone’s saying the right things, but it makes for a messy situation.

Just for the football strategy part of it, I get this decision. Of course having Garoppolo as the backup is better than the options. As a football decision.

But Lance already had a ton of pressure this season and having Garoppolo on the team is going to double or triple it.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) August 29, 2022

The schedule opens with the Bears, Seahawks, Broncos and Rams. It’s likely the Niners are 2-2 following that stretch. Then it’s the Panthers and Falcons, and Lance could be looking really good by mid-October.

Suddenly you’re getting into the meat of the NFL’s fifth-hardest schedule. And if the Niners are struggling, when does Shanahan pull the plug and turn to Jimmy G?

It’s a tough one to forecast, but with a little drama on offense and a too-late-in-the-season QB switch, it’s possible San Fran is on the outside looking in.

In Baltimore, there’s no denying Lamar Jackson is electric. But he has no running game (outside of his own) to rely on. And what are the chances that both JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards come back as difference makers?

The AFC North is literally the Ravens and Bengals this year…

— Bengalorian (@thebengalorian) August 28, 2022

Mark Andrews is a huge advantage at tight end, but there are questions at receiver. The Ravens also switched defensive coordinators this year, and while last year’s injury luck is almost unheard of, could there be a bit of a struggle to start?

Ultimately San Fran has a much harder schedule and is the better bet. But both are candidates to continue the SBD trend in 2022.

The Pick: San Francisco 49ers MISS the playoffs (+180)