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NFL Divisional Round Playoff Picks

With a few hours to go before the kickoff of the first playoff game this weekend (the Washington Redskins at the Seattle Seahawks), I have decided to make some picks relative to each game’s betting line. All of my betting line information came from FootballLOCKS.com.

Game One
Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks (-9.5); 41 total

Seattle is the favorite in this game by nine and a half points, and after watching a bit of the Redskins/Buccaneers game last week, it’s hard to argue. The Redskins collected the fewest total yards of any team that has ever won an NFL playoff game. The Seahawks have the second best record in football at 13-3 and have the league’s MVP, Shaun Alexander, at tailback.

The Redskins defense is a little bit better than the Seahawks defense, but the Redskins offense is a whole lot worse than the Seahawks offense. I think that’s the difference in this game. The total points for this game is 41. I’m taking the Seahawks giving nine and a half, and I’m also taking the over. My prediction: Seahawks 31, Redskins 13.

Game Two
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos (-3); 44.5 total

I am definitely intrigued by this game. The Denver Broncos have had next to zero playoff success after John Elway left the team, and the Patriots have only been winning Super Bowls during that span. The Broncos start Jake Plummer at quarterback, a man whose career to date has been marked by many gut-wrenching interceptions. I like to think of Jake Plummer’s professional career as the analog to Chris Simms’ college career. Meanwhile, the Patriots start Tom Brady at quarterback, a man with three Super Bowl rings and often considered the greatest quarterback since Joe Montana.

This pick seems kind of easy to me, which makes me a little nervous. I think not only will the Patriots cover the three point spread; they’ll win. I’ll take the Patriots getting three, and again, I’ll take the over. My prediction: Patriots 27, Broncos 24.

Game Three
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts (-9.5); 47.5 total

Like all three other games this weekend, this one is a rematch from the regular season. The Colts scored on their first offensive play from scrimmage, with Peyton Manning hitting Marvin Harrison for an 80-yard touchdown. It was clear from there that the Steelers didn’t stand much of a chance. The Colts won easily, 26-7.

This time, the Steelers are on more of a roll, and the Colts haven’t played a meaningful game in a month or so. The one constant? The game is on the fast track in Indianapolis, and the Colts are built for speed. The Steelers aren’t. I see this game being sluggish in the first half, but the Colts will slowly pull away at the end of the third quarter and early in the fourth. They’ll milk the rest of the game from there. I’ll take the Colts giving nine and a half and the under. My prediction: Colts 24, Steelers 17.

Game Four
Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears (-3); 30.5 total

The first thing that sticks out to me here is the total. 30.5? So, we’re expecting a 17-13 final score, something like that? Now that I think about it, that doesn’t sound too far off at all. The last time these teams played, the Bears won 13-3. I tend to think any time two teams play a rematch during a single season, the second game goes quite a bit differently than the first.

This time, I simply can’t see the Panthers mustering only three points. In fact, that 17-13 final sounds pretty good now that I’ve thought about it. I’ll take the Panthers getting three and the under. My prediction: Panthers 17, Bears 13.