If we are being honest, the NFL’s wild-card weekend was a total bore as all four home favorites won comfortably and easily covered. The weekend’s four games had a total margin of victory of 76 points. That 19.0 point differential average was the highest of any wild card Weekend since 1981 and makes this opening round the most lopsided since expanding to four teams in 1990. But things should change this weekend in the divisional round with all eight teams left as division champions.
Rested and ready after their well-earned bye weeks, the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs prepare to welcome the four wild-card weekend winners into their homes. I’ll look more at the spreads on each game later this week, but it here are the totals for each game and my projection to parlay them together. Let’s take a look at the NFL betting predictions.
2017 NFL Divisional Round Parlay Picks On Totals
Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (51.5)
This could be the final game ever in the Atlanta Georgia Dome as the Falcons move to a new domed stadium next year. The only way the Falcons get another home game at the Georgia Dome is with a win and a Dallas loss on Sunday at home to Green Bay. The Falcons had the NFL’s best offense by far during the season, while the Seahawks again had one of the league’s best defenses. Seattle leads the all-time series 10-6 (including the postseason). The Seahawks have won the past two meetings, including a 26-24 win at CenturyLink Field in Week 6. Go over here.
Houston Texans at New England Patriots (44.5)
The Texans, who dominated Oakland last week, have the No. 1 defense in terms of yards allowed during the regular season, while the Patriots, it might surprise you to know, have the NFL’s top scoring defense. In Foxborough in Week 3 against a Patriots team starting Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, the Texans allowed only 282 yards … and still lost 27-0. Part of that was due to their three turnovers, but the Texans didn’t look as if they belonged on the same field as New England that night. Go under this total.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs (44.5)
It’s Kansas City’s first home playoff game in six years. The weather will be a factor in K.C. on Sunday as snow showers are expected in the morning and then switching to rain or perhaps sleet depending on how low the temperature gets. The Steelers head to Kansas City winners of eight games in a row, and their offense is clicking behind the seemingly unstoppable tandem of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The only playoff teams Pittsburgh has played during its current streak are the Giants and Dolphins, but the Steelers beat them by a combined score of 54-26. Go under this total.
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys (52)
The marquee matchup of the weekend closes out the divisional round on Sunday. Dallas was the second-best team in the regular season in average time of possession at 31:54 per game. The Cowboys were second in the league in rushing yards at 149.8 per game. They will want to eat clock to keep red-hot Aaron Rodgers off the field. Including the postseason, the all-time series between the teams is tied at 17. Dallas knocked off Green Bay 30-16 at Lambeau Field in Week 6. Go over this total as there will be no weather worries at AT&T Stadium. It’s no coincidence I recommend under on the two outdoor games and over in the two that are indoors.
