NFL Picks Against the Spread for Every Wild Card Weekend Game

There's no shortage of intrigue or excitement as we look ahead to the NFL Wild Card Weekend odds, which feature two road favorites (the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings) and two contests where the spread exceeds one score.

The Baltimore Ravens, who host the Pittsburgh Steelers, are the biggest favorites for the first round of the playoffs. The Chargers vs. Houston Texans and Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams have the smallest spreads.  

Our NFL picks against the spread for every wild-card game back four favorites and two underdogs while banking on the two biggest favorites to cover at home. ; 

NFL ATS picks for Wild Card Weekend

NFL odds via FanDuel and subject to change; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

My favorite Wild Card Weekend ATS picks

NFL picks as of Monday. Our NEW NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Chargers (-2.5) vs. Texans

Best odds: | Implied probability: 56.14%

The Chargers enter Wild Card Weekend as one of two road favorites. It feels like a favorable matchup for Jim Harbaugh and Co., who allowed the fewest points per game during the regular season (17.7).

They're facing a Texans team that sputtered down the stretch and is without two of its primary weapons, wide receivers Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs.

Not only are the Texans down two offensive dynamos, but their offensive line does a horrendous job of protecting C.J. Stroud, who was sacked 52 times during the regular season, second only to Caleb Williams (68). Los Angeles' defensive front will be salivating at that thought, as it had the sixth-most sacks (46), tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.   

Most of our best sportsbooks have the Chargers as 3-point favorites, with FanDuel the lone exception. I'm taking the lower number for a steeper -128 price, which would profit $7.81 on a winning $10 bet.

Steelers vs. Ravens (-9.5)

Best odds: | Implied probability: 52.38%

While the almost double-digit spread is a bit of a deterrent, I can't ignore how abject the Steelers were down the stretch just because it's the playoffs. Yes, the Steelers are 3-1 against the Ravens in the playoffs, but things are different this year. 

The teams enter the postseason on wildly different flight paths, with the Steelers nosediving and the Ravens ascending like one of Elon Musk's rockets. Not only is Jackson in the running to win his second straight MVP, but his defense has been one of the best in recent weeks.

The Ravens beat Pittsburgh 34-17 at home in Week 16 and were 6-3-1 ATS versus playoff teams. 

While the Steelers beat the Ravens at home in Week 11, that was an entirely different version of Mike Tomlin's team. Recently, Russell Wilson can't make a sound decision if his life depended on it, and the team looks utterly devoid of confidence, cohesion, and momentum after losing four in a row by a 13-point average to finish the season, three of which to playoff teams and one to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Packers vs. Eagles (-4.5)

Best odds: | Implied probability: 52.38%

We can't read too much into the Week 1 encounter between these teams in Brazil, which saw the Philadelphia Eagles win by five. However, the Eagles have improved throughout the season and are 11-6 ATS with a 5-2 mark against playoff teams. And let's be real; it would have been 6-1 had Jalen Hurts not suffered a concussion against the Washington Commanders. 

While it hasn't been confirmed, the general feeling is that Hurts should play. It's trending that way, and the quarterback will be 100% healthy if he does get the nod. I'm basing this pick on him suiting up for the win-or-go-home encounter.

The Eagles have the best defense in the league via PFF, the best running back, and arguably the best running back-quarterback tandem; also, they enjoyed what closely resembled a bye to finish the season, resting most key starters. 

On the other hand, the Packers lumber into the playoffs, losing two straight. Even if we don't read much into their Week 18 loss to the Chicago Bears, it was a bruising affair that saw Jordon Love hurt his hand. Even if Love is 100% healthy, the Packers struggled against playoff teams, losing five of seven. Our Mike Spector makes the case for Green Bay with his Packers vs. Eagles early picks.

One of those wins came against an injury-ravaged Los Angeles Rams, and the other occurred against the Texans, who were also woeful against elite opponents. Caesars offers the best price of our best NFL betting sites, and a winning $10 bet will profit $9.09.

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