NFL Picks, Predictions Against Spread: 49ers Outlast Cowboys.Chiefs beat Jaguars in divisional playoffs

NFL Picks, Predictions Against Spread: 49ers Outlast Cowboys.Chiefs beat Jaguars in divisional playoffs

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The 2023 NFL playoffs are down to just 8 teams, down from 14 remaining until Super Bowl 57. The first set of six games of the Wild Card weekend was the expected result of the biggest favorites, with two narrow escapes. The Tossap game trio went the other way with the underdogs all winning.

This will result in four exciting and closer matches in the Division Round. His two bye teams at the top, the Chiefs and the Eagles, will serve as hosts. The Jaguars, Giants, and Buccaneers are all hot, with the Bengals and Bills playing what they couldn’t do in Week 17 only in Buffalo.

Here are the latest picks and predictions for the spread.

(Odds provided by Sports Interaction)

NFL POWER RANKINGS: Re-ranking the 8 teams in the playoffs

brock purdy

NFL playoff picks, predictions against spreads

  • NFC game of the week: No. 5 Cowboys with No. 2 49ers (-4, 46 o/u)

Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox

The 49ers and Cowboys were the only teams to explode in the Wild Card Round, with San Francisco at home and Dallas away. Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott are his hottest QBs going into the division rounds. Nick Bosa and Micah Parsons were also leaders with nasty defensive performances, respectively.

The 49ers are on an 11-game winning streak, adding depth and variety to their offensive arsenal around Purdy. They also have a significant home field and rest advantage. Christian McCaffrey and the running game gave San Francisco comfortable control of the 4th quarter.

select: The 49ers won 31-24 to cover the spread.

Josh Allen, Joe Burrow
  • AFC Game of the Week: No. 3 Bengals vs. 2 Bills (-5, 50.5 o/u)

Sunday 3pm Fox

Despite having Joe Mixon, the Bengals want to be a passing team. The Bills like to be a passing team despite having a strong traditional lunging attack at times, meaning this game is a classic of his QB duel between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. It means that it ends up in

Barrow focuses on spreading the ball in the second half and not pushing it too deep when there is no play. Allen rips off his big arm and scrambles around his big body. The game hinges on which QB protects the ball better, with two lines of attack that sometimes struggle.

Burrow is more effective on short-to-mid-range throws, and Allen hits more home run balls. It’s a little easier to trust.

select: The Bengals won 30-27.

Patrick Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence
  • Rock of the week: No. 1 Chiefs (-8.5, 52 o/u) beat No. 4 Jaguars

Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC

The Chiefs can take a break by not having to face nasty divisional rival Chargers for a third time. Instead, it’s a coaching battle between Andy Reid and his former offensive coordinator and recent Super Bowl winner Doug Pederson.

The Jaguars’ defense has lived up to the big plays against the run-and-pass versus the team’s consistent slowdown. Reed has a more organized and versatile offense centered around Patrick Mahomes. Jaguar will have a hard time dealing with a variety of targets, including Travis Kelce and Jerick McKinnon.

Trevor Lawrence keeps making passes in the inexperienced secondary, allowing Jacksonville to stay in the game by giving the ball back to Travis Etienne Jr. into the open field. They can’t match the firepower and execution of Arrowhead’s Mahomes.

select: The Chiefs won 34-17 to cover the spread.

  • No. 1 Eagles No. 6 Giants (-7.5, 48 o/u)

Saturday 8:15 PM ET, Fox

Daniel Jones and Jalen Hurts have emerged as dynamic dual threat quarterbacks this season. Both are well supported by the traditional running game led by former Penn State stars Saquon Barkley and Miles Saunders.

Jones has been making point passes with better protection despite limited receivers. But while the Eagles pass his defense is tough with pressure and coverage, the Giants have him dealing with AJ Brown, Devonta his Smith, and Dallas his Gordart.

Jones and Barkley will be game to keep the team in the game, but the Eagles have a strong home field advantage away from the bye and will be pulled away in the second half.

select: The Eagles won 34-24 to cover the spread.

Straighten wildcard records: 3-2
Wildcard records for spreads: 3-2
Season record intact: 181-93
Season record against spread: 137-133



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