Now, the NFL Playoffs are finally here, beginning with the Super Wild Card Weekend round. With a half-dozen games, surprises are bound to happen. Betting on the underdog can make some money, and there are two games in which we’re focusing,
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings – Sunday Odds by BetUs
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | +3 (-110) | 48½ (-110) | +140 |  |
| Vikings | -3 (-110) | 48½ (-110) | -165 | |
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There are some heavy favorites, but also some gems on the board. Sunday is where the magic begins with the ‘dogs. First will be the game between the No. 3 Minnesota Vikings (13-4) and the No. 6 New York Giants (9-7-1).
As no one expected the New York Giants to even make the playoffs, they have mocked the critics, and will continue to do just that. Their loss in Week 18 at Philadelphia meant nothing, as their position in the playoffs was secured.
Both teams have a well-rested group of players entering this NFC battle.
Why the Giants Will Win
Sunday features a Week 16 rematch between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants.
The Vikings won, 27-24, with a Christmas Eve second-half comeback, a game-ending 61-yard field goal by Greg Joseph as the climax.
That’s the same (three-point) margin by which the Vikes are favored in this game, according to NFL odds.
New York controlled much of the game and should’ve come away with the victory. That is part of the growing pains with this Giants’ team. That crucial loss did give the experience of playing in close games against playoff teams. Live and learn, and New York learned.
Minny had two players with over 100 receiving yards in that game. Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson compiled monster numbers against the Giants (combined 25 catches, 242 yards, three touchdowns). Coach Brian Daboll is going to change the game plan to force the Vikings to run the ball.
Dalvin Cook was hobbled in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears, and isn’t 100%. Shut down Jefferson, win the game.
History was made by the Vikings, becoming the first 13-win team with a negative (-3) point differential on the season. That is ultimately the biggest reason they lose here.
The ground-and-pound style of the Giants will succeed, and they also exploit the atrocious secondary. Take New York +140 on the moneyline.
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Monday Odds by BetUs
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | -3 (EV) | 45½ (-110) | -150 | |
| Buccaneers | +3 (-120) | 45½ (-110) | +130 | |
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The final wild-card game goes Monday night, as the No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) host No. 5 Dallas Cowboys (12-5). Dallas, once a trendy choice to win the title, are now priced at 12-1 (+1200), are per Super Bowl odds.
The Buccaneers are the higher seed because they won the morbid NFC South (someone had to), thus were guaranteed a home game in this round. Meanwhile, the Cowboys played second-fiddle to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.
Dallas, on the road, is the favorite by just less than a field goal in this game.
Why the Buccaneers Will Win
So, never betting against GOAT Tom Brady had some flaws during the regular season. The Tampa Bay Bucs were an abysmal 4-12-1 against the spread (ATS), 6-11 in over/under. It’s no longer the regular season, however, so never bet against the GOAT in the postseason.
While you can bet the Buccaneers +2½ at a -110 number, it’s the +125 moneyline that’s the way to go. Rewind to Week 1, when Tampa Bay throttled the Dallas Cowboys, 19-3, at AT&T Stadium. They emasculated one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league. That was back in September, but wasn’t a fluke.
In Week 18, the Cowboys needed to win, the Eagles to lose to get Dallas the NFC East title. Dallas lost, 26-6. An inferior Washington Commanders team led by Sam Howell in his NFL debut snuffed out the Cowboys, who had a non-effort game. An embarrassingly terrible way to head into the postseason.
This game was played simultaneously with Giants-Eagles, so no excuse to watch the scoreboard. Prescott went an ugly 14-of-37 (128 yards, one touchdown, one interception).
Brady has a 35-12 record in the playoffs, and the 45-year-old may be ready to put a less- than-stellar regular season behind him. It’s again time to just win. Brady is a walking history book, and will boost that number to 36 wins at the expense of underachieving Dallas.
