NFL Divisional Playoffs odds: Best bets against the spread
By Brad Rowland
Seattle Seahawks (+3) over Carolina Panthers
Fade. The. Public.
Much like the New England-Kansas City under, this is a spot where I’m riding the sharp action. More than 70% of the tickets are on Carolina at this point, but if anything, the line appears ready to move down toward 2.5 (already has in some places) and the smart guys like Seattle on the road.
The Seahawks needed a lot of luck to escape with a win in Minnesota, but prior to that, Seattle flashed their upside by thrashing Arizona, and I’m not sure it is a good thing that Carolina sat around for two weeks. The Panthers have been the better team this season, and I won’t dispute that, but there is something about this group from Seattle, and in a coin-flip spot, I’ll side with the sharp folks and the points.
Pittsburgh Steelers (+7) over Denver Broncos
Depending on when you read this, the line could look crazy. At the moment, Ben Roethlisberger is considered banged-up but likely to play. If he misses the game, the number will almost certainly jump into the double-digit range, and it could also drop if Roethlisberger is reported to be closer to full health than we realize.
Regardless, I’m going to take the Steelers.
Even with Landry Jones and an 11-point spread (or something to that effect), my lean will be on Pittsburgh and, to be clear, I’m fading Denver. I don’t trust Peyton Manning or Denver’s running game in this spot, and the Steelers are the side with better (and contrarian) value. Take the points.