NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions: Raiders, Eagles Among This Week’s Upset Picks

Looking for an upset pick in the first round of the NFL playoffs?

Wild card weekend could have several, and the BetSided team is here to share our favorite ones for this week. After going 35-27-1 in straight up upset picks this NFL season, we are hoping to find the teams that are overvalued this postseason to help you cash in on some favorable odds.

Here are this week's picks with all odds via WynnBET Sportsbook.

Las Vegas Raiders (+195) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Despite their Week 11 result against the Bengals, I think the Raiders are being undervalued in this spot. The Raiders defense, believe it or not, was a much stronger unit than the Bengals' this NFL season. Heading into the postseason, the Raiders rank ninth in opponent yards per play, while the Bengals rank 21st.

The Raiders also rank sixth in opponent yards per pass attempt, allowing opponents to gain 6.3 yards per pass. That's going to prove to be key in slowing down Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati explosive offense. Meanwhile, the Bengals defense is 21st in opponent yards per pass attempt, allowing an average of 6.7.

The two offenses are comparable, ranking seventh and 10th in offensive yards per play. I think the difference maker in this game is the defenses, and the Raiders hold the significant advantage. – Iain MacMillan

Philadelphia Eagles (+300) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This was my best bet of the week and I’m sticking by it. This Buccaneers team is vastly different from the one that beat the Eagles earlier in the year. Tampa Bay is down two wide receivers, Leonard Fournette is coming off a hamstring injury and the secondary is in shambles. 

Meanwhile, the Eagles are getting Jalen Hurts, Dallas Goedert and Fletcher Cox back for this game. This game is strength on strength, with the Eagles’ rushing offense taking on the Bucs’ rushing defense. However, I think Philly will be able to rush effectively enough to open the play-action and get the plays needed to win. 

Also, if the Eagles can create enough of a pass-rush and move Tom Brady off the spot, the lack of Chris Godwin and “Super Gremlin” Antonio Brown will be evident. The Eagles have trended upwards since that loss to Tampa Bay and this weekend will be a full circle moment. – Donnavan Smoot

Arizona Cardinals (+165) vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Cardinals have already crushed the Rams in Los Angeles earlier this season, and Matthew Stafford’s comments about it being a tough environment at home in Week 18 is concerning to me in this matchup. 

The Rams and Stafford are a little banged up, and the team is bringing in safety Eric Weddle off the street to play in this game. 

Kliff Kingsbury is 13-3-2 against the spread as a road underdog in his career, and Stafford is 0-3 straight up in playoff games in his career. To take this even further, Stafford is 26-57 straight up against winning teams in his career. 

The Cardinals won’t have DeAndre Hopkins, but I’m not completely out on Kyler Murray and company. I think Arizona could surprise this Rams team in the wild card round. – Peter Dewey

NFL Upset Picks to Date:

LAST WEEK: 1-2

SEASON RECORD: 35-27-1