NFL odds on Wild Card weekend

NFL odds on Wild Card weekend are the first NFL gambling odds of any season’s playoffs, so they naturally attract a huge amount of betting action.  These NFL odds involve four games in which the two wild card teams of each conference face off against the third and fourth best division champions.  While most handicappers of the NFL odds tend to believe that the division champs will have the edge over wild card teams, such is not actually always the case.

NFL odds for the Wild Card Weekend match ups therefore should not always be handicapped under the assumption that the Wild Card teams are just in the playoffs to be bounced in the first round.  Veteran handicappers of NFL gambling odds know that it is not uncommon for one or two Wild Card teams to win in the first round, or at least cover the NFL odds.  In fact, there are even several Wild Card teams that have defied the NFL odds and gone on to win the Super Bowl.  Such is the case because the 17 week regular season is very long and those bettors with experience handicapping the NFL gambling odds are well aware that the best teams in Week 3 will not necessarily be the best teams in Week 17.  Not surprisingly, the wild card teams that tend to excel in the playoffs and cover the NFL odds are generally the wild card teams from particularly strong divisions.

As a result, when you handicap the NFL odds on Wild Card Weekend it can be useful to quickly assess the strength of each division in the league.  If you determine that a wild card team is from a division that is significantly stronger than its opponent’s division, then the distinction between wild card team and divisional champion should be inconsequential.  Handicappers of the NFL gambling odds should know that teams in weak divisions will have inflated statistics and records regarding the NFL odds because their schedules involve six relatively easy games against divisional rivals.

On the other hand, teams from the most competitive divisions will inevitably be better than their records and statistics indicate.  In fact, as you handicap the NFL odds it can even be beneficial to rate the strength of each division with a score between one and ten.  This exercise will give you a clear, visual cue to assist your later handicapping of the NFL odds.  Consequently, you will be better able to judge the true potential of each wild card team as you evaluate the NFL odds.