While there are many NFL betting enthusiasts who like to take a swing for the fences with some underdog picks, there are others who are quite content to build their bankroll by playing the favorites. There is nothing wrong with that strategy, and the Divisional Round of the playoffs has delivered a pretty solid pair of favorites on the NFC side of the postseason. Let’s take a look at the two favorites this weekend, and why they might be a very good bet.
Surprise addition to injury report. Ted Ginn questionable but Rivera considers him not practicing “precautionary.”
The Cardinals will host the Green Bay Packers at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on Saturday, January 16 at 8:15 PM EST on NBC. Arizona is not just a 7-point favorite for this game, they are one of the top picks to win Super Bowl 50 this year, thanks in large part to their 6-2 record on home field during the regular season.
The Cardinals have proven to be a tough team to stop, and they sport one of the best offensive records in the league. They averaged over 30 points per game, and they crossed that number the last time they played the Packers, rolling to a 38-8 win. As that score suggests, the Cardinals are also a team that can get the job done on defense, too. They gave up just 19.6 PPG during the regular season.
Arizona are a team that are incredibly well coached by Bruce Arians, and they have a near perfect blend of youth and experience in the line-up. The loss of Tyrann Mathieu in the secondary has not been as devastating as it may have first seemed, as the other guy on the defensive side of the ball have all upped their game. This is a very dangerous team with a legitimate shot at a Lombardi Trophy this year.
The Cads have found a hell of a coach in Bruce Arians.
Betting on the Carolina Panthers (-118)
The top seed in the conference is usually pretty heavily favored in the Divisional Round, but the Panthers have slimmer odds than most due to the fact that they are facing a Seattle Seahawks team that has made it all the way to the big game in the last 2 seasons. The Panthers will host the Seahawks at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday, January 17 at 1:05 PM EST on Fox.
The Panthers get the edge in this one thanks in large part to a regular season where they went unbeaten in their 8 home games. They also had a win over the Seahawks on the road in the earlier part of the season, which also gives them another pretty good edge.
We all know how good the Seahawks defense is, but they also know that going after Cam Newton may mean getting burned on the ground. The Panthers can run the football as well as anyone and Newton has now quietly developed into an effective pocket passer this year. This is a tough match-up, but if the Panthers get through it, they have to be considered a Super Bowl 50 favorite.
