Betting Only NFL Wild Card First Half Lines in 2025 Wild Card Games

When it comes to NFL Wild Card first Half lines, savvy bettors are increasingly focusing on the first half of playoff games to maximize their betting potential, even as official first-half odds for this weekend’s games won’t be released until later in the week.

Betting Only First Halves in 2025 NFL Wild Card
Halftime Heist: Your Blueprint for Wild Card First-Half Betting Dominance

2025 NFL season | 104th season of National Football League in the United States
Wild Card: Saturday, January 11th – Monday, January 13th, 2025

Betting NFL First Half Lines for Wild Card Games

Official first half odds for this weekend’s wild card games don’t come out until later in the week.

That won’t stop us from analyzing the wild card matchups and making first half picks.

In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills host the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh travels to Baltimore to take on the Ravens, and the Chargers throw down against the Texans.

In the NFC, Saquon Barkley and the Eagles play host to the Green Bay Packers, the Rams and the Vikings throw down at SoFi and Baker and the Bucs take on Jayden and the Commanders at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Keep reading for predicted first half NFL odds, analysis, and picks.

Writer’s NFL First Half Picks for the Wild Card

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills -5.5

AFC Wild Card Matchups / Sunday, January 12th, 2025

Buffalo is a massive -8.5 favorite to take down the Denver Broncos, which means they’re likely to be a -5.5 first half chalk to win the first two quarters.

The Bills have every reason to feel bullish about their chances but before anointing Josh Allen and his mates the first half victory, and the win at end of regulation, it’s important to note that the Broncos are on fire.

Bo Nix and Denver squashed the KC Chiefs 38-0 in their final regular season game.

For sure, the pickings were easy after Andy Reid decided to rest almost every starter on his squad.

Still, Denver showed a maturity that had been lacking for most of this season.

The problem with backing Buffalo is that by doing so we’re hoping the team that gave up 42 points to the Rams and Detroit and 21 to the hapless New England Patriots find a way to stop a Sean Payton offense with a quarterback that is on the rise.

That won’t be the case in the first half where Nix and receiver Marvin Mims Jr. should hook up for a long TD and Payton will have a script that keeps the Bills’ D on their heels.

Denver covers in the first half.

NFL Wild Card 1st Half Pick: Denver Broncos +5.5

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens -5.5

AFC Wild Card Matchups / Saturday, January 11th, 2025

Like the Bills, the Ravens are a -8.5 home favorite in their first playoff game.

Also like the Bills, Baltimore boasts a running quarterback that’s a first ballot hall of fame player in Lamar Jackson.

Unlike the Bills, the Ravens have a defense that has been stellar down the stretch.

Baltimore also has Derrick Henry who has taken pressure off Lamar Jackson to be one hundred percent of the Ravens’ offense.

Jackson has the freedom to do what he wants now that Henry can rumble for over 5 yards per carry.

Pittsburgh’s defense hasn’t looked as lock down as it it did earlier in the season.

Also, the Steelers’ offense is once again whiter than vanilla.

It appears that Russell Wilson isn’t the answer at quarterback.

Wilson has looked lost on plenty of drives in the last month of the regular season.

He will have tro uble versus Baltimore’s defense, which has finally gelled.

The Ravens are looking like possible Super Bowl winners while Pittsburgh is one and done.

This game could be over by halftime with Lamar and Henry taking a seat in the middle of the third quarter.

NFL Wild Card 1st Half Pick: Baltimore Ravens -5.5

LA Chargers -2 at Houston Texans

AFC Wild Card Matchups / Saturday, January 11th, 2025

The Chargers defense isn’t nearly as tough as it was in the first half of the season.

That’s okay when it comes to this game.

The Texans are home underdogs in a playoff game for a reason.

C.J. Stroud and the offense haven’t looked good while the defense was just okay in the final month.

Stroud has struggled after Tank Dell’s injury, which is the reason the Texans fall in their first wild card game.

The Bolts’ Justin Herbert has turned it on.

He was great against the Las Vegas Raiders when throwing for 324 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

Herbert will light up a Texans’ secondary that Patrick Mahomes blasted on Christmas Day.

Chargers win the first and second halves.

NFL Wild Card 1st Half Pick: LA Chargers -2

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles -2

NFC Wild Card Matchups / Saturday, January 11th, 2025

The Eagles project as a -2 first half favorite.

The opening line for the game is Philadelphia -3.5.

So Philly should offer a -1.5 to -2 first half betting line.

At those odds, the Eagles are an easy play to win the first half.

Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Hurts and most of the offensive line are well rested after taking a seat in the final regular season game.

Barkley missed out on breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. No matter.

Saquon won’t care a bit if the Eagles end up winning the Super Bowl.

In this game, Barkley should have no trouble running all over a Packers’ D that has made second tier backs look great this season.

Green Bay’s defense struggled on the road and although Matt LaFleur is a great play caller and Jordan Love is a good quarterback, the Pack doesn’t have the weapons at Love’s disposal that Hurts has in Brown, Smith, and Barkley.

Eagles take this game in the one wild card line that is at an overlay number.

Back Philly to win the first and second halves.

NFL Wild Card 1st Half Pick: Philadelphia Eagles -2

Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1

NFC Wild Card Matchups / Saturday, January 11th, 2025

The Commanders face a tall task against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay has looked strong in recent games because their defense has finally stepped it up while Baker is clicking with Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, and Jalen McMillan.

Washington leans heavily on Jayden Daniels and a Commanders’ offense.

D.C. has one of the better offenses in the NFL.

So Jayden could post magnificent stats in this.

But Daniels won’t do enough on the stat sheet to lead the Commanders to win either in the first half or second half.

Like what I wrote in the QB matchup article, the Buccaneers may lean on a run heavy strategy in this wild card game.

The Commanders are terrible at stopping the rush.

The Bucs can hand the ball to Rachad White and Bucky Irving.

Both are capable running through Washington’s front seven.

Baker won’t have to throw for 300 yards and 4 TDs for the Buccaneers to win both halves.

NFL Wild Card 1st Half Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1

Minnesota Vikings -1.5 at LA Rams

NFC Wild Card Matchups / Monday, January 13th, 2025

The Vikings are -2.5 road chalks but by the time the public pounces, the home side Rams could be up to a +3 to +3.5 underdog at SoFi.

At those odds, it’s tough not to back the Rams to win the first half considering that the Vikings’ defense has major problems in the secondary.

Minnesota gave up 24 points to Seattle, 25 points to Green Bay, and 31 points to the Lions in their last 3 games.

The Lions D shut down Sam Darnold and his mates to the tune of 9 points in the 1-seed matchup this past Saturday night.

The Rams don’t have to score 30 to win this.

Los Angeles’ defense has stepped it up big time in recent games.

Sean McVay will have a strategy to keeps Minnesota’s possessions low.

Expect Stafford to throw short passes to running back Williams, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua.

The Rams do just enough to win both halves and knock the Vikings from the playoffs.

NFL Wild Card 1st Half Pick: LA Rams +1.5

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