NFL Betting – 2020 NFC Wild Card Games

Some familiar faces are back in the NFC playoffs with the New Orleans Saints looking to overcome heartbreaking defeats in the last two postseasons with a home contest against the Minnesota Vikings in the wild card round. One of those losses took place two seasons ago to the same Vikings team in what has become known as the Minneapolis Miracle. Last year’s loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship may have been even worse with the officials not calling a blatant pass interference penalty. That’s all water under the bridge and the Saints are focused after winning a third straight NFC South title. The Philadelphia Eagles were the best of the worst and “earned” a home game by winning the NFC East with a 9-7 record. They host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in the final game of Wild Card Weekend.  All betting odds are available at Bookmaker here

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

Date and Time: Sunday, January 5, 2020, 1:05 p.m. ET

Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

Opening NFL Odds: New Orleans -7, O/U 47

Vikings at Saints TV Coverage: FOX

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints Preview

Drew Brees and the Saints finished the season on a heater winning and covering their final three games while averaging 38 points a tilt. Unfortunately for the Saints the run came after a loss to the 49ers that proved costly in them not getting a first-round bye. Brees was on top of his game the final month and he benefitted from a five-game absence due to a thumb injury earlier in the season. With a chance to get a week off, New Orleans went balls out in the finale crushing Carolina, 42-10, with Brees tossing a trio of scoring passes and Alvin Kamara rushing for a pair of scores.

The Saints run game wasn’t as effective this season without Mark Ingram. Kamara led them with 797 yards and Latavius Murray had 637 with the team in the middle of the pack with over 108 yards per game. The difference, again, was Brees, who threw 15 touchdown passes without an interception over his last four games. Michael Thomas benefitted by shattering the NFL record for catches in a season with 149. Teams knew what the Saints were going to do and were still powerless to stop them. New Orleans ranked third during the regular season with 28.6 points per game, placing among the top-four for a fourth consecutive season.

And if playing for the Lombardi Trophy isn’t enough motivation, the Saints have an added edge after being ousted the last two postseasons in gut-wrenching fashion. “If anything it adds a chip on our shoulders. It adds a little bit more of a determination factor,” said Cam Jordan. They still have to take the field and play, and the Saints will have to contend with Dalvin Cook, who is expected to take part after missing time with a shoulder injury. Despite missing the last two games, Cook ran for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns, and was the team’s second leading receiver behind Stefon Diggs with 53 catches. He adds an element to the offense and Kirk Cousins’ numbers have been much better with him on the field. The Saints are 21-6 SU in the Dome since the start of the 2017 season, but they are 0-3 ATS in their last three home playoff games.

NFL Score Prediction: New Orleans 31, Minnesota 24

Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles

Date and Time: Sunday, January 5, 2020, 4:40 p.m. ET

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Opening NFL Odds: Philadelphia -1, O/U 46

Seahawks at Eagles TV Coverage: NBC

Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles Preview

The Seahawks were a half inch away from securing home field advantage for the NFC playoffs. Instead they have to trek across the country for a showdown with the Eagles on Sunday night. The teams ended the regular season heading in opposite directions with Philly winning four in a row to wrestle the NFC East crown away from Dallas and qualify for its third straight postseason. Seattle was looking at a top seed in the conference until losing three of its final four, including the finale to the Niners that determined the No. 1 spot. Recent results prompted the Eagles to open as a 1-point favorite, but the public bought the points forcing the line to jump the fence with Philly currently a 1.5-point dog.

Playing on the road probably won’t bother the Seahawks too much. They did after all win a franchise record seven away contests, including one in Philly in Week 12. “We’ve been road warriors all year. Our guys have handled it well. We’re not worried about going on the road, that’s for sure,” Pete Carroll said. The coach should be concerned about his run game and Carson Wentz, though.

Marshawn Lynch should see more action after having time to digest the team’s playbook after he was brought out of retirement. But the backfield belongs to Travis Homer, who averaged 6.2 yards per carry and had five catches for 30 yards against the Niners last week. Stability in the backfield should benefit Russell Wilson. Finally, Wentz will start a playoff game. He missed the Eagles Super Bowl run two years ago and was sidelined last season, giving way to Nick Foles. Wentz showed he’s ready by leading the team to four straight wins to finish the season. However, those were against division foes, and we know how bad the NFC East was this year. It’ll be much different on Sunday night and Philly’s injury woes will be a deciding factor.

NFL Score Prediction: Seattle 30, Philadelphia 20

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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com