NFL Picks Against the Spread for Wild Card Weekend: ATS Predictions, Best Bets for Playoffs

After a 1-1 start to Wild Card Weekend, I'm excited about the prospect of enjoying a winning Saturday in my NFL picks against the spread.
 Josh Allen prepares to hand the ball off to running back James Cook as we offer our NFL picks against the spread for Wild Card Weekend.
Pictured: Josh Allen prepares to hand the ball off to running back James Cook as we offer our NFL picks against the spread for Wild Card Weekend. Photo by Scott Galvin via Imagn Images
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My NFL picks against the spread for Wild Card Weekend went 1-1 on Saturday, and I'm looking forward to enjoying a winning Sunday. 

With three games on today's wild-card slate, two are featured in the analysis below, part of the NFL playoff predictions and wild-card matchups


🏈 NFL picks against the spread: Wild Card Round ATS predictions

See all of our experts' NFL picks for Wild Card Weekend based on the latest NFL odds; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

Matchup Pick Confidence
Rams (-10) vs. Panthers  Rams (-10) ❌ ⭐⭐⭐
Packers (-1.5) vs. Bears  Bears (+1.5) ✅ ⭐⭐⭐
Bills (-1.5) vs. Jaguars  Bills (-1.5) ✅ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
49ers vs. Eagles (-4.5)  49ers (+4.5) ✅ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chargers vs. Patriots (-3.5) Chargers (+3.5) ❌ ⭐⭐⭐
Texans (-3.5) vs. Steelers  Texans (-3) ✅ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

💰 Best ATS pick for Wild Card Round

Want more NFL betting advice? Check out all of our NFL analysis and expert predictions for every Wild Card Weekend game. 

49ers (+3.5) vs. Eagles ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The San Francisco 49ers have overcome injuries all season, and while they might not win in Philly, I'm confident in their healthy playmakers keeping it close. Kyle Shanahan's team is 7-2 ATS on the road, and the Eagles are a mediocre 4-4 ATS at home. 

San Francisco won six in a row before losing a defensive dogfight at home to the Super Bowl odds favorite Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers are arguably the most resilient team in football, considering how badly their lineup was decimated by injuries early in the season, and I expect them to live up to the billing again. 

Four of the five best sports betting sites offer the standard juice of -110, and our Dustin Saracini is also onboard with the pick, which he outlined in his 49ers vs. Eagles predictions

💰️ NFL playoff guide

Be sure to download our free, printable NFL playoff bracket PDF ahead of today's kickoff to compete against your friends (and enemies). C Jackson Cowart's NFL playoff bracket predictions can help you get ahead.


🔥 More Wild Card Round picks

Bills (-1.5) vs. Jaguars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the playoffs as arguably the league's hottest team. However, they're up against former MVP Josh Allen and, according to DVOA, his fourth-ranked offense.

While the Buffalo Bills' second-worst defensive rush DVOA is concerning, it will be able to plaster over many of its deficiencies against the Jags' 20th-ranked rushing unit. And in the playoffs, especially without the Kansas City Chiefs in the equation, I'm confident in putting my money on Allen and the Superman cape he'll be wearing. 

FanDuel has the best price at -106, and our Liam Fox projects a high-scoring affair in his Bills vs. Jaguars predictions

Texans (-3) vs. Steelers ⭐⭐⭐⭐

While the Houston Texans would have preferred securing the division crown, entering Wild Card Weekend on a 10-game winning streak isn't too shabby.

Their second-ranked defense, per DVOA, will cause fits for Aaron Rodgers and his middling offense, providing an immeasurably sterner challenge than the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. 

Houston's offense has improved, too, scoring at least 38 points in two of the final four games. DraftKings is the only sportsbook offering the Texans at -3, and I'm happy to take the slightly longer -120 odds to secure the key number. Our Sean Tomlinson provides more analysis in his Texans vs. Steelers predictions


🙌 NFL Wild Card Weekend picks, player props & TD bets


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