Road favourites dominate in NFL Wild Card betting at Coral
Daniel Coyle, American Sports Correspondent | January 8, 2016
Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) @ Houston Texans
Kansas City Chiefs will be gunning for their first playoff victory in 22 years when they travel to Houston to battle the Texans in the first of Saturday’s two AFC Wild Card matchups as 3.5-point favourites in NFL playoff betting at Coral’s online sportsbook.
The Chiefs (16/1 with Coral to win Super Bowl 50) have recorded eight straight playoff losses since topping the former Houston Oilers 28-20 as 7-point road underdogs in the 1994 Divisional Playoffs, but arrive in Houston for Saturday afternoon’s clash at NRG Stadium riding a 10-game SU win streak, including four decisive road victories by double-digit margins.
However, they have stumbled at the sportsbooks in recent weeks, going 1-3 ATS in their past four, dropping them to 1-4 ATS this season when favoured by 6.5 or more points.
The 9-7 Texans have won three straight, and seven of their past nine, SU and ATS, to claim the division crown in the underachieving AFC South.
Houston claimed victory as favourites in their past two, but have regularly been pegged as underdogs this season, disappointing punters with a 4-6 SU and ATS record when given points.
The Texans’ defense has held opponents to just 7.3 points per game over their last three, but has lost two straight to Chiefs, including a 27-20 home loss in Week 1, and they are winless in four of five against KC as underdogs.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5) @ Cincinnati Bengals
In Saturday night’s other AFC Wild Card matchup, Pittsburgh Steelers visit Cincinnati Bengals as 2.5-point chalk in American Football betting at Coral.
Rookie pivot AJ McCarron will be under centre for the Bengals, in place of the injured Andy Dalton, as Cincinnati look to avoid a fifth Wild Card Weekend loss in as many years and an eighth straight playoff loss overall.
Bengals have struggled without Dalton, going 2-2 SU and ATS down the stretch, including a 33-20 loss to the rival Steelers in Week 14.
Steelers (12/1 to win Super Bowl 50) overcame early-season adversity to win six of their last eight, locking up a playoff berth in the final week of the season thanks to a loss by New York Jets.
Pittsburgh is just 2-3 SU and ATS in their past five on the road, and are enduring a three-game playoff losing streak dating back to their 31-25 loss to Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV.
Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins (-1.5)
Packers start the playoffs on the road for the first time in five years when they visit Washington Redskins on Sunday as 1.5-point underdogs.
Green Bay recorded just 21 total points in a pair of recent losses to Arizona and Minnesota which cost them a fifth straight NFC North title.
Overall, Packers are a dismal 4-6 SU in 10 contests since opening the season on a 6-0 run. The club has been held to 16 or fewer points in five of those matchups, while the Packers offensive line has allowed pivot Aaron Rodgers to get sacked 13 times over their past two games.
While, the 9-7 Redskins enter the postseason as this year’s Cinderella story. Powered by quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has connected on 11 touchdown passes in their last three games, Washington have won four straight to claim the NFC East crown.
Redskins have averaged 32.75 ppg during their current tear, but are winless in their last three playoff games, and five of their past six against Packers.
Seattle Seahawks (-4.5) @ Minnesota Vikings
Also on Sunday, the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings host Seattle Seahawks as 4.5-point underdogs.
The 11-5 Vikings have won three straight, including last week’s 20-13 win in Green Bay to claim the divisional crown, allowing just 15.7 points per game.
Though, they will face a ferocious Seattle defense that has allowed just 11 points per game over their past five, including a dominant 38-7 win in Minnesota in Week 13, in which Seahawks pivot Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns.
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