Updated NFL Wildcard Odds
(The Spread) – A couple of the spreads have moved off of their opening numbers for Wildcard Weekend in the 2012 NFL Playoffs.
The Houston Texans, who opened as 3-point favorites for Saturday’s 4:30PM ET kickoff with the Cincinnati Bengals, are now a 3.5-point home favorite in the opening round. This may have something to do with Bengals’ quarterback Andy Dalton missing practice this week after being hospitalized with the flu, or oddsmakers are just seeing an influx of Houston backers. Either way, the hook certainly makes things more interesting.
In the NFC’s Wildcard matchup on Saturday night, the New Orleans Saints have stayed steady at –10.5 for their game with the Detroit Lions at 8:00PM ET. The Saints opened as 10-point favorites but the line was almost immediately bet up to 10.5, or even 11 at some sports books. The over/under total continues to rise and is now up to 59 after opening at 58.
As oddsmakers continue to get good two-way action, the spread in the Atlanta Falcons–New York Giants game hasn’t budged since opening at 3. The over/under total has gone up slightly from 47 to 47, however. Kickoff for this NFC matchup is set for 1:00PM ET on Sunday.
In the final Wildcard matchup of the weekend, the Denver Broncos are now either 8.5 or 9-point home underdogs versus the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:30PM ET on Sunday. The over/under total continues to sink, however, as its now down to 33.5 at most sports books after opening at 35.5. Bettors clearly don’t think Tim Tebow and Co. will do much against Pittsburgh’s stout defense (nor should they after the way Denver looked offensively last week).
2012 NFL Playoffs Wildcard Weekend Updated Odds
101 Cincinnati Bengals +3.5 (38.5)
102 Houston Texans –3.5
103 Detroit Lions +10.5 (58.5)
104 New Orleans Saints –10.5
105 Atlanta Falcons +3 (47)
106 New York Giants –3
107 Pittsburgh Steelers +9 (33.5)
108 Denver Broncos –9
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