bimmercandoBen Burns
2% Magic 1H -148
3% San Francisco -5.5 (-110)
5% Rams/Bears 1H u24.5 (-120)
Brandon Lang
The Pick: My 150 Dime winner is the New England Patriots
The Line: The current line is -3 at the majority of books in Vegas and offshore as of 8:00 am EST. Be sure to shop around for the best line available.
Note: If your line is anywhere from -3 to -4 1/2 I advise buying the 1/2 point down on the Pats.
My Analysis
It holds true today as well…they are just the better “TEAM.”
When the Patriots lost week 3 at home to the Steelers 21-14, they found themselves 1-2 with the Carolina Panthers coming to town.
You had whispers about Mike Vrabel, was he the right hire, same ole Patriots just like last year!!!!
Then they blew out the Panthers 42-13 and they have never looked back.
This New England bunch is 14-1 since that loss to the Steelers week 3 and the only loss in this run: Week 15 at home against Josh Allen and the Bills 35-31.
Trust me when I tell you, they never should have lost that game as they led 21-0 in the 2nd quarter and let it slip away.
Josh Allen was great in that 2nd half but I think we can all agree, CJ Stroud can’t hold Allen’s nuts in an orgy.
Last week at Pittsburgh Stroud struggled as he fumbled 5 times losing 2 of them and threw a pick.
He looked shaky and now faces a better defense in the Patriots and he faces them without his #1 wide receiver Nico Collins, out with a concussion.
Advantage New England.
As for the Pats offense versus this “great” Texans defense, I will just tell you this.
I don’t agree with everyone who views this Houston defense as being “elite.”
Their defensive line is but if those boys don’t get pressure, their secondary can be exposed,
See week 17 at home against the Cots and rookie QB Riley Leonard.
Now Houston was trying to win the game. To improve their seeding. Their starters across the board played!!!!!!
And look at Leonard’s numbers: 21 of 34 for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Colts put up 30 on this defense.
If Leonard was able to do that, on the road, against this defense, I am confident in Drake Maye’s ability to attack this defense as well.
Bottom line: Not taking anything away from Denver but this Patriots team has been the most dominant team in the AFC all year long.
And they will not lose this game today to this QB and this team, at home, the way they are playing right now.
Lay it as the Pats as they handle their business this afternoon.
Steve Fezzik
2* Chic Loveland OVER 4.5 catches -125
Emory Hunt
NFL
1 Unit Houston +3 -106
1 Unit Chicago +3.5 -104
King Creole
5* Over 48.5 or less Rams/Bears
Jack Jones
25*TOY Bears Over 48.5
15*Green Bay Over
15*UAB Over
20*GOW Fort Wayne
15*Kings
15*Nuggets Over
Vegas Sports Informer
5* LAR Over 48.5
Craig Trapp
7* LAR Over 48.5
Doc Sports
8U PGOY LA Rams-2.5 1st half
Executive
400% Rams
Marc Lawrence
3* Rams -3.5
JACK JONES
NFL
25*TOY Bears Over 48.5
CBB
20* GOW >> IND Fort Wayne
15*Green Bay Over
15*UAB Over
NBA
15*Kings
15*Nuggets Over
Your daily Capper
2U Texans +4
1U Rams -3
1U Sacramento ML
gunner77
gunner77
–
Will Rogers
5% New England -3
TBSportbetting
Whales
1-5 (145~105)
Whale
Texans +3.5
others
Rams under 24.5 FH
North Texas +1.5
Hornets +1.5
Bet Labs
HORNETS +1.5 (-110) 1U
TEXANS O40.5 -110 1U
Emory Hunt
NFL
1 Unit Houston +3 -106
1 Unit Chicago +3.5 -104
Bob Balfe
2025 VIP Football Record (105-98)
Texans +3 over Patriots
Rams -3.5 over Bears
Ricky Tran
GOY >> Sacramento Kings ML
Wise Guy (Luca Rossi)
NBA @930 PM TORONTO -1.5 (3.5 stars)
NHL @500 PM OTTAWA +125 (3 stars)
NFL @630 PM BEARS +4 (3 stars)
Larry Hartstein
Drake Maye Over 13.5 Longest Rush -112
NE -3
L.A. Rams Over 26.5 Total Pts -122
Puka Nacua Anytime Touchdown Scorer -115
Big Al McMordie
NFL Selections
4* Texans/Patriots Over 40.5, 3:00 pm BIG AL’S NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND TOTAL OF YEAR!
1* Bears/Rams Under 48.5, 6:30 pm
Will Brinson
Rhamondre Stevenson Over 18.5 Total Receiving Yards -118
CHI Over 50.5
RJ White
Houston Under 19.5 Total Pts -115
NE -2.5 -119
Puka Nacua Anytime Touchdown Scorer -115
Chicago +4.5 -118
Mike Tierney
NE -3
CHI Under 48.5
Joe Gavazzi
NFL PLAYOFFS – DIVISION ROUND
Sunday, Jan 18th
3% Houston Texans (+3.5) 3:00 PM ET
A weather forecast of mid 30’s with possible wintery mix on a Sunday afternoon in January in Boston should be a walk in the park for Houston QB Stroud who had numerous problems handling the ball in his last outing on MNF in Pittsburgh where the temperature was in the teens. Yet I heard no one in the broadcast booth make a reference to the frigid conditions as being a possible reason why QB Stroud, who has rarely played in sub-freezing temperatures, was having problems handling the ball. The Texans entered the 4th quarter leading only 7-6 because they were -3 Net TOs. That all evened out in the 4thquarter when Pittsburgh committed 2 turnovers and Houston scored 23 points for a 30-6 final that was far more competitive on the scoreboard for much of the game. That was not true, however, on the stat sheet where Houston totally dominated with a yardage edge of 408-175. Following that embarrassing Pittsburgh loss, Mike Tomlin resigned after 19 seasons as HC of the Steelers and will now be hunting for his next HC position which will pay him $20 million dollars/year, the amount that recently hired former Baltimore HC Harbaugh signed for with the NYG. But I digress. Little to complain about a New England team who went from 4-13 SU last season to 15-3 SU, 14-4 ATS and enters on a 4 game win streak after their 16-3 victory vs. the Chargers last Sunday on this field, a game in which they held a 381-207 edge. Key to the turnaround has been 1st year HC Vrabel, a former Patriot player who turned around the culture of this team and benefited from the 2ndyear improvement of QB May. They are a slightly superior offensive team to the visitor BUT, as we all witnessed on MNF, HOUSTON IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE TEAM IN THE LEAGUE. That includes a +17 Net TO margin, 2nd only to the Bears in what figures to be a highly competitive contest. Even though New England holds the situational advantage in terms of rest and site, my opinion still lies with Houston as underdog in a game that could well go down to the final play. In that regard, PK Fairbairn is a most reliable weapon. Hidden advantage for Houston in this one is the stats that were accrued against the #4 schedule vs. the #32 SOS of New England.
3% LA Rams (-3.5) 6:30 PM ET
Each team has 8 days’ rest with Chicago benefiting from a home/home scenario vis a vis the Rams playing consecutive road games. We faded the Rams last week as the Panthers covered the double-digit spread which now means Wild Card Playoff home dogs are 37-15 ATS. They certainly did not expend as much energy as Chicago did in yet another comeback vs. Green Bay. Staying true to this year’s MO, the Bears trailed the Packers 3-21 at halftime. True to form, however, the Bears rallied for a 31-27 win when QB Williams connected on a 4th down TDP with 5 minutes remaining. Even more remarkable is that they overcame a -2 Net TO disadvantage to get the victory. Aided by their league-best +22 Net TO margin and win chills which may approach negative degrees, there are clear reasons why the Bears could build on their record of 7 wins by 6 or less points and winning 7 games when trailing at the 2 minute mark. The Rams, however, are clearly the better statistical team holding a 1.2 Net YPPL differential, easily qualifying in all 4 categories of the defensive metrics. Those numbers are against the hardest schedule in the league vis a vis the Bears who had a #24 SOS. They will certainly be prepared for the Bears in the 2nd half.
Northcoast Sports
4.5* Playoffs Game of the Year >> Patriots -3
3.5* Rams/Bears Over 48.5
Marquee
Patriots/Texans Under 41
Rams -4
Pickswise Sports
NFL
3* Texans +3.5
3* Under 41
5* Best Bet Rams -3.5
2* Under 48.5
Alan Scozzari
Game of My Career
France Ligue 1 Nantes 0 +110
Chris King NFL
4* Bears +4
4* Over 48.5
Kevin Vallego NFL
5* Under 41
4* Patriots -3
NFL divisional playoff betting trends
Sunday
Texans at Patriots (-3, 41): The teams met last season, when Houston won and covered at Gillette Stadium by a 41-21 count. The Texans have won and covered their past five games as underdogs this season. Houston has won 13 of 15 games while going 10-5 ATS since its 0-3 start. The Texans are 0-2 straight up and 1-1 ATS in the divisional round the past two seasons. Houston has a 12-6 under record this season. The Patriots are 14-1 straight up and 12-3 ATS since their 1-2 start. They were on a 5-0 over run before going under in last week’s 16-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Edge: Slight to under and Patriots.
Rams (-4, 48) at Bears: The last meeting between these teams was Sept. 29, 2024, at Soldier Field, when the Bears (-3) won and covered by a 24-18 score. The Rams had covered three straight playoff games before falling short as 10½-point favorites in last week’s 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers. Los Angeles is on a 9-4 ATS run overall but is 4-4 ATS in its past eight road games. The Rams are on a 7-0 over run. The Bears are on a 7-2 spread surge as underdogs, and they have won six of their past seven home games while going 5-2 ATS. Chicago is on a 6-2 under run at home. Edge: Bears and slight to over.
PATRIOTS (-3) over Texans
“It’s hard to find value with sharp playoff lines, but New England shows value in my model. They get the benefit of home cooking and field the possible MVP in quarterback Drake Maye,” said pro bettor Cris Zeniuk (@lasvegascris). “Experienced coaching will be a benefit versus the very capable Texans, who are faced with key injuries, not to mention some seriously poor play by quarterback C.J. Stroud last week.
“I also like a money line parlay of Seattle and New England for +105.”
Texans (+3½) over PATRIOTS
“I bet Houston +3½ and still like it at +3 even,” said pro bettor Randy McKay (@RR39), who correctly called the Texans’ win and cover over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. “The Texans defense reminds me of the 2001 Baltimore Ravens. Hopefully quarterback C.J. Stroud doesn’t mess it up like he did versus the Steelers (with three turnovers).
“I believe their offensive line is better than the Patriots’ and will have the offensive success that the Los Angeles Chargers didn’t (in last week’s 16-3 wild-card loss). New England is still a young team, and Houston’s experience will win out.”
ATS.bet
NFL Playoffs Sunday 1/18/26
4Units: New England Patriots -3 (-120)
Scott Pritchard
Texans (13-5) at Patriots (15-3)
Time: Noon Sunday, ABC, ESPN
Line/total: Patriots -3, 41
Analysis: The lopsided matchup that should decide this game is the Patriots’ top-four scoring defense against the Texans’ below-average offense in yards gained. To make matters worse for Houston, it’s expected to be without No. 1 wide receiver Nico Collins (concussion). If Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has a comparable number of interceptions and fumbles (five) as he did in last week’s win in Pittsburgh, the pressure will be too much to bear even for Houston’s top-rated defense as it attempts to contain New England’s top-four passing offense and No. 5 scoring offense. This is the Texans’ third straight year in the divisional round of the playoffs, and it should also be their third straight loss, unless Patriots’ second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s playoff inexperience results in an uncharacteristic meltdown.
Pick: Patriots 27, Texans 17
————————————————————————————-
Rams (13-5) at Bears (12-6)
Time: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC
Line/total: Rams -4, 48
Analysis: Expect painfully cold single-digit temperatures with the wind chill for this game. Snow in the forecast might be the only thing that can help a bottom-10 Bears defense slow down the NFL’s No. 1 passing and scoring offense. This is exactly the kind of defense Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford delights in facing as he airs it out to wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua broke the NFL record for fastest to 250 career receptions and led the league with 129 catches this season. Adams, not to be outdone, led the NFL with in receiving touchdown (14) and red zone touchdowns (12). The Rams’ top-10 scoring defense should provide just enough resistance to a talented Bears offense, which ranks third in rushing, to give Los Angeles an insurmountable lead.
Pick: Rams 34, Bears 17
Pamela Maldonado,
ESPN: Patriots
Marco
4% Texans
Sleepy J
3 * NE PATS -3.0
Wayne Root
Reserve – Houston +3
Reserve – LA Rams -3’
Gianni the Greek
5% [NFL] (387) Houston Texans at (388) New England Patriots Time: 3:00 PM EST Houston Texans +3.5 (-115)
4% [NFL] (387) Houston Texans at (388) New England Patriots Time: 3:00 PM EST Over 40.5
3% [NFL] PROP PICKS Houston Texans at Patriots: Woody Marks Longest Rush Under 12.5 (-140
4% [NFL] Rams at (394) Chicago Bears: Total Under 49.0
4% [NFL] Los Angeles Rams -3.0
3% [NFL] PROP PICKS Rams – Bears Kyren Williams Rushing Yards Over 59.5 (-11
Bruce Marshall
NFL
Chicago Bears +4 (-110)
Rams/Bears Over 48′ (-110)
New England Patriots -3 (-113)
Ricky tran
Goy Sacramento kings ml
William Burns
Detroit red wings