bimmercandoWeekend football predictions: Pro sports bettors pick NFL playoff games
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At first glance, the Buffalo Bills appear to finally have a clear path back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994.
Their playoff nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs, who eliminated the Bills from four of the past five postseasons, are out of the picture.
But professional sports bettor Cris Zeniuk and CBS Sportsline handicapper Bruce Marshall still expect the Bills to bow out of the playoffs early again this season.
They made the Jacksonville Jaguars their best bet of the NFL’s wild-card weekend Sunday as 1-point home underdogs to the Bills.
“There is no team with more pressure to win this playoff season than Buffalo,” said Zeniuk (@lasvegascris). “The Jags sputtered a bit early this year, but new coaching and acquisitions have settled in nicely, and they have the best stats over the last five weeks in the NFL.
“The Jags are playing with confidence and poise, (quarterback) Trevor (Lawrence) has stopped the mistakes, and they have home cooking to face a less than 100 percent (Bills quarterback) Josh Allen. The numbers say Jacksonville is the better team, and the pressure is on the entire Bills team.”
Allen is 0-4 straight up and against the spread on the road in the playoffs, and the Bills have lost eight straight road playoff games dating to 1995.
“Though Allen remains capable of magical moments, and James Cook led all NFL rushers with 1,621 yards, on the other side this was far from an elite Buffalo defense in 2025, especially versus the run, where the Bills ranked 28th,” Marshall said. “Meanwhile, the Jags are hot, having won and covered eight straight, including a takedown of the Broncos in Denver three weeks ago. The defense is loaded with ball hawks in the secondary.”
Pro bettor Scott Pritchard and Las Vegas Review-Journal NFL Challenge champion Jay Kornegay made Green Bay their best bet.
“There is a reason a seventh seed is favored on the road versus a No. 2 seed,” said Pritchard (Pritchardspicks.com). “The Bears are overrated.”
Sunday EAGLES (-5) over 49ers
“A fresh Philly team who rested last week should have their way with a banged-up 49ers team,” said pro bettor Chuck Edel (@chuckedel). “San Fran has had trouble on both sides of the ball and is struggling versus playoff teams.”
Monday Texans (-3) over STEELERS
Whitelaw and pro bettor Randy McKay expect the Houston Texans to end the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 23-game home winning streak on “Monday Night Football.”
“Bad matchup for Pittsburgh versus Houston’s No. 1-rated defense,” said McKay (@RR39). “On the other side of the ball, I trust (Texans quarterback C.J.) Stroud and company to have more success against a Pittsburgh defense that has secondary issues to make big plays to win and cover.”
Whitelaw expects the Texans to shut down the Steelers.
“I don’t think Pittsburgh is going to be able to move the ball much on them,” he said. “I think the Texans win this one moderately easily.”
Texans-STEELERS under 38
Dumond recommends a play on the under on Monday, noting that the Texans allow only 17.4 points per game and the Steelers have surrendered only 19 points per game in their past four.
“Despite both sides being involved in high-scoring affairs last week, we expect the defenses to control this game,” he said.
NFL wild-card playoff betting breakdown:
NFL BETTING BREAKDOWN
Scott Pritchard
Bills (12-5) at Jaguars (13-4)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday, CBS
Line/total: Pick, 51½
Analysis: The Bills have lost eight road playoff games in a row. The game will feature their top-ranked rush offense against the Jaguars’ top-ranked rush defense. But the dam might break when Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen attacks Jacksonville’s vulnerable bottom-12 pass defense, and the Jaguars’ pass-reliant offense stalls against the Bills’ top-ranked pass defense.
Pick: Bills 31, Jaguars 24
49ers (12-5) at Eagles (11-6)
Time: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox
Line/total: Eagles -5½, 44½
Analysis: The Eagles paid a heavy price last week when they rested their starters and lost to the Commanders. Had Philadelphia won, it would have earned the NFC’s No. 2 seed. It’s not a move most teams would make, but Eagles coach Nick Sirianni thought the rest could spark a change in the defending Super Bowl champions. But a seasonlong bottom-nine offense and a defense that can’t stop the run will struggle with any amount of rest against this stellar 49ers rush defense and a San Francisco offense that ranks first in third-down conversion percentage.
Pick: 49ers 24, Eagles 20
Chargers (11-6) at Patriots (14-3)
Time: 5:15 p.m. Sunday, NBC
Line/total: Patriots -3½, 45½
Analysis: These two elite defenses, both ranked in the top four in crucial categories, will square off in the freezing temperatures of Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday night. Temperatures this cold never boost an offense, so the question might be which offense has the extra firepower to exert its will over the opposing team’s stalwart defense. The Patriots have the distinct advantage in the offensive department, ranking top five in all major categories, while the Chargers are middling in the same categories, especially points per game, where they rank 20th. A win brings the Patriots their first home playoff victory since 2018.
Pick: Patriots 24, Chargers 20
Texans (12-5) at Steelers (10-7)
Time: 5:15 p.m. Monday, ABC, ESPN
Line/total: Texans -3, 38
Analysis: The Pittsburgh Steelers have won 23 straight home games on “Monday Night Football.” Pair that streak with this one: In the Texans’ 24-year franchise history, they have yet to win a road playoff game, going 0-6. Houston’s top-ranked defense will try to end these streaks, and you can be sure Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have had many late-night film sessions this week looking for a weakness to exploit.
Pick: Steelers 20, Texans 17