NFL Wild Card lessons can help you make your Divisional Round bets

The NFL regular season was all about two things — the under and the underdogs. Both hit at 55% clip. But that wasn't the case in the Wild Card Round. Let's recap this past weekend's Wild Card games, and look ahead at this week's Divisional Round matchups.

Over goes 5-1 in Wild Card Round

The under finished .500 or better in all 18 weeks of the regular season, but the under managed to hit just once in the Wild Card Round. The total points for Monday's Dallas vs. Tampa Bay game was set at 45.5, and thanks to the hook, the under barely hit as the Cowboys beat the Buccaneers, 31-14.

Underdogs close out Wild Card round on high note

Underdogs dominated the spread in the regular season, and that didn't change in the first round of the postseason. Underdogs went 4-2 against the spread in the Wild Card Round, and are now 20-10 (67%) over the last five postseasons. 

Moneyline favorites, top seeds stand tall

Only two moneyline favorites — Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers — and two of the higher-seeded teams — Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers — failed to win outright during the Wild Card Round. 

Giants' streak against the spread continues

The New York Giants were the best team in the NFL during the regular season against the spread at 13-4, and so far in the postseason, they're 1-0. New York has covered ATS in five straight games and seven of its last eight following Sunday's upset win over Minnesota.

49ers, Bengals extend winning streak

San Francisco and Cincinnati both extended winning streaks after winning their Wild Card games over the weekend. The 49ers have now won a league-best 11 consecutive games while the Bengals have won an AFC-best nine straight games. 

Cowboys crush Bucs, record first road playoff win 30 years and snap Brady's unbeaten streak

Monday night's 31-14 win over Tampa Bay wasn't just Mike McCarthy's first postseason win as head coach of the Cowboys or Dallas' first playoff victory since 2018. It was also the franchise's first road playoff win since 1992. Dallas' win on Monday night also snapped Tom Brady's perfect 7-0 record against the franchise. 

Worst bet ever?

When the Chargers went up 27-0 over the Jaguars on Saturday, a bettor put $1.4 million on Los Angeles to win the game outright, which would have netted $11,200. However, Jacksonville came back to beat LAC, 31-30, on a walk-off 36-yard field goal from Riley Patterson. 

Six-leg touchdown parlay wins bettor $142K

One bettor won $142,000 after Dalton Schultz completed a six-leg touchdown parlay on Monday. The bettor took D.K. Metcalf, Evan Engram, Dawson Knox, Isaiah Hodgins, J.K. Dobbins and Schultz to each score at least one touchdown in the Wild Card Round. 

Divisional Round Playoff Game Previews

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs 

Spread: KC (-2.5)

Total Points: 52

The Jaguars have won five straight games and have covered the spread in four of their last five. Kansas City has won five straight games and beat Jacksonville, 27-17 in the regular season, but were the fourth-worst team ATS at 6-10-1. Both teams were 9-8 against the under during the regular season. 

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Spread: PHI (-7.5)

Total Points: 48

Philadelphia beat the New York Giants both times in the regular season, and both teams split ATS. Both teams also split in the regular on the over/under, however, the over has hit in four of the Giants' last five games. 

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills

Spread: BUF (-5)

Total Points: 50.5

These two teams were supposed to face each other in Week 17, however, due to Damar Hamlin's life-threatening injury sustained midway through the first quarter, the game was declared a no-contest. The Bengals were the best team in the AFC against the spread at 12-5 while Buffalo has hit against the over in four consecutive games.

Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers

Spread: SF (-3.5)

Total Points: 46

San Francisco has won a league-best 11 consecutive games and have covered the over in four consecutive games while Dallas has hit on the under in three straight games. In 38 career meetings, Dallas is 19-18-1, however, San Francisco has won the last two playoff games between the two teams.