Wildcard Weekend Free Picks and Predictions

The NFL regular season is over. The playoffs landscape is set. All that’s left, are the teams that will be battling it out to get the coveted wild cards which means that you can expect some all out battles coming up and with those, the opportunity to make some extra money at the start of the new year. Keep reading to get your free wild card picks.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Houston Texans

• Time: Saturday, January 09, 2016 4:35 PM ET
• Place: NRG Stadium
• Betting Line: Chiefs -3. Over/Under 40.5.

Did you expect it? We didn’t. Having sported a 1-5 record at some point in the regular season, the Chiefs didn’t seem to have a prayer to make it this far. Yet, here there are, battling it out to get one of the wild cards. And, their opponent happens to be a team that they beat at the start of the season: The Houston Texans.

Chiefs Analysis

The Chiefs pulled out all the stops and it paid off for them. Capping a 10-game winning streak, they toppled the Oakland Raiders on Sunday 23-17 and earned their chance for a wild card.

You really need to give this team credit for a job well done. Kansas City’s defense has been especially solid and with the return of Justin Houston and Tambi Hali, they’ll be riling the Texans’ offense all afternoon long. Cornerback Marcus Peters will also be a threat to Houston’s passing game, leading the team with eight interceptions.

On offense, quarterback Alex Smith could make a few improvements to his passing game. Houston’s front seven is tough to get through and neither Spencer Ware or Charcandrick West might be able to run the ball effectively.

Texans Analysis

The Texans closed out the AFC South with a convincing win over the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-6. With a healthy J.J. Watt, the Texans now have one of the most solid defensive fronts they could hope for. Watt wreaked havoc in their game against the Jaguars with three sacks, two batted passes, eight tackles and a forced fumble. Along with Whitney Mercilus, they have everything they need to stop the Chiefs dead in their tracks.

On offense, the Texans are lacking a big play maker in the quarterback position, though wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has balanced out this weakness and will be ready, regardless of which QB takes the field on Sunday.

Betting Trends:

• Kansas City is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
• Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
• Kansas City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
• Houston is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
• Houston is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games

Free Pick: It’ll be close, but the Texans defense will stop the Chiefs. Take the Texans at +3. 

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals

• Time: Saturday, January 09, 2016 8:15 PM ET
• Place: Paul Brown Stadium
• Betting Line: Steelers -2.5; Over/Under 47

The stars lined up for the Steelers in week 17. However, for the Bengals, everything went South and now they face a rocky-road ahead in trying to defeat Pittsburgh at Paul Brown Stadium.

Steelers Analysis

Everything went right for the Steelers last Sunday, with the Jets losing and their win over the Browns, which earned them a spot as the second AFC wild card. Heading into their game against the Bengals, Pittsburgh seems to have the upper hand with plenty of weapons in their arsenal to win the game. Big Ben Roethlisberger’s passing game is second to none and he could end up scoring big.

Bengals Analysis

Though winning over Baltimore, the Bengals could not secure a first round bye and with that losing the extra recovery time for Andy Dalton to heal. Fill in AJ McCarron might not have what it takes to get the job done.

It might be up to the defense to win this game. Ranked as the second best scoring defense, the Bengals could pose problems for a Steelers offense which has struggled against division rivals.

Betting Trends 

• Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Pittsburgh's last 9 games on the road
• Cincinnati is 12-3-1 ATS in its last 16 games
• Cincinnati is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Cincinnati's last 10 games

Free Pick: The Bengals will keep it close all game long, though the Steelers will win. Take the Steelers at -2.5.

Seattle Seahawks vs Minnesota Vikings

• Time: Sunday, January 10, 2016 1:05 PM ET
• Place: TCF Bank Stadium
• Betting Line: Seahawks -5.5. Over/Under 42. 

Seattle is still alive to snatch up Super Bowl 50 with a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. However, to do this they’ll need to get through the Vikings who are playing at home in TCF Bank Stadium.

Seahawks Analysis

The Seahawks are here to stay. At least that’s what it seems after their win over Arizona 36-6. Russell Wilson was fantastic in passing the ball, putting up 197 yards and three scores without a single interception. And, with Marshawn Lynch possibly being back for this game, Seattle is well poised to win it.

On defense, Seattle also has everything it needs to stop the Vikings as they did the first time around they played, when they kept them to under 125 yards in total.

Vikings Analysis

The Vikings toppled Green Bay on Sunday, which earned them this meeting with Seattle. They’ll be playing at home which is an advantage being that their offense is not all too great. Their greatest weapon is perhaps their ground game, with Adrian Peterson leading the attack. However, if they’re to win quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will have to kick his passing game up a notch.

Betting Trends

• Seattle is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
• Seattle is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games
• Minnesota is 13-2 ATS in its last 15 games
• Minnesota is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
• Minnesota is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games at home

Free Pick: Seattle will win and cover, take them at -5.5.

Green Bay Packers vs Washington Redskins

• Time: Sunday, January 10, 2016 4:40 PM ET
• Place: FedExField
• Betting Line: Redskins -1; Over/Under 45.5. 

The Redskins bagged the NFC East riding a four game winning streak to end the regular season. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will attempt to take advantage of their quarterback’s experience to win the wild card. 

Packers Analysis

Green Bay has had all sorts of problems on offense. Rodgers has been unable to find his flow over the last couple of games and it’s something he’ll need to adjust before this game. Their running game has also been struggling as of late; Eddie Lacy has run for just 94 yards in the past two games, while James Starks has 35 yards with a lost fumble. Both Lacy and Starks could do well shine in this game, though. Washington is allowing 4.8 yards per carry this season and ranks 26^th in the league with 122.6 yards allowed per game.

On defense, the Packers might pose a problem for the Redskins passing game. With Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews leading the pass rush, Green Bay just might be able to slow Washington enough to allow Rodgers to work his magic.

Redskins Analysis

Kirk Cousins is in the flow and he’ll be carrying this momentum into this game. After a huge win at Dallas on Sunday, the Redskins seem to be the better team. Of course, they have the home field advantage in this game and this means plenty for this team because of the success they’ve had playing at FedEx Field in the regular season. Cousins though, will have to be at his best against a Packers defense that is ranked ninth in the league with 16 interceptions for the season. It’s likely however, that Cousins will not even have to pass the ball as much if their running game is successful against Green Bay’s leaky run defense. Washington will need the offense to score many points on the board early against Green Bay. This will help out their sketchy defense, that is allowing 380.6 yards (28^th in the league) and 23.7 points per game (16^th in the league).

Betting Trends:

• Green Bay is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Green Bay's last 13 games
• Green Bay is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
• Washington is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
• Washington is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games

Free Pick: Take Washington at -1, they’ll cover.