Wild Card Weekend: NFL Experts Make Their Picks For First Round of NFL Playoffs
The NFL playoffs begin today with four games during wild card weekend. The New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers look like locks for the second round while the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos will be hoping for a miracle.
Game 1: Houston Texans Vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Saturday @ 4:30)
The Line: Texans by 3 1/2
The first game during wild card weekend will be between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans. The experts at ESPN are split right down the middle on this one. SB Nation is also a little unsure but says that in the end the Bengals will pull out the win.
“I’ve been going back and forth on this all week, more so than any other game on the schedule. In the end, I think the Bengals pull it out. The Texans have lost three in a row and they’re starting a quarterback with even less experience than the Bengals’ Andy Dalton.”
Game 2: New Orleans Saints Vs. Detroit Lions (Saturday @ 8:00)
The Line: Saints by 10 1/2
The Texans and Bengals game might be up in the air, but everyone pretty much agrees that the Saints will come out of this one with a victory. Nine of the ten experts at ESPN picked the Saints over the Lions. SB Nation, although it admits that the Lions could pull off an upset, also gives the victory to the Saints.
Game 3: Atlanta Falcons Vs. New York Giants (Sunday @ 1:00)
The line: Giants by 3
The Falcons – Giants game is another toss up. The Detroit Free Press writes:
“The Giants have been hot and cold: a 6-2 start, a 3-1 finish. If the Falcons’ line can control the Giants’ pass rush, Atlanta likely has too many weapons for the secondary.”
The ESPN experts are split down the middle on this one as well, while SB Nation gives the Giants the win by four.
Game 4: Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Denver Broncos. (Sunday @ 4:30)
The Line: 8 1/2
If there’s a sure thing during wild card weekend, it comes during the Steelers – Broncos game. If Tebow’s streak of miracles hasn’t officially ended yet, the Steelers top 10 defense will make sure to end this Sunday. All the experts at ESPN picked the Steelers, as well as the crew at SB Nation.
Are you going to be watching the NFL Playoffs during Wild Card weekend? Do you think that the Saints, Steelers, Bengals and Giants will advance to round two?
You can check out the Super Bowl XLVI odds here.
