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We are officially into the practice week for the 2020 NFL Playoffs. The AFC Wild Card round matchups take place Saturday, so the Patriots, Titans, Texans, and Bills all got in their first practice on Tuesday. The NFC Wild Card matchups take place Sunday, so the Saints, Vikings, Eagles, and Seahawks will all kick off practice on Wednesday.
The practice participation reports will give us a better handle on which injuries are worth noting heading into the weekend. If you’re trying to figure out who to bet on in the Wild Card round, the injury reports are critical pieces of information.
Before that info is fully clear, we’ve got some mid-week betting splits from DraftKings Sportsbook. These offer detail on how the public is betting each of the games between the point spread, point total, and money line. Each of the four games offers a little something different to note.
Bills @ Texans
The underdog Bills are getting a lot of love in this one. 64 percent of the point spread handle is on Buffalo -2.5, but more importantly, 67 percent of the money line handle is on the Bills to get the outright upset. I’m a little surprised to see the over getting more money than the under given the Bills defense and Josh Allen’s shakiness.
Titans @ Patriots
The Patriots are 20-3 straight up and 13-9-1 against the spread in home playoff games during the Brady/Belichick era. Bettors appear ready to fade the legends, with a majority betting Tennessee +5, and an even split of handle on the money line. Bettor beware!
Vikings @ Saints
This is the most lop-sided game for sports bettors. 82 percent of the point spread handle and 91 percent of the money line handle is on the Saints. Bettors also expect a shootout, with 92 percent of the handle over the point total of 49.5.
Seahawks @ Eagles
The Eagles opened as field goal favorites, but that line flipped in a hurry and Seattle is now a two-point favorite. The betting public is firmly in support of that move.
Wild Card betting splits, Wednesday
| Team | Spread | % Handle | % Bets | Total | % Handle | % Bets | Money Line | % Handle | % Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Spread | % Handle | % Bets | Total | % Handle | % Bets | Money Line | % Handle | % Bets |
| BUF Bills | 2.5 | 64% | 56% | Over 43.5 | 71% | 57% | 125 | 67% | 62% |
| HOU Texans | -2.5 | 36% | 44% | Under 43.5 | 29% | 43% | -141 | 33% | 38% |
| TEN Titans | 5 | 56% | 58% | Over 44 | 67% | 58% | 190 | 50% | 48% |
| NE Patriots | -5 | 44% | 42% | Under 44 | 33% | 42% | -225 | 50% | 52% |
| MIN Vikings | 8 | 18% | 23% | Over 49.5 | 92% | 83% | 290 | 9% | 9% |
| NO Saints | -8 | 82% | 77% | Under 49.5 | 8% | 17% | -345 | 91% | 91% |
| SEA Seahawks | -2 | 85% | 76% | Over 45.5 | 43% | 53% | -125 | 71% | 64% |
| PHI Eagles | 2 | 15% | 24% | Under 45.5 | 57% | 47% | 110 | 29% | 36% |
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