
The NFL Divisional Round is one of the most exciting weekends in football, and betting odds always reflect the competitive nature of these matchups. With the top teams vying for a spot in the conference championships, sportsbooks set lines and totals based on team form, injuries, home-field advantage, and head-to-head histories. Here’s a general breakdown of what to look for when betting on the NFL Divisional Round.
Key Factors Driving Divisional Round Odds
Point Spreads
The point spread is designed to level the playing field by assigning points to the underdog or subtracting points from the favorite. For instance:
Team A -6.5 vs. Team B +6.5
This means Team A is favored by 6.5 points, and they must win by 7 or more to cover the spread. Team B can cover if they win outright or lose by 6 points or fewer.
In the Divisional Round, home teams are often favorites due to their higher seed and bye week. However, upsets are not uncommon, and sharp bettors often look for strong underdog plays.
Moneyline
Betting on the moneyline simply means picking a winner outright. Odds for the favorite are represented with a minus (-) sign, while the underdog is represented with a plus (+) sign. For example:
Team A -200: You’d have to bet $200 to win $100.
Team B +180: A $100 bet would win you $180.
In the Divisional Round, favorites are often priced low on the moneyline, so betting on underdogs could offer significant value, especially if you believe in their ability to pull off the upset.