The Put up’s Erich Richter makes his picks and predictions for the NFL’s Wild Card Spherical.
TEXANS (+3) over Chargers
On common, 1.5 upsets happen per Wild Card weekend, residence underdogs are 16-14 straight up all time, and total underdogs are 69-105.
Favorites have dominated the NFL in latest weeks, however I don’t see that stopping historical past from repeating in these playoffs.
Saturday’s first sport ought to be a defensive wrestle and a sack fest supreme because the Chargers and Justin Herbert match up with the Houston Texans’ vaunted protection.
Houston’s line of defense is ferocious, rating first in go rush win charge and second in run cease win charge.
That’s an unbelievable quantity for an awesome protection that can also be rated No. 3 in defense-adjusted worth over common (DVOA).
I’m not anticipating both workforce to place up many factors on Saturday.
The Chargers’ protection can also be rated No. 9 in DVOA, so anticipate an oddball rating; maybe an 18-16 sport the place both workforce can win.
RAVENS (-9.5) over Steelers
It’s the rubber match of a three-game set when the Steelers head over to Baltimore for a divisional rivalry.
The Ravens are the league’s No. 1 rated workforce in DVOA, and if not for his or her latest historical past of arising brief within the playoffs, they’d possible be Tremendous Bowl favorites.
The truth is nobody trusts them after dropping to the Chiefs final yr as reasonable favorites, the place they outgained Kansas Metropolis 5.9 to 4.4 yards per play.
Betting on the NFL?
Chances are you’ll overlook that the Ravens mashed a red-hot Texans workforce within the divisional spherical of the playoffs 34-10.
The Steelers are taking part in their worst soccer of the season, dropping 4 straight video games.
The Steelers have the second-worst yards per go try within the NFL throughout that stretch, behind solely Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Bailey Zappe, and the Browns.
Yikes.
Final week: 4-10
Season: 113-131-3.
