NFL Betting Trends Divisional Playoffs

The NFL betting trends in playoffs include a couple of hot teams in the NFC with Carolina facing Seattle and two quarterbacks on the mend facing each other with Denver’s Peyton Manning pitted against Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

Can Cam Newton live up to the hype of the 15-1 season and beat a Seattle team that has won four of the last five games against the Panthers?

What kind of drama will unfold in New England, where the Patriots host Kansas City in the first playoff game between the two long-standing franchises?

Will the defenses rule the games between Green Bay and Arizona despite Aaron Rodgers and Carson Palmer, respectively, leading their offenses? Can Pittsburgh and Denver follow their trend of high-scoring games with ailing quarterbacks Roethlisberger and Manning leading the way?

The following is a look at some of the NFL betting trends pertaining to the divisional round this weekend:

Kansas City at New England (-5)

Over/under: 41.5 points

Kansas City is heading into the home of Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Few come out alive, especially in the playoffs. The Patriots are 13-3 in Foxborough, Mass., since the 2001 playoffs. They have won their last four playoff games there over the previous three seasons.

The Chiefs have never faced the Patriots in the playoffs but they have lost the last five games straight up (SU) at New England. Overall, Kansas City is 2-5 SU against the Patriots in the last seven games they have played.

Kansas City, with one of the best defenses in the NFL, at least has momentum on its side with an 11-game winning streak SU after starting the season 1-5.

A low-scoring game usually takes place between these teams as the total has gone UNDER in four out of their last five meetings. Kansas City has scored 13 points combined in its last two trips to Foxborough (34-3 loss in 2011 and 17-10 setback in 2008).

Green Bay at Arizona (-7)

Over/under: 49.5 points

Judging by the records alone, Green Bay is in good shape. The Packers are 7-3 SU against the Cardinals in their last 10 meetings. Green Bay is 17-8 overall in its last 25 games.

The series history did not mean anything, however, when Arizona routed Green Bay 38-8 in Week 16 of the season in Glendale, Ariz. This record might have more meaning because of how the Cardinals play at home: They are 13-3 SU in their last 16 games there.

Perhaps the best trend to lean on is the fact that Green Bay and Arizona, both of which have capable defenses, have gone UNDER in five of their last seven games against each other.

Arizona will be hard-pressed to score 38 points again against Green Bay. The Packers allowed two scores in the last meeting off turnovers close to their own end zone.

Seattle at Carolina (-2.5)

Over/under: 43.5 points

This game could come down to who has the better game – Carolina’s Cam Newton or Seattle’s Russell Wilson – because both teams enter the game very even and on a hot streak.

The Panthers have achieved a league-best 15-1 record this season while Seattle has emerged from a 4-5 start to go 7-1 SU the last eight games.

Although Seattle has a solid defense, Carolina generally is a good bet to see the total go OVER as the Panthers’ games have done so in five of their last seven games. The two teams have combined for 50 points this season (27-23 win for Carolina at Seattle) and 48 points last season (31-17 win by Seattle at home over Carolina in the divisional round).

The Seahawks have the series edge, winning five of the last six games SU against the Panthers, including the last three games in Charlotte, N.C., from 2012 through 2014.

Pittsburgh at Denver (-7)

Over/under: 39 points

Another game that should come down to the play of the quarterback as Peyton Manning is trying to revive his season from an injury while Ben Roethlisberger is trying to bounce back from a shoulder injury from last week’s win at Cincinnati.

One thing is certain: Denver has the upper-hand in the series and the game will be played at Mile High Stadium, a bonus for the Broncos. Denver is 4-1-1 against the spread (ATS) against Pittsburgh in their last six games. Pittsburgh is 2-4 against the Broncos SU in their last six games. Denver is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games at Mile High Stadium.

Generally when the Steelers and Broncos play, they go OVER the total as they have done in six of their last seven meetings. It will be interesting to see if that takes shape again with how each cautious quarterback will face a serious pass rush on each side.