NFL Wild Card Odds: Avoid Miami and Las Vegas, Take Ravens and Cardinals

With just three weeks left in the NFL regular season, the hunt for the Playoffs is red hot. With most of the divisions seemingly locked up, except for a few, much attention is being paid towards which teams will clinch a Wild Card spot.

Keep in mind, each conference now has three Wild Card spots available. This rule was just implemented in 2020.

NFL betting sites have released odds for the teams currently battling for a Wild Card spot in each conference. Let’s huddle up to look at these odds and see if we can spike some of these predictions.

The AFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2)
3. Buffalo Bills (10-3)
4. Tennessee Titans (9-4)

Wild Card

1. Cleveland Browns (9-3)
2. Indianapolis Colts (9-4)
3. Miami Dolphins (8-5)
4. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
5. Las Vegas Raiders (7-6)
6. New England Patriots (6-7)

Currently, the AFC has eight teams that are still mathematically alive to make the Playoffs. However, Denver (5-8) will be eliminated this weekend if they lose or Baltimore Ravens or Miami Dolphins win. So, online betting sites are focused just on the Titans through the Patriots.

🔥 26 CAR

🔥 215 YDS

🔥 2 TDs

There’s just something about @KingHenry_2 when he returns home to play Jacksonville.@Titans | #Titans pic.twitter.com/f9RyO52Eap

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2020

Tennessee Titans (9-4)

• Yes (-1200)
• No (+740)

Currently, the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts are tied at 9-4, but it’s Tennessee who holds the tie breaker as they have a better divisional record heading into Week 15.

The Titans finish off the year against the Lions, Packers and Texans. I fully expect Tennessee to go at least 2-1 down the stretch, which means the Colts would have to go at least 3-0 to win the division.

Even if the Titans lose to the Texans, but win against the Packers and the Lions, the Colts will need to still go 3-0 in order to win the division. I do not see that happening.

There’s a chance that the Titans could sweep the rest of their games as the Lions and Packers are terrible against the run and Houston has nothing left to play for.

Tennessee will make the Playoffs, but they will do so as the AFC South divisional winner and not as a Wild Card team.

Cleveland Browns (9-4)

• Yes (-950)
• No (+100)

Right now, the Browns are the 5^th seed and can control their own destiny by winning at least two of their last three games. That would require teams like the Ravens and the Dolphins to win out, which will be tough in Miami’s case.

After losing in a fantastic Week 14 MNF matchup against the Ravens, the Browns need a couple of wins to secure their Playoff chances. Furthermore, the Ravens now own the head to head tie breaker against Cleveland.

Fortunately for the Browns, they have the tie breaker over the Colts since they beat Indy this year. Additionally, Cleveland gets to play the Giants and Jets before closing out against a struggling Steelers team who have already clinched a Playoff spot.

One more win and the Steelers will get the AFC North. Pittsburgh plays Cincy in Week 15, which means that they will have the division sewed up by Week 17 and the Browns could potentially be playing against a Steelers team that’s resting its starters for the Playoffs.

Even if they don’t end up as the 5^th seed, I expect the Browns to be one of the three AFC Wild Card teams.

Indianapolis Colts (9-4)

• Yes (-800)
• No (+530)

As mentioned above, the Colts need to win out to have a shot at the AFC South title. It seems to be a tall task for a team that still has to play the Steelers in Week 16. Indy does play Houston and Jacksonville, which means they should be able to go 2-1 and lock up one of the Wild Card spots.

Miami Dolphins (8-5)

• Yes (+215)
• No (-270)

Currently, the Miami Dolphins are sitting in the 7^th spot which means they would make the postseason if the Playoffs started this weekend. However, it’s entirely possible that the Dolphins fade down the final stretch of the season as they have a tough schedule.

Basically, Miami is playing in two Playoff eliminators in consecutive weeks as they face the Patriots in Week 15 and at the Raiders in Week 16.

Miami holds the tie breaker against Baltimore, but would need to win all three of their remaining games to secure a Playoff spot as the Ravens will win out.

That’s a tough task for the Dolphins considering both the Patriots and the Raiders are still in the Playoff hunt as well. The Raiders have an easier final three games than the Dolphins, so that Week 16 matchup could decide who gets the final Wild Card spot.

Right now, I would say that Miami falls out of the hunt for the Playoffs. They should beat the Patriots in Week 15, but I think they will get tripped up in Las Vegas or at Buffalo in the final week of the season.

Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

• Yes (-850)
• No (+560)

Of all the teams still fighting for a Playoff spot, the Ravens have the easiest remaining schedule as they play against the Jaguars, Giants and Bengals.

With the exciting last second win over the Browns in Week 14, Baltimore put themselves in a tremendous position to make the Playoffs despite a mid-season slump.

AU-TUCK-MATIC‼️‼️‼️@jtuck9 THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS ‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/pXiU1AmwYq

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 15, 2020

There’s no reason to think that the Ravens won’t sweep their final three games and enter the Playoffs as the team that nobody wants to face.

Las Vegas Raiders (7-6)

• Yes (+390)
• No (-550)

The loss to Indy in Week 14 pretty much put the Raiders on the outside looking in. With games against the Chargers, Dolphins and Broncos to close out the season, Las Vegas needs to win out and get some help to get into the postseason. One more loss and they’re eliminated.

Unfortunately, I just don’t see Las Vegas being able to sweep their final three games. They have the worst defense of all the teams in the Playoff hunt and they don’t match up well against the Dolphins.

Even if they do sweep and go 10-6, that’s not enough to guarantee that they will make it in. The Wild Card teams might all have 11 wins.

New England Patriots (6-7)

• Yes (+2000)
• No (-5000)

The New England Patriots need several teams to either go 1-2 or 0-3 down the stretch, along with winning out, in order to have a small shot at the final Wild Card spot. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. In fact, it’s safe to say that the Patriots Dynasty is over.

The Patriots loss was their 7th of the season, meaning that New England will finish with fewer than 10 wins for the first time since 2002.

That snaps a streak of 17 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins, the longest streak in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/3ASFVnBS7H

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 11, 2020

New England has Miami in Week 15 and a MNF matchup with the Bills in Week 16. There’s no way that they win both games. That offense has no passing attack and both the Dolphins and the Bills would love to be the team that eliminates New England from the postseason.

The NFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. Green Bay Packers (10-3)
2. New Orleans Saints(10-3)
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-4)
4. Washington Football Team (6-7)

Wild Card

1. Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
3. Arizona Cardinals (7-6)
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)
5. Chicago Bears (6-7)
6. Detroit Lions (5-8)
7. San Francisco 49ers (5-8)
8. New York Giants (5-8)
9. Philadelphia Eagles (4-8-1)

The NFC still has most of the teams mathematically alive for a Wild Card spot. However, most of the stragglers like the 49ers, Lions, Cowboys, and Panthers will be eliminated from the Wild Card hunt in Week 15. The NFL sports betting sites are only focused on the following four teams:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)

• Yes (-2500)
• No (+1400)

Currently, the Buccaneers are in the 6^th spot one game back of Seattle and one game ahead of the Cardinals. However, of the teams fighting for a Wild Card spot in the NFC, the Bucs have the easiest remaining schedule.

Tampa Bay plays against the Lions and the Falcons twice. Both teams are pretty much out of the Playoff picture and shouldn’t put up too much of a challenge.

Which darkhorse team is poised to make the most noise in the NFL playoffs? https://t.co/1b7pRx8oBs

— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) December 13, 2020

With that said, the Bucs should be at least the 6^th seed in the Playoffs. They could overtake the Seahawks for the 5^th seed as Seattle has a tougher remaining schedule.

Arizona Cardinals (7-6)

• Yes (-166)
• No (+136)

Heading into Week 14, the Cardinals were on the outside looking in. But, a big win against the Giants combined with a loss by the Vikings and Arizona moved into the 7^th spot.

The 7^th and final Playoff spot will come down between the Cardinals, Vikings and Bears. Of the three teams, the Vikings have the easiest remaining schedule. We’ll get into that more below.

As for the Cardinals, they play the Eagles, 49ers and Rams. That’s not an easy schedule. Arizona needs to go at least 2-1 to make the Playoffs. Right now, you have to go with the Cardinals to hold on to the final spot.

Out of the three teams mentioned above, I’d rather go with Arizona’s Kyler Murray over Kirk Cousins for the Vikings or any QB for the Bears.

Minnesota Vikings (6-7)

• Yes (+300)
• No (-410)

In Week 15, the Minnesota Vikings play the Bears which means the loser is pretty much eliminated from the Playoffs. And, as of now, I would have to go with the Vikings to win that game.

Minnesota has played solid football as of late. They’ve won five of their last seven games including a 19-13 win over the Bears five weeks ago.

Can you sum up @dalvincook‘s season in one GIF? 🤩👇 pic.twitter.com/LpDqIDJS7s

— Minnesota Vikings UK (@UKVikings) December 15, 2020

The Vikings missed numerous field goals and extra points in their Week 14 game against the Bucs, which ultimately cost them a victory.

Minnesota will play the Saints and the Lions the final two weeks, which puts even more pressure on the Week 15 tilt versus the Bears.

With that said, I expect the Vikings to go 2-1 down the stretch and finish 8-8 on the season which won’t be good enough to make the Playoffs.

Chicago Bears (6-7)

• Yes (+480)
• No (-700)

The Bears face the Vikings, Jaguars and Packers to close out the season. That’s a 2-1 stretch at best, but more than likely a 1-2 result. Chicago has the worst QB situation out of most of the teams still in the hunt.

Making matters worse for Chicago, is the fact that they also have one of the worst offensive lines that is inconsistent at best when it comes to running the ball and pass protection.

The Bears have a great defense, but that won’t be enough to win enough games down the stretch.

Which Teams Will Earn the Wild Card Spots?

In the AFC, I believe the Colts, Browns and Ravens will end up making the Playoffs as the three Wild Card teams. What remains to be seen is what order they will be in. There could be a chance that Baltimore jumps up to the 6^th seed and the Colts fall to 7^th.

Regardless, I don’t believe the Dolphins, Patriots and Raiders will earn a Wild Card spot.

In the NFC, the Buccaneers and the Seahawks, or Rams if they don’t win the NFC West, will claim the top two Wild Card spots.

The 7^th seed, and final Wild Card spot, will come down to the Cardinals, Vikings and Bears. As I mentioned above, I like the Cardinals to earn that final spot largely due to QB Kyler Murray.

AFC Wild Card Teams

• Cleveland Browns
• Baltimore Ravens
• Indianapolis Colts

NFC Wild Card Teams

• Seattle Seahawks
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Arizona Cardinals