The 2019 NFL regular season is in the books and the 12 playoff teams are frantically prepping for either their NFL 2020 Wild Card match-up this weekend or off a bye into next week’s Divisional Round.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, the lone local playoff representative, there’s zero time to bask in the glow of their December on-field accomplishments.
The Eagles began the month with a 5-7 record, then reeled off 4 straight victories to capture the NFC East crown and the right to host the Seattle Seahawks in a Wild Card playoff game this Sunday at the Linc.
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With the playoff seedings locked down for each of the 6 conference teams, it’s an opportune time to assess the NFL futures markets.
New Jersey sports bettors have a wide selection of NFL futures bets to consider across the 17 legal sports betting apps and 10 retail sportsbook locations.
While every book has posted advance “future” odds for the NFC Champion, AFC Champion and Super Bowl winner, I wanted to highlight some of the more unique futures offerings that you can find across the mobile sportsbooks.
The William Hill Super Bowl “Exacta”
William Hill is offering a bet typically found at the horse races, the “exacta” which requires the bettor not only to select the winner of the NFL Super Bowl but also their opponent.
For example, from the screenshot below, a 49’ers win over the Ravens is currently priced at 6-1:
The Extensive PointsBet NFL Futures Menu
PointsBet currently has the most creative group of offerings for the NFL playoff futures, including the conference or division to win the Super Bowl and individual player props for most passing, receiving and rushing yards through the post-season. Here is a snapshot of their menu:
Interestingly, the current PointsBet market favorite for most rushing yards during the playoffs is Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson, followed by his teammate, running back Mark Ingram:
Promo Bet: “Who Will Reach the Super Bowl?”
BetMGM has a playoff future that offers pricing on the correct teams to make the Super Bowl:
FanDuel’s “Team Elimination” Future Bet
One other future that deserves mention is the FanDuel “team elimination” wager. FanDuel has posted pricing as to which team will end the specific team’s playoff run. The Eagles are shown in the screengrab below.
So, if you think the Eagles will get by the Seahawks on Sunday, only to lose at Green Bay next weekend, the odds are 6.5 to 1. So, you can “win” even if your team should “lose.’ This is a unique future bet currently offered only by FanDuel for the NFL playoffs.
There are tons of great NFL future wagers out there and the menu will be updated throughout the month of January. Don’t hesitate to lock-in your play before the weekend gets underway if you happen to have a strong opinion.
For Eagles backers, here’s a top-line recap of the best team and player future prices as of Thursday afternoon on offer for the playoffs:
Super Bowl Winner: 50-1 (BetMGM)
NFC Championship: 18-1 (Caesars and ScoreBet)
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Super Bowl MVP:
- Carson Wentz, 40-1 (DraftKings and Bet365)
- Miles Sanders, 50-1 (Bet365)
- Zach Ertz, 66-1; Boston Scott, 100-1; Nelson Agholor 125-1; Fletcher Cox 150-1, Malcolm Jenkins 175-1 (All at Bet365).
Playoff Rushing Yardage Leader: Miles Sanders, 50-1 (DraftKings and PointsBet); Jordan Howard 100-1 (DraftKings and PointsBet).
Playoff Receiving Yardage Leader: Zach Ertz 33-1, (PointsBet/DraftKings); Nelson Agholor, 60-1 (PointsBet); Greg Ward, 80-1 (Draft Kings) and JJ Arcega-Whiteside, 100-1 (PointsBet/DraftKings)
Playoff Passing Yardage Leader: Carson Wentz, 33-1 (DraftKings).
There’s still plenty of time before the playoffs begin Saturday and the Eagles play Sunday to post your future bets.
Looking Towards the Eagles vs. Seahawks Playoff Game
As far as the Eagles game this Sunday goes, he current line and total information via William Hill:
Eagles +1.5 (+110 moneyline) vs Seahawks (-130) with a Total of 45 points
Here are some key totals and spread trends to consider when betting the Eagles this NFL WildCard weekend – Sunday courtesy of Don Best:
Eagles Over/Under Totals Trends
- Under is 5-1 in their last 6 Wildcard games.
- Under is 8-3 in their last 11 games following a straight-up win.
- Under is 5-2 in their last 7 playoff games.
- Under is 4-1 in their last 5 games played in January.
- Under is 8-1-1 in their last 10 playoff home games.
- Under is 5-1 in their last 6 games as a home underdog.
- Under is 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. NFC.
- Under is 4-1 in their last 5 games as underdogs.
- Under is 5-2 in their last 7 games as a home underdog of between 0.5-3.0 points.
Eagles Trends Against the Spread (ATS)
- 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games as a home underdog.
- 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up win.
- 5-0 ATS in their last 5 playoff games.
- 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win.
- 9-4 ATS in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games in January.
- 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a home underdog.
- 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0 points.
- 4-0 ATS in their last 4 playoff games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0 points.
- 10-1 ATS in their last 11 playoff games as an underdog.
When it comes time to make your bets for this weekend of NFL playoff action, make sure that you look at the William Hill sportsbook. William Hill has retail sportsbook locations at Monmouth Park racetrack and in Atlantic City at Ocean’s Resort and Tropicana.
If you can’t make it to their physical sportsbook locations, William Hill has you covered via their mobile sportsbook app as well as desktop.
William Hill offers player, team and game props for every playoff game as well as futures for the NFL playoffs. William Hill also offers in-game and live play wagering. Be sure to go William Hill and check it out!
NFL Wildcard Weekend Playoff Schedule
AFC- Saturday, January 4th
4:35PM: Buffalo at Houston (-2.5 Total of 43.5) ESPN, with a simulcast on ABC
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8:15PM: Tennessee at New England (-5, Total of 44) CBS
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NFC-Sunday, January 5th
1:05PM: Minnesota at New Orleans (-8 Total of 49.5) FOX
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4:40PM: Seattle at Philadelphia (+1.5, Total of 45) NBC
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My Picks – from the Jersey Side
A 2-1 week 17 ended my regular season at 24-26-1. The Chiefs covered against the Chargers and the Bengals earned their 2nd win of the season by beating the Browns at home.
The Steelers, with their playoff hopes on the line, failed to get the job done by losing to the Ravens back-ups in Baltimore.
My Week 17 Recap
Week 2-1, Regular Season Final 24-26-1
Chiefs -8.5 over Chargers (Chiefs 31, Chargers 21)
Bengals +3 over Browns (Bengals 33, Browns 23)
Steelers -2 over Ravens (Ravens 28, Steelers 10)
My NFL Wild card WeekEnd Selections
Here are my picks for NFL wildcard weekend:
Vikings +8 over Saints
The Vikings gladly welcome their star running back, Dalvin Cook back to the lineup after he missed the last 2 games, losses at home to Green Bay and Chicago. The Vikings are right at home playing in a Dome, though the scene in New Orleans should be rocking on Sunday.
I think with Cook, a healthier Adam Thielen, plus Stefon Diggs gives the Vikings enough weapons to keep the game close, but the Saints prevail in what shapes up to be a 35-30 Saints shootout victory.
Eagles and Seahawks UNDER 45
These teams met in back in week 12 also in Philly with the Seahawks prevailing 17-9. The total for that game was 45.5. Since that game, both teams have continued to rack up injuries to key offensive personnel.
The Seahawks running back corps has been depleted with Chris Carson and Rashad Penny both out for the season, prompting the week 17 signing of Marshawn Lynch.
The Eagles injuries have been well-chronicled, especially at the receiving position with Carson Wentz accomplishing the rare feat of throwing for over 4,000 yards but not having a single receiver total at least 500 yards.
Factor in the massive UNDER trends I referenced above, this points to an UNDER play as part of what I think will be an Eagles victory, 20-14.
Patriots -5 over Titans
Something clearly is not quite right with this Patriots team. An uncharacteristic loss at home to the Dolphins last week cost them a week off and the first-round bye.
The Titans have been on a roll since replacing Marcus Mariota with Ryan Tannehill at QB and running back Derrick Henry has been a sledgehammer through opposing defenses for most of the season. On paper and with logic, there should be an expected lean towards the Titans.
However, until Brady, Belichick and Co. prove otherwise, it’s still very tough to bet against the Patriots in this spot. Maybe this is the beginning of the end for the Patriots, one which they have disproven over countless times in previous years.
The Patriots always seem to find ways to win and to keep the ship moving in the right direction. I’m taking the playoff experience and legacy of the Patriots here over the Titans on Saturday. Patriots win and cover 28-17.