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5 Saints-Vikings & Seahawks-Eagles NFC Wild-Card Bets To Back

Adam Thompson for Bookies.com

Adam Thompson  | 4 mins

5 Saints-Vikings & Seahawks-Eagles NFC Wild-Card Bets To Back

The NFC Playoffs get under way on Sunday with its wild-card games. Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints host Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings, while Carson Wentz and the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles host Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks for the second time this season.

Let’s take a look at some of the best bets fans of NFL betting should consider:

Vikings-Saints Best Bets

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OTHER BETS TO BACK

All odds current as of publication but subject to change. Check out the latest Vikings-Saints odds here.

PICK 1: Vikings +7.5

The Saints are a tough out at home, but the Vikings are 7-2 when Cook, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs all play, and they’re getting more than a TD. The Vikings rested everyone in Week 17, while the Saints played hard to secure a first-round bye they didn’t get. New Orleans is on a 0-4 ATS slide as a home playoff favorite.

5 Saints-Vikings & Seahawks-Eagles NFC Wild-Card Bets To Back 1
Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen was hobbled by injuries this season and had just 30 catches for 418 yards.

PICK 2: Over 49.5 Points

Saints games have averaged a whopping 59 ppg the last seven weeks, Vikings games averaged just over 50 prior to the last two weeks of uncharacteristic/uninspired offensive play. Each team should get theirs.

PICK 3: Drew Brees — Under 315.5 Yards

It seems Brees throws for well over 315 yards every game. But in reality, he’s only eclipsed that mark four times. Each of those instances he went for at least 345 yards, but three of those four were against the worst pass defenses in the league (the other was the epic shootout with the Niners). The Vikings have allowed 315-plus yards passing just twice in 16 games. Ten of their games the opposing QB was held to 230 yards or under.

PICK 4: Team Who Scores First Wins Game — Yes

The Saints and Vikings each have made a habit of getting on the board first. And each has made an even-better habit of winning the games when they do score first. The first scorer in Saints games have won seven of the last eight games and is 13-3 overall. The first-scoring team is 12-4 in Vikings games.

Seahawks-Eagles Best Bets

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  • Dallas Goedert | Over 50 Yards -114 (PointsBet)
  • D.K. Metcalf TD | +163 (William Hill)

All odds current as of publication but subject to change. Check out the latest Seahawks-Eagles here.

PICK 1: Eagles +1.5

Seattle played spirited ball against the 49ers at home Sunday night, but it has lost three of four including two-TD defeats to the Rams and Cardinals and a lone win vs. the downtrodden Panthers. It has the 26th-ranked defense, crushed by the loss of Mychal Kendricks, a decimated run attack and even when healthy, the Seahawks were squeaking by.

Philly is just as banged up but it has won four in a row and Wentz should find holes in the Seahawks’ No. 27 pass defense. Zach Ertz needs to be back for the Eagles here — only the Cowboys allowed more receptions to tight ends and only the Cardinals allowed more yards to tight ends than the Seahawks. I’ll take the slim amount of points (locked it in at +1.5) with Philly.


CHECK OUT: Bookies.com NFL Week 17 Betting Power Rankings


PICK 2: Dallas Goedert Over 50 Yards

The Seahawks rank 31st in receptions and 31st in yards allowed to tight ends. Zach Ertz has broken ribs and a lacerated kidney — he shouldn’t play. Wentz is going to look Goedert’s way early, often and all day.

5 Saints-Vikings & Seahawks-Eagles NFC Wild-Card Bets To Back 2
Eagles could be without tight end Zach Ertz, who at the very least will be limited by the injuries he suffered against the Giants.

PICK 3: D.K. Metcalf TD

The Eagles rank 29th in TDs allowed to WRs and 28th in yards to WRs. Tyler Lockett has eight TDs on the season, Metcalf has seven. Lockett has four games with eight receptions or more but also four games with one reception or less. Metcalf’s been slightly more consistent, with six receptions in five of the last eight games. And his TD odds are higher.

About the Author

Adam Thompson for Bookies.com
Adam Thompson
NFL writer and expert Adam Thompson joined Bookies.com in 2019 after a successful run as senior handicapper for SportsLine and CBSSports.com. He's long been established as one of the nation's premier handicappers, specializing in the NFL where he's hit on more than 60% over the past three years. Adam's NBA, PGA and horse racing picks have also produced major winners over the last 12 months. His customized NFL and NBA odds for players and teams have been picked up by hundreds of websites over the past year.