Wild Card Weekend means we have just six games to make NFL betting picks and predictions for. However, rather than be sad the NFL regular season is over, there is excitement around some potentially fantastic matchups to open the NFL playoffs. Let’s examine the lines and see where we might find an upset or two this week.

NFL picks and predictions for Wild Card Weekend

Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5)

This line feels spot-on between the Bengals and Raiders. Cincinnati is at least a field goal better than Las Vegas, and then you have home-field advantage on top of that. The Bengals will also be largely rested after taking a somewhat measured approach in Week 18. Cincinnati is a talented team, but they are inexperienced in many areas of the roster. It’s a big home playoff game — the emotion of it could be too much.

However, the Raiders are a tough team to judge every single week. We saw the run game get rolling against the Chargers, and if that side of their offense works, they will be tough for the Bengals. It feels like either the Raiders or Steelers will pull an upset, and if you had to pick, the smart money would be on the Raiders.

Raiders vs. Bengals Prediction: Raiders 27, Bengals 24

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (-4.5)

What an atmosphere this will be in Buffalo for a prime-time Saturday game against a division rival.

These two split the season games 1-1, and the impact of the weather was telling. In calmer conditions, the Bills offense largely did what it wanted against New England’s defense, moving the ball with relative ease. In contrast, the Patriots had the edge when the weather dictated the game.

As of Monday morning, the long forecast for Buffalo is a cold-weather game with the potential of middling winds and some snow. If adverse weather descends on Orchard Park, it is easy to like the Patriots given Bill Belichick’s experience. However, if this ends up being a cold but clean game weather-wise, the edge is with Josh Allen and the Bills.

Patriots vs. Bills Prediction: Bills 27, Patriots 24

Wild Card Sunday: Free NFL picks and predictions

Let’s take a look at the current NFL lines and odds for Sunday of Wild Card Weekend as things stand at 8 AM ET on Monday, January 10. (As always, best of luck.)

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8.5)

Injuries could be extremely telling in this NFC Wild Card matchup. The Buccaneers had a scare in Week 18 with Mike Evans but appear to have avoided major injury woes this week. If they can get some of their key defensive pieces back (and potentially Leonard Fournette on offense), they should win with relative ease.

The game script for the Eagles likely involves keeping things tight with a productive ground game. The Buccaneers run defense has struggled in recent weeks. They have allowed five 100-yard rushing games in the last seven weeks, and the Eagles need to make that happen again.

This game feels like it has two potential scripts:

1. The Eagles keep it close through three quarters, and it comes down to Tom Brady against Philadelphia’s defense in the last two minutes.
2. The Buccaneers get up by 10 or more points in the first quarter and end up winning by 20 or more.

Either way, the Buccaneers winning feels like the right play, but the Eagles should be able to keep it close after resting a lot of key players in Week 18.

Eagles vs. Buccaneers Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Eagles 20