Ed Welch
Just get there. That’s the motto when it comes to the NFL playoffs. Once you qualify for the postseason, anything can happen – just ask the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2007 New York Giants, or 2010 Green Bay Packers.
One of the many NFL prop markets available this summer are playoff odds for all 32 teams. Football bettors can take a Yes/No stab at whether a team will make the postseason cut or not when it’s all said and done in 2018.
Here are a couple value playoff prop plays and betting trends to consider while we count down the days to the 2018 NFL kickoff:
New Orleans Saints (Yes -150/No +120)
The NFC South is among the toughest divisions in football, and while the Saints are one of the most consistent winners in recent years, there’s a good chance they don’t repeat their 11-win campaign from 2017. And it might take 11 wins just to crack the playoffs in the NFC.
Carolina and Atlanta will be back in the mix, and the Buccaneers can’t be counted out – even if Jameis Winston misses the first few games. New Orleans caught defenses off guard last year when they switched gears and became one of the top rushing attacks in the league. Drew Brees is another year older and the defense gave up big scores at the worst times, in the season finale and playoff games – including that last-second collapse to Minnesota. That crushing loss could have a big hangover effect.
The Saints also have the second-toughest schedule in the NFL for 2018 with the likes of Philadelphia, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and the L.A. Rams on the calendar. Making the postseason cut will not be easy in the “Big Easy”.
Pick: No +120
Seattle Seahawks (Yes +210/No -290)
Yes, the Seahawks don’t look as good as they have in past seasons and the Legion of Boom is no more. But Seattle still has one X-factor when it comes to winning football games on Sundays, and that’s quarterback Russell Wilson. This guy could be the most underrated player in the entire NFL – maybe all of sports.
He’s a Super Bowl winner (should have two titles, if not for crap playcalling) and can make something out of nothing when plays break down.
The NFC West is in a down year. Seattle is supposed to step back, as is Arizona. But the hype might to be too high around San Francisco and the Rams won’t be catching opponents with their pants down this year. CenturyLink Field is still the toughest venue in the league and that’s worth a few wins right there.
The defense lost some big names – or shed some dead weight, depending on how you look at it – and brings back plenty of capable talent, especially at linebacker. A disruptive defense can win games, and that’s all Pete Carroll may be asking from these guys.
Pick: Yes +210
Philadelphia Eagles (Yes -290/No +210)
The fact the Eagles are less than 1/3 to make the postseason is a joke. Sure, the NFC East might be more competitive in 2018, with Dallas and New York pushing Philadelphia in the standings. But this team has it all, and this prop should really be looked at as a solid “investment”, so feel confident dropping a large chunk of change to return a third of your stake.
Hell, that’s a better return (and quicker) than any mutual funds.
Carson Wentz sounds like he’s good to go for Week 1 and the team has plenty of swagger, welcoming the target a championship puts on its back. Yes, we’ve seen past Super Bowl winners like the Ravens, Giants, and Steelers come up short of the playoff cut following a title, but this team is complete top to bottom, plays in softer division, and has the 19th toughest sked in the league.
Pick: Yes -290
