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On paper, the Rams have the higher, and more healthy, crew. Odell Beckham Jr. has caught six landing passes in 9 video games with Los Angeles, Cooper Kupp leads the league in each receiving class that issues and Von Miller has grow to be a nightmarish sidekick for Aaron Donald. But the Buccaneers have Tom Brady, whose huge playoff expertise far outclasses Matthew Stafford’s.
Tampa Bay took two huge hits to its offensive line final week with accidents to Tristan Wirfs (ankle) and Ryan Jensen (again), who’re each questionable to play. If they’re absent, which will hinder an offense that’s counting on second-string receivers in the absence of Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown and that can’t rely on operating again Leonard Fournette (hamstring) to be prepared.
The Buccaneers do have defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, although, and his unique blitz packages might fluster Stafford, who threw 17 interceptions in the common season, tied for the league lead. Even at 33, Stafford continues to be a relative postseason newcomer whereas Brady has proved he can elevate these round him. If Tampa Bay’s protection performs properly, he ought to do it once more. Pick: Buccaneers -3
No. 4 Buffalo Bills at No. 2 Kansas City, 6:30 p.m., CBS
Line: Kansas City -2.5 | Total: 55
No one ought to need to play the Bills, particularly after they pitched an ideal offensive recreation towards the Patriots in the wild-card spherical. After a brief stoop in the center of the common season, Buffalo seems to have caught fireplace — its offense has grow to be extra balanced and the protection, which completed the common season with the fewest yards allowed and factors scored, has created at the very least one turnover in 4 of its final 5 video games.
Kansas City, as anticipated, simply dispatched the Steelers in the wild-card spherical, however solely after failing to attain in the first quarter. A torpid begin towards the Bills could possibly be an excessive amount of to beat. Pick: Bills +2.5
How Betting Lines Work
A fast primer for many who should not accustomed to betting traces: Favorites are listed subsequent to a adverse quantity that represents what number of factors they need to win by to cowl the unfold. Raiders -5.5, for instance, implies that Las Vegas should beat Chicago by at the very least 6 factors for its backers to win their wager. Gamblers may also wager on the whole rating, or whether or not the groups’ mixed rating in the recreation is over or beneath a preselected variety of factors.
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