I’ve been studying the ‘total’ for the NFL Playoffs odds for quite some time, and I’m ready to make my Wild Card picks for the clash between the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts. The Indianapolis vs. Baltimore kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium, and I’m going to show you which way to bet on the NFL playoffs to make your NFL pick on for this great game.
Wild Card Playoff Picks
Indianapolis Colts (11-5, 11-5 ATS) +7
Baltimore Ravens (10-6, 6-9-1 ATS) -7
Over/Under 47
The ‘over’ has been getting a lot of play from the so called “NFL handicapping experts” in this one, and I tend to agree that the sharper of the two sides is banking on a number of points to be scored. Yes, I know all about LB Ray Lewis and the fact that this is going to be the last game he ever plays at home, if not the last game of his career, but the truth of the matter is that he is a heck of a lot more of an emotional leader at this point than he is a fantastic linebacker, and he is playing for the first time in almost three months after tearing a bicep muscle. It wasn’t a mistake that this club ranked 17th in the game in total defense this year, a far cry from the normal numbers that we’re used to seeing from the men in black and purple.
Remember that the offense for Baltimore is also better this year to boot. The team averaged 24.9 points per game this year thanks to nearly 4,000 passing yards by QB Joe Flacco. The team struggled some down the stretch, but this is an Indy defense that is coming to town that has already allowed 29.1 points per game on the road this year. Keep a close eye on RB Ray Rice as well. Rice didn’t even have 1,200 rushing yards for the season, but he still has the potential to do a tremendous number against this Indianapolis rush defense, which allowed 137.5 rushing yards per game and just gave up over 300 yards on the ground to the Kansas City Chiefs.
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The Colts are going to throw the ball all over the place on a secondary that really hasn’t been as good ever since DB LaDarius Webb has been knocked out for the season. QB Andrew Luck broke the record for the most passing yards in a season for a rookie with 4,374. He did throw 18 picks, but he also put the ball in the air 627 times to boot. Luck has shown the ability to hit the big time play, most notably to WR T.Y. Hilton, who had over 1,300 all-purpose yards this year. Indy did only average 22.3 points per game this year, but over the course of the last nine games of the year, that scoring average has been 24.6 points per game, which is a lot more along the lines of what I’m expecting to see when this one is said and done with.
Indianapolis vs. Baltimore Picks & Tips: Over 47
