National Football League

2024 NFL Playoff predictions: Wild-Card odds, picks, lines, spreads

Updated Jan. 14, 2024 11:45 p.m. ET

Sam Panayotovich

FOX Sports Betting Analyst

Geoff Schwartz

FOX Sports Betting Analyst

Jason McIntyre

Co-Host of THE HERD and FOX Sports Betting Analyst

The pretenders are making vacation plans while the contenders are preparing for the NFL playoffs leading up to Super Bowl LVIII in February in Las Vegas.

Among the marquee Wild-Card Weekend showdowns will be the Green Bay Packers at the Dallas Cowboys contest at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday, which can be seen on FOX and the FOX Sports App.

Here's everything you need to know about Wild-Card Weekend from a betting perspective — the point spread, moneyline and the total (Over/Under).

All times ET

SATURDAY

Browns @ Texans (4:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock)

Point spread: Browns -2.5 (Browns favored to win by more than 2.5 points, otherwise Texans cover)
Moneyline: Browns -148 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $16.76 total); Texans +124 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $22.40 total)
Total: 44 points scored by both teams combined

Jason McIntyre: I lean to the Browns here in a rematch from a few weeks ago, but the bigger edge is on the total, which feels low.

We’ve covered the Browns' home/road defensive splits since October, and on the season, they are 8-0 against the spread (ATS) to the Over. Jim Schwartz’s defense is heavy on the man-to-man, which coincidentally is what C.J. Stroud struggles with the most.

Of course, the injury to top corner Denzel Ward in practice this week isn’t great news for the Browns … but it could be good for the Over!

The last team with the ball wins?!

PICK: OVER 44.5 points scored by both teams combined

Dolphins @ Chiefs (8 p.m., Peacock)

Point spread: Chiefs -3.5 (Chiefs favored to win by more than 3.5 points, otherwise Dolphins cover)
Moneyline: Chiefs -188 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $15.32 total); Dolphins +156 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $25.60 total)
Total: 44 points scored by both teams combined

Geoff Schwartz: A Chiefs game total has not gone over 44 points since they lost to the Packers six weeks ago. The 27 points the Chiefs allowed in that game was a season high for a K.C. defense that’s Super Bowl caliber. Chiefs games have gone Under because their offense has been stuck in the mud for months and, while everyone defaults to "The Chiefs offense will figure it out with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid," the evidence would point to that not happening. Drops, inconsistency in protection and injuries aren’t changing now.

What does help the Chiefs offense is the Dolphins missing the majority of their roster at edge rusher, but I'm not sure if it’s enough to add an extra touchdown to the Chiefs.

The Dolphins are going to struggle to score in this game. For starters, the weather is miserable for Saturday night. Temperatures with wind chill in the negatives does not bode well for the Dolphins passing attack. Tua Tagovailoa is not a quarterback with a powerful arm that can cut through wind like some of his peers. They will need to rely on the ground game which eats clock.

Also worth noting, the Dolphins offense only scored 14 points against the Chiefs in their first contest this season.

I like the Under to hit in this game.

PICK: UNDER 44 points scored by both teams combined

Do Dak Prescott, Cowboys have an amazing path to the Super Bowl?

SUNDAY

Packers @ Cowboys (4:30 p.m., FOX and FOX Sports App)

Point spread: Cowboys -7.5 (Cowboys favored to win by more than 7.5 points, otherwise Packers cover)
Moneyline: Cowboys -362 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $12.76 total); Packers +284 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $38.40 total)
Total: 50.5 points scored by both teams combined

McIntyre: This is the toughest game to pick, as the range of outcomes include the great-at-home Cowboys by 10+ or the plucky Packers winning outright.

We know first-time playoff QBs facing QBs who have appeared in the playoffs are 17-35-1 dating back to 2002. Of course, three of them covered last year in the Wild-Card round.

You can’t put a number on this, but when Jerry Jones doesn’t give Mike McCarthy a vote of confidence, and suddenly Dallas is in a one-score game in the fourth quarter … how tight does McCarthy get with the play-calling?

What happens if the finally healthy Jaire Alexander returns to his old form and plays fantastic against Ceedee Lamb?

Where does Dallas go for offense?

PICK: Packers (+7.5, -125) to lose by fewer than 7.5 points (or win outright)

Rams @ Lions (8:15 p.m., NBC)

Point spread: Lions -3.5 (Lions favored to win by more than 3.5 points, otherwise Rams cover)
Moneyline: Lions -179 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $15.59 total); Rams +149 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $24.90 total)
Total: 51.5 points scored by both teams combined

Sam Panayotovich: I’ve found myself on the trendy public underdog.

Ugh.

However, I’ve been talking all year long about how Dan Campbell will cost the Lions a deep playoff run with a dumb decision. He’s like your buddy at the blackjack table who gets a bad card and then loses his wad within 15 minutes.

The Rams’ offense is as healthy as it’s been all season, and I have a ton of faith in Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams moving the ball against an extremely questionable Detroit defense.

Oh yeah … and we get Sean McVay.

PICK: Rams ML (to win outright) +140

Nick’s Picks for Super Wild Card Weekend

MONDAY

Steelers @ Bills (4:30 p.m., CBS)

Point spread: Bills -10 (Bills favored to win by more than 10 points, otherwise Steelers cover)
Moneyline: Bills -529 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $11.89 total); Steelers +391 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $49.10 total)
Total: 38.5 points scored by both teams combined

Schwartz: The forecast for the Steelers game in Buffalo on Sunday calls for wind speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour. It is nearly impossible to pass the ball in those conditions unless you have a cannon attached to your arm. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Game moved to Monday]

Mason Rudolph does not have said cannon.

The Steelers passing attack is already so-so, and now you add in weather? Count me out for Rudolph having success in this game.

Also worth noting: After struggling through some injuries, the Bills defense has stabilized itself during this winning streak to end the season. Its improved play will help slow down the Steelers passing attack.

PICK: Mason Rudolph Under 161.5 passing yards

Eagles @ Buccaneers (8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC)

Point spread: Eagles -3 (Eagles favored to win by more than 3 points, otherwise Buccaneers cover)
Moneyline: Eagles -149 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $16.71 total); Buccaneers +125 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $22.50 total)
Total: 43 points scored by both teams combined

Schwartz: The Eagles are not playing good football right now.

They started the season 10-1 and finished 11-6, with a less than stellar first half against the Giants on Sunday. The Eagles were attempting to play well and were down 24-0 at halftime. Their offense is beat up and has regressed this season with a new play-caller.

Philly's defense is also bad. It is 29th in defensive DVOA, as it enters the playoffs having just allowed an endless amount of yards to the Cardinals and Giants. Unfortunately, there’s no easy fix for any of the Eagles' issues. You are what your record is, and you are what the film is showing each week.

Tampa Bay is 18th in team DVOA after winning the NFC South on Sunday. Its last two games don’t instill much confidence about its performance at the moment, but Tampa has shown the ability to have an explosive play offense with Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans. The Bucs' young offensive line has improved throughout the season and the defense is solid. And a solid defense can give the Eagles fits if their injuries continue to hurt the receiving core.

I like the Bucs to cover.

PICK: Buccaneers (+3) to lose by fewer than 3 points (or win outright)