NFL picks, odds and best bets for the divisional round

The NFL’s so-called “super wild-card weekend” lived up to its name — especially if you followed my picks, which went 5-1.

The Houston Texans single-handedly made sure we hit the over 44 points bet, beating the Cleveland Browns 45-14 on Saturday. Rookie C.J. Stroud threw for three touchdowns to three different receivers, and Houston’s defense ran back two interceptions for touchdowns, easily securing a profitable wager. Kansas City, meanwhile, had no problem dispatching the Miami Dolphins, 26-7, comfortably covering the 3½-point spread, which had moved up by kickoff.

Other wins included the Buffalo Bills covering the spread against the Pittsburgh Steelers (they won, 31-17); the Los Angeles Rams keeping it close in a 24-23 loss to the Detroit Lions (the pick was Rams +3); and in perhaps the biggest surprise to NFL fans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolling past the Philadelphia Eagles, 32-9. That cashed both the recommended Tampa Bay money line play (at +130 odds) and the alternate line of Bucs -2½ (at +155 odds or better).

The only misses for the weekend were the recommended Hail Mary plays on the first touchdown scorer in the Green Bay Packers-Dallas Cowboys game. Green Bay running back Aaron Jones was the guy; my picks were receivers CeeDee Lamb and Jayden Reed.

Let’s do it again during the divisional round.

Best bets record during playoffs: 5-1

Best bets record during the regular season:16-17

Player prop record during the regular season: 8-8

Picks were made against the consensus point spreads as of Wednesday morning; odds that have since changed have been updated in bold type, but picks are locked in at the earlier odds.

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