NFL wild-card odds, picks and best bets

This column went 2-0 with two point-spread underdogs in Week 18. Neil Greenberg's understudy is now 5-5. The playoffs begin on Saturday with the first two of six first-round games.

The Vikings and Giants combined to score 51 points on Christmas Eve. The Giants led 13-10 entering the fourth quarter, but the Vikings scored 28 points over the final 15 minutes to win the game. New York ran only four plays inside the Minnesota 20-yard line the entire game, all on one second-quarter drive. It's a first-time playoff start for Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. NFL rookies with previous playoff starts are 16-34 straight-up and 14-35-1 against the spread since 2002. They were the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray, the Eagles” Jalen Hurts and the Patriots“ Mac Jones in last season‘s playoffs.

NFL wild-card game is on ESPN at 8:15 p.m.

Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers are two similar teams with promising but young quarterbacks. Jacksonville ended on a 7-2 run and the Chargers finished on 5-3. Los. Angeles Coach Brandon Staley's decision to play most of his starters in Sunday’s meaningless finale against the Broncos resulted in injuries to wide receiver Mike Williams and star edge rusher Joey Bosa. Tampa Bay has no running game to speak of but there's no reason the Bucs can't stay within a touchdown-plus of the overrated Cowboys at home.

Seattle Seahawks are favored to win the NFL wild-card game against the Denver Broncos.

Buffalo Bills are the favorite to win the NFL wild-card game against the New York Jets.