Early NFL Parlay and Best Bets: Wild Card Weekend (2022)
No more than three games stand between every team in the NFL playoffs and a chance at bringing home the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy in less than a month’s time. To get things started, 12 teams are in action this week for the Wild Card weekend stretching from Saturday into Monday night.
Let’s take a closer look at the action and see where the value remains for a three-team parlay.
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Leg #1. Bengals ML | -225 at DK Sportsbook
Since opening at Bengals -6.5, this line has been all over the place getting as low as Bengals -5 before settling in nearly across the board at -5.5 as of Wednesday afternoon. After what can only be described as a tumultuous early part of the season on and off the field, the Raiders won their final four games to squeak into the playoffs; only to draw an equally hot Bengals team.
Winning their last three meaningful games of the season to clinch the AFC North, the Bengals have relied on one of the most dangerous 1-2 punches in all of football in LSU products Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. On the season, they have teamed up for a staggering 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns, as Chase now finds himself in Offensive Rookie of the Year conversations.
Look for their production to continue in front of what should be a hostile crowd in Cinci.
Leg #2. Patriots ML | +170 at DK Sportsbook
Two familiar foes will face off Saturday in Buffalo, as the Patriots and Bills go at it for the third time in just over a month. Swapping wins, the Bills got the better of the Patriots three weeks ago, winning 33-21 on the road while dominating through the air.
In this one, forecasts are calling for a single digits game which should call for a heavy dose of running from both teams. In their two games this season, the Patriots are +158 in the rushing differential, including a game in Buffalo where they through the ball just twice.
Despite winning the division and being the hotter team all season long, I’ll take my chances with the greatest coach of all time in Bill Belichick finding a way to pull this one out.
Leg #3. Chiefs-Steelers Under 46 | -110 at DK Sportsbook
The Chiefs could up 35 of these points, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the Steelers struggle to account for the other 12 to push this one over. Bookmakers have made this # the exact total where their late-December game landed (36-10, Chiefs), but the Steelers come into this one healthier on the defensive side of the ball with TJ Watt at full strength and Joe Haden back in the lineup.
For the Chiefs, while their defense has shown some holes to finish the season, they still rank near the top of the league in allowing just 21.4 points per game. If it were not for a garbage-time touchdown in their last matchup with the Steelers, they would’ve allowed just 3 points to close that one out.
Total Odds: +644 at DraftKings
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