NFL Playoff Picks 2024: Odds, Prop Bets, Predictions for Final Divisional Games

NFL Playoff Picks 2024: Odds, Prop Bets, Predictions for Final Divisional Games0 of 4

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The familiarity between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs should help NFL divisional round bettors figure out which angles to take on Sunday.

Buffalo defeated Kansas City behind James Cook in Week 14 to spur the six-game winning streak that got it into the playoffs, earned the AFC East title and a second postseason home contest as the No. 2 seed.

Cook should be heavily involved in the Bulls-Chiefs rematch at Highmark Stadium because of his success in the Week 14 meeting and Kansas City’s ability to slow down Stefon Diggs.

Sunday’s first divisional round battle between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions might be a bit harder to decipher because the pair of NFC sides do not have as long of a history as the Bills and Chiefs.

However, the two sides did meet in Week 6 and some qualities of that matchup could be applied to wagering on the contest inside Ford Field.

Game Odds1 of 4

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Buccaneers vs. Lions

Spread: Detroit (-6)

Over/Under: 49.5

Money Line: Tampa Bay (+220; bet $100 to win $220); Detroit (-270; bet $270 to win $100)

Chiefs vs. Bills

Spread: Buffalo (-2.5)

Over/Under: 45.5

Money Line: Kansas City (+120); Buffalo (-142)

James Cook Over 85.5 Rushing & Receiving Yards2 of 4

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Cook tore apart the Kansas City defense in Week 14.

The Buffalo running back totaled 58 yards on 10 carries and caught five passes for 83 yards and a score.

The pressure Cook put on the Chiefs defense was vital since Stefon Diggs was unable to find openings in the Kansas City secondary.

A similar game script could play out again on Sunday with L’Jarius Sneed stuck to Diggs in coverage.

Diggs only had 24 yards on four catches despite being targeted on 11 occasions by Josh Allen at Arrowhead Stadium.

Allen could lean more on Cook and his two tight ends, Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid, in the passing game if Diggs is covered and with Gabe Davis out for the second straight game.

Cook had 84 rushing and receiving yards last week and that was with just five yards on four catches. He could cruise over his set prop total if he does more on his receptions, like he did last month in Kansas City.

Chris Godwin Over 5.5 Receptions3 of 4

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Tampa Bay needs to rely more on its star wide receiver duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Detroit.

The pair of wide outs were not the focal point of the offense in the wild-card win over the Philadelphia Eagles because Cade Otton, Trey Palmer and David Moore exploited all of Philadelphia’s weaknesses.

Detroit should do a much better job of tackling the Bucs players on Sunday and that may lead to more physical passing plays.

Godwin is typically used across the middle by Baker Mayfield and it is better to target his reception prop because of the potential for some key third-down conversions.

Godwin had six receptions on seven targets in Week 6 against Detroit, and he has been targeted at least seven times on 11 occasions this season.

His target rate should go up from the wild-card round as the Bucs look to either keep pace with the Bucs, or play from behind.

Predictions4 of 4

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Buffalo 31, Kansas City 23

Detroit 34, Tampa Bay 17

The long-suffering fan bases in Buffalo and Detroit should have reasons to celebrate on Sunday.

Buffalo has played some of the best football in the NFL over the last month and its success at Arrowhead Stadium last month proved it could beat the Chiefs.

The Bills beat the Chiefs without a major influence from Diggs, so they should not be affected if their star wide out can’t break free from Sneed again.

The improvements made under interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady made the Bills offense more balanced and that should help them deal with any challenges posed by the Chiefs.

As for Detroit, it has the more well-rounded offense than Tampa Bay and it already beat the Buccaneers earlier this season.

The Jared Goff-led offense is rolling at the moment, and that unit should only get better on Sunday with a healthier Sam LaPorta on the field.

Tampa Bay will not find the open space it did against Philadelphia’s defense and that could lead to some frustrating offensive series in a tough road environment.

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