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After a Wildcard Weekend marked by several blowouts, the divisional round is shaping up to feature four of the closest combined matchups in NFL playoff history.

The lowest combined point spreads for four divisional playoff games was 13.5 points in 1971, according to data from TheLines.com. This weekend’s games opened with a combined consensus point spread of 14 from opening odds at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars and PointsBet.



According to TheLines.com, the combined opening point spread for the divisional round over the past 15 years has been 27 points, with the lowest during that span being 21 points last season.

Tight contests would be a welcome sight for fans after four of six wildcard games were decided by at least 16 points.

Highly Anticipated Matchups

The divisional round will begin with Cincinnati traveling to Tennessee on Saturday. The Titans opened as 3.0-point favorites but the line has moved to 3.5 at several books including BetMGM, where Tennessee is being backed by 62 percent of the bets and 71 percent of the spread-line handle.

The 3.5-point spread at DraftKings has seen an even amount of bets but 66 percent of the money is backing the Titans.

The Tennessee Titans have a forecast 70% chance to win against The Cincinnati Bengals with a spread of -1.0/1.0 and an over/under of 50.0. The Tennessee Titans are 0 – 0 against The Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021-22 Season.

— Saturday, January 22nd Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans

San Francisco will travel to Green Bay for the second game Saturday, with the Packers opening as the biggest favorite of the weekend. The 49ers were the only underdog to win on Wildcard Weekend, but the Packers are also well-rested as the NFC’s top seed.

Green Bay opened as a 5.5-point favorite and is being backed by 77 percent of the bets and 78 percent of the spread-line handle at BetMGM. The spread is 6.0 points at DraftKings with the Packers supported by 74 and 75 percent, respectively.

The Green Bay Packers have a forecast 65% chance to win against The San Francisco 49ers with a spread of -3.0/3.0 and an over/under of 50.0. The Green Bay Packers are 1 – 0 against The San Francisco 49ers in the 2021-22 Season.

— Saturday, January 22nd San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers

Fresh off their resounding victories to open the playoffs, the Rams and Buccaneers will square off in Tampa on Sunday.

Tampa Bay is a 3.0-point favorite at both sportsbooks with the Bucs backed by 64 percent of the bets and 67 percent of the spread-line money at BetMGM. However, the action has been split at DraftKings with Bucs backed by 53 percent of the bets but the Rams drawing 58 percent of the early handle.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a forecast 61% chance to win against The Los Angeles Rams with a spread of -1.0/1.0 and an over/under of 51.0. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0 – 1 against The Los Angeles Rams in the 2021-22 Season.

— Sunday, January 23rd Los Angeles Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The divisional playoffs will conclude with a heavyweight bout between the Bills and Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City is a 2.5-point favorite and is being backed by 54 percent of the bets and 60 percent of the handle at BetMGM. The story is similar at DraftKings with the Chiefs supported by 54 and 52 percent, respectively.

The Bills and Chiefs also feature the highest Over/Under of the weekend at 54.5 points at BetMGM and 55.0 points at DraftKings. That hasn’t dissuaded the public, with the Over backed by 90 percent of the bets and 95 percent of the money at the former and 71 and 95 percent, respectively, at the latter.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a forecast 58% chance to win against The Buffalo Bills with a spread of -1.0/1.0 and an over/under of 57.5. The Kansas City Chiefs are 0 – 1 against The Buffalo Bills in the 2021-22 Season.

— Sunday, January 23rd Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs

“All four of these games have the potential to be classic NFL playoff games and we expect to see bettors pay significant attention to this weekend,” said TheLines.com lead analyst Brett Collson. “The home team is the favorite in all four games, but the relatively narrow lines show just how tight these matchups could be.”

Super Bowl LVI Odds

(preseason odds)

• Green Bay Packers +375 (+1400)
• Kansas City Chiefs +400 (+500)
• Buffalo Bills +500 (+1150)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers +550 (+650)
• Los Angeles Rams +750 (+1500)
• Tennessee Titans +750 (+3000)
• San Francisco 49ers +1000 (+1400)
• Cincinnati Bengals +1200 (+15000)

BetMGM reported that the Packers are the sportsbook’s biggest Super Bowl liability with 10.2 percent of the bets and 10.2 percent of the money placed on Green Bay. Second is the Bucs, who have been backed by 9.9 and 11.8 percent, respectively.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)