NFL Wildcard Saturday betting preview & top tips | January 11

The NFL Playoffs begin this Saturday with a pair of blockbuster Wildcard Round matchups.

Below are our betting tips and previews for Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens.

Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans preview

Sunday, January 12 – 8:30pm AEDT – NRG Stadium, Houston

After finishing on top of the AFC South, the Houston Texans host the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers finished the season with a record of 11-6, but more importantly, they held the best defensive record in the NFL. In the first season under Jim Harbaugh, LA have had an old-fashioned approach to the game on offence, prioritising the run game and minimising turnovers. As a result, quarterback Justin Herbert threw just three interceptions throughout the season.

Looking towards the touchdown market, their key weapons are J.K Dobbins ($2.20), Ladd McConkey ($2.30) and Quentin Johnston ($3.20), who have found the endzone 24 times this season.

They finished the season on a run of three straight wins and despite playing on the road, they are slight favourites in this clash at $1.64 with top NFL bookmakers.

On the other hand, the Texans stumbled towards the playoffs after clinching the AFC South title in Week 15. They lost two of their last three games while just getting past the last-placed Titans in Week 18, bringing their season record to 10-7.

Injuries decimated the Texans’ receiving corps this season, with both Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell suffering season-ending knee injuries. An easy division helped their playoff hopes, but there are concerns around quarterback C.J. Stroud, who had an underwhelming season.

The defence is a clear strength, ranking in the top five for turnovers and total yards conceded. If Houston is going to win this game, it will be behind a strong defensive performance.

Texans running back Joe Mixon ($1.90) offers the safest bet for a touchdown, given he found the endzone 12 times this season. Meanwhile, wide receiver Nico Collins ($2.50) has assumed the WR1 role.

Despite having the home-field advantage, the Texans are in poor form and clearly outsiders in this match. The Chargers should have more quality on both sides of the ball to get the job done, covering the line of -3 at $2 with Marantelli Bet.

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens preview

Sunday, January 12 – 12:00pm AEDT – M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

In the second game of the day, the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Baltimore as heavy underdogs in a divisional match.

The Steelers finished the season with a record of 10-7 but lost their last four games of the regular season. With Russell Wilson under centre, scoring has become a concern for the Steelers, who average just 14 points per game in the last month.

Throughout the earlier stages of the season, their game was built on defence, particularly in the run game, as they rank inside the top five in the NFL. However, if they don’t have the points to match, then they will struggle.

Tight end Pat Freiermuth offers a great value with BetOnline at $4.33 to score a touchdown, given he led the team this season. Meanwhile, wide receivers George Pickens ($3.05) and Najee Harris ($2.90) are other options.

With their poor form and the quality of their opponents, the Steelers are the biggest outsiders of Wildcard Weekend at $4.90, with the line set at 10 points.

The Ravens secured the AFC North title with a record of 12-5, winning their last four games heading into the playoffs. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is right in the mix for his third MVP, while the addition of running back Derrick Henry in the off-season has led them to the best rushing record in the NFL.

At $7 with major sports betting apps, the Ravens have the third-best odds for the Super Bowl.

Defensively, they are also solid, ranking inside the top 10 for points conceded, while they have by far the best rush defence in the NFL.

There are plenty of scoring options for the Ravens, starting with Henry ($1.57), who led the league in rushing touchdowns with 16. Tight end Mark Andrews ($2.20) and wide receiver Rashod Bateman ($2.60) are a good chance to catch one, while Jackson ($2.75) may choose to run one in himself.

Given the Ravens beat the Steelers 34-17 when these sides met three weeks ago, it is hard to see this game going any other way. The Ravens will have Super Bowl aspirations, while the Steelers haven’t won in over a month. At $1.95 with Marantelli Bet, back the Ravens to cover the line of -10 points.

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