NFL Wild Card Playoffs Chiefs vs. Texans Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
Even though the Chiefs are a heavy public play, are they the best bet to cover on Saturday when they visit the Texans on Wild Card Weekend?
Our NFL Public Betting page shows that 70% of the action for today's playoff matchup is on Kansas City. And according to oddsmakers from online sports book RealBet.eu, the Chiefs as a 3-point road favorite versus the Texans for the 43:5PM ET kickoff.
There's always some sort of value in betting on a home underdog and when one team is a heavy public play, it's often wise to fade that team. But the Chiefs enter this year's playoffs as the hottest team in the field, winning 10-straight games after starting the year 1-5. They have an experienced quarterback in Alex Smith that protects the ball, a rushing attack that finished sixth in the NFL in yards per game, and a defense that ranks third in the league in points allowed (17.9).
Kansas City's defense will also get a boost with the return of Justin Houston (knee/probable), who is the team's best pass-rusher. DeAndre Hopkins will be a handful to deal with, but the Chiefs will counter with an aggressive, opportunistic secondary that features press-corners Marcus Peters and Sean Smith. J.J. Watt is also an issue, but Andy Reid is an excellent game-planner that should be able to steer clear of Houston's most dynamic defender.
NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND FREE PICK: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -3