2017 NFL Divisional Round punting tips and playoff parlay bets

THERE are four great NFL games to bet on this weekend as the best teams in the league battle it out for a spot in the Conference Championships.

The Divisional Round starts on Saturday when the offensively-powered Atlanta Falcons take on the Seattle Seahawks, which are always tough to beat in the playoffs.

The action continues on Saturday night when the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans in an encounter expected to be the most one-sided game of the weekend.

Kansas City take on Pittsburgh on Sunday and the final game is the Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers, which has bettors torn.

We have picked out our best bets for the NFL weekend which we’ll parlay up for the big returns, so sign up to Bovada.lv for the best NFL lines.

Falcons vs. Seahawks

4.30pm Saturday, January 14 from 4.35pm at Georgia Dome, Atlanta.

Season record:
Falcons: 11-5
Seahawks: 10-5-1

Against the spread record:
Falcons: 10-6
Seahawks: 9-8

Moneyline odds:
Falcons -215
Seahawks +185

Spread:
Falcons -5
Seahawks +5

The Atlanta Falcons enter the playoffs somewhat underrated, despite putting up impressive numbers throughout the 2016/2017 season.

The Falcons are riding a five-game winning streak after losing by a point to the Kansas City Chiefs in December. Included in that winning streak was a 41-14 win over the Rams and a 41-13 win over the 49ers.

The offense is powered by quarterback Matt Ryan, who threw for a franchise record in yardage this season. Ryan threw for 4944 yards with 38 touchdowns and only seven intercepts.

When you include the running game of Devonta Freeman, who ran for over 1000 yards for 11 touchdowns, the Atlanta offense seems nearly unstoppable.

Julio Jones is another player which adds to the Falcons weaponry and although the Seahawks have a formidable record in the playoffs in recent history, this is Atlanta’s time to show how good they can be.

Parlay pick: Falcons -5 (-110)

Patriots vs. Texans

8.15pm Saturday, January 14 at Gillette Stadium, New England.

Season record:
Patriots: 14-2
Texans: 9-7

Against the spread record:
Patriots: 13-3
Texans: 7-9-1

Moneyline odds:
Patriots -1666
Texans +700

Spread:
Patriots -15.5
Texans +15.5

The bookmakers aren’t confident that the Houston Texans can keep up with the Patriots and we’d have to agree.

The 14-2 Patriots have looked like one of the better teams throughout the year and with Tom Brady at the helm, it’s unlikely the Texans will have enough offensive firepower to win.

The Texans have scored totals of 27, 17, 12, 21 and 22 in their last five games – compared to the totals of the Patriots (26, 30, 16, 41, 35).

Brock Osweiler has thrown more intercepts than touchdowns and Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount has scored 13 more touchdowns than Texans running back Lamar Miller.

This should be a one-sided game, but Vegas has made it tough for ATS bettors by setting the line at 15.5. Although the line is high, the Patriots could have it covered by halftime and this should be a classic playoff blowout.

Parlay pick: Patriots -15.5 (-101)

Chiefs vs. Steelers

1.05pm Sunday, January 15 at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.

Season record:
Chiefs: 12-4
Steelers: 11-5

Against the spread record:
Chiefs: 9-6-1
Steelers: 10-7

Moneyline odds:
Chiefs – 133
Steelers +100

Spread:
Chiefs -1.5 (-122)
Steelers +1.5 (-108)

This is expected to be one of the closest games this weekend as two in-form sides clash in Kansas City.

The Steelers enter on a winning streak which included a stylish 30-12 win over the Dolphins to get into the Divisional Round, but its other wins came against teams not featuring in the playoffs, so we question its recent strength of schedule.

On the other hand, the Chiefs have defeated the likes of the Broncos (33-10), Oakland (21-13) and the Atlanta Falcons (29-28), which enabled home-field advantage – where they are 6-2 on the season.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith is having his usual season of 15 touchdowns and eight intercepts. Smith doesn’t like to throw downfield, in stark contrast to Ben Roethlisberger, which should make for a good game.

We can’t help but think the Chiefs are an underrated team heading into the playoffs and they have more than enough ability to progress further in the playoffs.

Parlay pick: Chiefs ML (-133)

Cowboys vs. Packers

4.40pm Sunday, January 15 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

Season record:
Cowboys: 13-3
Packers: 10-6

Against the spread record:
Cowboys: 10-6
Packers: 10-6-1

Moneyline odds:
Cowboys -222
Packers +160

Spread:
Cowboys -4.5 (-111)
Packers +4.5 (-117)

The Packers overcame a slow start to stifle the New York Giants in the NFC Wildcard game on Sunday, which should give Packers’ bettors plenty of confidence.

Green Bay are steamrolling into this game and have scored 30 points or more in its last five games. The Cowboys looked the goods throughout the season, but two losses to the Giants and a last-game loss to the Eagles has put doubt in the minds of bettors.

We’re prepared to overlook the game against the Eagles as the Cowboys didn’t have anything to play for. The losses against the Giants came against a stout defense, which Green Bay isn’t known for, so we can see plenty of points in this game.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has the luxury of having the league’s best offensive line in front of him – and if Prescott gets time to throw, he is dangerous.

He has scored 23 touchdowns this season with only four intercepts and when you have Elliott at running back who has 15 touchdowns, the Cowboys are tough to stop.

There’s no doubting the talent of Aaron Rodgers and he can pull anything out at any stage in the game, but the Cowboys are a big force this season and a Hail Mary might be Rodgers’ only hope.

Parlay pick: Cowboys -4.5 (-111) at 5dimes