NFL Wild Card Predictions | Saturday Picks Today, Best Bets

After 18 exciting weeks, the 2024 NFL regular season has ended. Only four rounds separate the 14 remaining teams from a Super Bowl Championship. That march starts with an exciting Super Wild Card Weekend slate.

We’ve got you covered for betting purposes, highlighting our favorite wagers for this week’s NFL action.

Tackle the Odds with SportsGrid’s Expert NFL Game Picks and NFL Player Prop Picks.

Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans

Chargers vs Texans Matchup Page
Spread: Chargers -2.5 (-120) | Texans +2.5 (-102)
Moneyline: Chargers -152 | Texans +128
Total: OVER 42.5 (-105) | UNDER 42.5 (-115)

The Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans have the honor of kicking off the 2025 NFL playoffs. The Texans secured home-field advantage by virtue of their AFC South crown. However, the betting market has taken a firm stance on LA as the favorite. 

The Chargers’ advantage is pronounced on both sides of the football. Jim Harbaugh has transformed this team into a defensive juggernaut, and that’s reflected in LA’s defensive metrics. They rank in the top ten of most defensive categories, punctuated by their top-ranked scoring defense. Still, defensive proficiency hasn’t come at the expense of offensive ingenuity. The Chargers still managed 23.6 points per game, the 11th-best mark in the NFL. 

While Houston reigned supreme in the AFC South, their play was completely uninspired over the season’s final few weeks. The Texans dropped decisions to the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens before struggling to get past the Tennessee Titans in the season’s final week. 

Los Angeles is the better team, reflected in the current betting prices. Still, the top value play is backing the Chargers at -2.5 before the line shifts toward a key number.

NFL Best Bet: Chargers -2.5 -120

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens

Steelers vs Ravens Matchup Page
Spread: Steelers +9.5 (-105) | Ravens -9.5 (-115)
Moneyline: Steelers +440 | Ravens -590
Total: OVER 43.5 (-110) | UNDER 43.5 (-110)

Bettors have taken a firm stance against the Pittsburgh Steelers—and rightfully so. The Steelers have dropped four in a row, watching their offensive and defensive metrics deteriorate. That late-season slip-up allowed the Baltimore Ravens to usurp the Steelers in the AFC North, giving them home-field advantage in their Wild Card matchup. 

Baltimore’s offense has looked unstoppable this season, but their kryptonite has always been the Steelers’ defense. Before their most recent matchup, the Ravens had been held to 16 or fewer points in six straight. More concerningly, they only won one of those rivalry showdowns. Previous results don’t preclude the Ravens from putting together a dominant performance, but their chances of running away with this one are diminished. 

As bad as the Steelers have looked lately, their offense should enjoy moderate success against a porous Ravens’ defense. Baltimore gives up the second-most passing yards in the NFL, and Pittsburgh isn’t as bad as they’ve shown. The Steelers have fallen almost 40 passing yards below their season-long average over their last three games, making them natural progression candidates as long as they can keep their postseason dreams alive. 

Assuredly, the Ravens are the superior team and insulated in their friendly confines. Nevertheless, the Steelers have had their number in recent meetings, and they should be able to stay within +9.5.

NFL Best Bet: Steelers +9.5 -105

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