It's quite fitting that the first game of Wild Card weekend also has the lowest expected score of all six first-round playoff games.
Two struggling offenses, often locked in a drool-knocker-like war, will take to the gridiron on Saturday to begin a series of captivating games that will culminate in Monday's matchup between the Vikings and Rams.
The Chargers are the favorites with three points on the road against the Texans, who were considered a dark horse contender for the Super Bowl earlier this year.
The line has moved slightly from Chargers -2.5 to Chargers -3 and has remained stable since Monday.
The Chargers have the No. 9 unit in Defensive Adjusted Value Average (DVOA) and the Texans are rated No. 3 in the NFL this season, so this game should feature two elite defensemen.
Chargers vs. Texans odds
| team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| charger | -3 (-105) | -155 | 42.5 or higher (-105) |
| texans | +3 (-115) | +135 | Less than 42.5 (-115) |
Chargers vs. Texans predictions
Betting on an efficient market like the NFL during wild card weekend is never easy, and the profit margins are very thin.
If you think you are betting with a huge advantage, say 5% or more, you are probably wrong.
Mathematicians and professional gamblers have many tools at their disposal to put the hammer down on these games.
In terms of selections for this game, they are two very even teams with excellent defensive ability.
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The Texans' offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL, ranking 22nd in pass block win percentage and 31st in run block win percentage.
Their defensive line is the best in the NFL, ranking first in pass rush win percentage and second in run stop win percentage.
The defense should reign supreme here in Saturday's early game.
There's a chance Houston's defense will come into play, and if that happens, we can expect a tough game.
Choose a total point total of less than 42.5 for the first game of an exciting weekend.
Pick: Under 42.5 (-115, ESPN Bet)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Erich Richter is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but has a black belt in mixed martial arts gambling. During football season, he proved to be a huge moneymaker for the Post in the player prop market the past two seasons. Always betting on the long shot, the return on investment from 2022 onwards is 30.15%.
