Henry Roldán
The 2023 NFL postseason beging this coming weekend with six incredible matchups, including three very interesting NFC Wild Card games.
While the Philadelphia Eagles will have this week off after winning the last game of the regular round as leaders of the National Conference with a 14-3 record, there is no doubt that we will enjoy three exciting clashes ahead of what will be the divisional round. Here, at JefeBet, we’ve prepared for you the best previews and predictions for these games.
All odds shown are courtesy of BetMGM.
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Predictions, Odds and Betting Previews for the 2023 NFL Playoffs NFC Wild Card Games on January 14-16, 2023.
Seattle Seahawks (+400) vs San Francisco 49ers (-550) / Saturday, January 14 / 4:30 PM E.T.
- Spread Seahawks: +10.0
- 49ers Spread: -10.0
- Over/Under: 43
The Seahawks qualified at the last minute as the third wild card in the National Conference after defeating the Rams on Sunday afternoon. Then, they got help from the Lions, who defeated the Packers on Sunday Night Football and eliminated them. In the end, Seattle finished with a 9-8 record and emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the campaign.
After the departure of Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, everything indicated that the Seahawks were entering a process of rebuilding, but Geno Smith, as Wilson’s replacement, guided Seattle’s offense to be one of the most dangerous in the circuit, and to overcome many defensive problems.
The 49ers are one of the top favorites to win the Super Bowl after closing the season with 10 wins in a row, and they are the comfortable champions of the NFC West with a 13-4 record.
San Francisco was able to recover from the injuries suffered by the team’s two main quarterbacks, Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, with the presence of rookie Brock Purdy, who has surprised everyone with his talent. His performance is backed by the best defense in the NFL.
Prediction: Over.
[Seahawks vs 49ers NFC Wild Card for the NFL Playoffs full betting preview here]
New York Giants (+135) vs Minnesota Vikings (-160) / Sunday, January 15 / 4:30 PM E.T.
- Giants Spread: +3.0
- Vikings Spread: -3.0
- Over/Under: 48.5
After five-campaign absence, the Giants return to the postseason under Brian Daboll, who in his first experience as NFL head coach changed the mentality of the team and its quarterback, Daniel Jones.
New York had ups and downs throughout the campaign, and without having a very powerful offense, it found ways to win games and get into the second wild card of the NFC. They finished with a 9-7-1 record after winning only four games last season.
Many people do not believe in these Vikings team, but the reality is that with a 13-4 record the team comfortably won the complicated NFC North, and for several weeks, they were fighting the Eagles for the best record in the National Conference.
Minnesota has already defeated the Giants at home this campaign, and this Sunday, they hope to repeat that result, considering that they have a 8-1 record playing at home. Their key element for this game is the good offense they have at their disposal, but they will need the defense to put aside the doubts they carry over their shoulders.
Prediction: Vikings to win.
[Giants vs Vikings NFC Wild Card for the NFL Playoffs full betting preview here]
Dallas Cowboys (-145) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+120) / Monday, January 16 / 8:15 PM E.T.
- Cowboys Spread: -3.0
- Buccaneers Spread: +3.0
- Over/Under: 45.5
The Cowboys were unable to catch up with the Eagles as leaders of the NFC East, but they did enter the postseason as the first National Conference wild card with a 12-5 record. Let’s keep in mind that last campaign, Dallas was eliminated in this Wild Card round after winning their division with the same record with which they qualified this year.
The difference is that the Cowboys look much more compact this season, and it all depends on how Dak Prescott can respond. With a defense that is considered one of the top five in the league, it is vital that the offense does not lose turnovers and that it takes an early lead to manage the game.
The Buccaneers is the only team that qualified for this postseason with a negative record . Tampa Bay was the champion of the weak NFC South with a record of 8-9 and even endangered their first place for several weeks.
The Bucs’ offense, especially the ground offense, has been a real problem for them. On the other hand, the defense is also among the best in the circuit, and they will be looking to repeat the victory they registered against the Cowboys during the first week of the regular round, they defeated them 19-3.
Prediction: Under.
[Cowboys vs Buccaneers NFC Wild Card for the NFL Playoffs full betting preview here]
