Post sports gambling editor/producer and digital sports editor Matt Ehalt is back for his second season in the NFL Bettor’s Guide.
BEARS (+3.5) over Rams
We correctly went with the Panthers last week and will fade the Rams once more.
Getting the hook at home with Chicago is the key here, since the Bears should keep this game close.
Chicago’s only two home losses this season both came by three points, versus Minnesota in Week 1 and the Lions in Week 18.
The Rams have been playing dangerously in recent weeks, losing two of their final three games to end the regular season and needing late-game heroics from Matthew Stafford to escape Charlotte with a win in the playoff opener.
With the Bears having some fourth-quarter magic as well, we’ll back Caleb Williams to keep this game within a field goal.
The Rams’ defense has been leaky in recent weeks, opening the door for a backdoor cover at worst.
49ers (+7.5) over SEAHAWKS
We’re going to fade Sam Darnold here and back the 49ers to keep this game within a touchdown.
The 49ers are certainly depleted and, yes, they lost to this same Seahawks team, 13-3, in Week 18 with the top seed on the line.
There’s no George Kittle for this game, but the 49ers are pesky and have some momentum after beating the Eagles.
Betting on the NFL?
Robert Saleh’s beleaguered defense deserves plenty of kudos for its effort in that win.
The Seahawks should win this game, but laying a touchdown-plus with Darnold in his second playoff game seems dicey.
Let’s remember that last year, in his first playoff game after an incredible regular season, he resorted to his ghost-seeing Jets form in a meltdown against the Rams.
There are too many questions about Darnold’s big-game readiness to lay this many points with Seattle.
Last week: 1-1; Panthers (W); Chargers (L)
Postseason: 1-1
Regular season: 14-19-3
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Matt Ehalt has been picking against the spread since his childhood days when he entered his father’s newspaper pool and even took the top prize on more than one occasion. He specializes in NFL wagers and is quite successful with NCAA brackets.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
