Through 11 weeks of NFL football this year, what’s clear is: nothing.
This shouldn’t be too disconcerting because there are still six regular-season weeks left before the postseason.
But, do the sports betting odds for this NFL playoffs race have some hidden opportunities for savvy bettors? Let’s see.
NFC Playoff Picture
Philadelphia Eagles (9-1)
Minnesota Vikings (8-2)
New Orleans Saints (8-2)
Los Angeles Rams (7-3)
Carolina Panthers (7-3)
Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
The NFC is a logjam after Week 11.
The must watch game of the week was the Rams on the road to face the Vikings. Los Angeles hanged tough until halftime, but the Minnesota (8-2) took off in the second half to win and keep to rights to a first-round bye.
The Rams are still holding on to the 4th spot, but in losing the possibility of a first round bye is in jeopardy.
The Eagles kept on trucking and they’re rolling with the top spot in the standings after crushing the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Philadelphia owns the best record in the NFL at 9-1 and has already bagged the NFC East title. Meanwhile, Dallas is at 5-5 which is four games from first.
The Saints look solid after winning their eight-straight game in a comeback victory over the Redskins. Since the Panthers are on a bye, New Orleans is playing the waiting the game.
Atlanta defeated Seattle and earned itself the final spot in Week 11. This put the Falcons, Seahawks, and Lions at 6-4 with Atlanta holding the edge on the three-way tie because of head-to-head wins over both of these teams.
NFC Tiebreakers:
- Minnesota is ahead of New Orleans based on head to head (1-0).
- Atlanta is ahead of Detroit and Seattle based on head to head sweep (2-0).
- Detroit is ahead of Seattle based on conference record (5-3 to the Seahawks’ 4-3).
- Green Bay is ahead of Dallas based on head to head (1-0).
- Washington and Arizona are ahead of Tampa Bay based on conference record (Redskins’ 3-5 and Cardinals’ 3-5 to the Buccaneers’ 2-4).
- Washington is ahead of Arizona based on common games record (3-3 to the Cardinals’ 2-4).
- Arizona is ahead of Tampa Bay based on head to head (1-0).
AFC Playoff Picture
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)
New England Patriots (8-2)
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)
Tennessee Titans (6-4)
Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
Not much changed in the AFC playoff picture after Week 11.
The Patriots are still head-to-head with the Steelers after an easy win over the Raiders in Mexico City.
What changed is the Jaguars being on top of the AFC South, after defeating the hapless Browns and the Bills being knocked out of the picture by the Chargers.
The Ravens crept into the last wild card spot after beating the Packers in Green Bay.
This means that the Ravens and Bills are at 5-5 with Baltimore having the tiebreaker because of their better record against AFC teams.
AFC Tiebreakers:
- Pittsburgh is ahead of New England based on conference record (6-1 to the Patriots’ 5-1).
- Baltimore is ahead of Buffalo based on conference record (4-3 to the Bills’ 3-3).
- The L.A. Chargers are ahead of Oakland in the AFC West based on head to head (1-0).
- Miami is ahead of the N.Y. Jets in the AFC East based on division record (1-1 to the Jets’ 2-3).
- Miami is ahead of Cincinnati, Houston and the L.A. Chargers based on conference record (3-3 to the Bengals’ 4-5, Texans’ 3-4 and the Chargers’ 3-5).
- The N.Y. Jets are ahead of Cincinnati, Houston and the L.A. Chargers based on conference record (4-4 to the Bengals’ 4-5, Texans’ 3-4 and the Chargers’ 3-5).
- Cincinnati is ahead of Houston and the L.A. Chargers based on conference record (4-5 to the Texans’ 3-4 and the Chargers’ 3-5).
- Houston is ahead of the L.A. Chargers based on conference record (3-4 to the Chargers’ 3-5).
- Indianapolis is ahead of Denver based on conference record (2-4 to the Broncos’ 2-5).
