The NFL divisional playoffs get underway Saturday, with the Broncos hosting the Ravens in the afternoon slot (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS), and the Packers at the 49ers in the nightcap (8:30 p.m., Fox). There?s also a bevy of college basketball action to serve as your wagering appetizer, highlighted by No. 1 Duke at No. 20 North Carolina State (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) and No. 8 Minnesota at No. 5 Indiana (12:00 p.m. ET, BTN).
The Linemakers on Sporting News offer our takes on these sports betting delights. Be sure to click through to the entertaining and informative videos, featuring our panel of experts and shot at the South Point in Las Vegas.
There are plenty of ways to wager on this weekend's football games. Not only can you bet on the team you think will cover the spread and whether the game will go over or under the total, you can also put a few bucks on a host of "props." Have an opinion on how many yards Peyton Manning will throw for against Baltimore, or whether the Packers will score a rushing touchdown in San Francisco? Well, you can bet on those outcomes and plenty of others.
Good luck and stay within your means!
College basketball
Duke (-3) and N.C. State
Duke is rolling, but the Blue Devils will be challenged at N.C. State in their first true road game of the season, says Kenny White, one of the most influential oddsmakers in Las Vegas. Wolfpack point guard Lorenzo Brown is one of most unheralded players in the country, but he?ll show you Saturday why he?s bound for the NBA.
Kenny (video): N.C. State wins this game outright
Minnesota at Indiana (-8)
Indiana?s homecourt is worth about six points, and coach Tom Crean gives Indiana another three-point advantage over Minnesota?s Tubby Smith, according to White. If you watched each of these teams practice, you?d gladly lay the points with the Hoosiers.
Kenny (video): Indiana is the play
More from the college hardwood
Picks: Selections on several more Saturday games. And where have all the totals gone?
Rick Herron: Tips for handicapping conference play
Live odds: Check here for updated college hoops lines
NFL divisional playoffs
Ravens at Broncos (-9.5, 46.5)
The Ravens are 3-4 SU and just 2-5 ATS in the seven games they?ve played against playoff-caliber competition this season. But their average margin of defeat in those games was just six points. That makes us take a hard look at the points here. Based on the line when these teams played in Week 15 ? the Broncos were 3-point favorites on the road ? this number seems to make sense. But we?re not so sure it does. The Broncos? 11-straight wins have come largely against weak competition; there was only one playoff team in that run. Denver is 2-3 SU and ATS against playoff teams, and lost those games by an average of 27-25.
Kenny and Richie Baccellieri (video): This line is inflated, our lean is to the dog
Rick and Brian Blessing (video): We also have a lean on the total
Ravens-Broncos props: Odds on Manning, Joe Flacco and more
Packers at 49ers (-3 even, 45)
A case can be made for either team in Saturday's prime time offering ? the Packers are getting healthy, and their defense is playing well; the 49ers boast an impressive resume, with road wins at Green Bay and at New England. We like Colin Kaepernick (although Kenny says Jim Harbaugh is playing the wrong quarterback) but the opportunity to take Aaron Rodgers plus the points is too enticing to pass up.
Looking at the total, the Niners are 6-1 to the OVER when Kaepernick starts, Rodgers can obviously light it up, and if high tide leads to a slick playing surface, that should favor the offense.
Kenny (video): Kaepernick a 1.5-point dropoff from Alex Smith
Rick (video): Siding with Rodgers over Kaepernick
Props: Odds on yards, touchdowns by Kaepernick, Rodgers
Live odds: Check here for up-to-date NFL playoff lines
More on divisional playoff Saturday
News: One sports book corners Las Vegas market on Packers-49ers
Super Bowl exactas: William Hill offering horse racing-inspired wager
Playoff tendencies: Trends to know
Jimmy Vaccaro: Weekend buzz builds in Vegas
HMS Bounty dominion power Heather Clem Con Edison LaGuardia Airport weather radar the weather channel
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