Betting nuggets for AFC and NFC title games
Rob Nelson
ESPN
Here is a look at some things to know as you bet the AFC and NFC Championship games.
All lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots (-8.5, 46), 3:05 ET (Sunday)
The Patriots are 20-5 ATS in their past 25 games dating back to last season. This includes a 4-0 ATS record in the playoffs during this stretch.
The Jaguars are 7-3 ATS and 9-1 SU in their past 10 games against AFC opponents. The under is 8-2 in those games.
Since Doug Marrone took over as head coach in Week 16 last season, the Jaguars are 6-2 ATS with five outright wins as an underdog.
This will mark the third time Blake Bortles starts a postseason game as an underdog in his college/NFL career. Bortles has led his team to an upset win in the previous two games (UCF beat Baylor as 16.5-point underdogs in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, Jacksonville beat Pittsburgh last week as 7-point underdogs).
The Patriots are 13-6 ATS and 19-0 straight up in their past 19 games against AFC South opponents. (The last SU loss was at the Houston Texans on Jan. 3, 2010). The over is 15-4 in those games.
The Patriots are 2-6 ATS and 4-4 SU in their past eight AFC Championship Games. Prior to this stretch, New England was a perfect 5-0 ATS and 5-0 SU all-time in the AFC title game (3-0 in Brady-Belichick era).
The Jaguars are 0-2 ATS and 0-2 SU all-time in the AFC Championship Game. This includes a 20-6 loss as 7-point underdogs at New England on Jan. 12, 1997.
There have been five teams to win multiple games as a touchdown underdog in a single postseason during the Super Bowl Era. The Jaguars, who won at Pittsburgh as 7-point underdogs last week, have a chance to be sixth team to accomplish this feat.
The over is 7-2 in the Jaguars' nine road playoff games in franchise history.
The over in 6-1 in the Patriots' past seven home playoff games.
There have been two upsets in the past 11 AFC Championship Games. The Patriots have been the favorite in both of those upsets.
The under is 5-1 in the past six AFC Championship Games.
This will mark the 36th consecutive game that the Patriots are favored in, the longest active streak as a favorite in the NFL.
This will mark the 22nd time in their past 23 playoff games that the Patriots enter as a favorite.
Minnesota Vikings (-3, 39) at Philadelphia Eagles, 6:40 ET (Sunday)
The Eagles have won outright in all four of their games as a home underdog during the Super Bowl era. This includes a 15-10 win as 2.5-point underdogs last week against the Falcons.
The Eagles are 12-5 ATS and 14-3 SU at home over the past two seasons under Doug Pederson.
This will mark the second time the Vikings have been a road favorite in the playoffs during the Super Bowl era. The previous occurrence also came in the NFC Championship Game, a 41-0 loss to the Giants as 2.5-point favorites on Jan. 14, 2001.
The Vikings are 10-4-1 ATS and 12-3 SU in games started by Case Keenum this season.
Nick Foles is 1-8 ATS in his past nine starts (1-3 with Eagles).
The Vikings are 8-2 ATS in their past 10 games against NFC East opponents.
The under is 8-0 in the Eagles' past eight home playoff games.
This will mark the eighth time that the home team is an underdog in the past five postseasons. The under is 7-0 in the previous seven games.
The Vikings are 1-4 ATS and 0-5 SU in their past five NFC Championship Games.
The Vikings are 2-8 ATS in their 10 games as a favorite against the Eagles during the Super Bowl era.
Favorites are 4-1 ATS and 5-0 SU in the past 5 NFC Championship Games. The last upset came on Jan. 22, 2012 when the Giants won 20-17 over the 49ers in overtime as 2.5-point underdogs.
The over is 9-2-1 in the past 12 NFC Championship Games.
The over is 11-3 in the Vikings' past 14 games with a closing total in the 30s.
This will mark the third straight game that the Eagles are underdogs in. Philadelphia had been favored in nine straight games prior to this stretch.
Rob Nelson
ESPN
Here is a look at some things to know as you bet the AFC and NFC Championship games.
All lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots (-8.5, 46), 3:05 ET (Sunday)
The Patriots are 20-5 ATS in their past 25 games dating back to last season. This includes a 4-0 ATS record in the playoffs during this stretch.
The Jaguars are 7-3 ATS and 9-1 SU in their past 10 games against AFC opponents. The under is 8-2 in those games.
Since Doug Marrone took over as head coach in Week 16 last season, the Jaguars are 6-2 ATS with five outright wins as an underdog.
This will mark the third time Blake Bortles starts a postseason game as an underdog in his college/NFL career. Bortles has led his team to an upset win in the previous two games (UCF beat Baylor as 16.5-point underdogs in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, Jacksonville beat Pittsburgh last week as 7-point underdogs).
The Patriots are 13-6 ATS and 19-0 straight up in their past 19 games against AFC South opponents. (The last SU loss was at the Houston Texans on Jan. 3, 2010). The over is 15-4 in those games.
The Patriots are 2-6 ATS and 4-4 SU in their past eight AFC Championship Games. Prior to this stretch, New England was a perfect 5-0 ATS and 5-0 SU all-time in the AFC title game (3-0 in Brady-Belichick era).
The Jaguars are 0-2 ATS and 0-2 SU all-time in the AFC Championship Game. This includes a 20-6 loss as 7-point underdogs at New England on Jan. 12, 1997.
There have been five teams to win multiple games as a touchdown underdog in a single postseason during the Super Bowl Era. The Jaguars, who won at Pittsburgh as 7-point underdogs last week, have a chance to be sixth team to accomplish this feat.
The over is 7-2 in the Jaguars' nine road playoff games in franchise history.
The over in 6-1 in the Patriots' past seven home playoff games.
There have been two upsets in the past 11 AFC Championship Games. The Patriots have been the favorite in both of those upsets.
The under is 5-1 in the past six AFC Championship Games.
This will mark the 36th consecutive game that the Patriots are favored in, the longest active streak as a favorite in the NFL.
This will mark the 22nd time in their past 23 playoff games that the Patriots enter as a favorite.
Minnesota Vikings (-3, 39) at Philadelphia Eagles, 6:40 ET (Sunday)
The Eagles have won outright in all four of their games as a home underdog during the Super Bowl era. This includes a 15-10 win as 2.5-point underdogs last week against the Falcons.
The Eagles are 12-5 ATS and 14-3 SU at home over the past two seasons under Doug Pederson.
This will mark the second time the Vikings have been a road favorite in the playoffs during the Super Bowl era. The previous occurrence also came in the NFC Championship Game, a 41-0 loss to the Giants as 2.5-point favorites on Jan. 14, 2001.
The Vikings are 10-4-1 ATS and 12-3 SU in games started by Case Keenum this season.
Nick Foles is 1-8 ATS in his past nine starts (1-3 with Eagles).
The Vikings are 8-2 ATS in their past 10 games against NFC East opponents.
The under is 8-0 in the Eagles' past eight home playoff games.
This will mark the eighth time that the home team is an underdog in the past five postseasons. The under is 7-0 in the previous seven games.
The Vikings are 1-4 ATS and 0-5 SU in their past five NFC Championship Games.
The Vikings are 2-8 ATS in their 10 games as a favorite against the Eagles during the Super Bowl era.
Favorites are 4-1 ATS and 5-0 SU in the past 5 NFC Championship Games. The last upset came on Jan. 22, 2012 when the Giants won 20-17 over the 49ers in overtime as 2.5-point underdogs.
The over is 9-2-1 in the past 12 NFC Championship Games.
The over is 11-3 in the Vikings' past 14 games with a closing total in the 30s.
This will mark the third straight game that the Eagles are underdogs in. Philadelphia had been favored in nine straight games prior to this stretch.
