NFL odds, picks, schedule, how to watch, stream: Expert picks against the spread for Chargers-Ravens, Eagles-Bears
Find out everything you need to know about how Sunday's wild-card action will go right here
By
R.J. White
•
5 min read
It's playoff season in the NFL as 12 teams battle to be the one left standing on Sunday, February 3 as the winner of Super Bowl LIII, which you can watch on CBS and CBS All-Access. The road to Atlanta starts for the Ravens and Chargers on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (stream the game here), and the Eagles close out the weekend by trying to take the first step in a second magical run in Chicago.
We'll take you game by game to reveal how our experts picked the lines on Wild Card Weekend and showing you all the great places you can find NFL picks talk throughout the week. Let's get to it.
What NFL picks can you make with confidence during the wild-card round? And which Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which NFL teams are winning more than 50 percent of simulations, all from the model that has beaten 98 percent of experts over the past two years.
Chargers at Ravens
- Time: Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS), stream here at CBSSports.com
- Open: Ravens -3
- Current: Ravens -3
"This will be the second time for the Chargers to see Lamar Jackson and Baltimore's gimmicked-up offense. It's tough to play that style the first time around for defenses, but I think the Chargers will have a better handle on it in this one. Philip Rivers didn't play well in the first game, but he will here. Chargers will win a tight game, so take the points." -- Pete Prisco, who's doubling up with spread and total picks on this game in his best bets
Micah Roberts has worked in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry for 20 years, including a 13-year run as Station Casinos' book director. Since joining SportsLine as a handicapper, Roberts is on an epic 14-6 run picking all Chargers games, and has hit on four of five on games involving the Ravens. So which side of this line is Roberts taking? Head on over to SportsLine and find out.
"First of all, the fact the Chargers have to fly across the entire country to play a game at 1 p.m. ET and 10 a.m. PT could be a problem for them, just like it's been a problem for so many West Coast teams in the past. Furthermore, while rookie QBs may struggle in playoff games, Lamar Jackson is a little different. Jackson isn't going to be asked to throw the ball 30 times in this game. Baltimore's offense is something out of the early 20th century, and it matches up well with this Chargers defense. The Chargers are stronger defending the pass than they are the run, and it was only a few weeks ago that the Ravens came to L.A. to beat the Chargers 22-10. I believe the Ravens will get them again." -- Tom Fornelli on why the Ravens are one of his best bets this week
Nick Kostos: "I love watching the Ravens play ... I just am bummed for Baltimore, because I just feel like of all the possible matchups on Wild Card Weekend, this was the worst one, because this is the only team that has seen this offense once already ... You guys know I love betting against Philip Rivers in a big spot, but I think second time in a couple weeks seeing this Ravens defense, the Chargers definitely cover the 3."
Pete Prisco: "I was watching that today and [the Chargers] will do a couple things different this time around ... I love the Chargers. They will stop the run, they will dare that kid to pass ... The Chargers will win it 19-16."
Will Brinson: "The same year Pete was born!"
R.J. White: "These guys made some good points except for Nick's betting against Philip Rivers in big spots point, because he's 5-1 against the spread in the playoffs, and he's 39-20-3 against the spread in all games as a road underdog."
That's from Friday's edition of the Pick Six Podcast, hosted by Will Brinson five days a week and featuring nothing but NFL talk, from recapping games to insider buzz to picks and everything else you want to know. Listen to the wild card picks pod below and subscribe!
Eagles at Bears
- Time: Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET (NBC), stream on fuboTV (Try for free)
- Open: Bears -5.5
- Current: Bears -6.5
"On Sunday, I think we'll see the Trubisky we saw for most of December -- in part because he's been showing signs of progress in recent weeks and also because he's facing an average defense. And if he does struggle, which let's face it, is a real possibility, the Bears will still have their defense to lean on. ... The Bears might be able to beat the Eagles without their quarterback playing well. The Bears will almost assuredly beat the Eagles if their quarterback does play well. Trubisky has been playing well in recent weeks. And he gets an average defense on Sunday. That's why I'm taking the Bears to win and cover." -- Sean Wagner-McGough, who went 49-35-1 on his best bets this year
I finished the regular season as SportsLine's No. 1 NFL expert, compiling a 51-31-2 record in my last 84 picks against the spread. I'm on a 7-1 run picking Bears games, including their 24-10 Week 17 win over the Vikings as five-point underdogs. Check out which side of this line I'm taking over at SportsLine.
"Please do not bother Nick Foles in September. For him, that's still the offseason. But if an emergency comes up in December or January, then by all means. Foles is again filling in for an injured Carson Wentz, and he's again playing like a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But for all his success in big games -- and, as a reminder, he's the reigning Super Bowl MVP -- he's never faced a defense like this Bears unit. So then the question becomes: Can Foles, who has back-to-back games with a passer rating of 102.1 or better, can continue apace in the playoffs? The short answer is yes." -- Ryan Wilson, who's taking the Eagles to cover but Bears to win
"I want the Bears first-half line at -3. The Bears have been one of the best first-half teams in the league this year, 11-5 against the number in the first 30 minutes. Eagles are just 6-10 in the first 30 minutes. We have seen the Bears defense taper off in the second half of some of these games, but I feel really confident in the Bears in the first half here." -- Nick Kostos, who is joined by a cavalcade of NFL betting experts each Sunday at noon ET for SportsLine's NFL preview, where the team goes through the NFL slate each week and shares what you have to know before placing your bets. Be sure to join them at noon ET on Sunday over at CBS Sports HQ, your 24/7 home for news, analysis, Fantasy and gambling insight, and more.
Thanks for reading, and good luck on your Wild Card Weekend picks!
