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NFL Playoffs 2019: Rams, Saints heavy favorites in Divisional Round

ByCody Williams|
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 4: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 4: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

As the opening odds and lines for the Divisional Round of the 2019 NFL Playoffs are out, the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints open as big favorites.

The 2019 NFL Playoffs got underway with a bang on Wild Card Weekend. We started things off with an upset as the Indianapolis Colts mightily handled the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon. That was followed by a thriller between the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks that ultimately pushed the former through to the Divisional Round.

On Sunday, things didn’t let up in terms of excitement. The Los Angeles Chargers built a substantial lead over Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, only to have to hold off a comeback attempt down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles had fortune smile on them again as Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed the game-winning field goal attempt off the upright.

Watching all of this, of course, were the four top seeds in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots in the AFC along with the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams from the NFC. They will now get into the fold with the Divisional Round and second weekend of the 2019 NFL Playoffs coming. But how do they stack up to the winners?

MUST READ: NFL Divisional Round picks, score predictions

Here’s a look at the opening lines for the four Divisional Round games in the 2019 NFL Playoffs (via Odds Shark):

  • Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs (Sat., 4:35 p.m. ET): KC -6, O/U 57
  • Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams (Sat., 8:15 p.m. ET): LAR -7, O/U 49.5
  • Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots (Sun., 1:05 p.m. ET): NE -4.5, O/U 47.5
  • Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints (Sun., 4:40 p.m. ET): NO -9, O/U 51.5

It’s not surprising that the home teams are all favored in these matchups. In some instances, however, it is surprising by how much they’re favored.

Having said that, it ultimately makes sense where these teams stand in terms of the opening odds for the Divisional Round. The Saints thrashed Philly in the regular season, the Rams have been more explosive and consistent than the Cowboys, and the Chiefs and Patriots have been just a bit better and are at home than the Colts and Chargers, respectively.

Then again, what do the odds matter in these 2019 NFL Playoffs. After all, three of the four underdogs prevailed on Wild Card Weekend. Perhaps more of the same awaits the league and fans in the Divisional Round.

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