The best time to bet on a line is when it first opens up at your preferred sportsbook. If you can't make that happen, generally, the earlier you bet on it, the better.
By kickoff of that week's games, NFL lines have diminished into some of the most efficient in all of sports (arguably the most efficient), meaning there's often little room for positive expected value (+EV) on bets the later in the week you bet it. Nearly every angle has been covered by sportsbook traders and sharp bettors.
As the week goes on, NFL lines stabilize due to the trading of sharp bettors, news and injury updates, and other factors that influence the game predictions.
Many NFL betting operators now publish early hypothetical odds before Week 18 ended, and if you haven't bet those already, attacking these lines Monday on the first playoff week is the next-best step.
Many of these lines will go through further refinement, and even if you can't land the best closing-line value or haven't already bet them at early, sharp-embracing books, you should have your say in these markets as soon as possible.
All NFL Wild Card bets below are based on odds current as of Monday at 10 a.m. ET.
MORE: Betting glossary: Key sports betting terms
NFL Wild Card opening and early lines
Opening lines were captured at 8 p.m. ET Sunday at DraftKings Sportsbook unless otherwise noted.
Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET)
- Moneyline: Rams (-625) • Panthers (+455)
- Spread: Rams -10 (-115) • Panthers +10 (-105)
- Total: Over 46.5 (-110) • Under 46.5 (-110)
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)
- Moneyline: Packers (-115) • Bears (+105)
- Spread: Packers -1.5 (-105) • Bears +1.5 (-115)
- Total: Over 47.5 (-110) • Under 47.5 (-110)
Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
- Moneyline: Bills (-118) • Jaguars (-102)
- Spread: Bills -1.5 (-102) • Jaguars +1.5 (-118)
- Total: Over 50.5 (-110) • Under 50.5 (-110)
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET)
- Moneyline: 49ers (+142) • Eagles (-170)
- Spread: 49ers +3 (-105) • Eagles -3 (-115)
- Total: Over 46.5 (-110) • Under 46.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET)
- Moneyline: Chargers (+154) • Patriots (-185)
- Spread: Chargers +3.5 (-110) • Patriots -3.5 (-110)
- Total: Over 45.5 (-110) • Under 45.5 (-110)
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)*
- Moneyline: Texans (-175) • Steelers (+145)
- Spread: Texans -3 (-110) • Steelers +3 (-110)
- Total: Over 39.5 (-105) • Under 39.5 (-115)
*Texans-Steelers odds from DraftKings were published and recorded overnight into Monday following the Steelers' win over the Ravens.
Best early NFL Wild Card odds to bet
Texans at Steelers: Over 39.5 (-105) • FanDuel Sportsbook
This total underrates Pittsburgh's ceiling with alpha wideout DK Metcalf back from two-week suspension, even in a matchup with a sturdy Texans defense.
CJ Stroud also has flashed some of his rookie excellence in recent weeks, and a whole game from running back Woody Marks would challenge Pittsburgh's middling defense.
Houston CB Kamari Lassiter (knee/ankle), one of the highest-graded cornerbacks this year on Pro Football Focus, would be a huge loss if he can't be active after missing Week 18.
Both teams get an extended break ahead of the Monday Night Football matchup.
Whether it come from the Steelers' dynamic run game or the Texans' resurgent aerial attack, these teams should clear this soft hurdle.
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Packers at Bears: Over 46.5 (-102) • DraftKings Sportsbook
This total has been bet down since opening, as well, much to this author's excitement.
Two teams adaptable to cold weather will likely get something below freezing Sunday, and this underplays the expected return of Bears wideout Rome Odunze (foot).
Both teams have good-to-great run games that could wind up slowing the pace. Green Bay ranked in the bottom 10 for plays-per-game pace (59.4), but Chicago ran the second-most offensive plays per game (64.9).
The NFC North rivals also have middling-to-bad pass defenses and will have trouble contaning their opposing top-10 EPA/Pass attacks: Green Bay ranks second (0.23), while the Bears come in at a respectable ninth (0.08).
Even if the playing conditions resemble normal winter football (let's revisit this later in the week if forecasts worsen), these two offenses should find a way to pile up points.
If you miss the (-102) juice, I'd still target this up until (-110).
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49ers +3.5 (-105) at Eagles • Fanatics Sportsbook & FanDuel
Thankfully, early money has swung toward the Eagles, adding a hook to the spread.
The defending Super Bowl champions continue to receive too much credit from books.
To be fair, the Niners (5th, 10-6-1) and Eagles (T-6th, 10-7) ranked among the best squads against the spread this season.
But expecting the Eagles' injury-riddled defense to match up this well with a full-strength San Francisco offense is relying too much on old data.
San Francisco will consider this a relief after muddying themselves through their loss to Seattle that dropped them to the No. 6 seed.
Even if the Eagles take advantage of their own favorable matchup with the football, this one likely will come down to a field goal or less, and taking the hook is a gift, especially at anything better than (-110) juice.
I would even double down if this spread keeps growing on the Eagles side, though I project more 49ers money will come in later this week.
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Best NFL Wild Card sportsbooks that may be available in your area
Even if sports betting is legal in your state, not all sportsbooks may be available to you. Here are some of the most popular options to look into:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Fanatics
- BetMGM
- bet365
- Caesars
- theScore Bet
- Hard Rock Bet
- Betr
- BetRivers
MORE: How sportsbooks set betting lines