Service Plays Sunday 1/18/26

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Steve Fezzik

2* Chic Loveland OVER 4.5 catches -125

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Emory Hunt

NFL
1 Unit Houston +3 -106
1 Unit Chicago +3.5 -104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pro Sports Picks

5*Bears +4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NFL divisional playoff betting trends


Sunday

Texans at Patriots (-3, 41): The teams met last season, when Houston won and covered at Gillette Stadium by a 41-21 count. The Texans have won and covered their past five games as underdogs this season. Houston has won 13 of 15 games while going 10-5 ATS since its 0-3 start. The Texans are 0-2 straight up and 1-1 ATS in the divisional round the past two seasons. Houston has a 12-6 under record this season. The Patriots are 14-1 straight up and 12-3 ATS since their 1-2 start. They were on a 5-0 over run before going under in last week’s 16-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Edge: Slight to under and Patriots.

Rams (-4, 48) at Bears: The last meeting between these teams was Sept. 29, 2024, at Soldier Field, when the Bears (-3) won and covered by a 24-18 score. The Rams had covered three straight playoff games before falling short as 10?-point favorites in last week’s 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers. Los Angeles is on a 9-4 ATS run overall but is 4-4 ATS in its past eight road games. The Rams are on a 7-0 over run. The Bears are on a 7-2 spread surge as underdogs, and they have won six of their past seven home games while going 5-2 ATS. Chicago is on a 6-2 under run at home. Edge: Bears and slight to over.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

PATRIOTS (-3) over Texans


“It’s hard to find value with sharp playoff lines, but New England shows value in my model. They get the benefit of home cooking and field the possible MVP in quarterback Drake Maye,” said pro bettor Cris Zeniuk (@lasvegascris). “Experienced coaching will be a benefit versus the very capable Texans, who are faced with key injuries, not to mention some seriously poor play by quarterback C.J. Stroud last week.

“I also like a money line parlay of Seattle and New England for +105.”

Texans (+3?) over PATRIOTS

“I bet Houston +3? and still like it at +3 even,” said pro bettor Randy McKay (@RR39), who correctly called the Texans’ win and cover over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. “The Texans defense reminds me of the 2001 Baltimore Ravens. Hopefully quarterback C.J. Stroud doesn’t mess it up like he did versus the Steelers (with three turnovers).

“I believe their offensive line is better than the Patriots’ and will have the offensive success that the Los Angeles Chargers didn’t (in last week’s 16-3 wild-card loss). New England is still a young team, and Houston’s experience will win out.”

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Scott Pritchard, PritchardsPicks.com, @pritchardwins
Texans (13-5) at Patriots (15-3)


Time: Noon Sunday, ABC, ESPN
Line/total: Patriots -3, 41

Analysis: The lopsided matchup that should decide this game is the Patriots’ top-four scoring defense against the Texans’ below-average offense in yards gained. To make matters worse for Houston, it’s expected to be without No. 1 wide receiver Nico Collins (concussion). If Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has a comparable number of interceptions and fumbles (five) as he did in last week’s win in Pittsburgh, the pressure will be too much to bear even for Houston’s top-rated defense as it attempts to contain New England’s top-four passing offense and No. 5 scoring offense. This is the Texans’ third straight year in the divisional round of the playoffs, and it should also be their third straight loss, unless Patriots’ second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s playoff inexperience results in an uncharacteristic meltdown.

Pick: Patriots 27, Texans 17


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rams (13-5) at Bears (12-6)


Time: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC
Line/total: Rams -4, 48

Analysis: Expect painfully cold single-digit temperatures with the wind chill for this game. Snow in the forecast might be the only thing that can help a bottom-10 Bears defense slow down the NFL’s No. 1 passing and scoring offense. This is exactly the kind of defense Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford delights in facing as he airs it out to wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua broke the NFL record for fastest to 250 career receptions and led the league with 129 catches this season. Adams, not to be outdone, led the NFL with in receiving touchdown (14) and red zone touchdowns (12). The Rams’ top-10 scoring defense should provide just enough resistance to a talented Bears offense, which ranks third in rushing, to give Los Angeles an insurmountable lead.

Pick: Rams 34, Bears 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS.bet

NFL Playoffs Sunday 1/18/26

4Units: New England Patriots -3 (-120)


90-53-3 104.51
Alternative Parlays/Teasers: 16-11 +11.68
Total: 106-64-3 +116.19

[ConleyPicks]

Wise Guy (Luca Rossi)

NBA @930 PM TORONTO -1.5 (3.5 stars)
NHL @500 PM OTTAWA +125 (3 stars)
NFL @630 PM BEARS +4 (3 stars)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bob Balfe
2025 VIP Football Record (105-98)

Texans +3 over Patriots
Rams -3.5 over Bears

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Big Al McMordie

NFL Selections
4* Texans/Patriots Over 40.5, 3:00 pm BIG AL'S NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND TOTAL OF YEAR!
1* Bears/Rams Under 48.5, 6:30 pm

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Greg Peterson

CBB

American vs. Army Under 145.5
Fort Wayne -3.5 and Over 148.5
Charlotte -1.5 and Under 143.5
Wichita State +7.5
UT San Antonio vs. Memphis Over 143.5
Houston -16.5 and Under 146.5
San Francisco -5.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Larry Hartstein
Drake Maye Over 13.5 Longest Rush -112
NE -3
L.A. Rams Over 26.5 Total Pts -122
Puka Nacua Anytime Touchdown Scorer -115

Will Brinson
Rhamondre Stevenson Over 18.5 Total Receiving Yards -118
CHI Over 50.5

RJ White
Houston Under 19.5 Total Pts -115
NE -2.5 -119
Puka Nacua Anytime Touchdown Scorer -115
Chicago +4.5 -118

Mike Tierney
NE -3
CHI Under 48.5

Todd Fuhrman
HOU - 1st Half Under 20.5 -115

Sia Nejad
Stefon Diggs Under 50.5 Total Receiving Yards -113

Alex Selesnick
Colston Loveland Under 54.5 Total Receiving Yards -114

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Joe Gavazzi

NFL PLAYOFFS – DIVISION ROUND



Sunday, Jan 18^th



3% Houston Texans (+3.5) 3:00 PM ET

A weather forecast of mid 30’s with possible wintery mix on a Sunday afternoon in January in Boston should be a walk in the park for Houston QB Stroud who had numerous problems handling the ball in his last outing on MNF in Pittsburgh where the temperature was in the teens. Yet I heard no one in the broadcast booth make a reference to the frigid conditions as being a possible reason why QB Stroud, who has rarely played in sub-freezing temperatures, was having problems handling the ball. The Texans entered the 4^th quarter leading only 7-6 because they were -3 Net TOs. That all evened out in the 4^th quarter when Pittsburgh committed 2 turnovers and Houston scored 23 points for a 30-6 final that was far more competitive on the scoreboard for much of the game. That was not true, however, on the stat sheet where Houston totally dominated with a yardage edge of 408-175. Following that embarrassing Pittsburgh loss, Mike Tomlin resigned after 19 seasons as HC of the Steelers and will now be hunting for his next HC position which will pay him $20 million dollars/year, the amount that recently hired former Baltimore HC Harbaugh signed for with the NYG. But I digress. Little to complain about a New England team who went from 4-13 SU last season to 15-3 SU, 14-4 ATS and enters on a 4 game win streak after their 16-3 victory vs. the Chargers last Sunday on this field, a game in which they held a 381-207 edge. Key to the turnaround has been 1^st year HC Vrabel, a former Patriot player who turned around the culture of this team and benefited from the 2^nd year improvement of QB May. They are a slightly superior offensive team to the visitor BUT, as we all witnessed on MNF, HOUSTON IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE TEAM IN THE LEAGUE. That includes a +17 Net TO margin, 2^nd only to the Bears in what figures to be a highly competitive contest. Even though New England holds the situational advantage in terms of rest and site, my opinion still lies with Houston as underdog in a game that could well go down to the final play. In that regard, PK Fairbairn is a most reliable weapon. Hidden advantage for Houston in this one is the stats that were accrued against the #4 schedule vs. the #32 SOS of New England.



3% LA Rams (-3.5) 6:30 PM ET

Each team has 8 days’ rest with Chicago benefiting from a home/home scenario vis a vis the Rams playing consecutive road games. We faded the Rams last week as the Panthers covered the double-digit spread which now means Wild Card Playoff home dogs are 37-15 ATS. They certainly did not expend as much energy as Chicago did in yet another comeback vs. Green Bay. Staying true to this year’s MO, the Bears trailed the Packers 3-21 at halftime. True to form, however, the Bears rallied for a 31-27 win when QB Williams connected on a 4^th down TDP with 5 minutes remaining. Even more remarkable is that they overcame a -2 Net TO disadvantage to get the victory. Aided by their league-best +22 Net TO margin and win chills which may approach negative degrees, there are clear reasons why the Bears could build on their record of 7 wins by 6 or less points and winning 7 games when trailing at the 2 minute mark. The Rams, however, are clearly the better statistical team holding a 1.2 Net YPPL differential, easily qualifying in all 4 categories of the defensive metrics. Those numbers are against the hardest schedule in the league vis a vis the Bears who had a #24 SOS. They will certainly be prepared for the Bears in the 2^nd half.

[rocky57]

David Racey CBB Best Bet Arizona State/Houston Over 144

[greatonpig]

WWP - CBB - 3-5 yesterday, 11-11 for the week.

He takes FAU and Tulane

We take Temple and No Texas

Good Luck