NFL Playoffs: BetQL Editors' Picks For Saturday's Wild-Card Games

NFL Playoff Picks & Predictions

The 2023 NFL playoffs begin Saturday with two wild-card games: Seahawks at 49ers and Chargers at Jaguars. To help you make the best bets this weekend, the BetQL editors have picked a few of their favorite Saturday bets below using key trends and data from the BetQL NFL model.

BetQL subscribers can see more betting trends and all of our NFL best bets, including player props, with star ratings for every game. Take advantage of BetQL's free trial and see all of this week's best NFL bets!

MORE: SPORTSBOOKS’ BEST PROMOS FOR NFL PLAYOFFS

Dan Karpuc: Jaguars +1 vs. Chargers
Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson has gone 14-4 ATS as a home underdog in his career and that’s the situation based on opening lines. The Jags won this matchup in Los Angeles, 38-10, in Week 3 and are riding a five-game winning streak into this one. As shown in their surprising Week 18 loss against the Broncos, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley continues to make questionable decisions and I absolutely trust Pederson and his staff more than Staley and his in what should be a tight contest. I expect this to come down to the wire, but I’ll give the Jags the edge at home especially since they have the formula from their early-season blowout victory.

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Lucy Burdge: Jaguars +1 vs. Chargers
The Jaguars beat the Chargers, 38-10, during the regular season and I think they can take them down again, this time at home. Jacksonville has also covered four of its last five spreads during this five-game winning streak. I think the Jags can ride that momentum into this game against the Chargers and cover this spread.

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Kate Constable: Chargers -1 at Jaguars
If you take Week 18 out of the equation, both the Chargers and Jaguars come into this wild-card matchup having won their last four games. Jacksonville will have the edge in the run game against an L.A. defense that is giving up a league-worst 5.3 yards per carry. However, we just saw the Titans hold the Jags to 19 yards on the ground last weekend. The Chargers defense is also finally healthy with Joey Bosa back in the mix. My concern for the Jags is stopping L.A.’s passing game. Jacksonville is a bottom-five defense against the pass and with weapons like Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer and Austin Ekeler, the Chargers should be able to move the ball with ease even if Mike Williams is out. Either way, I’ll take the Chargers in this one.

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Brad Pinkerton: BetMGM NFL OGP Insurance Play of the Day

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Here is my play for Saturday, using the strategy of going over the lowest game total and under the highest game total (can only lose a maximum of one leg there), and taking the most points on both teams' alt lines (can only lose one leg here too); you can apply this strategy to any football game:

SEA-SF Over 33.5
SEA-SF Under 53.5
Seahawks +20.5
49ers ML
OGP Odds: +190

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MORE SATURDAY NFL: BETTING GUIDE | PLAYER PROPS

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