NFL Playoff Picks 2025 - Are you considering the right factors?
The NFL Playoffs are an exciting time for any football fan. Whether your favorite team is still in it or not, betting on your NFL playoff picks can help give you someone to root for in the cooler months.
Whether we are talking about NFL Wild Card or NFL playoffs in general, it's important to understand that making picks for the playoffs is far different from betting on the regular season. With fewer games, weather complications, increased pressure on the players and coaches, among many more factors, it's no wonder the stakes are raised come January.
Aside from the game situations that will vary depending on the teams playing, there are plenty of factors that will either put a team at an advantage or disadvantage. The NFL playoffs present an extremely different atmosphere compared to the NFL regular season, and it calls for a unique betting strategy when making NFL football betting picks.
Let's take a look at 7 key factors to consider for your NFL Playoff picks.
1. Wild Card Games
The Wild Card round consists of the first four games during the NFL Playoffs. These are the top four teams that didn't win their division as well as the two division winners that had the lower regular-season records and are often on the brink of being considered a great team. This can make your NFL Wild Card predictions a little difficult because these will likely be close games
Teams that win the Wild Card round will go on to play the toughest teams that have been resting for a week. Although they will have the momentum coming off a win, you will have to factor in how tired they might be. They will have a week to prepare for the next game, while the team they are playing against had two weeks to prepare.
Don't get fooled though, sometimes that two weeks can result in a team getting too much time to prepare. This is where that momentum plays a role in your NFL Wild Card predictions.
2. Strength of Schedule
Many people get fooled when looking at a team's record to indicate how good that team is. A team's success goes much further than its record, especially come playoff time.
Rather than looking at the record of a team, look at who those wins and losses came against. Some teams showcase their true talent against great teams but get lazy against mediocre teams. On the other hand, some teams buckle and fold against great competition.
In the playoffs, every team is great, and it will be hard to find a matchup that's 100 percent certain - especially in today's NFL. Try to understand why these teams lost in the regular season, and more importantly, why they won.
3. History Between Teams
By looking at recent trends in the history of two teams playing each other, you'll notice that some coaches and players simply perform better against certain competition. This can become valuable when betting, especially if the two teams have recent playoff history.
If their playoff history was too long ago to make a difference, looking at their performances in the regular season can help.
You will also have to take into account that rivalries will bring about a more intense and pressured atmosphere, which can only escalate with it being the playoffs.
4. Playoff Experience
This goes for both coaches and players, but playoff experience can make a world of difference. Again, it's a different atmosphere and could possibly be the biggest stage a player has ever played on -- or coach has ever coached on.
Having a team that can perform under pressured situations is important to your NFL Playoff picks. Those who have been there before are known to play a bit more comfortably.
5. Injuries
Of course, it would be silly to make a bet without taking injuries into account. Not just injuries that are keeping a player from the action, but players who are questionable or coming off an injury can have an effect on how the game plays out.
Knowing how a team performs without certain players can help you decide whether to trust them or not. Likewise, knowing how certain players perform with minor injuries will give you a sense of what to expect come game time.
You also have to understand that these players are coming off a grueling, long season. They're banged up and exhausted, so having a team with depth and solid rotations can play a heavy role in the success of your NFL Playoff picks.
6. Weather
Let's not forget about the weather, which can sometimes lead to a delayed game, changed location, or just simply harsh playing conditions that can alter a team's strategy.
This, in turn, will alter your strategy. Certain players play better in snow, whereas other times, snow can lead a team to rushing the ball more. Either way, weather plays a crucial role in your betting decisions.
7. Difference-Makers
When making your NFL playoff predictions, keep in mind teams will likely look to play through their superstars and most valuable players. Comparing these difference-makers on both teams can give you a glimpse of what matchups they will be trying to take advantage of.
If Team A has a top-tier running back and Team B has been struggling with its run defense, you can assume Team A will look to run a lot. This will likely cause a higher time of possession, keeping the opposing offense off the field. This can start to map out how a game might turn out.
Wunderdog Makes Picking Winners for the Playoffs Simple
If you're looking for a little extra help with your NFL Playoff picks, Wunderdog is the source you need. With over 18 years of experience and more than 460,000 subscribers, Wunderdog helps many people just like you make smart and free sports picks!
Wunderdog doesn't take educated guesses and goes further than just assuming what might happen. Instead, data and trends are used to project the outcome of certain scenarios. Wunderdog eliminates "gut feeling" and puts real picks in front of your eyes.
If you're ready to receive free NFL playoff picks, visit Wunderdog today and start cashing in come playoff time.
Also make sure to visit our NFL consensus picks page and NFL computer picks pages as they are great resources come NFL playoff time!
Get free premium picks daily.