Sharp or Square - FINAL NFL Wild Card Weekend Bets: Rams-Panthers, Packers-Bears, Niners-Eagles, Chargers-Patriots and more

Welcome to Sharper Square from The Volume. This is where we sharpen the squares and make the wise guys pay attention; I’m Chad Nolan with my co-host and best friend, pro bettor Simon Hunter.

I had a great night, but people want yours; what went down yesterday?

I’m whispering from an Atlanta hotel, but yesterday felt like Bloomington took over the city. Hoosiers red everywhere, a pick-six sent us floating, ninth row by the band, seventy thousand chanting, and I swear we were levitating; now we’re headed to Miami.

It was my birthday, so I saw a hilariously bad killer-monkey movie and rode adjusted Indiana lines. I’ve been all-in on this staff and that defense; they looked insanely prepared.

Back to work: it’s Wild Card weekend, and we’re locking five for the free contest at sharpersquare.thevolume.com. I’m pushing Rams minus ten and a half at Carolina, even with the nasty Southeast weather.

My number makes it closer to thirteen, so I lean Rams, but that weather could jam a pass-heavy plan. I’d rather pair it with the under and tread lightly.

We’ve also been on Green Bay–Chicago under forty four and a half, with rain clearing and cold by kickoff.

I love the Packers side even more as heavier money piles on Chicago while sharper books show twos; Green Bay’s finally healthy, leans on Jacobs and the run, and has handled the Bears twice. If it’s under two, it’s value, and I’m fine making it one of our five.

Alright, I can live with it, even if Bears backers aren’t factoring the karma Hoosiers fans already get.

Niners–Eagles has climbed to six after we grabbed Philly earlier, so the side value’s gone. We still like under forty four and a half, with Trent likely in and Lane trending, which points to more runs and a tighter script.

Under is safer; Trent probably isn’t one hundred percent and the Eagles bring three top-end rushers. Fangio’s defenses have long given Shanahan trouble, so I still lean Philly overall but won’t lay six.

Chargers plus three and a half at New England stays our brass-balls play; that hook won’t budge even with most tickets on the Pats. Trends hate a first-time playoff favorite and like a dog quarterback who covers.

I’m with you; the Pats’ schedule lift doesn’t bother me, but their defensive front is banged up, and if Herbert isn’t buried by pressure, this dog is live. Books that touched four snapped back fast, so I’d grab the three and a half now.

Simon Says this week was Steelers plus three and a half against Houston, and even as it ticks toward three we still like Pittsburgh outright.

Total no-brainer for me; I’ll take it even at three in the contest if we must.

Bills–Jags has drifted to near pick’em, and I asked where you land as the winds swirl and confidence wobbles.

I’ve loaded more on the over and Jags first half than the side; Jacksonville’s run D that hasn’t allowed a seventy five yard rush meets Buffalo’s top rushing attack, and I expect points. If the Jags jump ahead, Josh Allen will have to chase with big plays, weather or not.

So we flip from Bears under to Packers side and keep the Rams side, plus Niners–Eagles under, Chargers plus three and a half, and Steelers plus three and a half. In the contest the Packers will be minus two and a half, and yes, we know the sweat if it lands on two.

I’m in, and I’ll eat it if two burns us.

This has been Sharper Square; we’ll be back Monday night before Steelers–Texans to recap the weekend and preview that one. Like and subscribe, drop five stars wherever you listen, feedback is a gift, and buckle up, it’s playoff time.