NFL Wild Card Tips and Predictions with Chad Millman

Welcome to the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs!

The Action Network's Chief Content Officer Chad Millman has his picks and analysis for the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, including a Browns-Texans preview, Money Line Parlay, and a Best Bet for the weekend.

Jump ahead to each segment:

• Browns @ Texans preview
• Playoff pass yards special
• Same Game Parlay: Packers @ Cowboys
• Money Line Parlay
• Chad's Best Bet

Let's dive in!

Browns @ Texans preview

The Cleveland Browns are 2.5-point road favorites in this matchup against the Houston Texans, who are 6-3 at home with one of those losses coming against the Browns while QB CJ Stroud was injured.

Amari Cooper had a career day in that 36-22 Browns win, catching 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Despite those numbers, the Texans defense managed to intercept Browns QB Joe Flacco twice.

Plus, this time in the playoffs, Stroud will lead the offense instead of backups Davis Mills and Case Keenum, who split time in that regular season clash.

It should be noted that the Browns defense - which gave up the fewest total yards this season - allowed 30 points per game on the road.

Chad says pro bettors are waiting for the line to hit Houston +3.0, which they expect Stroud and Co. to be able to cover against this Cleveland team.

Playoff pass yards special

Chad is looking at a new futures market this week: most playoff passing yards.

When looking at this market or similar ones, think about who will advance and play the most games - especially if you're thinking about betting on a QB for a team with a first-round bye.

As a result, Chad likes Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen's +450 odds to lead playoff QBs in passing yards. The Bills open their postseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers who were in the middle of the pack in pass defense, and Buffalo gained the fourth-most pass yards in the regular season.

The Bills offense is steadily improving and Allen should have plenty of chances to throw downfield, especially if the Bills make a deep run.

Same Game Parlay: QB clash in Packers-Cowboys

The Green Bay Packers-Dallas Cowboys game features two QBs who were among the league leaders in touchdown passes this season: Jordan Love of the Packers and Dak Prescott of the Cowboys.

Prescott led the league in TD passes with 36, and Love was second with 32. These two defenses have given up bunches of points at times this season, and Chad thinks the offenses will take center stage as a result.

Chad's Same Game Parlay: Cowboys ML, J. Love Over Pass Yards, C. Lamb Over Receiving Yards

Who wins in the Wild Card round?

Chad likes one underdog and one favorite for this weekend's two-leg Money Line Parlay.

First is the Los Angeles Rams, who visit the Detroit Lions. The Rams are +140 underdogs against a Lions team with a weak defense and an ailing red zone threat in tight end Sam LaPorta. Rams QB Matthew Stafford is surrounded by rookie playmakers in wide receiver Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams, and Chad expects them to take over against Dan Campbell's Lions.

Next are the Philadelphia Eagles, who are short road favorites against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Philly is -160 to win despite their recent struggles, and while people may want to bet against the Birds, they're facing a banged-up QB in Baker Mayfield and plenty of professional bettors are taking the Eagles.

Chad's Money Line Parlay: Rams ML, Eagles ML

Chad's Best Bet

Underdogs can be a good bet in the Wild Card round, but Chad is going for the biggest favorite on the board this week.

Mason Rudolph fought hard to take the Pittsburgh Steelers into the playoffs with a late-season run, but without TJ Watt, they will find it too hard to overcome the balanced Bills. Plus, the Steelers are bad against the spread without Watt during his career.

As a result, Chad thinks Josh Allen will outduel Rudolph, who will make his playoff debut in Buffalo.

Chad's Best Bet: Bills -10

Odds mentioned in this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.