NFL playoffs: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers spread and odds

The point spread, betting odds and preview of the NFL wild card playoff game Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFL playoffs: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers spread and odds We start our betting preview of the NFL playoffs with the AFC wild card game between the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6). The Steelers were fortunate enough to get the home field and the AFC playoff game will be played at Heinz Field on Saturday at 8:00pm EST. The Jaguars and the Steelers met recently (December 16th) at Philadelphia during the regular season and that game was won by Jacksonville 29-22, which gave enough confidence to the bookmakers to list the Jaguars as the favorite team to win the NFL playoff game on Saturday. At the online bookmaker Bodog Sports, the point spread on the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers wild card playoff game is currently sitting at -2 points chalk the Jaguars with the total at 39.5 points. For comparison, at the online sportsbook Bookmaker, the point spread is favoring Jacksonville -2 points, as well, with the same total. The odds on the Jacksonville Jaguars to win the AFC playoff game are currently sitting at -135 and the betting odds on the Pittsburgh Steelers to continue in the NFL playoffs are listed as +115.

It will be a tough game ahead of the Steelers on Saturday. Not only they have been beaten already by the Jaguars, but a long list of injuries will cripple the team even further. Willie Parker could have been very useful to the Pittsburgh offense, had he not broken his leg. On top of it, wide receivers Willie Reed and Hines Ward both missed Wednesday practice due to injuries and it remains questionable if they'd be able to recover in time for the playoffs. Pittsburgh's cornerbacks Allen Rossum, Bryant McFadden and Deshea Townsend also missed practice, as well as safety Troy Polamalu. Meanwhile at Jacksonville running back LaBrandon Toefield was the only one to miss practice, although defensive tackle Grady Jackson, safety Reggie Nelson and cornerback Aaron Glenn did a limited Wednesday practice. Still, the Jaguars are much more healthy than the Steelers comes the AFC wild card playoff game.

The Steelers will rely on their top-notch defense, ranked 1st in the NFL allowing only 266.4 yards per game for 16.8 points, compared to the Jacksonville defensive stats - allowing 313.8 yards for 19 points on average per game. The Jaguars are leading the Steelers offensively, however, posting 357.4 yards for 25.7 points, compared to Pittsburgh's 327.4 yards and 24.6 points, before suffering from injuries. When betting on this NFL wild card playoff game, keep in mind that Jacksonville is 7-1 against the spread in its last 8 games and Pittsburgh is 2-6 against the spread in its last 8 games. Also, the total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing at home against Jacksonville.

Published on 01/02/2008