NFL Playoff Odds 2016: Divisional Round Picks and Super Bowl Predictions

Eight teams are still standing in the NFL playoffs, with some playing better than others. Realistically, though, every squad remaining has a legitimate outside shot at taking home the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The divisional round will feature four home teams hosting four visiting squads that have already won on the road during these playoffs. The confidence those underdogs gained from their Wild Card Weekend victories could realistically lead to four more wins for said squads this round.

Or, you know, the favorites could all do what they're expected to do and run the table.

These playoffs are tough to predict, but we'll try to do so anyway. We'll include divisional round and Super Bowl odds, as well as picks all the way through the Big Game.

Matchup	Spread	Over/Under	Pick
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots	New England (-5.5)	42.5	New England; Over
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos	Denver (-7)	39	Denver; Over
Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals	Arizona (-7)	50	Arizona; Under
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers	Carolina (-1.5)	44	Seattle; Under

Divisional Round Predictions

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

The AFC's hottest team is going up against the AFC's biggest playoff juggernaut of the past 15 years. Something has to budge, right?

Kansas City has won 11 straight games, most by huge margins. New England has arguably the greatest individuals in NFL history at three different positions (quarterback, tight end, head coach). Momentum is great, but going into Foxborough against a rested, decently healthy Patriots squad in the playoffs is almost a sure loss.

Alex Smith and his Chiefs will protect the ball well, but Tom Brady will lead a long fourth-quarter scoring drive to give New England a 24-21 victory.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

This game lost some of its luster last Saturday when the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown suffered injuries in their win against the Cincinnati Bengals. According to ESPN's Bob Holtzman, Roethlisberger is likely to play through his shoulder injury, but Brown will probably not suit up because of his concussion.

Combine that with Denver already having the best defense in the NFL, and this matchup leans heavily in the favor of the hosting Broncos.

Peyton Manning just has to avoid making big mistakes, which he will do in a 26-17 Broncos win.

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

The Packers got some of their mojo back during Wild Card Weekend in dismantling the Washington Redskins 35-18. Good for them.

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Unfortunately, an entirely different beast awaits them in the divisional round: the Cardinals. Arizona is one of those rare teams that can legitimately be considered elite on both sides of the ball.

The Cardinals' 36-6 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17 looks like a huge anomaly considering what the team had proved over the rest of the season. A motivated Arizona will get to Aaron Rodgers early and often in a 30-16 win.

Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

Possibly the most intriguing matchup on the schedule, the two-time defending champs of the NFC have to visit a 15-1 team that boasts the likely NFL MVP at quarterback.

Although Seattle needed a fluky field-goal miss by Blair Walsh to beat the Minnesota Vikings last weekend, it has still played like the best team in the NFL over the past month or so. The Seahawks have outscored their opponents 155-44 since Week 13, with Russell Wilson ripping defenses to shreds all along the way.

Cam Newton is great, and Carolina's defense is stout, but Seattle should control the tempo of the game and continue its amazing run in a thrilling 21-20 win.

Conference Championship Predictions

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

This matchup wouldn't have surprised anyone before the season, but the road to get here has been unexpected.

Steven Senne/Associated Press/Associated Press

Brady got his four-game suspension rescinded right before the campaign began, and the Patriots came out of the gates firing before falling victim to a rash of injuries and "settling" for the No. 2 seed. Manning seemed like he aged about 10 years between last season and this season, but a league-best defense lifted Denver to a hot start and later a strong finish.

Who wins? Denver is at home, but Brady will show Manning just how much better he is at this point in their respective careers (hint: it's a lot) despite facing a tough Broncos defense. The Patriots take it 27-20.

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

This matchup is a coin flip to me. These two squads were the NFC's most consistently dominant groups during the second half of the season, and each has no glaring weaknesses.

Of course, Seattle supporters here would point to the squad's Week 17 blowout win in Arizona. I may be naive here, but I don't put much stock into that contest since both teams were guaranteed playoff spots and basically their seeds.

I do like the Cardinals' pass rush to find its way to Wilson quite a bit, which causes me to lean toward Arizona to win 24-23.

Team	Odds
Arizona Cardinals	+425
New England Patriots	+450
Carolina Panthers	+500
Denver Broncos	+550
Seattle Seahawks	+550
Kansas City Chiefs	+900
Green Bay Packers	+1200
Pittsburgh Steelers	+1200

Super Bowl Predictions

New England Patriots vs. Arizona Cardinals

Can the Patriots shut down Carson Palmer and the Cardinals' passing attack? Can an injury-plagued offensive line in New England keep the Arizona pass-rushers from getting to Brady? The answers to these questions will determine this possible Super Bowl matchup.

Ultimately, I answer "no" and "yes" to those questions, respectively.

Brady and his receiving corps will hook up for several big plays, but can the offense get in a full groove with all the pressure that will inevitably come? New England's defense would also need to have a huge performance to stop Palmer and a respectable running game.

It won't be easy (they're facing Bill Belichick, after all), but the Cardinals should take this one 28-24.