NFL Playoff Picks: Underdogs That Are Guaranteed to Cover in Wild-Card Round

As much as most of us would like to think we can accurately predict what is going to happen in the NFL playoffs, things very rarely go the way that the consensus thinks it will. Because of that, we often see decided underdogs playing close games or even upsetting supposedly superior teams.

Seeing as that happens on a yearly basis, the odds are that the same will be true this season. There are four Wild-Card weekend games on tap, and while a couple of them have sizable betting lines, all of them have upset potential.

Here are three first-round underdogs that are guaranteed to cover the spread.

Cincinnati Bengals (+3)

While it could be said that the Cincinnati Bengals backed into the AFC's final playoff spot with a Week 17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, few teams backed in more than their opponents, the Houston Texans.

Houston lost its final three games, although its final win was a 20-19 triumph over the Bengals. Seeing as the Texans barely came out on top during their hot streak, I have to believe that this game will be just as close with the Texans slumping.

The key to Houston's success will be the running game and defense, but rookie quarterback T.J. Yates could come back to haunt them. The Bengals have a rookie signal caller as well, but Andy Dalton has looked like a seasoned veteran all year long.

These two teams are cut from the same cloth, as they both employ power running games and are stout on defense. Houston may have the advantage at home, but since I could easily see the Bengals winning this game, I would take the points.

Detroit Lions (+11)

The New Orleans Saints have won eight straight games, they'll be playing at home this weekend where they went undefeated on the season and quarterback Drew Brees is playing as well as any signal caller ever has.

With all of that said, it's very easy to understand why the Saints are 11-point favorites against the Detroit Lions this weekend. It is, after all, the same Lions team that the Saints beat 31-17 at home a month ago.

Those factors may point to a blowout in favor of New Orleans, but the Lions aren't going to go quietly. Detroit will surely be pumped to be playing in its first playoff game since 1999, so adrenaline alone should be able to help the Lions.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing some incredible football right now as he passed for over 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns on the season, so I expect a shootout. 11 points is a lot to give a team that is offensively dangerous as the Lions, so they're a good bet.

Denver Broncos (+9)

With a record of 8-8 and three losses to close out the season, nobody is giving the Denver Broncos much of a chance against the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos will have the benefit of home-field advantage, though, and while they only went 3-5 at home during the regular season, the playoffs are a completely different animal.

On top of that, the Steelers will be without running back Rashard Mendenhall and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is banged up.

I'll admit that I would be pretty surprised if the Broncos won outright, but nine points is an awful lot to give to a home team in the playoffs. Denver hasn't gotten much going offensively over the past couple weeks, but the defense rebounded by allowing only seven points in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

I think this game will be very low scoring, which benefits the Broncos and quarterback Tim Tebow, and should allow them to cover.