NFL Playoff Picks 2014-15: Updated Super Bowl Odds, Wild Card Round Analysis

Following the Pittsburgh Steelers' victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night, the playoff picture finally came into focus. The 12 teams are locked into their respective positions, and the schedule is set for Wild Card Weekend.

With such clearly defined favorites in all conferences, the Wild Card Round can help one team lay down a marker in an effort to break into that "Super Bowl contender" category.

For those looking for a financial stake in this week's games, it's important to determine which games offer the best potential return on investment. One game in particular looks like a solid lock, while another should be avoided until possibly the last minute, at least until more information is known.

Super Bowl Odds

Team	Odds
Seattle Seahawks	13-5
New England Patriots	11-4
Green Bay Packers	6-1
Denver Broncos	13-2
Dallas Cowboys	9-1
Pittsburgh Steelers	12-1
Detroit Lions	22-1
Indianapolis Colts	25-1
Cincinnati Bengals	33-1
Arizona Cardinals	50-1
Baltimore Ravens	75-1
Carolina Panthers	75-1

Playoff Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Pick
Sat., Jan. 3	4:35 p.m.	Arizona at Carolina	CAR
Sat., Jan. 3	8:15 p.m.	Baltimore at Pittsburgh	PIT
Sun., Jan. 4	1:05 p.m.	Cincinnati at Indianapolis	IND
Sun., Jan. 4	4:40 p.m.	Detroit at Dallas	DAL

Safest Bet: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

It feels a little weird calling a losing team a lock to win in the first round of the playoffs, but Carolina enters the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, playing some of its best football of the season.

Cornerback Josh Norman spoke about the confidence that flowed through the Panthers players as they prepared to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

"We knew were going to be victorious today," he said, per Bryan Strickland of Panthers.com. "As soon as we stepped on the field, we had energy surging through each and every one of the guys. I couldn't be more proud of every one of them."

Carolina shut down Atlanta 34-3 in an NFC South title-decider, holding the Falcons to 288 total yards and intercepting Matt Ryan twice. It was a dominating performance from the Panthers defense, with ESPN.com's David Newton seeing glimpses of last year's unit, which was among the best in the league:

Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman praised the Carolina defense, adding that its greatest strength is its adaptability:

"

What makes the Panthers special is that defense is portable. It can function in the cold of Green Bay or the rain of the Pacific Northwest. They don't care about the Cardinals' narrative—that these are the "new Cardinals." The Panthers are mean and disrespectful. It's a beautiful thing.

They torched Ryan, who is overrated anyway. They absolutely annihilated him, both physically and mentally. By the end of the third quarter, the Panthers had three takeaways, accounting for 21 points, and four sacks. The second Ryan pick-six was one of the worst throws of the day. Ryan floated it, and if you do that against this defense, it will make you pay.

"

The Panthers will stay at home for the Wild Card Round, and their gift for winning the division is a date with Arizona, perhaps the coldest team going into the postseason. The Cardinals have lost their last two games and are forced to start Ryan Lindley at quarterback.

B/R's Sean Tomlinson wrote that Lindley is trying to make the most of bad circumstances but that the backup QB lacks the mentality and attitude necessary to win in the playoffs:

"

The Lindley experience features sprinkles of optimism promptly wiped away by a split-second lapse in judgement. It’s not his fault, because all Ryan Lindley can be is Ryan Lindley. He’s true to himself while playing like a desperate, emergency option plucked off a practice squad in early November and seeing his first extended NFL action since 2012. That’s who he is and who he’ll keep being.

The third-string quarterback's identity is rooted in survival. Barring something truly miraculous, that’s their goal on every snap. The Lindleys of the NFL haven’t logged nearly enough snaps to navigate exotic blitzes and coverages. They have the talent and—in Lindley’s case specifically—the arm to execute certain throws and move an offense. But when confusion grips them, so does inconsistency.

"

It's incredible how these two franchises' fortunes have differed over the past few weeks. The Cardinals went from potential Super Bowl contenders to likely destined for a first-round exit, while the Panthers went from three wins to a trendy pick to make a run at the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks.

Prediction: Carolina 20, Arizona 10

Stay Away From: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Looking at the four Wild Card Round matchups, it's hard to pick an underdog you can confidently say is primed to upset the odds. Sure, it could happen, but none of the four road teams elicits much faith.

The team in the best position to do so is Baltimore. The Ravens own one head-to-head victory over the Steelers, beating them 26-6 in Week 2. The Ravens intercepted Ben Roethlisberger once and forced two fumbles.

Of course, Big Ben got his revenge a little less than two months later, throwing six touchdowns in a 43-23 victory for Pittsburgh.

The biggest reason to doubt the Steelers' chances is the injury to Le'Veon Bell. He hurt his knee after a hit from Bengals safety Reggie Nelson, per Bleacher Report:

Head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that initial tests didn't find any structural damage, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport:

That's a good sign, but Bell's not out of the woods yet. It's way too early to say he'll be 100 percent by the time this game rolls around. Should Bell be absent or limited, it will have a massive effect on the Pittsburgh offense.

With LeGarrette Blount no longer on the team, the Steelers don't exactly have a capable backup. According to Grantland's Bill Barnwell, Bell has all but five of the team's carries since Blount's departure:

Between his impact on the ground and through the air, the 22-year-old has had a hand in 33 percent of the team's total yardage, per ESPN Stats & Info:

This injury could be the opening Baltimore needs. The Steelers should still be considered slight favorites, but until Bell is confirmed to be ready for Saturday, Pittsburgh isn't a stone-cold lock.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 28, Baltimore 24

Note: Super Bowl odds are courtesy of Odds Shark.