NFL Playoffs 2015: Last-Minute Odds and Picks for Wild Card Weekend

Wild Card Weekend is officially upon us, and there's no shortage of storylines.

The Carolina Panthers began to surge late in the season, and while they entered the playoffs with a record of 7-8-1, they're poised to make some noise and will look to become the first team to get to the Super Bowl with a sub-.500 regular-season record.

The Cincinnati Bengals will attempt to end the league's longest postseason victory drought. The last time this team won a playoff game was a victory over the Houston Oilers in 1991. Cincinnati has lost six consecutive playoff games since, and the drought currently stands at 24 seasons.

The Detroit Lions are in a similar scenario to the Bengals. Their last postseason win came in the divisional round in 1992 against, interestingly enough, the Dallas Cowboys. Since then, Detroit has lost seven consecutive postseason games, going 23 years without a win.

So, which of these teams is likeliest to get a win during the Wild Card Round and begin a journey toward a coveted Super Bowl berth? Before the weekend's action gets underway, here's a last-minute look at odds and predictions for each Wild Card Round game.

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (-6.5)

These teams enter the playoffs after heading in completely different directions to finish the regular season. While the Panthers surged in December, winning their last four games to take the NFC South, the Cardinals lost their last two, losing their grasp on the NFC West in the process.

Carolina's defense has been the team's catalyst to claim a berth in the postseason. This unit took a while to get going this year, but it really came alive of late. The Panthers haven't allowed more than 17 points in a game since November, and they haven't allowed 300 yards of offense in their last three contests.

On the other hand, Arizona is in bad shape. This team has been decimated by injuries and will be forced to start Ryan Lindley, its third-string quarterback, against Carolina, according to the NFL:

Lindley hasn't been good this season, completing just 48.4 percent of his passes for 562 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions for a 56.8 passer rating. He won't stand much of a chance against Carolina's defense.

Prediction: Panthers 27, Cardinals 17

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)

The Ravens and Steelers certainly aren't strangers. Both reside in the physical AFC North and meet twice a year. In 2014, these teams split their regular-season series, each winning its respective home game by exactly a 20-point margin.

Pittsburgh enters the playoffs as arguably the more dangerous team; however, it will be without one of its most crucial players in running back Le'Veon Bell, according to Scott Brown of ESPN.com. Bell is a do-it-all player for the Steelers, as he's a great runner and receiver and is reliable in pass protection. ESPN Stats & Info summed up just how important the running back is:

Baltimore has been strong on the defensive side of the ball this season, ranking fourth in the league against the run. Without Bell, it's difficult to see Pittsburgh finding much success on the ground. That should help the Ravens' shaky secondary, as the team will be able to focus solely on the passing game, and the Steelers will become one-dimensional.

The Ravens are suddenly the more balanced team on offense, as they still maintain the services of Justin Forsett, who averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry during the regular season.

Prediction: Ravens 24, Steelers 20

Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts (-3.5)

Cincinnati and Indianapolis met earlier this season, with the Colts trampling over a stagnant Bengals offense, holding the visiting team scoreless in a 27-0 victory. However, there have been numerous changes for both teams since that Week 7 meeting.

The Bengals have become one of the league's best rushing teams of late, riding rookie Jeremy Hill heavily over their last three games of the season. Cincinnati went 2-1 in that stretch, as Hill eclipsed the 100-yard mark in each contest. Indianapolis is ranked 18th in the NFL against the run and may have difficulty slowing down this exciting ball-carrier.

Here's what Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star had to say about Hill entering Sunday's game:

The Colts still own the league's most prolific passing attack; however, the team's offense has been in a bit of a funk of late. Quarterback Andrew Luck hasn't thrown for 300 yards since November, and Indianapolis has been plagued by turnovers, accumulating 12 over its final five games of the season. That's not a good sign with Cincinnati's ball-hawking secondary coming to town.

If Cincinnati is successful running the football, it will keep Luck on the sidelines and out of rhythm. This will likely put the Colts behind and force the quarterback into many passing situations, allowing the Bengals to sit back in coverage and wait for an errant pass.

Prediction: Bengals 27, Colts 24

Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys (-6.5)

This game features one of the better storylines in Wild Card Weekend, as NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray meets the top-ranked rushing defense of the Lions. It certainly appears as though we're about to find out what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object.

Murray has been Dallas' offensive catalyst this season, rushing for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns while maintaining an average of 4.7 yards per carry. While teams move up to defend against the run, quarterback Tony Romo has picked apart secondaries to the tune of 3,705 yards and 34 touchdowns, 16 of which went to wide receiver Dez Bryant.

The Cowboys have one of the league's hottest offenses right now, scoring at least 38 points in each of their last four games.

Meanwhile, Detroit gets a bit of a break heading into the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. After stepping on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' leg, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was suspended for a game. However, Suh won his appeal and will now play, according to NFL on ESPN:

"

Ndamukong Suh will NOT be suspended for Detroit's playoff game, but will be fined $70,000 » http://t.co/FSG6zDFh9P pic.twitter.com/uNHZak1u3x

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 30, 2014"

With Suh in the fold, the Lions have a better shot of containing the Cowboys; however, the biggest concern for Detroit is the offense. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson have been inconsistent and haven't appeared to be on the same page often. That's not a good sign considering the team already lacks a viable running game. Offense will be this team's undoing against Dallas.

Prediction: Cowboys 26, Lions 20

All game odds courtesy of Odds Shark and current as of January 2.