NFL Playoffs 2015: Latest Odds and Bracket Scenarios for Divisional Round

The Wild Card Round ended with a bang as the Dallas Cowboys won a controversial game over the Detroit Lions, 24-20, to advance; however, the previous three matchups were all separated by 11 points or more.

Heading into this weekend, the hope is for much tighter games in the divisional round. Luckily, NFL fans will feast their eyes on several intriguing games with the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in both brackets hosting difficult teams.

Problems arise for bettors with the divisional round as many feature two teams with similar records during the regular season. Results from the past can sometimes help pick those games, but the success for those remaining leaves a tough test when deciding the odds.

As crazy as it sounds, just two weeks of competitive football lie ahead before the bettor's paradise in the Super Bowl. Here's a look at the latest odds and the bracket scenarios for the second weekend of the postseason.

Visitor	Home	Spread
Baltimore Ravens	New England Patriots	NE -7
Indianapolis Colts	Denver Broncos	DEN -7
Carolina Panthers	Seattle Seahawks	SEA -11
Dallas Cowboys	Green Bay Packers	GB -6.5

Bracket Scenarios

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At this point, it is simply a win-and-get-in scenario for every team to make the next round. Unlike the first round, there is no question who each winning team will face, but there is much more that goes into the future matchups.

The Baltimore Ravens were the only wild-card team to pull off the upset and have no chance of hosting a playoff game. Pulling off a victory over the New England Patriots would be good news for the Denver Broncos or the Indianapolis Colts, as they would earn another home showdown with Baltimore.

Accomplishing that doesn't seem so far off for the Ravens, as ESPN Stats & Info points out:

Over on the NFC side of the equation, the steepest odds of winning lie with the Carolina Panthers. Finishing the regular season at 7-8-1 and narrowly making the postseason, many are doubting Carolina heading into the huge matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.

Much like the Ravens, the Panthers have no chance of hosting another game in the playoffs as the lowest remaining seed. A monumental upset of the Seahawks would reshape the entire NFC picture for either the Green Bay Packers or the Dallas Cowboys.

Carolina cornerback Josh Norman spoke about the Panthers' dominance to The Associated Press (via FoxSports.com): “We know who we are: menacing, stifling and we are going to get after you. We know when there is blood in the water and when there is, our sharks are going to eat.”

USA TODAY Sports

If the Panthers are going to pull off the victory against the Seahawks and the 12th Man, they will need the running game to lead the way. Having the likes of quarterback Cam Newton to help gain chunk yardage and the power style of running back Jonathan Stewart makes this a surprisingly potent offense.

In fact, Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer notes just how great Stewart was against the Cardinals:

After defeating Arizona, the ultimate goal for Carolina is to finish in Glendale. Along with seven other teams, it is still one of the contending teams to make the Super Bowl.

Earning a win this weekend would secure a spot in the divisional championship game; however, the home team in each conference holds plenty of importance when it comes to who will ultimately land in the big game.

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