NFL divisional round teaser: 49ers, Chiefs
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There's a lot of chalk on the board this weekend, and teasers are sure to be popular among bettors.
With plenty of options to choose from, here are the two best bets to include in your weekend teaser.
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers (-7)
The Vikings produced a terrific team effort to upset the New Orleans Saints on Wild Card Weekend. But with all due respect to Sean Payton's club, a much tougher test awaits this weekend in the Bay Area.
There's no question the 49ers were the cream of the crop in the NFC this season, and things appear to be coming together for them at the right time. Linebacker Kwon Alexander, the heartbeat of San Francisco's defense, has been cleared to return from the injured reserve. Cornerback Jaquiski Tartt, who was enjoying the best season of his career, is set to come back after suffering broken ribs in Week 13. And Dee Ford, who's been out since mid-November and had recorded 6.5 sacks through the first eight games this season, has also returned to practice, and now the team's big four up front will be reunited.
The last time all three were in the lineup for the 49ers was Oct. 31. At that point, the club was 8-0, with the NFL's most dominant defense leading the way while allowing just 12.7 points per game. Getting injured players back gave the Vikings a boost last week, and now they'll get a taste of their own medicine in San Francisco.
The 49ers are the most complete squad in the NFC, and they should be able to build an early lead after outscoring teams 51-25 in the first quarter at home this season. Then Nick Bosa and a ferocious defensive line should tee off on Kirk Cousins and a Vikings offensive line that struggles to pass block.
Pick: 49ers -1
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5)
There's a lot of discussion about this game's upset potential, especially after the Texans marched into Arrowhead Stadium in October and left with a convincing 31-24 victory. Well, that was October. A lot has changed since then, and January football is an entirely different beast.
The Chiefs have developed an impressive offensive rhythm over the final five weeks of the season. They ended the year ranked second in yards per play, fourth in points per game, and first in third-down conversion percentage. The Texans' defense, meanwhile, gave up a league-worst 6.3 yards per play on the road, and the unit ranked 31st on third down. How will that group contain Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and a now healthy stable of running backs? It won't.
Kansas City's defense is finally healthy and hitting its stride, too. The Chiefs slotted in 13th this season while allowing 5.4 yards per play, but that number dropped to just 4.7 over the final five weeks, with the team giving up a meager 10.4 points per game during that span.
That's not encouraging for a Texans offense that needed close to three quarters to get going against the Buffalo Bills at home. Houston is averaging only 14.4 points per contest in the playoffs under Bill O'Brien, and finds itself overmatched in every facet of this game, which should result in a very comfortable Kansas City victory.
Pick: Chiefs -3.5
Full teaser: 49ers -1, Chiefs -3.5 ($110 to win $100)
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.