Houston Texans

Vegas expects home teams to take a bath in Wild-Card Round

Published Jan. 3, 2016 10:10 p.m. ET

foxsports

Home-field advantage is great, but it doesn't necessarily come with respect.

The opening odds are out for next weekend's Wild-Card Round and three of the four home teams are underdogs — and at some books, all four division champs opened as dogs.

Again ... these are division winners we're talking about.

The Bengals (12-4) won the AFC North, but Vegas likes the wild-card Steelers (10-6).

While the Texans (9-7) claimed the AFC South, but aren't expected to beat the wild-card Chiefs (11-5).

VegasInsider.com tweeted the opening odds for the AFC games from the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

#AFC Wild Card Opening Odds per @Westgate_LV #Chiefs -3 at Texans, Total 40.5 #Steelers -2.5 at Bengals, Total 46.5 #NFLPlayoffs
— VegasInsider.com (@TwitVI) January 4, 2016

But a closer looks the numbers shows tagging both road teams as favorites isn't a stretch.

Kansas City is on a 10-game winning streak, while Pittsburgh faces a Cincy squad known for losing playoff openers — the Bengals have dropped four in a row the past four seasons and are 0-7 in the playoffs since beating the then-Houston Oilers on Jan. 6, 1991.

It's close to the same story in the NFC.

The Vikings (11-5) captured the NFC North, but opened as a seven-point — SEVEN-POINT!! — underdog to the wild-card Seahawks (10-6).

The final wild-card matchup has the wild-card Packers opening as two-point dogs at the NFC East champion Redskins — making Washington the only home team giving points.

#Seahawks (-7) open as road favorites vs. #Vikings (1:05pm ET SUN), and #Redskins (-2) are home favorites vs. #Packers (4:40pm ET SUN) #NFL
— VegasInsider.com (@TwitVI) January 4, 2016

But even then, the 'Skins aren't exactly resounding favorites. Some spots opened with them getting points at home, too.

In other #NFC game, @CG_Technology opened GB -1 at WAS (@PinnacleSports had opened WAS -2)...both moved to pick 'em; @LVSuperBook has WAS -1
— Dave Tuley (@ViewFromVegas) January 4, 2016

At least the dogs won't have to travel far if they lose next weekend.