AFC
No. 4 Bengals (11-7) at No. 1 Titans (12-5), 4:30 p.m. (CBS)
Spread: Titans by 3 1/2
Outlook: This game has the lightweight, undercard feel of the four divisional round matchups, despite it involving the AFC’s top seed. Cincinnati is coming off its first playoff win in 31 years but has never won a postseason road game (0-7). And Tennessee – behind the Chiefs and the Bills as a conference betting pick to reach the Super Bowl – is after its first home playoff win since 2003. The Titans are favored because they are off a bye, on a 7-1 run at home and now have beast-RB Derrick Henry back from injury for the first time since October, though if or how much he’ll play remains to be seen. Watch for the likelihood that the Bengals’ solid run defense will game-plan to force the result into Ryan Tannehill’s hands – but that’s a risk. The Bengals lost two starting defensive linemen to injury last week, and their pass D has been vulnerable. Tennessee’s defense will need to show, because if it becomes a shootout, the odds will tip in favor Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and crew. Give Cinderella Cincy a major upset shot, but lean toward the rested Titans at home.
Prediction: Titans, 24-20
NFC
No. 6 49ers (11-7) at No. 1 Packers (13-4), 8:15 p.m. (FOX)
Spread: Packers by 6
Outlook: This is the only game of the weekend quartet where no plausible upset shot was entertained. We have few betting tendencies that rise to the level of philosophy, but one is: “In Aaron Rodgers We Trust. Especially At Lambeau Field. In January.” That’s on top of the night start turning the temps way down, and Green Bay coming off a bye. Did I mention the Packers are 8-0 at home by a combined 112-point margin? Credit the Niners for getting this far, but it ends here. The Packers edged the 49ers on a last-second field goal in Week 3 and enjoy a 9-2 series run at home. Rodgers is 0-3 in the postseason vs. the Niners, but that’s a career blemish about to be erased. Green Bay is rested and San Francisco has injury issues. QB Jimmy Garoppolo will play through a shoulder injury, and the 49ers’ two best defenders – Nick Bosa (concussion) and Fred Warner (knee) – are iffy to play. The key will be Green Bay’s blocking front vs. San Francisco’s pass rush, but that’ll tip in the Packers’ favor if Bosa can’t go. Any game now could be Rodgers’ last in a Packers uniform. But this won’t be the one.
Prediction: Packers, 28-17
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