In a few weeks, when the National Football League plays their Divisional Round games, when eight of the best teams are vying for the right to play in their conference championship games and advance to Super Bowl LV, you will hear a lot of people say that is their favorite weekend of the year.
Not me.
My favorite weekend is this one, the last one of the regular season.
You might imagine why, because the wagering opportunities in this week are most often the most attractive of the year. Teams locked into playoff slots against teams needing a win to advance is a particularly fertile spot for a decided point spread advantage. Teams needing a win against teams that have already been eliminated, is a fun one where the team without seemingly anything to play for consistently upsets the team that needs the win.
Why?
Because teams with nothing to play for also have nothing to lose and leave it all on the field. It is their only chance to affect the playoffs, upsetting their opponents postseason hopes. This contrasted with a team that needs to win, has the pressure of being eliminated with a loss and tight against an opponent with nothing to lose.