A few years ago, the NFL divisional round was properly seen as a haven for favorite players. The rested chalk would routinely pound their less-fresh opposition into the ground. From the expansion of the playoffs to the current format beginning at the end of the 1990 season through the 2002 playoffs, favorites were 29-19-2 (60.4%) against the spread, with two of the games lined at pick during that time.

But anyone seeing that trend as meaningful since then has suffered, as the dogs have dominated, going 11-5 (68.7%) against the spread over the past four years.

The totals now stand 34-30-2 against the spread for favorites in this round since the expansion to the current format. Handicappers should approach each game as the unique challenge that it is and avoid worrying about any favorite/underdog bias.