As NFL teams prep for the playoffs, bettors are strategizing which ones will make a deep run toward the next Super Bowl. The playoffs begin Jan. 11, with the Super Bowl set for Feb. 9 in Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

As for NFL betting strategies, when veteran bettor Billy Walters wagers on football games, he places a premium on quarterbacks, defense and kickers.

Last year, Walters’ book “Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk” was released, covering his Kentucky childhood and later exploits, including his experiences in Las Vegas and elsewhere.

Also in the book, Walters lays out his intricate betting strategies. During a book tour earlier this year, he broke down his approach to football betting in simple terms, focusing on the sports’ fundamentals.

“At the end of the day, quarterbacks are the most important thing in handicapping any football game,” he said during the book tour, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Defense, that’s the second-most important thing for my money. And kickers.”

Check Injuries, Player Status

The playoff matchups have not been set going into the final NFL regular season games this week, but for an early look at the Billy Walters quarterbacks-defense-kickers formula, below are where things stand.

Some rankings will become a non-factor when the playoffs are finalized. For instance, the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow is the top quarterback in passing yardage (4,641) and touchdown passes (42), but his team needs a lot to happen in the final week of the regular season to make the playoffs.

Also, an examination of just one category (passing yardage, yards surrendered on defense, percentage of field goals made) won’t necessarily tell the full story. Other statistics and unforeseen circumstances such as injuries could alter a bettor’s strategy by the time the Super Bowl rolls around.

Individual statistics also are skewed by games played. For example, Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins was benched late in the season, with the Falcons inserting rookie Michael Penix Jr. into the starting lineup. In considerting bets for the playoffs and Super Bowl, check for injury updates and other player status reports.

Top Performers

Below are rankings based on one category under each heading going into the final week of regular season play. Shown are teams already in the playoffs or still in contention.

Quarterbacks

Player/Team/Passing Yards

• Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals, 4,641
• Jared Goff, Detroit Lions, 4,095
• Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens, 3,955
• Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, 3,928
• Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3,920
• Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings, 3776
• Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams, 3,762
• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans, 3,677
• Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills,  3,549
• Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers, 3,524
• Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons, 3,508
• Bo Nix, Denver Broncos, 3,454
• Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders, 3,303
• Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers, 3,135
• Jalen Hurts Philadelphia Eagles, 2,903
• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins, 2,867
• Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2,334

Source: USA Today

Defense

Team, Yards Per Game

• Philadelphia Eagles, 280.1
• Miami Dolphins, 310.5
• Kansas City Chiefs, 310.8
• Houston Texans, 315.1
• Green Bay Packers, 321.4
• Washington Commanders, 323.8
• Pittsburgh Steelers, 327.5
• Los Angeles Chargers, 328.1
• Baltimore Ravens, 330.1
• Denver Broncos, 330.8
• Minnesota Vikings, 331.8
• Detroit Lions, 338.9
• Atlanta Falcons, 340.2
• Buffalo Bills, 343.6
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 344.9
• Los Angeles Rams, 354.2
• Cincinnati Bengals, 358.0

Source: ESPN

Kicking

Player/Team/Field Goal Percentage

• Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers, 94.6%
• Brandon McManus, Green Bay Packers, 94.4%
• Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 93.3%
• Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers, 93.0%
• Will Lutz, Denver Broncos, 90.9%
• Austin Seibert, Washington Commanders (injured), 90.0% 
• Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins, 89.7%
• Jake Bates, Detroit Lions, 88.5%
• Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs (injured), 87.5% S
• Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans, 85.4%
• Joshua Karty, Los Angeles Rams, 83.3%
• Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills, 82.1%
• Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings, 80.8%
• Jake Elliot, Philadelphia Eagles, 80.0% 

Source: USA Today