How to Legally Bet on the NFL Playoffs in California

The NFL Playoffs have arrived. We’ve got three weeks of high-level football coming up as excitement for Super Bowl LVII continues to build. It would be a remarkable time for real-money sports betting in California if that were legal.

Better luck in the next election cycle.

Two California teams are still alive with the goal of a Super Bowl in mind. The San Francisco 49ers are the No. 2 seed in the NFC, and the Los Angeles Chargers are the No. 5 seed in the AFC.

Californians can’t use well-known sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM to place real-money bets on their favorite teams. However, there are different ways California residents can legally get in on the action.

Bet on the NFL Playoffs Using Fliff

With the launch of California online sports betting pushed back until 2025 at the earliest, folks in the state can look to Fliff Sportsbook to get their sports wagering fix. Even though it’s not a real-money sportsbook, Fliff allows bettors to win digital tokens they can redeem for real cash prizes, such as gift cards and cash.

Fliff currently has odds listed for this weekend’s NFL Wild Card games. Both the 49ers and the Chargers play on Saturday. It also has posted Super Bowl odds for all 14 playoff teams. Find that in the “NFL Playoff Props” section.

LOOK FOR YOURSELF: Fliff Releases NFL Playoffs Futures Odds, Team Props

As of Thursday, the 49ers are a 9.5-point favorite over the Seattle Seahawks. That is one of the largest spreads of all the Wild Card round games. The 14-point spread in the Buffalo vs. Miami game is because Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out with a concussion.

Meanwhile, the Chargers are a road favorite in their matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Los Angeles is a 2-point favorite in that one.

Both California teams expected to move on in the playoffs. Thanks to Fliff, Californians can legally have the chance for a little side-betting fun right in the palm of their hands. If you use our Fliff promo code SHARP, you’ll get a 100% match bonus of up to $100 Fliff Cash with your first purchase.

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NFL Playoffs DFS Contests

Just like during the regular season, DFS in California is alive and well for the NFL Playoffs. All the most prominent daily fantasy sports sites have tons of contests available for Californians to enter.

DraftKings DFS is still running its Millionaire Maker contest, which pits your lineup against lineups set up by players worldwide. And for this season’s Wild Card round, DraftKings is allowing users to play for free and have a shot at a share of $50,000. You can hop in three free contests during each day of Wild Card weekend.

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Meanwhile, FanDuel DFS is also here for the NFL Playoffs. Californians can win real cash and bring the action right into their living rooms during the postseason.

One thing FanDuel offers is the Pick-3 Challenge. You build a three-player lineup with a minimal salary cap. It’s like those “Build an All-Star team using $7” memes have come to life. You will draft one player as your MVP. That player will earn 1.5x the standard fantasy point value for each statistic. You can also draft multiple QBs if they can fit under the salary cap.

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DFS Players to Watch in the NFL Playoffs

One of the NFL DFS picks to keep an eye on during the playoffs is 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey.

In 11 games with San Francisco, McCaffrey has rushed for 764 yards and six touchdowns while also catching 52 passes for 464 yards and four more scores. He also threw for a touchdown in Week 8 against the Rams and has scored at least once in his past six games. You can expect him to continue to be heavily involved in the offense during these playoffs.

All eyes will be on Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. However, if you are looking for a bargain, you may want to think about adding K.J. Osborn. He has 30 receptions for 388 yards and three touchdowns over his past five games. While opponents will be so focused on stopping Jefferson, Osborn could be in for a breakout performance during these playoffs.

The AFC is loaded with young star QBs. But don’t be surprised if Joe Burrow once again emerges from the pack. The Bengals QB has been lights out this season. According to DraftKings, he is averaging 23.8 fantasy points per game and will not force you to break the bank on your fantasy salary cap.

You may want to look at the Kansas City Chiefs roster if you need a cheap option at RB. They operate a true “RB by committee.”

But there is one that has enough impact and should continue to be a factor in the playoffs. RB Jerick McKinnon has become one of Patrick Mahomes’ favorite targets, particularly in the redzone. McKinnon has reeled in at least one receiving touchdown in each of his past six games. Expect him to see plenty of action in the playoffs.

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