It’s a good time to travel

The playoffs haven’t even started and already the Minnesota Vikings are in double overtime.

Thanks to a pair of 24-hour extensions by the NFL, the Vikings have until 1:30 p.m. PST today to sell out the Metrodome for Sunday’s first-round game against Philadelphia and avoid the embarrassment of a TV blackout.

The Arizona Cardinals were afforded the same helping hand, getting a pair of extensions before finally selling out today’s game against Atlanta.

The Vikings are close. Minnesota -- which is making its first playoff appearance since the 2004 season and hasn’t been blacked out since 1997 -- had about 8,000 tickets remaining Thursday but was able to sell all but 3,100 of those by Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, both AFC games have been ruled sellouts: Indianapolis at San Diego tonight, and Baltimore at Miami on Sunday.

Packed houses or not, the games have something very unusual in common. In each, the visitor is favored. The Wall Street Journal’s website cited a number cruncher this week who said the likelihood of that happening was a one-in-more-than-93,000 long shot.

That calculation was made by R.J. Bell of Pregame.com, who examined the point spreads of the 10 playoff games before the Super Bowl in each of the last seven postseasons.

In only four of those 70 games were the road teams favored.

On to the picks:

Atlanta at Arizona: The Cardinals moonwalked into the playoffs, losing four of six, and haven’t beaten an opponent outside the weak NFC West since Week 6. It should be a big day for Atlanta’s Michael Turner. Pick: Atlanta.

Indianapolis at San Diego: Just about everything goes in the Colts’ favor here, from Peyton Manning’s hot streak, to the return of Bob Sanders, to LaDainian Tomlinson’s groin strain. But it’s hard to pick against a team that overcame a three-game division deficit in the final three weeks, plays its best in prime-time games, and will be wearing its powder blues. Pick: San Diego.

Philadelphia at Minnesota: Considering the improbable way they got into the playoffs, the Eagles must be living right. They match up well against the Vikings, too, and have to love the fact Minnesota has such an inexperienced quarterback in Tarvaris Jackson. Pick: Philadelphia.

Baltimore at Miami: Three factors to consider: 1) The Ravens have the AFC’s top rushing attack, so the game won’t rest on the shoulders of rookie quarterback Joe Flacco; 2) Nobody wants to face Baltimore’s defense; and 3) the Ravens won at Miami by two touchdowns in Week 7. Pick: Baltimore.

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sam.farmer@latimes.com