Championship Weekend
NFC
Washington at Seattle -9
Our pick in this travesty masquerading as a football game was Washington +9 in which Seattle RB Shawn Alexander was knocked out of the game early with a concussion.
Washington won the turnover battle 3-1, but managed only 3 points off those turnovers and lost the game 20-10. Washington also won the TOP 32 minutes to 27, but lost the rushing battle 59 to 119 yards.
Ultimately, the Redskins offensive ineptidude and a missed 36 yard field goal with 10 minutes remaining sealed their fate and assured that Seattle would barely cover the 9 points.
Seattle's unimpressive performance which against a better football team, would have ended their season, propelled them by default to host the NFC Title Game.
Carolina at Chicago -2.5
Chicago and Carolina had a knock down drag out which we think was the NFC Title Game. The Bears had only allowed 61 points at home all year, the Panthers outscored the Bears 29-21 to win this one.
Carolina winning TOP 33 minutes to 26; rushing yards 126-97; Carolina QB Delhomme 24 for 33 319 yards passing was only sacked once and WR Steve Smith had 12 catches for 218 yards.
What was most impressive was the Panthers offensive production of 434 yards, the most yardage given up by the Bears #1 defense all year.
NFC Title Game Carolina at Seattle
Seattle struggled to put points on the board against the Redskins. This week we like the Panthers #3 defense to cage the Seahawks more effectively than Washington did.
The Panthers offense is RED HOT SMOKIN and even without RB Deshawn Foster (broken ankle), they should shread the Seahawk secondary into Carolina pulled BBQ pork while controlling the rock.
No team has been better as an underdog the last three years than the Panthers. Carolina is 17-2-1 (89 percent) against the spread since 2004, including 3-0 this season.
Seattle opened as a six point favorite, early money has the line down to four.Pick: Carolina +4
AFC
New England at Denver -3
In 60 minutes of football, Denver managed one concerted drive for 3 points, yet won 27-13 against a very un-Patriot like New England team. The Patriots lost the rushing battle 79-96 yet outgained the Broncos 420-286 on 339 yards of passing.
New Englands attempt at three peat came up short as 2 interceptions, 1 rushing fumble and 2 special teams fumbles sealed their fate. Were it not for the Patriots very uncharacteristic mistakes, they would be hosting a rematch in this weeks AFC Title game against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis -9.5
Pittsburgh X'ed, O'ed and KO'ed the Colts 21-18 at Indy, and the final score was not indicative of how badly the Steelers whipped the Colts. TOP Pittsburgh 35 to 25; yards rushing Pittsburgh 112 -58.
Pittsburgh dominated the game sacking Manning 5 times and building a 21-3 lead, but conservative Steeler second half play calling, dubious officiating and a late Steeler goaline fumble kept the Colts hopes alive till the final moment. Alas, the Colts dream season ends in a nightmare.
AFC Title Game Pittsburgh at Denver
We like the Steelers run game to hold the rock and set up the pass against the Broncos weak pass defense (allowed 420 total yards; 341 yards passing and had no sacks vs NE).
The Broncos anemic offense (3.0 yards rushing and 4.8 yards per play vs NE), will be further corralled by the Blitzburgh defense (5 sacks vs Colts) which will harass Plummer into mistakes (only sacked twice vs NE).
Denver opened as a four point favorite, the line is down to three.Pick: Steelers +3
Results
Wild Card Weekend: 2 road dogs (Washington & Carolina); 1 home favorite (New England) and 1 road favorite (Pittsburgh) covered. On total points, three games went under, one went over. We were 4-0 against the spread (Washington, Carolina, New England, Pittsburgh).
Divisional Playoffs: 2 home favorites (Seattle, Denver) and 2 road dogs (Pittsburgh, Carolina) covered. On total points, three games went under, one went over. We were 1-3 against the spread (Pittsburgh).
Washington at Seattle -9
Our pick in this travesty masquerading as a football game was Washington +9 in which Seattle RB Shawn Alexander was knocked out of the game early with a concussion.
Washington won the turnover battle 3-1, but managed only 3 points off those turnovers and lost the game 20-10. Washington also won the TOP 32 minutes to 27, but lost the rushing battle 59 to 119 yards.
Ultimately, the Redskins offensive ineptidude and a missed 36 yard field goal with 10 minutes remaining sealed their fate and assured that Seattle would barely cover the 9 points.
Seattle's unimpressive performance which against a better football team, would have ended their season, propelled them by default to host the NFC Title Game.
Carolina at Chicago -2.5
Chicago and Carolina had a knock down drag out which we think was the NFC Title Game. The Bears had only allowed 61 points at home all year, the Panthers outscored the Bears 29-21 to win this one.
Carolina winning TOP 33 minutes to 26; rushing yards 126-97; Carolina QB Delhomme 24 for 33 319 yards passing was only sacked once and WR Steve Smith had 12 catches for 218 yards.
What was most impressive was the Panthers offensive production of 434 yards, the most yardage given up by the Bears #1 defense all year.
NFC Title Game Carolina at Seattle
Seattle struggled to put points on the board against the Redskins. This week we like the Panthers #3 defense to cage the Seahawks more effectively than Washington did.
The Panthers offense is RED HOT SMOKIN and even without RB Deshawn Foster (broken ankle), they should shread the Seahawk secondary into Carolina pulled BBQ pork while controlling the rock.
No team has been better as an underdog the last three years than the Panthers. Carolina is 17-2-1 (89 percent) against the spread since 2004, including 3-0 this season.
Seattle opened as a six point favorite, early money has the line down to four.Pick: Carolina +4
AFC
New England at Denver -3
In 60 minutes of football, Denver managed one concerted drive for 3 points, yet won 27-13 against a very un-Patriot like New England team. The Patriots lost the rushing battle 79-96 yet outgained the Broncos 420-286 on 339 yards of passing.
New Englands attempt at three peat came up short as 2 interceptions, 1 rushing fumble and 2 special teams fumbles sealed their fate. Were it not for the Patriots very uncharacteristic mistakes, they would be hosting a rematch in this weeks AFC Title game against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis -9.5
Pittsburgh X'ed, O'ed and KO'ed the Colts 21-18 at Indy, and the final score was not indicative of how badly the Steelers whipped the Colts. TOP Pittsburgh 35 to 25; yards rushing Pittsburgh 112 -58.
Pittsburgh dominated the game sacking Manning 5 times and building a 21-3 lead, but conservative Steeler second half play calling, dubious officiating and a late Steeler goaline fumble kept the Colts hopes alive till the final moment. Alas, the Colts dream season ends in a nightmare.
AFC Title Game Pittsburgh at Denver
We like the Steelers run game to hold the rock and set up the pass against the Broncos weak pass defense (allowed 420 total yards; 341 yards passing and had no sacks vs NE).
The Broncos anemic offense (3.0 yards rushing and 4.8 yards per play vs NE), will be further corralled by the Blitzburgh defense (5 sacks vs Colts) which will harass Plummer into mistakes (only sacked twice vs NE).
Denver opened as a four point favorite, the line is down to three.Pick: Steelers +3
Results
Wild Card Weekend: 2 road dogs (Washington & Carolina); 1 home favorite (New England) and 1 road favorite (Pittsburgh) covered. On total points, three games went under, one went over. We were 4-0 against the spread (Washington, Carolina, New England, Pittsburgh).
Divisional Playoffs: 2 home favorites (Seattle, Denver) and 2 road dogs (Pittsburgh, Carolina) covered. On total points, three games went under, one went over. We were 1-3 against the spread (Pittsburgh).
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