Since it went so well last week, I'm going to give my picks for the NFL Divisional Round too!
Baltimore (+10) at Denver
Is it weird that despite Peyton Manning probably being the league MVP this year and an overall 13-3 record and being 7-1 at home, I still don't buy Denver as a Super Bowl team? Don't get me wrong, I think they are winning this game but Baltimore is so seasoned and in the playoffs every year. I don't see them getting handily beaten. And I know that Peyton has been to two Super Bowls and won one of them but pass the Wild Card round of the playoffs and Peyton Manning is a 6-6 QB with a 16:13 TD to INT ratio.
The Pick: Baltimore +10
Green Bay (+3) at San Francisco
I have to take Green Bay. For me it boils down to Aaron Rodgers in revenge mode. He grew up here, he was passed over by San Fran. I like what Kaepernick brings to the table as a QB but it's his first career playoff start. I don't like the spot for San Fran here even at home.
The Pick: Green Bay (+3)
Seattle at Atlanta (-2.5)
I kind of thought Seattle would be getting a little bit more than 2.5. I hate betting on Atlanta in the playoffs. For the purposes of making picks on a blog nobody reads, I don't believe in buying points here so I can't take an average road team in the playoffs getting less that a Field Goal. I really want to root for Seattle so I may lay off this one. I'm scared if I take Seattle that I'm doing as a bandwagon rider.
The Pick: Atlanta (-2.5)
Houston at New England (-9.5)
Houston looks like a shell of their earlier season self. I can't imagine they are going to give New England anything they can't handle. Matt Schaub looks shaky lately and if New England's defense has a strength it's that it's pretty decent against the run. I'm glad this is the last game of the weekend. Usually I'm trying to navigate giving my kids a bath and watching the end of the 4:00pm Sunday games. I have a feeling I'll be comfortable tuning out by the end of this one.
The Pick: New England -9.5
Playoffs: 1-3
(although I would have switched the Minnesota pick over to Green Bay once Ponder was out. But I'll own the loss.)
