ATS: 3-1
SU: 4-0
Saturday, 4:30
Baltimore (+9) at Denver
This game features a couple of all-time greats at the respective positions going toe-to-toe. Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis are each in search for their second Super Bowl ring. Manning and Denver have won 11 consecutive games and finished tied for the NFL's best record at 13-3. Baltimore started hot and sputtered late, but that doesn't mean they aren't capable of making a postseason run. Their defense is getting healthy at the right time. Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata all played together for the first time all season last week. They have the tough task of trying to slow down this highly efficient Bronco offensive attack. Manning moved on from Indianapolis and landed and Denver. What has he done this year? He is a leading candidate for MVP and has his team as a Super Bowl favorite. This Ravens D is getting healthy, but they are also getting older by the day. I don't see them being able to slow the Denver passing attack. That means Joe Flacco will have to match him in order for Baltimore to have a shot. The thing that people forget is that the Broncos have a formidable defense lead by Von Miller on the other side of the ball. Denver will march on and host the AFC Championship game.
Prediction - Denver 27 Baltimore 20
Saturday, 8
Green Bay (+3.5) at San Francisco
Aaron Rodgers returns home to take on his favorite childhood team, the San Francisco 49ers, at Candelstick Park. Rodgers lead the Pack to a dominating 24-10 over Minnesota in the Wild Card round. He has thrown 11 TD with no INTs in his last four games, and has been spectacular all year. There is one team that was able to slow him though. San Francisco held Rodgers in check back in Week 1 as the 49ers went into Lambeau and dominated Green Bay 30-22 in a game that the score was much closer than the play on the field. The 49ers made a bold move by replacing Alex Smith with Colin Kaepernick earlier in the season, with the thought of that getting them over the hump and into the Super Bowl. They haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 1994 season, but this team is hungry for it. This is a classic battle of offense vs. defense. The Packers have a prolific offense while the 49ers have a nasty defense. I hate to do this since I picked Green Bay to win the Super Bowl before the season began, but I think San Francisco advances to their second straight NFC Championship and escape with a narrow win.
Prediction - San Francisco 23 Green Bay 20
Sunday, 1
Seattle (+2.5) at Atlanta
The Atlanta Falcons are no stranger to playoff football. Winning playoff games is foreign to them, however. They will host the upstart Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon. The Falcons held the NFL's best record throughout most of the regular season. Seattle may be the hottest team in the league though. The Seahawks will play on the East Coast for the second straight week. They were not great on the road this year, but that didn't stop them from going into DC and beating the Redskins last week. Neither of these teams have ever been able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, but a win here will get them one step closer. Atlanta's passing game can be lethal, but they haven't faced a secondary like Seattle's this year. The team that gets the edge in this key matchup will likely win the game. With the help of the Georgia Dome crowd, Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez will secure their first ever playoff victories.
Prediction - Atlanta 24 Seattle 20
Sunday, 4:30
Houston (+9.5) at New England
New England enters the postseason and one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl once again. Tom Brady has been his terrific self all year and has the Patriots primed for another playoff run. They were dominant at times this year, and even discovered a running game to help out Brady. If Brady gets the help needed from the running game and his defense, watch out. If New England plays well in all phases of the game I'm not sure anyone can beat them. Houston was considered to be the best team in the NFL through much of the regular season. They were extremely humbled by a 42-14 whooping they received from New England just a month ago. They won ugly last week, but they won a playoff game for the second year in a row nonetheless. The Texans will want to establish the running game with All-Pro Arian Foster to keep Brady and the Patriots off the field. Houston has matured a little and should battle in this game. They will keep it closer than their regular season game, but the Patriots don't lose playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
Prediction - New England 28 Houston 24
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