NFL Picks Against the Spread: A Super Bowl Rematch

It's conference championship weekend and we have two pretty interesting match-ups between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants in the NFC and the New England Patriots up against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC. I went 2-2 against the spread last week which puts me at 6-2 for the playoffs. Let's take a look at this week's picks.

Baltimore Ravens +7 @ New England Patriots

Joe Flacco continues to prove he is not ready for the big moment despite racking up playoff wins. The Ravens offense is going to need to put points on the board to keep up with the Patriots offense. Houston was able to move the ball last week, but killed itself with turnovers. I think Tom Brady does his thing and I'm giving the points taking the Patriots.

New York Giants +2.5 @ San Francisco Giants

The 49ers are looking to take down the Giants at Candlestick Park for the second time this season. I've doubted the Niners all season and look pretty dumb doing it. Both teams beat good football teams last week, but the Giants have been in this situation before. I'm going with the experience taking the points, Eli Manning and the New York Giants.

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NFL Playoff Picks Predictions: Ravens And Giants Worthy Upset Picks

The NFL season has come down to this great conference championship weekend with New England Patriots hosting the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC title and the San Francisco 49ers hosting the New York Giants for the NFL. Gone are favorites and power ranking darlings the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints with the MVP candidate quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.

Gone are the miracles of Tim Tebow and all that's left are the boring proven heroics of Tom Brady and Eli Manning and game manager extraordinaires, Alex Smith and Joe Flacco. Here's our picks and predictions for the penultimate weekend of NFL football. We didn't do too well last week, but who did?

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots (-7): It's a classic case of two teams who know exactly who they are and are complete opposites on the football scale. The Patriots average 32.1 points per game behind the incredible passing game of Tom Brady. Defensively, New England relies on their offense. The Ravens allow just 16.6 points per game and offensively rely on their defense. Classic.

We've heard for the last few years how the NFL has become a passing league and that what matters most is the ability to put points on the board. The Niners and Giants both showed the flaws in that thinking when they beat Brees and Rodgers with defense. The Ravens will do the same on Sunday to the Patriots.

New England has played a ridiculously easy schedule and are only slightly better than the team that lost at home to the Jets in the playoffs last year. Pick: Ravens

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers (-3): This game should be even more fun than the AFC contest. The Niners and Giants both played fantastic football to surprise everyone and reach this point. Alex Smith was able to do something that eluded him all season long and find the end zone and make big plays with his arm. The Giants secondary showed they were up to the task against the best in the game.

These two teams feature the best rushing front lines in the game which will put both quarterbacks under pressure all game. A trip to the Super Bowl will come down to which QB handles the rush better and while Smith did well against the generous Saints defense, the Giants are a much tougher nut to crack. Add in Eli Manning's championship experience and the G-men should be headed back to the promised land. Pick: Giants

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NFL Playoff Picks: Divisional Round Brings Packers To Postseason

The 2012 NFL Playoffs got off to a fairly predictable start. The Texans advanced in a pretty boring game and lose of us that doubted Tim Tebow were once again put in our places. I went 2-2 in my picks against the spread from the Wildcard Weekend while my colleague Bryan went 4-0. So you might want to check out his picks for the Divisional round as well as mine below.

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers (+3.5): Now things are starting to get serious up in here! Two 13-3 teams. One that holds opponents down with imposing defense allowing just 14.3 points per game and the other putting up video game numbers on offense with 34.2 points per game scored. They say defense wins championships but those days have changed. The NFL is a passing league and Drew Brees will find a way to put up enough points to beat the 49ers who have trouble in the red zone. Pick: Saints

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots (-13.5): All praise Tom Brady vs. Tim Tebow, let the hype beast feed! Clearly, the Patriots are the better team but their defense is suspect and even with WR Eric Decker injured Tebow's improved passing should be able to score some points. I'm taking the Pats to win but not cover this huge line. Pick: Broncos

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens (-9): It's been a fun run for the Texans but the party ends here. The Ravens have dropped some games this year they shouldn't have but they also showed they still have the best defense in the game and their offense has big play ability. The Texans defense does make it difficult to take the nine-point spread however, so we'll go Ravens to win but not cover. Pick: Texans

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers (-9): It's time for the Green Bay Packers to show how good they really are. The Giants just haven't shown enough consistency to hang with the points Aaron Rodgers can put on the board and the Packers defense has improved as the season has gone as well. The Giants are a one-trick pony with the passing game being their only strength and Eli Manning, while good, is no Brees or Rodgers. Pick: Packers

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NFL Divisional Round Picks Against The Spread

After a 4-0 performance during the NFL Wild Card Weekend I figured I would give it another shot during the Divisional Round. I thought the lines were much easier last week, but that is expected as the competition has now stepped it up a notch. This weekend is the best weekend of the NFL season. Enjoy and here are the picks.

New Orleans Saints -3.5 @ San Francisco 49ers

One of the simple rules in NFL gambling is lean towards home dogs, which the 49ers are. In this situation I can't bring myself to do it. I know the San Fran defense is fantastic, but I refuse to bet on a team that has Alex Smith as their starting quarterback in a playoff game. I'm taking the Saints even with them giving the points.

Denver Broncos +13.5 @ New England Patriots

At first look this looks like an easy bet with the Patriots. They destroyed Denver late in the season and have Tom Brady going up against Tim Tebow. BUT (yes capitals were needed), there are eerie similarities to last years playoff loss to the New York Jets. The Patriots are heavy favorites, they beat up on them late in the season, no one gave the opponent a chance to win, and they have a huge advantage at the quarterback position. The Jets were able to get to Tom Brady and flustered him all day. The Denver Broncos have a similar ability with the talent they have on the defensive side of the ball. I still think the Pats win, but I'm taking the points and the Broncos.

Houston Texans +7.5 @ Baltimore Ravens

This one is simple for me and it's summed up in two words - Joe Flacco. Despite the fact the Ravens are 4-3 in playoff games Flacco has started, saying his play has been less than stellar is being kind. In seven games Flacco has completed 53% of his passes for 1050 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. His QB rating is a stellar 61%. Let's take away the Kansas City Chiefs game last year in which Flacco actually played well in against an overmatched Chiefs team who got to the playoffs because of a pathetic schedule. In the other six games he has completed 48% of his passes for 785 yards with two touchdowns and seven interceptions. I would figure out the QB rating, but I have no idea. I'm on the Texans with the points.

New York Giants +7.5 @ Green Bay Packers

The Giants played the Packers great in the regular season and I don't see any reason they can't again even though it is in Green Bay this time. Eli Manning has had an MVP type season, but hasn't received the same attention as Aaron Rodgers. I still think the Packers win, but I think it is by less than a touchdown. I got the Giants with the points.

NFL Playoff Picks And Predictions With A Gambling Twist

The 2012 NFL playoffs are upon us. To be completely honest, it isn't exactly a riveting Wild Card Weekend. What is the best way to make something in sports interesting that isn't? Gambling! Here is my picks and predictions for this weekend's game based on the spread.

Cincinnati Bengals +3 at Houston Texans: In a battle of two incompetent coaches with Marvin Lewis and Gary Kubiak as the headliners I like the Houston Texans giving the three points. Both teams are very talented with rookie quarterbacks. T.J Yates looked great in the one drive he played in Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans. Andy Dalton has struggled as the year has gone on and the Bengals haven't handled injuries well particularly starting corner Leon Hall which has really hurt their young defense.

Detroit Lions +10.5 at New Orleans Saints: While the Detroit Lions are a young and improving team, I don't think they are close to being ready to compete with a team like the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome. The Saints will take advantage of the Lions being undisciplined making them pay for their mistakes. I take the Saints -10.5. You can argue New Orleans is currently playing the best football in the NFL.

Atlanta Falcons +3 at New York Giants: This is the toughest game of the weekend for me to call.Two flawed teams who have dealt with injuries all year long. Overall I like the talent on the Falcons roster better, but Eli Manning is a much better quarterback than Matt Ryan. It's a QB league and I don't think Eli Manning lets the Giants lose this game and I like the Giants -3.

Denver Broncos +8.5 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Pittsburgh Steelers are banged up and the Denver Broncos just aren't very good. I take the Broncos +8.5, but pick the Steelers to win. My biggest concern for the Broncos not covering with the points is the potential of turnovers with Tim Tebow going up against the Steelers defense. Pittsburgh will be without Rashard Mendenhall, which isn't really much of a loss. He has been terrible this year. More of a concern is the possibility of Maurkice Pouncey being out, the Steelers best offensive lineman.

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NFL Playoffs Picks, Predictions And Schedule: Steelers Will End Tim Tebow's Magical Season

The 2012 NFL Playoffs Wildcard Weekend finishes on Sunday with two of the better games. Saturday featured the Bengals and Texans and Lions and Saints while for Sunday we get to pick against Tim Tebow. The Vegas odds-makers are clearly thinking along the same lines we are, with lines set just at the edge of reasonable. We'll take that challenge like Ben Roethlisberger playing on a bum ankle and give our picks against the spread.

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants (-3): Neither of these teams have had consistent seasons and the Falcons had a fairly easy schedule. Both teams are above average offensively lead by their passing attack and both are in the bottom half of the league on defense. Eli Manning, obviously, is the more experienced quarterback and playing at home should provide enough of an edge to beat Atlanta by roughly three-points. Since the line is exactly three points, that means a coin toss with the winner going to the Giants basis on New York bias. Pick: Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos (+8): The shine was already coming off the Tim Tebow turd before the Broncos got matched up with the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs. It's a shame the NFL rules put this game in Denver, but it won't matter much. The Broncos defense that was really the key to Tebow's meteoric rise has also contributed to his fall from grace. They gave up 81 combined points to the Bills and Pats before a minor redemption in holding the Chiefs to seven points. The Steelers will dominate all parts of this game and the eight point line isn't nearly big enough. Pick: Steelers

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NFL Playoff Picks: Odds Favor Texans And Saints But We Smell Upset

We share our picks and predictions for the NFL Playoffs