Picks:
New Orleans (-3.5):
This is the most unpleasant spread for the gambler. Had I seen a -3, I lay the points and rest
easy. Should the spread have been -4, I
probably swing in the other direction, knowing I’m still pushing a 27-23,
24-20, or 21-17 loss. In any case, what
ultimately makes this pick for me is the notion of Alex Smith playing his first
playoff game, Jim Harbaugh (despite his considerable success this season)
coaching his first playoff game, and the notion that I cannot see Sean Peyton’s
offense stymied entirely. Though the
Saints have absolutely been a different team on the road this season, I refer
to the wisdom of Ron Jaworski on PTI yesterday as he summarized this football
game by noting that the Saints, in the red zone, score touchdowns. The 49ers kick field goals. I do think this is going to be a reasonably
close game, but I am confident Brees & co. will muster a meaningful 4th
quarter drive for a score. That will be
enough to cover.
New Orleans 27, San Francisco 23
NEW ENGLAND (-13.5):
I have been wrong on Tim Tebow more consistently this season than any
other quarterback, though I do tend to think Pittsburgh simplified his reads
more last weekend than any offensive coordinator ever could have. Man-to-man, press-coverage, no safety? So, basically, this is like standing on the
playground with one receiver on either side, and chucking it up to the kid who
gets farther away from his guy? Stare
down the faster kid and then lob one up?
But I digress. The problem in
this game, in addition to the anointed one playing in Foxborough in January
(which once meant something), last time these teams met, the Pats hung 40 on
the Broncos. I see no reason to expect
any other outcome. Thus, not only must
the anointed one avoid mistakes and maintain possession for extended periods of
time, but must somehow also score 25+. I
doubt he does…and brace for my error.
New England 38, Denver 20
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