Teddy Covers
St Louis
Northcoast
4.5* GOY Vikings
3* San Diego
Top Opinion Vikings Under
Top Opinion San Diego Over
Alatex
15* Duke Under
3G SPORTS
NFL PLAYOFFS
5* DALLAS +3
5* NY JETS +7
COLLEGE HOOPS
5* Wake Forest +13.5
4* Georgetown +6
ICEMAN HOCKEY
4* Detroit Redwings +115
Frank Patron
Must Win 40000 Unit Lock
Minnesota Vikings -2.5
Mark Franco
Jets at Chargers
Pick: Chargers -7
Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez will make mistakes in this game and if the Jets can’t run the ball he will be in for a long day. The Chargers are clicking on all cylinders and I don’t think the week off will slow them down. QB Phillip Rivers is the most underrated QB in the league and is hungry to win. SD has too many weapons for the Jets to defend. The Chargers get the win and cover here.
Lenny Del Genio
Dallas +2.5
Once upon a time, taking the Cowboys in a road playoff game was considered sheer madness. Now, it's just considered the right play. Sure, Minnesota was once upon a time considered the best team in the NFL and they were 8-0 SU here at the Metrodome during the regular season. However, they have shown to have chinks in the armor down the stretch in going just 2-3 SU/ATS their last five games overall. Most notably on the defensive end, where they allow better than 5.4 yards per play. They surrendered 26 points or more in all their losses down the stretch. Favre's comeback ability is fine, but when you're trailing on the scoreboard that means you aren't covering if you're favored. Minnesota was favored in 14 games this season, going 8-5-1 ATS, but other than Green Bay (back in Wk 4 when Packers weren't playing their best) none of those covers came against playoff teams. Most of them were as DD chalk against garbage teams. Plenty of matchup advantages work in Dallas' favor here, including QB. Romo has completed at least 62% of his passes in every game during a seven-week stretch that has seen him throw for 300+ yd average with a 13-2 TD vs. INT ratio. Over the last four games, the Cowboys have outscored opponents 99-31 with the defense posting two shuouts and holding the Eagles to just seven points in the first half of last week's blowout. Eight different backs and receivers contributed a total of 12 TD's. RB Felix Jones is the "x-factor" and we predict he will be the difference maker. Dallas D is outstanding against the run, holding the last five opponents to just 54.8 YPG on the ground. Look for a sub-par day from Adrian Peterson, who has lost six fumbles this year, the most by any non-QB in the league. He also only averaged 4.4 YPC. The Vikings pass defense is a MAJOR question mark with no LB able to cover TE Witten and the Dallas WR's have the edge over the Minnesota CB's, one of whom (Sapp) can't cover Miles Austin and the other (Winfield) still bothered by a foot injury. Pass protection for Farve is also an issue with Dallas leading the league in sacks. Road teams that can rush the ball for 125-150 yards per game vs. a team that only rushes for 95-125 are an outstanding 62-38 ATS the last five NFL seasons. Minnesota is 0-7 against the spread L2 seasons if they allowed 150 passing yards or less in their previous games. Dallas is our 25* Division Rd Playoff Game of the Year.
Evan Altemus
3 Units Dallas +3
The Vikings have several important players banged up heading into this game, most notably their star cornerback Antoine Winfield. He was clearly not the same at the end of the season due to his foot injury. Minnesota also has injuries to Pat Williams, Visanthe Shiancoe, Steve Hutchinson, and their starting middle line backer E.J. Henderson. I expect every one of the previously listed players except Henderson to play, but they are still not at 100%. The defense in this game will be the difference. Minnesota’s defense simply hasn’t played as well since Winfield and Henderson haven’t been healthy and in the line-up together. Wade Phillips is also a great defensive game planner, and I expect him to come up with looks to limit Brett Favre and the Vikings running game. Look for Dallas to get the outright win but take the three points for an added bonus.
Bob Balfe
Dallas +2.5
Tony Romo got a big monkey off his back last week advancing in a big playoff game. Romo now is confident, but more importantly this defense is as good as any right now. Minnesota is a great team at home and very tough to beat, but again time off isn’t always a good thing especially for a 40 year old QB. Favre is having a great season and I wouldn't doubt he plays again next season. These teams are matched pretty even so we will go with the team already in playoff mode for the past few weeks and playing lights out defense. Take the Cowboys.
Vernon Croy
5* NFL Playoff Smash of the Month (100% NFL Run)
5* Minnesota Vikings
This pick falls into one of my top NFL systems and the Vikings are the better overall team coming into this game with the extra weeks rest. The Cowboys are just 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games played on turf and they are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 playoff road games. The Vikings are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 home games and they are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games against the Cowboys. The Vikings are better defensively with opponents averaging just 273 ypg against them at home this season. The Vikings are also better offensively than the Cowboys averaging 32.7 ppg at home this season while the Cowboys are only averaging 20.2 ppg on the road. Take Minnesota as my NFL Playoff Smash of the Month.
James Patrick Sports
Cowboys vs. Vikings
The most defining moment in the season for the Dallas Cowboys was their total domination in December of the New Orleans Saints. Since that game they have displayed a style of football that has Momentum written all over it with a pair of Blow-outs against their rival Philadelphia Eagles and they have shown that they can compete in any style of game and win. The Cowboys look complete on Offense, Defense and Special Teams and their road record this season was a solid (5-3) straight-up. The Vikings are a tough opponent at home with an undefeated (8-0) record straight-up but their Offensive Line is banged up and this may cause problems for their protection of QB Brett Farve or the opening of holes for RB Adrian Peterson. Minnesota was actually playing their best football before Thanksgiving and Dallas looks to be the team that Jerry Jones' money bought with their power running attack and effective passing game in tune behind a strong offensive line and their dominating defense that features a great pass rush and solid pass coverage hitting on all cylanders. NFC East Underdogs have been a favorite target of ours all season as we felt this was the toughest division in the NFC and we'll grab another NFC Puppy here with "The Boys" from Big "D". 5* Pot of Gold Dallas Cowboys
Jets vs. Chargers
To win on the road in the NFL requires an offensive line that can control the line of scrimmage and the Jets have done just that all season to date. New York has cashed winning tickets in (4) of the past (5) meetings in this series and boasts a solid (9-3) ATS mark when installed as road underdogs. The Jets have held (6) of their past (7) opponents to season low's on offense and have not allowed (31) points in a single game all season. When San Diego fails to score (31) points they are (4-12-1) ATS. All you need is to do the math and then catch your flight. Jets - Jets - Jets! 3* New York Jets
Stephen Nover
200-Dime Chargers
MAKE NOTE: The line on this game is either 7 or 7.5 right now, with a majority of the books holding firm on -7. My suggestion is you purchase the half point down to either 6.5 or 7, depending on what your book is offering. If the line is -7, then you're only to lay 6.5 points, and by the rare occurrence your line is 7.5, then you're to only lay the flat -7 points.
ANALYSIS: It's time for the Jets to get a dose of reality. The Chargers are the hottest team in football with 11 straight wins.
San Diego is rested and presents a far stronger challenge to the Jets than the heavily flawed Bengals did.
The betting line is manageable because the Jets are on a roll, led the NFL in defense and in rushing. The Chargers were 20th in stopping the run and 31st in rushing.
Judging by those overall numbers the game should be close.
But it won't be.
The Charges' run defense improved a great deal during the final two months. No team has held the Jets to fewer yards on the ground over the past two seasons than the Chargers have. San Diego limited New York to 41 yards rushing in a 49-29 win at home on Sept. 22, 2008
The Jets are going to need Mark Sanchez to make plays. I don't see that happening versus a San Diego defense than ranked 11th in pass defense. Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer gave up the fifth-fewest yards (1,142) of any cornerback duo that started a combined 28 games or more this season. The Chargers’ defense allowed just 34 passes of 20 yards or more, third-fewest in the NFL.
San Diego's ground attack isn't as bad as it numbers may indicate either. Darren Sproles is one of the most dangerous change-of-pace backs and LaDainian Tomlinson still has something left in the tank when healthy. He's healthy now with fresh legs following two weeks of rest.
Philip Rivers, though, is the Chargers' big key. He has emerged as an upper echelon quarterback giving San Diego a huge edge at the most important position.
Rivers ranked third in the NFL with a 104.4 passer rating, while completing 65.2 percent of his attempts for 4,254 yards and 28 touchdowns. He has a number of big targets to go to, including Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates and underrated Malcom Floyd. Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis can only cover one, probably Jackson.
San Diego has playoff pedigree and experience. This is the Chargers' fourth straight year in the playoffs. They are 4-1 against the spread in postseason action under Norv Turner.
This isn't an accident. Turner may not be the sharpest overall head coach, but the Chargers play more relaxed in the playoffs under him. This is a huge difference from when the Chargers reached the postseason under Marty Schottenheimer where they constantly wilted under the pressure playing too tight and suffering from Schottenheimer's frequent playoff brain cramps.
San Diego was one-and-done in the playoffs in 2004 and 2006 under Schottenheimer despite having strong teams and home-field advantage.
Only the Giants have won more playoff games during the two previous seasons than the Chargers have under Turner.
The Jets are going to find San Diego far more difficult to defend than a shot Carson Palmer with his pedestrian offense.
Kelso
50 Units Chargers (-7) over NY Jets
This is a game that features a high-octane passing team with blue-chip talent facing a team that starts a rookie quarterback and because of it lives and dies by the run. My analysis says San Diego and quarterback Philip Rivers, and his outstanding receiving corps, will put the Chargers on the lead and then keep the pedal to the metal and make the Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez beat them. I just don’t think a rookie playing in the biggest game of his career—and one the road, to boot—is up to the task. Much has been made of the fact San Diego has not been overly effective in stopping the run this season and will be vulnerable against the Jets 1-2 punch of tailbacks Thomas Jones and Shonn Green. That’s a hard argument for me to buy, since the Chargers come into this game standing 11-0 in their last 11 games and in those wins have certainly faced running games far more potent than that of the Jets. Passing trumps running in this one.
5 units Cowboys +3
3 units on the UNDER in both games
Rainman
3* Dallas
1* San Diego
1* Dallas Over
Alex Smart
10* Vikings