NFL Playoff Predictions
by T.O. Whenham
The NFL playoffs are finally just around the corner. That means just one thing - it's time for NFL playoff predictions. As an obsessed sports bettor I'll be worrying about spreads and lines and all those things soon enough, but before I do that I like to take a look at how things set up straight-up. Once I have a sense of the way I see things working out I stand a better chance of finding value in the betting lines. Besides that, making straight-up NFL playoff predictions is just good, clean fun. I probably won't be right, but think of the bragging rights if I put something in print and it actually happens. Here goes nothing:
Wild Card Weekend
Washington at Seattle - The Seahawks are the most anonymous team in the league these days. I follow the NFL pretty closely, yet you probably could have convinced me at any point this season that the team had folded. They are boring to watch, and the do nothing to inspire or excite. The Redskins are riding high on momentum, while Mike Holmgren is talking retirement. I think that Washington will win fairly easily.
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh - I think that Jacksonville is a very dangerous team. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is not a team I have believed in at any point this year. Pittsburgh plays at home, but that's not as much of an advantage as it could be because the field is so lousy. Jacksonville is just generally superior, and I think that they will win easily.
New York at Tampa Bay - I hate everything about the Giants, and I have a soft spot for Jeff Garcia and the Bucs, so I can't even pretend to be objective here. The Bucs are at home and they are the feisty team that no one has respected all year, so I predict a shocker here. It doesn't matter either way really, because neither team will win again this year after this game.
Tennessee at San Diego - My initial instinct is to say that the Chargers will win easily. Of course, I have no idea how the Titans won a single game (other than the one against the Colts to end the year, because the other team didn't bother to show up that week), and yet they won 10 games, so I am clearly not an expert on this team. Despite that, I suspect that Vince Young will struggle and the Chargers will cruise.
Divisional Playoffs
Tampa Bay at Green Bay - If you had told me at the start of the year that the Packers would be playing in the second week of the playoffs I would have checked you into rehab. Yet they are not only here, but they are the overwhelming favorites to carry on. Despite my love of the Bucs this is an easy pick - Green Bay all the way.
Jacksonville at New England - I said before that I really like the Jaguars, but I just can't justify picking against an undefeated team at home. They are deeper, more experienced, and, surprisingly, hungrier. Jacksonville will put up a good fight, but New England will find a way to win like they always do.
San Diego at Indianapolis - I've been very predictable in this round, so I would love to pick the upset here, but I just can't do it. San Diego beat Indy already this year, but the Colts are playing better now. So is San Diego, but I am not convinced ultimately that Philip Rivers is playing well enough to justify picking him over Peyton Manning. The Colts, then, are the pick.
Washington at Dallas - I have to do something at least a little interesting here, so I will go with Washington. Dallas has been somewhat concerning the last few weeks, while Washington could be the little team that could. Dallas is the better team, but I'll go with the upset.
Conference Championships
Indianapolis at New England - This is the game that we all knew was coming since August. The Colts should have won last time they played, but they faltered late. They will have learned from that, but not enough. New England is a better team in pretty much every aspect of the game, they are at home, and they are, I believe, just a little bit more determined. After success last year, it's time for the Colts to go back to being disappointed.
Washington at Green Bay - When Jerome Bettis made the Super Bowl a couple of years ago the press coverage was mind-numbing. By the time the game came around I was so sick of the guy I could puke. That was nothing compared to what the Brett Favre coverage will be this year. The media loves Favre, and they will love that he is back in the Super Bowl after everyone in the world besides him had written him off. Cinderella's glass slipper gets shattered into tiny pieces as Green Bay wins easily.
Super Bowl
Green Bay vs. New England - Conventional wisdom all year has been that the NFC is no match for the AFC. For once, I think that conventional wisdom is right on target. Green Bay has played very well most of the year, but New England is just plain better. The game will have moments of brilliance (beyond the commercials, I mean), but the result won't be much in doubt for long. It's not an exciting pick, but it's the logical one - your world champions are the New England Patriots. Yet again.
docsports.com