NFL PICKS - Wildcard Weekend

Week 17 NFL Results: 4-11-1
NFL Results Season to Date: 120-143-4

Week 17 College Football Results: 2-1-1
College Football Season Results: 38-23-1

Week 17 Mark My Words Results: 1-1-1
Mark My Words Results Season to Date: 34-30-1

Wildcard Weekend NFL Picks (winners in parentheses):

At Cincinnati -2.5 New York Jets (Cincinnati)
At Dallas -4 Philadelphia (Dallas)
At New England -3.5 Baltimore (Baltimore)
At Arizona -1 Green Bay (Green Bay)

Mark My Words:

Here's how I'd bet the first round of the NFL playoff games, and why:

CINCINNATI -2.5 over New York Jets - Forget about the Jets blowout win over the Bengals last week. First of all, that game was in New York. Second of all, the Bengals had their playoff spot locked up, so they were not about to show the Jets any thing but their most basic offensive and defensive formations. In an interesting note, before this season New York Jets rookie quarterback and southern California native Mark Sanchez had never before played football in the rain, let alone the freezing cold. The temperature for this Saturday's game may not break twenty. While both teams have excellent running games, I'm going to take the experience of the more adjusted Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer over the rookie.

DALLAS -4 over Philadelphia - On paper, I like Philadelphia in this game. However, Dallas beat Philadelphia 20-14 on the road in week 9, then destroyed the Eagles 24-0 at home in week 17. This game will be back in Dallas, and I have to go with history in picking this one.

Baltimore +3.5 NEW ENGLAND - With Wes Welker out for the playoffs due to injury, New England is less apt to take advantage of Baltimore's shaky secondary. Randy Moss will get his catches, but I look for Baltimore's running game to dominate in this match-up.

Green Bay +1 ARIZONA - Green Bay was one of my pre-season Super Bowl picks, so I'm a bit biased on this selection. I'd actually be going with Arizona in this one if CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, WR Anquan Boldin and DE Calais Campbell weren't all questionable with injuries for this week's game.