NFL PICKS - Conference Championships

NFL Divisional Playoff Results: 1-3
NFL Results Season to Date: 123-148-4

College Football Season Results: 38-23-1

Mark My Words Divisional Playoff Results: 1-3
Mark My Words Results Season to Date: 37-35-1

Conference Championship NFL Picks (winners in parentheses):

At New Orleans -3.5 Minnesota (Minnesota)
At Indianapolis -7.5 New York Jets (Indianapolis)

Mark My Words:

Here's how I'd bet the NFL Conference Championship games, and why:

Minnesota +3.5 over NEW ORLEANS - Both teams feature balanced offenses that can run and pass the ball. New Orleans faces a defense that can put pressure on Drew Brees and slow down their running game without moving extra defenders into the box. The Vikings will be forced to deal with a pass rush that will be aided by an insane home crowd advantage that will make it difficult to change the play at the line of scrimmage. This game should be close. If the spread drops to 3 points I'd take New Orleans, but since it is currently 3.5 points I like Minnesota.

INDIANAPOLIS -7.5 over New York Jets - The Jets without question have the best defense in football. However, they are also a mirror image of the Baltimore Ravens from their inexperienced quarterback, their run based offense, to their defensive scheme (which Jets head coach Rex Ryan used to run as defensive coordinator for the Ravens). The Colts handled the Ravens last week. Accordingly, I have to think that they handle the poor man's version of the Ravens this week.

NFL PICKS - Divisional Playoffs

Wildcard Weekend NFL Results: 2-2
NFL Results Season to Date: 122-145-4

College Football Season Results: 38-23-1

Mark My Words Wildcard Weekend Results: 2-2
Mark My Words Results Season to Date: 36-32-1

Divisional Playoff NFL Picks (winners in parentheses):

At New Orleans -7 Arizona (Arizona)
At Indianapolis -6 Baltimore (Indianapolis)
At Minnesota -2.5 Dallas (Dallas)
At San Diego -7 New York Jets (San Diego)

Mark My Words:

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

Arizona +7 over New Orleans - New Orleans has been a shaky bet against the spread the second half of the season, although it's possible that the Saints realized that they were playoff bound and wanted to work on establishing the run instead of showing opponents their prolific passing attack. The fact that the Saints re-signed franchise favorite Deuce McCallister this week just to go along on their playoff ride almost makes it appear as if they know something that the rest of us don't. In any event, I think Arizona is one of three or four teams that can keep up with New Orleans if they come out throwing, so I'm going to take the 7 points in this one.

INDIANAPOLIS -6 over Baltimore - I know that Baltimore hung with Indianapolis during a 17-15 loss in week 11. I don't just don't think that Joe Flacco or his injured hip will be able keep pace with Peyton Manning.

Dallas +2.5 over MINNESOTA - Dallas started clicking this year when Anthony Spencer finally emerged as a pass rusher to play opposite DeMarcus Ware. Ware's mismatch against Brian McKinney should allow Dallas to force Brett Favre outside of the pocket, which is where he makes his mistakes. Look for Dallas to give Flozell Adams all kinds of help against Minnesota DE Jared Allen. Minnesota's defense should be vulnerable to the screen pass.

SAN DIEGO -7 over New York Jets - Even though the Jets should be able to run against San Diego, I don't think that the threat of Mark Sanchez passing the ball will be enough to prevent the Chargers from putting eight defenders in the box. Look for San Diego to take the bootleg away from Sanchez and make his throw from the pocket, which is his weakness. While the Jets will likely put "Revis Island" on All Pro wide receiver Vincent Jackson, Phil Rivers should be able to pick on Lito Shepard with his remaining stable of big receivers.

Talking Points

Here is the link to my latest column for It's Just Sports on Mlive.com. Please login to Mlive and leave me a comment, either positive or negative.

Talking Points: Media members defend Jack Morris and Alan Trammell and cause an uproar about Mark McGwire's steroids admission

http://blog.mlive.com/its-just-sports/2010/01/talking_points_media_members_d.html

Talking Points

Here is the link to my latest column for It's Just Sports on Mlive.com. Please login to Mlive and leave me a comment, either positive or negative.

Talking Points: Evaluating Football Night in America and Pam Ward's gaffe
http://blog.mlive.com/its-just-sports/2010/01/talking_points_evaluating_foot.html

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.

NFL PICKS - Week 17

Week 16 NFL Results: 7-8-1
NFL Results Season to Date: 116-132-3

Week 16 College Football Results: 3-0
College Football Results Season to Date: 36-22

Week 16 Mark My Words Results: 3-1
Mark My Words Results Season to Date: 33-29

Week 17 NFL Picks (winners in parentheses):

At Buffalo -9 Indianapolis (Indianapolis)
Pittsburgh -3 At Miami (Pittsburgh)
At Cleveland -1 Jacksonville (Jacksonville)
Chicago -3 At Detroit (Detroit)
At Houston -8 New England (Houston)
At Minnesota -9 New York Giants (New York Giants)
San Francisco -7 At St. Louis (San Francisco)
Atlanta -2.5 Tampa Bay (Atlanta)
At Dallas -3 Philadelphia (Philadelphia)
At Arizona -3 Green Bay (Arizona)
At Denver -13 Kansas City (Denver)
Baltimore -10.5 At Oakland (Baltimore)
At San Diego -4 Washington (Washington)
Tennessee -4 At Seattle (Tennessee)
At New York Jets -10 Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
At Carolina -7 New Orleans (New Orleans)

College Football:

Texas Christian -7.5 Boise State (Boise State)
Georgia Tech -3.5 Iowa (Iowa)
Central Michigan -3 Troy (Central Michigan)
Alabama -4 Texas (Texas)

Mark My Words:

Here are the pro and college lines that I would put money on, and why:

With playoff bound teams resting their starters this week, most of these lines are up in the air. Accordingly, I prefer some more creative bets, like a four time parlay including Philly, Jacksonville, Detroit and Washington, as opposed to traditional straight up bets this week.

Tennessee -4 over SEATTLE - Seattle has nothing to play for, while Tennessee will try all they can to get Chris Johnson 2,000 rushing yards and the NFL single season yards from scrimmage record. Seattle's run defense struggled last week, so I look for Tennessee to run away in this one.

San Francisco -7 over ST. LOUIS - Not only are the Rams are starting their third string quarterback and without running back Steven Jackson, but they also have no incentive to win this game in order to retain the #1 pick in the NFL Draft and take Ndamukong Suh.

Texas +4 over Alabama - I'm not sold on Alabama's offense. Texas has an experienced quarterback in Colt McCoy, who I think will lead the Long Horns to an outright victory. Prediction: Texas 27- Alabama 17

Mlive.com - Top Stories of 2009

Here is the link to my latest column on Mlive.com. Please login to Mlive and leave me a comment, either positive or negative.

Top Stories: The Detroit Tigers collapse

http://blog.mlive.com/its-just-sports/2010/01/top_stories_the_detroit_tigers.html