Super Bowl Picks

Well as we wrap up the season Loren gained one game on me last week going 2-0 while I lost the 49er/Seahawk game. 74-37-1 to 54-55-1.

Denver vs Seattle

Derek - Denver. Pure and simple I don't think the Seahawks will score enough points to win the game, Will they hold Denver below their average? I think so but I don't think it'll be enough. I hope for a good one but think we'll see some ugliness in the first half before the Broncos pull away. 

Loren - Denver. How often do you get to pick your home team in the Super  Bowl? By my count, six times in my lifetime. Wow, that makes me feel bad for KC, Philly, the Jets...maybe not that last one. Denver's D had the chance to rest up and get healthy. Good thing, too, since that will decide the game. If they are consistently strong on 3rd down, the offense will have enough chances to score. Denver in an entertaining game but pulling away late. 

As for the Omahas, if you're Peyton Manning, aren't you a little tempted to have someone bet the Omaha line for you? After all, he's in control of the Omahas. I'm pretty sure he could have as many or few as he wants. He could have a friend's cousin's sister-in-law put a few hundred k down and split evenly. I know, ridiculous. But still...

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Conference Championship Week

A nice 4-0 week was one better than Loren. 73-36-1 to 52-55-1.

San Francisco at Seattle
Derek - San Francisco. What am I doing!?!?! Well I think I'm taking the hotter team. And Arizona did show that Seattle can be beaten at home. Plus isn't it an NFL rule that one of the Superbowl teams will have to win every game on the road to get there?
Loren – Seattle. I see Wilson as less mistake prone than Kaepernick, especially when you factor in the stadium and the noise the fans generate. Seattle’s D is consistently good while San Francisco’s comes and goes. Plus, I really want to see an old AFC West matchup in the Super Bowl. Which leads me to…

New England at Denver
Derek - Denver. I've watched the Pats all year and I just don't think they should be in the Superbowl? Something about them doesn't say best team or even elite team this year. I'll have to go with the best team all hear in Denver. 
Loren – Denver. Broncos v. Seahawks! Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Pats beat the Broncos during the season via an improbable second half surge and a complete Denver meltdown. I don’t see that happening again and the home field might make all the difference. Manning has the tools to manage the game effectively against a defense that isn’t nearly as strong as their previous championship runs. Brady will probably make swiss cheese out of a horrible Denver secondary, and I’m getting nauseous thinking about Keenan Allen eating Quentin Jammer’s lunch last week, but will the Pats be able to stop the Broncos at 5,280 feet?

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NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks

Well Loren picked up 2 games on me the last week of the regular season. 67-34-1 to 48-51-1.

Saturday
Kansas City at Indianapolis
Derek - Indianapolis. I"m picking Mr. Hyde...or is Dr. Jekyll, well heck I guess that's the point, you don't know who you're getting with the Colts. But I think they have one win in them for the playoffs and don't be surprised if there are multiple lead changes in the second half of this game.
Loren – Kansas City. I think resting their starters last week was a good idea. They earned the trip and couldn’t impact their seeding with a win. This means most of the offensive and defensive first units are going to be rested and healthy. KC needs that defense to get back some early season mojo and their offense to control the clock. I think they do both.

New Orleans at Philadelphia. The Saints are just a different team on the road then at home. Add in winter conditions and the need to run you just have to go with the Eagles. 
Derek - Philadelphia.
Loren – Philadelphia. It’s cold, and that favors the team that can run. That ain’t the Saints. I don’t see the Saints being capable of sustained drives without dropped balls, fumbles, wind-forced errors, etc.

Sunday
San Diego at Cincinnati
Derek - Cincinnati. The Bengals have the D and home field. The only thing they don't have is a QB who is consistent. But hey just throw a jump ball to AJ Green and that should be enough.
Loren – Cincinnati. If you’re the Chargers and you barely beat the Chiefs’ second stringers last week, how positive are you feeling about your team right now? I always give Rivers a puncher’s chance, but Cincy has the talent on both sides to make life miserable for the Chargers.

San Francisco at Green Bay
Derek - San Francisco. Not sure why I'm picking the 49ers other than they're the better team. Sounds strange but that might not be enough. On the road and Rodgers is back, the Pack could go deep.
Loren – San Francisco. It makes me really nervous taking San Francisco after the Superman routine Rodgers pulled last week. Should you ever count Rodgers out? Well, San Francisco has a top-shelf defense, so they’ve got that going for them. Kaepernick can run circles around the Packers’ D, too. This is the Niners game for the taking.

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