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...

Read the rest of this post...

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?

Read the rest of this post...

NFL Divisional Playoff Picks

Not a great week for either of us. I was 2-2 and Loren was 1-3. 69-36-1 to 49-54-1.

Saturday
New Orleans at Seattle
Derek - Seattle. The Saints will put up a better show than they did the first time they made the trek to the NW, but that still doesn't mean they'll win. Seattle is a heck of a team and as long as they run the ball they'll win.
Loren - Seattle. Too much ball control, a secondary that's too fast and can play man, a line that doesn't leak, and just enough offense means Seattle gets a trip to the NFC title game.  
Indianapolis at New England
Derek - New England. The Colts can't play in the first half like they did last week and expect to win. you can't turn the ball over to the Pats.
Loren - New England. I don't think New England has a title ready team, but they've got enough to take out an inexperienced Indy squad.  

Sunday
San Francisco at Carolina
Derek - San Francisco. This could be a close low scoring game, but I think the 49ers playoff experience an coaching will be enough to eek out a close one. 
Loren - Carolina. Upset special!  Or more likely just another in a long string of embarrassing picks. Anyway, after seeing SF's D struggle to contain a damaged Packers squad, I like Carolina's chances after an extra week to get ready to host a home game.  
San Diego at Denver
Derek - Denver. The Chargers don't have anything to loose, but the Broncos are by far the better team and have an extra weeks rest/Manning prep time for this one.
Loren  - Denver. Like I'm not going to take Denver? However, the Chargers have the right kind of pass oriented offense to take advantage of Denver's weakness. This could be a nail biter. 

Read the rest of this post...