DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Cowboys +6 Packers 30 Cowboys 26 Computer Projecton HIT: Pack 26 Cows 21

Here we go betting against the Pack at home again. The Pack has a lot of holes in their team, but not at QB. As far a QB's go, Rodgers is the best. He's the reason they have the number 1 offense. The Cows have the better defense but they are only average at pass D. Needless to say we expect the Pack to score their points. As for the Cows offense, we need them to put up some points of their own. We've often talked about how the key to beating the Cows is to stop the run. That way, they can't spring the loop pass time and again. It's an old formula but it works. The Pack doesn't appear to have the team to stop those runs with an honest D. In the simplest of terms, when the Packers come up to stop the run the Cows will burn them with the pass. We already stipulated that the Pack will pretty much be unstoppable, we need the Cows to be that way, too. Scary. Maybe McCarthy will concede the kickoff.

Colts +7 Broncos 30 Colts 25 Computer Projection HIT: Colts 24 Broncos 13

This looks like another one of those Broncs/Colts matchups where the home team alway seems to win. Earlier this season, the Broncos jumped out ahead in Denver, then sat on the lead so much that the Colts got back into the game and nearly pulled it off. In the end, Denver won but the Colts beat the spread. These are two 'Can Do' offenses that should light it up against two pretty good defenses. We don't really see any advantage other than Denver's home field. Maybe the Broncs are better at running the ball and defending the pass, but it's still very tight, and there are a lot of points involved. We hope we don't need them. Going with a lite, 2-chip play on the road dogs.

Hawks/Panthers OVER 40 Seahawks 27 Panthers 17 Computer Projecton HIT: Hawks 31 Pants 17

It's hard to do football analysis when the coach decides to defer the kickoff. We thought we were done with that years ago when Marty Mornhinweg opted to kickoff an OT in bad weather. He lost the game and his job for that one. Belichick continued his bad decision making in the 1st half by punting from the 35-yard line. Net 10 yards. If Belichick wants to help he'll just stay quiet in the second half. The Pants have played some tough, low scoring games against Seattle on the east coast at noon - GRIDLINE has cashed in on them, too - but this one's on the west coast and in the evening. Anything can happen, but it don't look good for Carolina without their newly found running game. The Hawks run D is at top of the league. If we had our druthers we'd take Seattle, but we don't. We always go with the computer. We'll take the OVER 40 points and hope the rain doesn't put too much of a damper on the game. The drops should be falling straight down so we don't expect these teams to be grounded. It should be fun to watch.

Patriots -7 Patriots 29 Ravens 21 Computer Projecton MISS: Pats 35 Ravens 31

It should be cold and sunny, with relatively calm winds in Foxboro. In short, it should be perfect football weather. That's encouraging news because the computer system is projecting a lot of points from the Pats today, and we'll need them. When you're laying the points you never can have a big enough lead. The last thing we need to see is a gust of wind blowing a lousy screen pass off course. We mention screens because those little passes, along with the dropoffs, flares and swing passes have to be automatic for Brady today. The system is projecting an incredible amount of completions at an incredible completion percentage, and an un-incredible Yards/Pass ratio. To quote the great Bill Walsh, "What you guys call dinks and dunks, we call an offense." That's what we need to see in this game - the Patriots looking a lot like the ol' Niners. The Ravens should do their share of damage but we expect them to abandon the running game at some point. We have seen the Ravens dominate in Pat-land before, but the play should be good if the Pats don't settle for 3 every time they get in scoring position. Going with a lite play on the home favorite.

Good Luck Everyone!

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