Let's talk about some NFL Conference Championship Football

[Betallsports]

So Bernie reminded me about this Thread that I use to do Each and every week during the NFL Season.... So why not do it for the next round and Super Bowl.

So for those that don't remember how it works, Give your Opinion on this weeks games. You can add Stats, Stories, etc....

Tell everyone who you like, or who you don't like and WHY ....

A couple of Facts on Past Championship Games...

Last year Home Favorites were 2-0 SU & ATS

in 2013 the away Favorite Covered, and the Home fav Lost SU ( NE )

in the last 3 years the Over & Under is 1-5, last Year 0-2

Andrew Luck is 0-3 SU against NE

Aaron Rodgers is 2-2 Lifetime vs. Seahawks, 0-2 during the Wilson era..

More to Come......

 

[scottcarter]

not many gave Indy a chance last week in Denver but they dominated. Not many gave Baltimore much of a chance against New England but they got up by 2 Td's twice before losing by 4. I guess it comes down to who comes out with a better game plan and who makes the best halftime adjustments. I will NOT be shocked to see the Colts pull an upset. Luck vs Wilson in the Super Bowl would make a good storyline.

 

[Acebb]

On paper, Indy has no chance and is a bad matchup, but the early betters took them apparently pretty big.

I forget where I read it, but there were quotes that a lot of early action came in on Indy money line.

 

[Betallsports]

not many gave Indy a chance last week in Denver but they dominated. Not many gave Baltimore much of a chance against New England but they got up by 2 Td's twice before losing by 4. I guess it comes down to who comes out with a better game plan and who makes the best halftime adjustments. I will NOT be shocked to see the Colts pull an upset. Luck vs Wilson in the Super Bowl would make a good storyline.

the problem with the above is We didn't know Manning was playing hurt, otherwise I think there would have been a different result

 

[Cantpickem]

not many gave Indy a chance last week in Denver but they dominated. Not many gave Baltimore much of a chance against New England but they got up by 2 Td's twice before losing by 4. I guess it comes down to who comes out with a better game plan and who makes the best halftime adjustments. I will NOT be shocked to see the Colts pull an upset. Luck vs Wilson in the Super Bowl would make a good storyline.

I'm not so sure that they dominated the game. It might have been that Peyton with a lack of offense kept the Denver D on the field for most the game. It would be logical that Indy would then have more of an opportunity to score pts. Let's face it the Denver O was horrible.

 

[Betallsports]

Four teams remaining.


Three games to play.


The NFL’s Final Four for 2014 has a pretty familiar feel to it. Dating back to 2001, the New England Patriots (five), Indianapolis Colts (two), Seattle Seahawks (two) and Green Bay Packers (one) have made a combined 10 Super Bowl appearances and each franchise has won at least one Lombardi Trophy.


So who will emerge as the two teams headed to Glendale, Arizona, for Super Bowl XLIX?


From scenarios to statistics, to a prediction (actually two), we will get you ready for conference championship game weekend.


Keep in mind that win-loss records in the ensuing playoff matchups do include postseason results.


(4) Indianapolis Colts (13-5) at (1) New England Patriots (13-4)
Sunday, Jan. 18
6:40 pm ET (CBS)



It’s pretty funny when you think about it.


For a long time, the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots were division rivals in the old AFC East. That changed in 2002 with NFL realignment and the formation of eight divisions, as opposed to six.


But since 2003, including playoffs, these clubs have met once at least every year. In fact, this will mark the 16th clash between these teams in the last 12 seasons.
For the second straight year and the fifth time since 2003, these rivals will clash in the postseason. Two of those contests came in the AFC Championship Game. The Pats prevailed in 2003 (24-14) and the Colts won in 2006 (38-34), with the home team emerging victorious in each of the previous instances.


As for that aforementioned recent history, it’s been all Patriots as of late. Including the playoffs, New England has won five straight meetings dating back to 2010—by a combined score of 206-118.


However, it’s the last three encounters between these teams that are certainly eye-popping. Since the arrival of quarterback Andrew Luck in 2012, the Colts have dropped three in a row in this series by scores of 59-24 (2012), 43-22 (2013 AFC Divisional Playoffs) and 42-20 (Week 11 of 2014).


That’s a combined 144-66 score in favor of New England.


Good...luck.

 

[Betallsports]

(2) Green Bay Packers (13-4) at (1) Seattle Seahawks (13-4)
Sunday, Jan. 18
3:05 pm ET (Fox)



It’s deja vu time in the Pacific Northwest.


The very first game of the 2014 NFL regular season featured the Green Bay Packers visiting the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, with Pete Carroll’s club coming away with an impressive 36-16 win.


There’s not a lot of recent history when it comes to this series. Of course, who can forget the infamous Monday night clash between the clubs in 2012, when Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and wideout Golden Tate pulled off the infamous “Fail Mary?”


Still, this marks the third playoff meeting between the clubs. In the 2003 Wild Card Round, the Packers pulled off a 33-27 overtime victory at Lambeau Field thanks to a pick-six by Packers cornerback Al Harris, at the expense of confident Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.


Four years later in the 2007 NFC Divisional Playoffs, the Packers ran over the Seahawks. Thanks to a big afternoon from running back Ryan Grant, Mike McCarthy’s club came away with a 42-20 win at Lambeau Field.

 

[Betallsports]

AFC Championship Game
Colts TE Dwayne Allen vs. Patriots OLB Jamie Collins
He remains an underrated part of the Colts’ passing game. In two playoff games this season, Allen has caught seven passes for 60 yards and one score—that coming in Sunday’s win over the Denver Broncos.
During the regular season, Allen totaled just 29 catches for 395 yards. But he tied for the team lead with eight touchdown receptions.
Collins totaled a team-high 11 tackles and knocked down two passes in the playoff win over the Ravens.

Colts LT Anthony Castonzo vs. Patriots RDE Chandler Jones
Very quietly, the Indianapolis offensive line did a decent job of protecting Andrew Luck this season, although the athletic signal-caller helped his own cause. The Colts allowed only 29 sacks, compared to 32 sacks in 2013 and 41 in 2012.
In two playoff games, Luck has been sacked only once and that came in the wild-card win over the Bengals.
Despite missing a chunk of time during the regular season, Jones totaled six sacks in 2014. In Saturday’s win over Baltimore, he totaled four tackles and managed a pair of quarterback hits in the victory.

NFC Championship Game
Packers LOLB Julius Peppers vs. Seahawks RT Justin Britt
Those concerned about Peppers making the transition from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker this season apparently should not have been that worried.
The 13-year veteran made his presence felt in the playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys. Peppers totaled six tackles, one sack and forced a pair of fumbles.
But can Britt, a rookie second-round pick in May, keep the longtime defender from chasing down Russell Wilson?

Packers C Corey Linsley vs. Seahawks MLB Bobby Wagner
The Green Bay rookie started at center on opening night at Seattle and the fifth-round pick from Ohio State held his own (and fortunately no one else) in the team’s 36-16 loss.
On the other hand, there was no stopping Wagner that night. He finished the game with a team-high 14 tackles as the Seattle defense held Packers running back Eddie Lacy to 34 yards rushing on 12 carries and Green Bay’s ground attack to 80 yards on 21 carries.

 

[Betallsports]

• The New England Patriots will be seeking a record-tying eighth Super Bowl appearance this weekend. The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers are co-owners of the mark with eight trips to the Super Bowl. The Pats are currently tied with the Denver Broncos with seven appearances—five of those since 2001.

• The Patriots are also the first team since the Philadelphia Eagles (2001-04) to reach a conference title game four consecutive years. The last AFC team to achieve that feat was the 1990-93 Buffalo Bills. New England is in the AFC title game for the ninth time in 14 seasons dating back to 2001.

• Under the current playoff format that dates back to 1990, there have been only four occasions (1991, 1993, 2009 and 2013) in which both No. 1 seeds in each conference reached the Super Bowl. The Patriots and Seahawks are both hoping to make it five times in 25 seasons and the first time in back-to-back years.

• So, will both the host Patriots and Seahawks prevail at home on Sunday? Last season, both home clubs (Broncos and Seahawks) won on championship Sunday but in 2012, both home teams (Falcons and Patriots) fell short. Since 1990, home teams are a combined 29-19 in the conference title games and on eight occasions, both home teams won on the same Sunday.

• With Saturday’s 35-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Bill Belichick won his 20th postseason game as an NFL head coach. That’s tied for the most in NFL history with Hall of Fame sideline leader Tom Landry. A win over the Colts would be a new record for Belichick, who now ranks fourth in league annals with 231 coaching wins (including playoffs), trailing only Don Shula (347), George Halas (324) and Landry (270).

 

[Betallsports]

AFC Championship Game
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
While a Colts victory in this matchup is perhaps improbable, it is certainly not impossible. The Patriots’ supposedly improved defensive unit gave up 428 total yards and 31 points to the Baltimore Ravens last Saturday.
When these teams met earlier this year, the New England running game took center stage. Don’t be surprised if that’s the case again, despite the fact that the Colts defense has played well in the playoffs.
In that Week 11 matchup at Indianapolis, New England ran for 246 yards on 44 carries—201 of those yards by Jonas Gray, who also rushed for four touchdowns. The Pats rolled up 503 total yards in a 42-20 win.
A year earlier in the 2013 AFC Divisional Playoffs, New England rushed for 234 yards on 46 carries. That night, LeGarrette Blount ran for 166 yards and four touchdowns.
Notice a pattern?
Prediction: New England 31, Indianapolis 21

NFC Championship Game
Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
Mike McCarthy and the Packers are hoping to do what the Colts have already done this season.
Indianapolis began the year with a prime-time loss to the Broncos and then returned to Denver in the playoffs and pulled out a victory.
Of course, the Seahawks are trying to do what hasn’t been done since the Patriots in 2003 and 2004 and that’s reach consecutive Super Bowls.
Seattle’s defense has been amazing as of late, as has the team in general. The Seahawks have now won seven straight games (by combined score of 165-56), allowing only five touchdowns in those seven contests.
Of course, Pete Carroll’s team will have to deal with Aaron Rodgers, who in 17 overall appearances in 2014 has thrown 41 touchdown passes and been picked off only five times. He’ll have his moments on Sunday but figures to come up just short in what should be a nail-biter in the Pacific Northwest.
Prediction: Seattle 21, Green Bay 20

 

[Greenbacks]

I like the Colts +6.5 a lot....I really think they can win the game....The other game is tough....Nothing on that yet.

Good luck!

 

[Acebb]

Tweeted out yesterday:

Top Bet @topbetsports
Not a surprise that heavy majority of moneyline cash is backing the NFL underdogs. 77% is on Packers +255 & 73% is on Colts +215

 

[chonce]

I like both favorites in this weekend, but I like NE more than SEA. I like both unders quite a bit as well.

 

[ThaDude]

Like most of these heavily bet games, either play the dog with the points or the fav on the ML for the most relative value to normal.

 

[The Guesser]

I like both favorites in this weekend, but I like NE more than SEA. I like both unders quite a bit as well.

Exactly How I feel. NE is my best bet. Much like Balt matching up well with NE, Indy matches up dreadfully against them. NE can ram the ball down their throats, or go wide on them and pick on their injured CB's and mediocre Middle of the field. I think Both Dogs would have to play out of their minds/get all the breaks, and both favorites have an off day for either Dog to cover, let alone win. If Aaron was fully mobile, I'd give GB a decent shot, and even without that, I give them a better shot than Indy, but they will pay for his lack of mobility, unlike against Dallas. I am also playing the sucker teaser.

 

[akphidelt]

I know this has no impact on the game, but I found it very surprising... my buddy texted me at 1am Seattle time last night and Marshawn Lynch was at the bar he was at. I honestly can't believe they don't have some in-season curfews or something.

 

[TheComputerGroup]

Exactly How I feel. NE is my best bet. Much like Balt matching up well with NE, Indy matches up dreadfully against them. NE can ram the ball down their throats, or go wide on them and pick on their injured CB's and mediocre Middle of the field. I think Both Dogs would have to play out of their minds/get all the breaks, and both favorites have an off day for either Dog to cover, let alone win. If Aaron was fully mobile, I'd give GB a decent shot, and even without that, I give them a better shot than Indy, but they will pay for his lack of mobility, unlike against Dallas. I am also playing the sucker teaser.

Umm......Patriots matched up bad vs Ravens but still win......Colts match up bad vs Pats, Colts could lose but cover.......

 

[skins85]

to me each line begs action on the favorite. the only thing about green bay that is interesting to me is if seattle can play from behind. i think if green bay grabs a lead it could be panic time in seattle. their style is suited to play from ahead. i would have the same doubts about new england but last weekend against baltimore they proved they had the ability to not panic and overcome large deficits twice.

 

[thekeyman]

im rooting for the colts to win and i have to say that my futures wager on them leads me that way.these teams played earlier in the season and new england beat them up pretty bad,but i think that might have been a good thing for the colts to have happen to them as now they get them again and we just might see them adjust from the first time they met.with that said,new england can still probably over power them but funnier things have happened in games like this and you never know.the colts played like they knew they were going to win last week as long as they stuck to their gameplan and that also goes for whatever is being said about peyton manning playing hurt,don't think it would have mattered the way the colts played last week.


green bay/seattle,well they also played to open the season up and we all know that teams are not really sharp in week one of the nfl as seattle won easily.green bay has looked quite impressive this latter part of the season and with rodgers limping around on that bad calf he still got it done(aka like peyton manning didn't).green bay can win this game if they keep the turnovers down and they run the ball well which i believe they can.this will open up the speedy receivers they have and it can give seattle problems as i don't think their secondary is all that good,JMO,.....but if seattle gets a pass rush on rodgers then that would spoil everything so they must protect the QB or it can turn into a long day.

so ill be rooting for INDY hoping to keep my future alive ,....and ill be rooting for GREEN BAY as im not really a fan of this seattle team,they are good but just not a fan of these guys,.....GOOD LUCK EVERYONE ON YOUR WAGERS

 

[Betallsports]

[h=1]Colts' Trent Richardson stays home[/h]
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Indianapolis Colts are further distancing themselves from running back Trent Richardson.


AP Photo/Paul JasienskiTrent Richardson did not travel with the Colts for Sunday's AFC Championship Game at New England.




Richardson did not travel with the team for Sunday night's AFC Championship Game at New England due to personal reasons, the Colts announced Saturday. The team did not give any additional information on why Richardson did not make the trip.


Richardson not traveling is another chapter in what's been a major disappointing 16 months with the Colts for the former No. 3 overall pick.


After being inactive for the divisional playoff game at Denver on Jan. 11, Richardson said he was preparing as if he would start against the Patriots.


"[Being inactive] will never happen to me again," Richardson said Thursday. "Anybody can quote me, today, because it's never going to happen again."
The Colts gave the Cleveland Browns a first-round pick for Richardson in September 2013.


Richardson lost his starting job to Donald Brown late in the 2013 season. He regained it this season, but lost it to Daniel "Boom" Herron in Week 16, and Richardson was the third running back behind Herron and Zurlon Tipton in the Jan. 4 wild-card game against Cincinnati. Richardson only played one snap against the Bengals.
Richardson has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game and only has totaled 977 yards in 29 games with the Colts.