Had a pretty good year again, and am ready to roll into the post season. Sorry I was just so busy this year with my job and also the quite a few extra hours as a proxy this year, and add in the fact I also spent a lot of time handicapping, my plate was quite full. But since the Proxy season is over, I am back just in time for the playoffs!!
So far I am looking at:
Steelers -3
Ravens haven't looked like themselves at all the past 4 weeks. They are squeaking out wins against non-playoff teams, knowing that they need every win to make the playoffs. Luckily they got in when the Chiefs beat the Chargers for that final spot. Something just doesn't seem to be clicking for them and they are getting cold at the wrong time. History has shown, that you play the hottest teams at the right time of the playoffs. The Steelers have everything going for them, and their offensive line is giving Big Ben tons of time to scan the field. Barring the injury to Bell, this team is a solid winner for this week. With better play on both sides of the ball, and the defense making plays when it needs to. Steelers at home in the playoffs is a tough team to beat. Only laying the -3 is a nice bonus. Which means the linesmakers would make the Ravens a -3 if they were playing in Baltimore? Id take the Steelers to win that game outright!
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Lions +7.5
Taking the Cowboys at home this year has been quite a gamble. They don't seem to have the same passion as they do when they are on the road. Add in the fact we are talking about Romo winning a game in the post-season when it really matters... That's a huge gamble to lay over a TD on. The lions are also a team that has been getting hot, but so have the cowboys. With the front defensive line and LB corps of Detroit giving them the #1 rush defense in the league, I see Romo having to win this game.... and as I said before... its Romo in the post-season, something I don't want to wager my money on. Defense wins Championships, and this is the beginning of the road to the Super Bowl. Stopping the run (Which Romo has leaned heavily on to put up such great numbers) will pull of that mask he has been wearing, and show what kind of QB he really is. Kind of reminds me of the old Scooby Doo cartoons... except this time they pull off the Tony Romo mask, and its Jerry Jones "I would have won a Super Bowl, if it wasn't for you meddling kids on defense!!"
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Panthers -6.5
Laying almost a TD... and I am quite comfortable with that!! Panthers are on a roll and quite healthy. Their defense has stepped up and they are playing like they are on a mission. Then on the other side of the coin, the Cardinals are hurt in key positions on the field. One of the most glaring positions is at QB. Ryan Lindley... is going to start for the Cardinals, their was a reason he was a practice squad QB, overthrown passes, interception machine, and playing worse then Jay Cutler (can you believe that!!??). While the Panthers secondary has been playing lights out during their past 4 game winning streak. I cant see the Cardinals scoring over 10 points this whole game. While on the other ide, MOBILE QUARTERBACKS have given the Cardinals defense trouble all season long. This is another team that is getting hot at the right time, while another seems to be playing like they are lost. I don't see much of a contest here, that's why I am comfortable laying the -6.5 on the home team.
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Colts -3
Andrew Luck vs Andy Dalton..... Dalton has to be one of the most unpredictable QB's I have seen recently. One week he plays like a 10x pro-bowl Hall Of Famer, then the next week, he plays like a hung-over Jonny Manzeil. Take away a couple Key Weapons from Dalton (WR AJ Green for example), and you will see the Dalton I hate to bet on, but love to fade. The Bengals defense isn't as strong as it was last year, and their holes are getting exposed. I can only find 1 quality win for the Bengals this year, and that was 2 weeks ago vs a Denver team that didn't seem to ne in that came, because they really didn't have anything to play for since the Patriots win earlier that weekend, and the Patriots final game was vs the Bills to clinch. Denver really had nothing to play for, and seemed to just go through the motions, and the only thing they cared about was not getting hurt. On the same side, I cant really find a quality win for the Colts either, as they had an easy schedule through the whole season. But Luck has shown he can hang in their and their defense can pitch shut-outs or blow out opposing QBs who are mediocre all season. Luck and Colt Defense vs QB's with a 90 QB Rating and less are 10-1 ATS this year!!! Guess what Andy Dalton is bringing to Indianapolis as a late Christmas gift?? An 83.5 QBR!! I see this game getting away from the Bengals early, Dalton will be winless, and the Colts move on easily to the next round.
Good Luck this weekend guys!!! Have a great playoff season on the road to the Super Bowl!!
And its great to be back!!
So far I am looking at:
Steelers -3
Ravens haven't looked like themselves at all the past 4 weeks. They are squeaking out wins against non-playoff teams, knowing that they need every win to make the playoffs. Luckily they got in when the Chiefs beat the Chargers for that final spot. Something just doesn't seem to be clicking for them and they are getting cold at the wrong time. History has shown, that you play the hottest teams at the right time of the playoffs. The Steelers have everything going for them, and their offensive line is giving Big Ben tons of time to scan the field. Barring the injury to Bell, this team is a solid winner for this week. With better play on both sides of the ball, and the defense making plays when it needs to. Steelers at home in the playoffs is a tough team to beat. Only laying the -3 is a nice bonus. Which means the linesmakers would make the Ravens a -3 if they were playing in Baltimore? Id take the Steelers to win that game outright!
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Lions +7.5
Taking the Cowboys at home this year has been quite a gamble. They don't seem to have the same passion as they do when they are on the road. Add in the fact we are talking about Romo winning a game in the post-season when it really matters... That's a huge gamble to lay over a TD on. The lions are also a team that has been getting hot, but so have the cowboys. With the front defensive line and LB corps of Detroit giving them the #1 rush defense in the league, I see Romo having to win this game.... and as I said before... its Romo in the post-season, something I don't want to wager my money on. Defense wins Championships, and this is the beginning of the road to the Super Bowl. Stopping the run (Which Romo has leaned heavily on to put up such great numbers) will pull of that mask he has been wearing, and show what kind of QB he really is. Kind of reminds me of the old Scooby Doo cartoons... except this time they pull off the Tony Romo mask, and its Jerry Jones "I would have won a Super Bowl, if it wasn't for you meddling kids on defense!!"
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Panthers -6.5
Laying almost a TD... and I am quite comfortable with that!! Panthers are on a roll and quite healthy. Their defense has stepped up and they are playing like they are on a mission. Then on the other side of the coin, the Cardinals are hurt in key positions on the field. One of the most glaring positions is at QB. Ryan Lindley... is going to start for the Cardinals, their was a reason he was a practice squad QB, overthrown passes, interception machine, and playing worse then Jay Cutler (can you believe that!!??). While the Panthers secondary has been playing lights out during their past 4 game winning streak. I cant see the Cardinals scoring over 10 points this whole game. While on the other ide, MOBILE QUARTERBACKS have given the Cardinals defense trouble all season long. This is another team that is getting hot at the right time, while another seems to be playing like they are lost. I don't see much of a contest here, that's why I am comfortable laying the -6.5 on the home team.
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Colts -3
Andrew Luck vs Andy Dalton..... Dalton has to be one of the most unpredictable QB's I have seen recently. One week he plays like a 10x pro-bowl Hall Of Famer, then the next week, he plays like a hung-over Jonny Manzeil. Take away a couple Key Weapons from Dalton (WR AJ Green for example), and you will see the Dalton I hate to bet on, but love to fade. The Bengals defense isn't as strong as it was last year, and their holes are getting exposed. I can only find 1 quality win for the Bengals this year, and that was 2 weeks ago vs a Denver team that didn't seem to ne in that came, because they really didn't have anything to play for since the Patriots win earlier that weekend, and the Patriots final game was vs the Bills to clinch. Denver really had nothing to play for, and seemed to just go through the motions, and the only thing they cared about was not getting hurt. On the same side, I cant really find a quality win for the Colts either, as they had an easy schedule through the whole season. But Luck has shown he can hang in their and their defense can pitch shut-outs or blow out opposing QBs who are mediocre all season. Luck and Colt Defense vs QB's with a 90 QB Rating and less are 10-1 ATS this year!!! Guess what Andy Dalton is bringing to Indianapolis as a late Christmas gift?? An 83.5 QBR!! I see this game getting away from the Bengals early, Dalton will be winless, and the Colts move on easily to the next round.
Good Luck this weekend guys!!! Have a great playoff season on the road to the Super Bowl!!
And its great to be back!!
