The race for the Super Bowl kicked off last week in roaring fashion. The NFL wildcard playoffs lived up to all expectations with four competitive games. The match-ups this weekend are sure to be even more intriguing. The numbers are in for the NFL divisional playoffs - here are our predictions!
Eyes of the sports betting nation will be on Lambeau Field this Saturday, as the Green Bay Packers host the Seattle Seahawks. The ageless Brett Favre has made for an amazing story, putting together one of the best seasons ever. The Packers have been dominant for the most part, but stand to be challenged when Seattle comes into town. The Seahawks have some momentum of their own after pulling out a wildcard victory against the Redskins. Their highly underrated defense has finally gained a bit of recognition and is sure to put the heat on Favre and his array of weapons. Both of these teams have very explosive offenses, but we would go with the under on this one. For those of you making selections off the point spread, the Packers come in as 8 point favorites.
The late game on Saturday may be the most intriguing playoff match-up so far. Thanks to last minute heroics by QB David Garrard, the Jacksonville Jaguars staged off the Steelers’ fourth quarter comeback and moved on. Now they face their biggest challenge yet ... Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and the record setting Patriots. The Jaguars are strong on both sides of the ball, but right now it is hard to bet against the Pats. We expect the Jags to make an interesting game out of this one, but in the end, New England is a hot pick for covering the 13 point spread.
Sunday’s NFL divisional playoff games appear to be a bit more evenly matched. The Chargers made some history of their own by winning their first playoff game in 13 years. They now move into the next round to face the defending Super Bowl Champs - the seemingly forgotten Indianapolis Colts. While New England has claimed most of the spotlight, the Colts remain a force to be reckoned with. This team has compiled an amazing record 14-2 and should be well rested by their first round. San Diego was actually one of the teams to beat Indianapolis this season, proving that they can compete with the champs. This should be definitely a great game, as both teams have two of the most effective rushing offenses in the league. Predictions favor the Colts to pull out the win by at least 8.5 points.
The last of our weekly football picks just may be the most tightly contested game of them all. Eli Manning momentarily quieted his critics by putting on an awesome show last week against the Tampa Bay Bucs. His next overwhelming task will be against the NFC leading Dallas Cowboys. Many of this game’s predictions are based on the presence of Dallas wide receiver, Terrell Owens - will he play or not? Regardless of what T.O. brings to the field, both teams have very efficient defenses that are capable of putting up points on their own. Considering how the Cowboys lost a heartbreaker in last year’s playoffs, the pressure just may be on their QB, Tony Romo. The Giants and Cowboys has always been one of the NFL’s most heated rivalries. This game is one that could certainly go down to the wire and follow that tradition. As of now, we say your best bet would be on Dallas, as they are predicted to win by 7.5 points.
