AFC Conference Title Game – Ravens vs. Patriots
A big victory over Denver last week enabled the New England Patriots to make up for a few recent playoff failures on their home turf, one of which came at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens.
A big victory over Denver last week enabled the New England Patriots to make up for a few recent playoff failures on their home turf, one of which came at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens.
Finally, it’s time. Time for what many fans expect to be the greatest Super Bowl ever. After all, we’re seeing football’s most exciting offenses go head to head. We should, however, use last year’s Steelers/Cardinals matchup as a reminder to expect the unexpected. That game was a classic and the Colts and Saints aren’t guaranteed to play a close game despite the hype.
As much as the Colts have to take the Jets seriously, I’m sure we can all agree that the Vikings/Saints game is the “heavyweight” battle of the weekend. Two great quarterbacks, two great offenses, two aggressive defenses, two teams comfortable playing indoors…sounds like fun.
First, we saw the Colts and Bengals remaining on the New York Jets’ regular-season schedule and figured they were finished. Then, after the Colts and Bengals rested their starters, the Jets were handed a playoff berth. So we wrote them off against Cincinnati in the Wildcard game and the Jets proved us wrong. Surely, though, their Cinderella run would end in San Diego. Nope.
NFL Divisional Playoff Betting – Jets vs Chargers Preview & Pick
As the New York Giants showed us in 2007, the team with the greatest momentum, not necessarily the greatest record, often makes the most noise in the NFL playoffs. By that logic, the San Diego Chargers are sitting pretty entering their home matchup with the New York Jets this weekend.
Here come the Cowboys.
Since the Troy Aikman era ended, the Cowboys punished their fans with 13 seasons of losing. Then last week happened. America’s Team won its first playoff game since 1996 and seems to be peaking just in time for its clash with the rested-but-possibly-rusty Minnesota Vikings. Given how well Dallas is playing right now, it almost feels like we shouldn’t call them a true underdog – even on the road.
After last week, it’s clear we have to take the Baltimore Ravens seriously despite their 9-7 regular season record. Then again, most savvy bettors saw their destruction of the Patriots coming – myself included. New England was a wounded animal. The Indianapolis Colts are an entirely different beast.
Well, that was interesting. Hosting the Packers last Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals treated us to one of the most entertaining playoff games we’ll ever see: a 52-45 overtime triumph that ended up the highest-scoring game in NFL postseason history.
NFL Wildcard Playoff Betting – Packers vs Cardinals Preview & Pick
The last playoff game of the week completes the Week 17-rematch trifecta. Few teams finished 2009 hotter than the Green Bay Packers, who won seven of their final eight games. After they kept their foot on the gas in an excessive beating of Arizona last week, however, did they poke a sleeping bear?
NFL Wildcard Playoff Betting – Ravens vs Patriots Preview & Pick
2009 ended strangely for sports dynasties. Whereas the Yankees returned to glory and may have started a new dynasty, it seems we’re witnessing the end of the Red Wings’ reign in the NHL and, of course, the Patriots’ dominance in the NFL.
It’s safe to say the Bengals have little to prove this week. Everyone doubted the Cardiac Cats throughout the season and they responded by running the table against their own division and winning the AFC North Crown. This is a good, not great, football team and everyone knows it. The Jets are a different story.
Consider the enormity of the feat facing the Orlando Magic only a few weeks ago. Fresh off their victory over the 76ers, they knew they now had to draw the equivalent of an inside straight to win their first NBA title. Up next were the defending champion Boston Celtics, followed by a rested and ready Cleveland and finally the Lakers.
Cleveland (1) vs. Orlando (3)
Like Republicans seeking the presidential nomination, NBA superstars need to wait patiently for their turn at a shot at the championship. Shaquille O’Neal had to wait, Michael Jordan had to wait, and LeBron James has had to wait. But now everyone in the Association agrees that James’s time has come.
Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs. Denver (2)
The Lakers seem to be oblivious to the rest of the league, and that attitude bit them in their butts three times against Houston. Maybe they were never in danger of being taken out by the Rockets, but it forced them into playing another belly-to-the-wall game in Game 7 that may have drained them of energy they’ll need against Denver.
#4 Atlanta Hawks (47-35, 4-3.) vs. #1 Cleveland Cavaliers (66-16, 4-0)
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#3 Orlando Magic vs. #2 Boston Celtics
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