Handicapping the Divisional Playoff Games

Editor’s Note: Bart is off rubbing elbows with Theo Epstein and the Cubs at their annual convention, but he didn’t forget about his fellow degenerate gambler friends.  Here’s his post for this weekend’s Divisional Round Games, sent from his iPhone.  What a guy!

Well, friends, I’m at Cubs Convention without computer access, so I’ve asked Boomer to put this little ditty in for me from my IPhone. I’ll follow up post-weekend with playoff summary etc.

Packers-8 vs. Giants

The Giants have become the trendy pick here.  This line started at 9 and had gone as low as 7.5.  It’s easy to pick against the Packers thinking about their late season loss to KC and their lack of defensive showing vs Detroit in Game 16.  The Giants are peaking at right time and they manhandled Atlanta.  The last time these teams met, the Packers only won by 3 (38-35 in NY).  However, this game is in Lambeau, the Packers are off of a bye, and were 15-1 people.  It’s amazing they’ve been forgotten about amidst this Tebow mania and Saints love.  I don’t want them to win, but….

New England -13.5 vs Denver

I have to give Denver and Tebow credit, it was a great game last week. I think Pitt made alot of Defensive mistakes.  I don’t dislike Tebow, I dislike what the media has made of him.  The only thing that makes me nervous about this is NEs Defense.  However, we are going to see another NE offensive show, so I’m comfortable laying the 13.5. Can the defense please get a few stops?

San Fran +4.5 vs New Orleans

The last time New Orleans played on grass, they scored 22 points.  They are not the same team away from the dome (or…a dome).  San Fran has allowed 1 rushing TD.  They are fantastic against the run- so it should be interesting against NOs 6th rated rush offense.  This is not a NO gimme game.  San Fran has not been given enough credit or press this year.  This is Defense/ground control vs high flying offense.  In the past, defense and ground control has won out.  Will the new pass-happy era finally take over as the way of the NFL?  It’s a Frank Gore Day!

Baltimore -9 vs Houston

Houston caught a lot of breaks and a lot of bad tackling last week.  Don’t expect the same offensive explosion this week. Baltimore cannot be beat when they run Rice, and Houston will get a heavy dose of that today.  The Texans finally made the playoffs and won- congrats!  Not going to Baltimore and doing that.  The Ravens don’t don’t get a lot of home playoff games and will not sink to the level of their competition today.