Super Bowl picks

I’m doing well in the playoffs with a 8-2 mark. The Ravens made both Loren and I look silly holding the Pats to 13 points. Oh well on to our Super picks.

Standings
Derek 76-36
Loren 60-52

Loren – Baltimore. I have no clear cut reason why I think the Ravens will win. Some years you can simply look objectively at the two teams and know that the better team will win, like last year with the Giants and Patriots. Wait, bad example. More like in 2008, when it was the Giants and Patriots. Shoot, that doesn’t work either. I guess it’s not that easy, at least when those two teams match up. I guess I’m going with the Ravens because I still haven’t forgiven the 49ers for the beat down they gave the Broncos in 1990. Yes, I’m bitter 23 years later.

Derek – San Francisco. I think these teams are evenly matched. Solid on both sides of the ball. One QB can throw deep one can take it the distance on any play. But looking at everything from a high level I’d say the 49ers have the better team overall. I think Kaepernick will win the MVP and jump into the some deranged 49er fans pantheon of great QBs.

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Conferance Champtionship games

Damn you Denver Broncos! One game away from going 8 for 8 in the playoffs. Oh well, I’ll try to get my Super Bowl picks right.

Standings
Derek 75-35
Loren 59-51

San Francisco at Atlanta

Loren – San Francisco. Atlanta has been living on the edge all season, close game after lucky bounce after kind call. It’s time for the luck to run out. I bet against Kaepernick last week and paid for it. Atlanta should be a tougher test for him, but he can still use his legs to extend plays and pick up first downs. No big mistakes and San Francisco plays in the Super Bowl.

Derek – San Francisco. At the beginning of the year I picked Atlanta to play in the Super Bowl, you think I’d feel good about that pick being the #1 seed and hosting the conference championship game…but…well…hmm. Now I’m not sure, we just saw what Seattle was able to do to the Falcons, and I think the 49ers have a better offense. Then again the Falcons just played against a similar styled QB. I think the 49ers will be too explosive on the offensive side of the ball and Vernon Davis will have a field day, heck did you see what Miller, Seattle’s TE did? Oh yeah, how many Oregonians want to see the Jacquizz/LaMichael theme played out in this one?

Baltimore at New England

Loren – New England. Why would we bet against New England now? Yeah, Baltimore showed heart last week. The Pats, though, execute much cleaner than the Broncos. If the Ravens can’t get pressure on Brady, they’re doomed. Baltimore will need a run oriented game, control the clock and limit New England’s opportunities, keep Brady off balance, and play without mistakes. That’s a lot to ask.

Derek – New England. I also picked the Pats to play in the Super Bowl this year and I really don’t see why I’d change it now. I think they can score on the Ravens and hold Ray Rice to a minimal game. Since the Pats have incorporated a faster pace on offense they’ve averaged 13 more positions a game, that’s giving Tom Brady 13 more plays to beat you with.

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Divisional round playoff picks.

Well give me the crown, Loren need me to go 0-11 in the playoffs for a tie and I picked all four games correct last week. Don’t you worry, we’ll keep picking. In fact Loren will pick who he thinks will win instead of being forced to pick against me now.

Standings
Derek 72-34
Loren 57-49

Baltimore at Denver

Loren – Denver. How am I not going to pick the Broncos here? They’re the hottest team in the league, playing at home, proven winner at QB, against a team they beat by 17 a few weeks ago. Baltimore will struggle in the thin air and Denver hopefully will emerge without any serious injuries.

Derek – Denver. Broncos are hot right now winning 11 in a row. It’ll be hard to pick against them until they look bad. Even in their wins they’ve dominated, not too many close games. The Ravens will have to protect Flacco and rely on the pass to win, not their strength.

Green Bay at San Francisco

Loren – Green Bay. Rule #2: Don’t bet against Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs.

Derek – San Francisco. This could be a close one. I think it depends on how Justin Smith plays. I just remember the beat down the 49ers gave the Packers at the beginning of the season. I know the Packers are better but their traveling and I’m not sure their D is up to it.

Seattle at Atlanta

Loren – Atlanta. The Seahawks are a great story, but they just don’t have the same talent level on offense as the Falcons. Honestly, not many teams do. As good as Seattle’s D is, how do you cover White, Jones, and Gonzalez without leaving lanes open for Turner and Quizz? Pick your poison.

Derek – Atlanta. This is a tough one. The Seahawks have been playing well and have a pretty darn good D. But they are traveling across the country for the second week in a row and I’m not sure they can slow down the Falcons enough to keep the score low.

Houston at New England

Loren – New England. Rule #1: Don’t bet against Tom Brady in the playoffs. (Note: Rules are null and void when individual named is playing the Broncos)

Derek – New England. What was the final a few weeks ago? Ah ok, yes the Pats.

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Wild Card Weekend Picks

Loren had to make up one game on me just to have a chance of tying by the end of the playoffs.  He did just that with a 4-2 record. Of course now he has to pick against me in every game and hope I’m wrong 100% of the time. On to the playoffs.

Standings
Derek 68-34
Loren 57-45

Cincinnati at Houston

Loren – Cincinnati. Uh…AJ Green is awesome? The Bengals defense isn’t terrible? Actually, the best thing the Bengals have going for them is that Houston has been atrocious on offense. If the Texans don’t wake up early in this one, they risk an ignominious first round exit.

Derek – Houston. I know the Texans haven’t been playing well and Schaub hasn’t looked good in a bit. But this is the playoffs were defense and ball control rule. Texans have a heck of a defense with JJ Watt and can run the ball with Foster. Of course if they need to pass it there’s that Andrea Johnson guy out there.

Minnesota at Green Bay

Loren – Minnesota. The Packers couldn’t stop AP when it mattered last week. Why should we assume they’ll do it this time? If Peterson can be that effective, giving Ponder plenty of time to pick his targets, the defense just has to keep Green Bay within reach. Rodgers threw for 4 scores last week and that still wasn’t enough. This is a very winnable game for the Vikings.

Derek – Green Bay. Sure these teams just played, but this one’s in Green Bay and not a dome. I don’t think Aaron Rodgers will be happy scoring anything less than 35. Can the Viks keep up? Only if AP breaks 5 TD runs so, yeah I guess it could happen.

Indianapolis at Baltimore

Loren – Indianapolis. Baltimore would be a much scarier playoff team if their defense showed some form. The biggest wild card here is Luck’s play on the road where he’s been slightly better than mediocre. He’ll need a mistake free game (and another week of helpful refereeing) to walk out of Baltimore a winner.

Derek – Baltimore. The Ravens D is a wounded animal, don’t mess around with wounded animal. This will either be the last of the Ravens as we know them or they’ll play with their hair on fire out of pride. I think they’ve got one in them.

Seattle at Washington

Loren – Washington. It’s not like Derek to take a west coast team traveling across the country. Let’s hope it works to my advantage. Does Seattle have anyone that can spy RGIII without opening holes for Alfred Morris? More importantly, which rookie QB will crack first? RGIII has more athleticism, but Wilson has a better defense to bail him out after a mistake.

Derek – Seattle. I went back and forth on these, I don’t like long road trips but there’s something about Seattle’s D. Even when the offense isn’t clicking they can keep the Seahawks in a game. I think they’ll do just enough to slow down the Redskins running game and eek out the road win.

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