Bet on It

By Dalton Del Don

Last week I went 1-3 to open the playoffs, making it a particularly bad time to happen to be in Reno. The Green Bay loss will be felt for some time. Here are my divisional picks, and beware, I actually feel pretty confident about them:

CARDINALS +7 at Saints

Ravens +6.5 at COLTS

COWBOYS (Best Bet) +2.5 at Vikings

JETS +7.5 at Chargers

Comments: The over/under in the N.O./Zona game is 57. 57! So I suppose seven points means less, and the Cardinals have been pretty hit-or-miss all season, but then again, it’s not like the Saints can be trusted right now. Take the points and don’t be surprised if Arizona wins outright… Indy is hardly in an ideal situation having not played a meaningful game in a full calendar month, and the team is 0-3 historically during their first game after a first-round bye in the postseason. Baltimore is also dangerous, and Peyton Manning has run into problems against the 3-4 in the past. Still, a dome environment on short rest is also hardly ideal for a run-first team like the Ravens, and Joe Flacco is clearly playing hurt. Remember, this is a Colts team that would almost certainly be riding a 25-game regular-season winning streak if it wanted to… Minnesota has been the toughest venue in which to win this season for opponents, but Dallas enters playing the best football in the NFL. They surely would have preferred a matchup against the Saints, and it should be a highly competitive game Sunday, with the winner the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Ultimately, expect the Cowboys to prevail – it’s the rare game in which they actually have a coaching advantage, and this defense might be the most underrated unit in the league… San Diego is rightfully the (heavy) favorite, but New York was the No. 2 team defending tight ends this season, and obviously Darrelle Revis will shut down Vincent Jackson on Sunday, so while I still expect SD to win, how are the Chargers, with no running game, going to score a bunch of points? Expect a relatively close game this week, especially since San Diego’s defense is hardly elite.


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6 responses to “Bet on It”

  1. C-Murder Avatar
    C-Murder

    Lots of people saying the Cardinals are just a warm up game, so that after taking the last month off, the Saints can get ready for the Vikings and Colts, but I think the Saints should take it seriously. Still, anytime you can get the Saints at home for less than two scores, you take it.

  2. B Wright, Most the Time Avatar
    B Wright, Most the Time

    Cards +7 lock this up
    Ravens -6.5
    Vikings -2.5
    Chargers -7

    57 Cards/Saints – Over
    44 Colts/Ravens – Under
    45.5 Cowboys/Vikes – Over
    42 Jets/Chargers – Over lock this up

    I feel sorry for you this week Big D. Lock my picks up and go to Reno.

    What was your overall record for the entire season?

  3. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    126-125-5 for 2009, making me 386-358 over the last three years since I started doing this.

  4. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    C-Murder – You know, a Saints blowout wouldn’t surprise me, so I hear you.

  5. B Wright, Most the Time Avatar
    B Wright, Most the Time

    Spread 1-3
    Over/Under 2-2.

    What can I say other than I suck. Good thing I didn’t go to Reno. Looks like Big D went 2-2 which doesn’t cover the juice either. I better stick to my day job.

  6. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Both your “locks” didn’t come through either. That said, I teased the Colts with the Cowboys, so I can’t talk. Ugh.

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