Originally Posted by dmhenderson

**DISCLAIMER**
Don't cry to me if I'm wrong but here's my take on next week's games. I'm not advocating betting your hard-earned parts funds on games BUT if you live in Vegas and feel the need for a little action next weekend, here's my take:

I'll do these in order of picks I like to picks that I don't:

SanFran at Carolina(-2): Now remember, you get 3 points for playing at home. I don't see this being close. Carolina specializes in rushing the passer and using their defense to create favorable field position. Problem is, Kapernick has demonstrated (exhibit A being yesterday) that he functions just fine under pressure and is arguable more dangerous out of the pocket than inside it. I bet they go to a lot of read option nonsense to screw with the Panther's vaunted pass rush. Carolina's undersized and banged up DBs have to match up against a surging Crabtree, Boldin and one of the most dominant TEs in the league (Vernon Davis). All 3 of those dudes are enormous, physical, "kick you in the teeth" receivers. Oh and Frank Gore. There's also Frank Gore.

Verdict: 9ers and the points all day.


Indy at New England(-7): Even Gronkless, the Pats are more than a match for the Colts in the playoffs. Barring another bizarro injury game, the Pats will take the Colts apart. NE will look to immediately shut down Hilton and force Luck to throw shitty dump passes to Fleener in the flat where Mathis can beat the hell out of him all day long. The Colts can't really run the ball. Richardson has been an inexplicably retarded bust. I still can't quite get my head around that - and their main running threat is 5"10 Donald Brown. The Pats are going to pound the ball down Indy's throat and let Brady be Brady. The rest should figure itself out. NE is just a different team in the playoffs* (unless they're playing the Jets for some reason).

Verdict: NE and the points. Shouldn't be super high-scoring but I figure the pats should win by 10+. Watch the weather in this one. If NE decides to have a blizzard, all bets are off.


New Orleans at Seattle(-8): This really is a no brainer. NO features undersized and/or slow RBs and Jimmy Graham. Their receivers overall do not match up well with the Seahawks punishing/big/physical secondary. Look for seattle to shut down the run, trash the Saints questionable O line, and force Brees into bad throws. I'm sure ~asshole4lye~ Sherman and company are salivating. Basically they need to figure out how to shut down Graham but other than that, this is Seattle all the way. Wilson shouldn't have much trouble against NO's D and I'd expect the Saints to wear out quickly as I would expect their defense to be on the field quite a bit. Now tack onto all of this that Seattle is probably one of (if not the most) unpleasant places to play a postseason game and I'd say the deck is stacked in Seattle's favor.

Verdict: Seattle to win but maybe not to cover. 8 is a big number.


San Diego at Denver (-10): Yes, Denver is favored by 10 freaking points. No, I will not bet this game. Eat sh*t San Diego. Anyone else and Denver would be a lock. Manning is putting up godly numbers especially at home and San Diego's defense is piss poor. Go ahead, name one dude in the Chargers' secondary without looking it up. I'll wait. Yeah so anyway, on paper there is absolutely no way San Diego is even in this game. They're outmatched at almost every position, San Diego's receivers and RBs are average to bad. Phillip Rivers is…Phillip Rivers. Gates is old. There's no way (absolutely none) San Diego should even be competitive but those fuckers will find a way to win this game or at least scare the crap out of people. Said this before and I'll say it again, The Chargers lost to the Texans, Redskins, Dolphins and Titans but somehow beat Denver, Indy and the Chiefs (twice).

Verdict: To quote Ron Burgundy, "Go **** yourself, San Diego". I have no idea. Don't bet this game.