Conference Title Games, 2012

Record for playoffs: 7-1

Record (vs. spread): 5-3

Ravens (+7) over @Patriots

Time for a macro prediction: The Super Bowl everyone wants is Giants/Pats, so one of them has to lose. We never get EXACTLY what we want. A few years ago, the Eagles ruined a possible all-Pa. Sper Bowl by losing to Arizona, one year after the Giants ruined the Brett Favre/Tom Brady storyline (which wouldnt've gotten nauseating at ALL!). Again, I have no other reason to pick the Ravens other than "they're going to screw this Giants/Pats rematch up."

Ravens 27, Pats 24

Giants (+2) over @49'ers

At this point in the year, the Giants are clearly the best team in the NFL. This isn't where this thing ends. They can overcome turnovers, bad calls, it just isn't going to matter. The Niners are an afterthought on another Giants' Super Bowl run.

Giants 34, 49'ers 13

Divisional Playoffs, Sunday

Record for playoffs: 5-1

Record (vs. spread): 4-2

@Ravens (-7.5) over Texans

This spread should be higher. Experienced playoff teams like Baltimore don't lose home playoff games against teams like Houston that are quarterbacked by items called T.J. Yates's's.

Ravens 27, Texans 3

Giants (+7.5) over @Packers

Oooh, I love this, I can totally pick the Giants under the auspices that one road team MUST win this weekend instead of saying it's because I'm the BIGGEST HOMER IN THE WORLD. In all seriousness, I'm scared to death that the Giants are being given such a chance to win, but I think they're going to do it. At this point in the season, the Giants are peaking and the Packers peaked WEEKS ago and you KNOW it. Happy 2007!

Giants 27, Packers 20

Divisional Playoff Games, Saturday

Record last week: 4-0

Record last week (against spread): 2-2

@49'ers (+3.5) over Saints

I'm having a tough time being objective about this game, mostly because if the Giants win Sunday, one of these teams (the Saints) will most likely crush them next week and the other (San Fran) would probably - at worst - only beat the G-Men by three. But I have to be objective, and that means that however sloppy the Niners are able to make this game - and I think they will get it slow enough to compete and at least cover the spread - they won't have enough offense to put the Saints away. You don't bet against Drew Brees if you think that. I mean, maybe you do, but I don't.

Saints 24, 49'ers 21

@Patriots (-13.5) over Broncos

Patriots fans are super worried about this game, more worried than I've ever heard them. That might be the best reverse reverse reverse jinx in the world. Teams who are actually cognizant of the upset possibility and ramifications of said upset usually win easily. Tim Tebow or not, that's what happens here.

Patriots 37, Broncos 3

Wild Card Sunday

@GIANTS (-3) over Falcons

This game is pretty much a referendum on whether the Giants are peaking or not. I've watched every game this year, and it smells like 2007. Call me a homer.

Giants 30, Falcons 16

@BRONCOS (+9) over Steelers

One underdog has to win this weekend. That's all.

Broncos 19, Steelers 13

Playoff Picks: Wild Card Saturday

Bengals (+4) over @TEXANS

Um, why is a team QB'd by something called T.J. Yates favored by more than a field goal in a playoff game? If you can answer that question for me in the next 3 minutes, maybe I'll change my pick.

TEXANS 16, Bengals 13

Lions (+10.5) over @SAINTS

This is going to be a shootout. I bet you didn't know that. Let's just say I love the Saints at -9.5, and I hate them at -10.5. I like the over too even though It's 60!!!

SAINTS 38, Lions 28