NFL Picks

I went 4-2, splitting my two Best Bets. I’m something like 42-21-1 over the last five or six weeks. I’m compiling the final numbers for the regular season now. I’ll have the time for that since the playoffs start and the real fun begins. The important thing is I got really hot as the season drew to a close.
The playoffs are a whole different animal when it comes to handicapping. It’s going to be hard not get this right. Here goes:


Kansas City at Indianapolis: The Chiefs needed the Broncos to lose and Denver obliged by collapsing in style. Now they’ve backed into the wild card and have to take on the once mighty Colts. They get another break. I pretty much predicted an Indianapolis meltdown. They managed to pull out a five-point victory over the Miami Dolphins and their rookie quarterback. They hardly looked like a playoff team with coach Dungy sweating bullets and superstar Peyton Manning prowling the sidelines like a caged animal as Miami made one last effort in the closing minutes to win the game.
It’s a foregone conclusion that KC will run all over the Colts defense and Trent Green ain’t no rookie. If anybody has momentum it’s the Chiefs. Kansas City –9.
As I suspected, the Chiefs are getting 3. A lot of bettors aren’t willing to write off the Colts yet. I am. Take the Chiefs and the three points.



Dallas at Seattle: As much as I like “The Big Tuna”, you don’t win playoff games if you can’t keep the other guys from scoring. Parcels pretty much has lost control of his team and probably himself. You don’t lose to the Detroit Lions and then start packing your tanning lotion for a trip to the Super Bowl. To win this one they’ll need to score a lot of points and the once dreaded possibility of the Romo-Owens connection just hasn’t materialized. Dallas’ rookie quarterback has succumbed to the same affliction that turned T.O. into the rabid media whore that will find him without a contract on Sunday. Even if Parcels can keep Romo locked up in his room Friday night he’ll probable be sneaking this week’s bimbo in the backdoor. The run is over for Dallas this season, and Bill got what he wanted. The Cowboys at least made it to the playoffs.
Seattle, on the other hand, finally came to their senses. They’ve started to take themselves seriously and stomping Tampa Bay was just a warm-up. I’m making the line Seattle –7, but I’d be willing to give a few more.
The Seahawks are minus three. There’s a lot of Cowboy money out there and the bookies want their cut. They might be that close after the first quarter. Take the Seahawks and give the points.



New York Jets at New England Patriots: The Cinderella season is over for the Jets. A lot of people are impressed with their final record and their performance. Lucky for them they had a weak schedule. Unlucky for them that they have to deal with the well-oiled machine of the New England Patriots who are humming along at just the right time. Belichick has his boys in high gear after beating the Titans like a mule and the Jets will be will be lucky to get out of Foxboro with their uniforms in tact. New England by at least ten.
The line is New England by nine. Hell, I was being conservative. Take the Pats and give the points.


The New York Giants at the Philadelphia Eagles: What you see is what you get. The Giants have the look of a team that hoped they didn’t have to go through a playoff game. There’s a feeling of dread in New York and Eli’s hoping he doesn’t get intercepted too many times. The Eagles didn’t even bother to show up in Atlanta and toyed with Mike Vick and company just for the exercise. This Eagle team may be the best one ever and the Giants are just hoping the beating won’t leave too many welts. Eagles by 10 (at least).
The Eagles are only giving six. There must be a lot of diehard Giants fans out there. Six points are nothing. New York might not even score that many. Take the Eagles.

Best bets? All of them. Three out of four are taking the favorite, but the Chiefs as the dog may just be the Best Bet of them all.