Anyone on the underdogs this week, you better pray

[WCBias]

that my Playoff luck continues...offsetting a miserable regular season and Chuck Luck-type season long fade with a nice 6-2 run in the post season. I'm on both dogs, and will buy up to highest spread at the last oportunity.

The Patriots run ends here, and if it doesn't it's because they win by a field goal...which they seem to do quite a bit in post season games. There is not a team in the NFL that NE has played the past three years that matches up better with them than Pittsburgh. NE is not playing a warm-weather finesse team (see Indy, Oak, Car) a dome team, and most importantly, they are not playing at home.

This game will be won by the boys in the trenches....the big dogs and dirty grimers. Not Tom Brady, not Big Ben, not the receivers, not the running backs. Pittsburgh's O-line manhandled NE earlier this year, will do so again. Likewise, Pittsburgh's D-line and LB corp will be take away NE's running game. The weather will take away NE's biggest advantage, Tom Brady passing against Pittsburgh's average secondary. I've become a closet Pats fan because I have huge respect for Bill Belichek, but after reading his quotes yesterday, and we aren't talking about Lou Holtz here, when BB says if we play at Pittsburgh like we played against Indy we will lose 55-0, that means he is concerned that this becomes a physical game, the one area he can't coach greatness and make adjustments. Pittsburgh wins 20-17.

I'm on Atlanta for two reasons, Donavan McNabb and Todd Pinkston. Anyone saying the weather is a huge advantage for the Eagles should watch the Atlanta-Green Bay game from three years ago when Atlanta *****-slapped the home Packers on the frozen snowy tundra of Lambeau. I think ATL can keep this close (within 6 where I have it at) and I'll play the money line also. McNabb is due to throw a couple inoportune picks, Pinkston will alligator arm three or four passes that should have been completions, and the Eagles blitzing schemes will fall right into the hands of Vick, as he will exploit the gaps in the middle of the field and run for 125 yards. I will say that if I could pick two guys I want on my all-star team right now, it would be Westbrook and Trotter. ATL wins 24-17

Good luck all.

 

[PatPatriot]

It will be won by the finesse passing of Tom Brady.

You will see the real MVP Sunday.
Mark my words.

 

[Grogan]

WC....I'm on the opposite side of these, but you've given the best arguments I've seen for Pitt & Atl. Pitt WILL have to win in the trenches, and McNabb hasn't proven he can get past this game.

I am on Philly, though, because I'm not a believer in Vick yet--think he's inconsistent on this stage, and since he was terrific last week, now's the time for the other shoe to drop. As for the Pats, think they're better overall, and I just don't think you can pick against that coaching staff in a rematch....they saw how the Steelers O-Line performed in the first game, and will address it.

But like I said, great write-ups, good luck to you--I hope you're wrong!

 

[WCBias]

Never would have thought the first two responses I would get would be from Patriots fans!

Good luck to both of you too, like I said, I'm a closet Pat fan because coaching is such an intangible and overlooked asset (although maybe not in Bellichek's case, as he is getting tons of props right now). If Bill Cowher was the coach of the Patriots I dare say they would not be wearing Superbowl rings. Same for college, it's not like USC all of a sudden is getting better talent, they have always had the best talent from LA high schools, but Carroll/Chow is such a HUGE leap from Hackett and now they have two trophies. Nick Saban at LSU the same.

 

[airbag]

I'm on both dogs too. I like the Steelers for most of the reasons stated. I like the Falcons because the Eagles haven't played a good defense in a long time. I think the spread is just too high. The Eagles won't be able to put up that many points on the Falcons. The NFC is weak. The Eagles played the AFC North this year. They either lost big, or won close games.

I'm taking Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh ML, Atlanta, Atlanta ML, plus a Pitt/Atl teaser.