Craig Davis
Saturday's Lineup
30 Dime – COWBOYS (Buy the 1/2 point)
10 Dime – BENGALS (Make sure this line stays below -3. If it moves up to -3, buy the 1/2 point down)
10 Dime – GEORGETOWN
DALLAS COWBOYS (absolutely, positively buy the half-point) --- I've tried to find every way in the world to take the Eagles in this game, but I just can't do it. I don't care that Andy Reid is 7-0 in the first round of the playoffs. I don't care that the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996. Eventually these streaks have to come to an end and I see no reason that can't happen today. Remember how badly the Cowboys got raked over the coals for being a horrible December team? Well, somehow they figured out how to get that monkey off their back this year and I believe it's only going to lead to bigger and better things this post-season.
Look, we all know for years the media and other football "gurus" have said the Cowboys were more than talented enough to be a Super Bowl contender, but they could never get over that hump. Whether it was coaching or bad luck, it just wasn't happening as it was supposed to. Sometimes you get the feeling a team might have finally exorcised all its demons and can finally get to the place that everyone has been thinking they'd be for the past few years. Boys and girls, I think this year might just be that year.
Everything seems to be working at just the right time... Roy Williams isn't whining, Tony Romo doesn't have any girlfriend distractions, Wade Phillips is not messing up a good thing, Jason Garrett is finally calling good games, and the defense has finally played up to its expectations. Factor in the running game is where it needs to be, Jason Witten is getting more and more involved, and the offensive line is opening gaping holes for the running game to succeed. Right now, the Cowboys are playing as good as just about anyone in the NFL.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are still a little shell-shocked from what happened last week and now they're starting to point fingers. Remember, this team was winning games in November and December... and winning them handily. Everything was just picture-perfect. Then Dallas not only shut them out, they knocked them from the #2 seed and a first-round bye all the way down to the #6 seed and no chance of hosting a single playoff game. Think about it from the players' perspectives... in the back of your mind you honestly believe you are better than the Cowboys and you have little doubt you'll get a week off. It's got to be a little deflating when you drop five spots in the playoff seeding because of one stupid loss.
And how about the recent reports that Donovan McNabb could be on his way out of Philadelphia after this year? Or that McNabb got into a subtle "war of words" with WR DeSean Jackson about his comments that younger players "stood around waiting for other players to make plays". Sometimes when you handicap a game, you have to throw the numbers out and look at who's hot, who wants it more, and which team has less turmoil surrounding them. I believe Dallas finally believes they are the best team in the NFC, and they'll prove it tonight with a 20-10 win over the Eagles... and yes, I'm well aware it will be the third straight win over Philly.
CINCINNATI (make sure this game stays below 3. if your line moves to 3, buy the half-point down to -2 1/2) --- It's not often I take this many favorites in the playoffs, but I can't argue with logic. We live in a society that remembers things on a short-term basis, so what we saw last Sunday night is hard to forget. Yes, I realize the Bengals didn't play many of their starters in the second half, but that game was over in the first quarter, so let's not even pretend that Cincy had a chance, whether the starters played or not.
All I've kept hearing is how the Jets have the best defense in the league and the best running game in the league and blah, blah, blah. What people fail to realize is that Cincy has a pretty darn good defense themselves, not to mention the fact that Cedric Benson is every bit the running back Thomas Jones is... maybe even better. You see, the Bengals are a completely different team than a year ago because they made it a priority to run the ball despite having a former All Pro QB like Carson Palmer.
And therein lies the biggest difference today... QB. Mark Sanchez vs. Carson Palmer. Who do you want leading the offense you're backing today? Do you want an established veteran who have weapons all over the field playing at home, or do you want a rookie who has more INTs than TDs playing in a hostile environment in his first ever playoff game? The Jets may have an ever-so-slight advantage on defense and in the running game, but the Bengals have a HUGE advantage under center, and that's going to be the difference.
Saturday's Lineup
30 Dime – COWBOYS (Buy the 1/2 point)
10 Dime – BENGALS (Make sure this line stays below -3. If it moves up to -3, buy the 1/2 point down)
10 Dime – GEORGETOWN
DALLAS COWBOYS (absolutely, positively buy the half-point) --- I've tried to find every way in the world to take the Eagles in this game, but I just can't do it. I don't care that Andy Reid is 7-0 in the first round of the playoffs. I don't care that the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996. Eventually these streaks have to come to an end and I see no reason that can't happen today. Remember how badly the Cowboys got raked over the coals for being a horrible December team? Well, somehow they figured out how to get that monkey off their back this year and I believe it's only going to lead to bigger and better things this post-season.
Look, we all know for years the media and other football "gurus" have said the Cowboys were more than talented enough to be a Super Bowl contender, but they could never get over that hump. Whether it was coaching or bad luck, it just wasn't happening as it was supposed to. Sometimes you get the feeling a team might have finally exorcised all its demons and can finally get to the place that everyone has been thinking they'd be for the past few years. Boys and girls, I think this year might just be that year.
Everything seems to be working at just the right time... Roy Williams isn't whining, Tony Romo doesn't have any girlfriend distractions, Wade Phillips is not messing up a good thing, Jason Garrett is finally calling good games, and the defense has finally played up to its expectations. Factor in the running game is where it needs to be, Jason Witten is getting more and more involved, and the offensive line is opening gaping holes for the running game to succeed. Right now, the Cowboys are playing as good as just about anyone in the NFL.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are still a little shell-shocked from what happened last week and now they're starting to point fingers. Remember, this team was winning games in November and December... and winning them handily. Everything was just picture-perfect. Then Dallas not only shut them out, they knocked them from the #2 seed and a first-round bye all the way down to the #6 seed and no chance of hosting a single playoff game. Think about it from the players' perspectives... in the back of your mind you honestly believe you are better than the Cowboys and you have little doubt you'll get a week off. It's got to be a little deflating when you drop five spots in the playoff seeding because of one stupid loss.
And how about the recent reports that Donovan McNabb could be on his way out of Philadelphia after this year? Or that McNabb got into a subtle "war of words" with WR DeSean Jackson about his comments that younger players "stood around waiting for other players to make plays". Sometimes when you handicap a game, you have to throw the numbers out and look at who's hot, who wants it more, and which team has less turmoil surrounding them. I believe Dallas finally believes they are the best team in the NFC, and they'll prove it tonight with a 20-10 win over the Eagles... and yes, I'm well aware it will be the third straight win over Philly.
CINCINNATI (make sure this game stays below 3. if your line moves to 3, buy the half-point down to -2 1/2) --- It's not often I take this many favorites in the playoffs, but I can't argue with logic. We live in a society that remembers things on a short-term basis, so what we saw last Sunday night is hard to forget. Yes, I realize the Bengals didn't play many of their starters in the second half, but that game was over in the first quarter, so let's not even pretend that Cincy had a chance, whether the starters played or not.
All I've kept hearing is how the Jets have the best defense in the league and the best running game in the league and blah, blah, blah. What people fail to realize is that Cincy has a pretty darn good defense themselves, not to mention the fact that Cedric Benson is every bit the running back Thomas Jones is... maybe even better. You see, the Bengals are a completely different team than a year ago because they made it a priority to run the ball despite having a former All Pro QB like Carson Palmer.
And therein lies the biggest difference today... QB. Mark Sanchez vs. Carson Palmer. Who do you want leading the offense you're backing today? Do you want an established veteran who have weapons all over the field playing at home, or do you want a rookie who has more INTs than TDs playing in a hostile environment in his first ever playoff game? The Jets may have an ever-so-slight advantage on defense and in the running game, but the Bengals have a HUGE advantage under center, and that's going to be the difference.
Jets + 3 and over 34
hno:
