Stephen Nover
Stephen Nover
Saturday's Picks
75-Dime Colts
The Ravens had their Super Bowl last week upsetting New England.
The Ravens don't have the secondary or passing attack to keep up with Peyton Manning, especially in a dome setting on carpet.
Yes, the Ravens still have defensive talent. They held the Colts to 17 points in the team's first meeting in November. But a lot has happened since then. The Ravens no longer have their two top cornerbacks.
Manning will be able to exploit and take advantage of Baltimore's remaining top three cornerbacks - Domonique Foxworth, Chris Carr and Frank Walker. Manning has a healthy receiving corps after a two-week layoff.
The Colts will be anxious to come out fired-up proving to their critics they did the right thing by resting their starters during most of the final two weeks of the regular season.
Indianapolis has a bend-but-don't-break type of defense. The Colts allowed 19.2 points per game, which ranked them eighth in scoring defense. If you discount their past three games when they didn't care, the Colts only surrendered more than 17 points three times in 13 games.
Ray Rice is an excellent all-purpose back, but the Colts will be able to key on him. Joe Flacco no longer presents a serious quarterback threat because of a hip injury that has severely limited his mobility and affected the way he's throwing the ball. He had only two downfield completions last week.
The Ravens were extremely lucky last week that the Patriots committed turnovers and Rice was able to break a long run early. Those factors aren't going to fall into place for them this time.
25-Dime Cardinals
I can't go over a total this high, but I do expect a lot of points to be scored. I also expect a red-hot Kurt Warner to be able to trade, if not exceed, Drew Brees' point total.
The Saints haven't been sharp in their last three games. They've been idle now for two weeks so expect some rust. Their running back situation probably is worse than being reported if the team was so desperate to sign a washed-up Deuce McAllister.
New Orleans' secondary has been beat up, but should be close to 100 percent. However, respected pass rusher Charles Grant is out and Sedrick Ellis, their best run stuffer, is less than 100 percent. The Cardinals have upgraded their ground attack thanks to rookie Beanie Wells, who has fresh legs having not been used that much this season.
The Cardinals have covered their past five post-season games during the last two years. They have proven to be resilient and a dangerous underdog under Ken Whisenhunt, who can match the excellent play-calling ability of Saints coach Sean Payton.
Keep in mind, too, the Saints faced the league's easiest schedule. No team got to play against more rookie and backup quarterbacks than New Orleans, which drew Josh Freeman twice, Kevin Kolb, Chris Redman, Matt Moore, Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford.
Warner is a Hall of Famer. He showed that even without Anquan Boldin he can shred a good defense. The Saints' strength is their offense, not their defense. Larry Fitzgerald gives Arizona the most dangerous playmaker on the field.
The Cardinals are actually better than last year's Super Bowl team. The Cardinals didn't lose two games in a row all season. They had a 1-4 stretch late last season. This year's Cardinals also can run the ball better, has playoff experience and confidence and has proven big-play defensive performers in Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby to go with their high-potent offense.
Stephen Nover
Saturday's Picks
75-Dime Colts
The Ravens had their Super Bowl last week upsetting New England.
The Ravens don't have the secondary or passing attack to keep up with Peyton Manning, especially in a dome setting on carpet.
Yes, the Ravens still have defensive talent. They held the Colts to 17 points in the team's first meeting in November. But a lot has happened since then. The Ravens no longer have their two top cornerbacks.
Manning will be able to exploit and take advantage of Baltimore's remaining top three cornerbacks - Domonique Foxworth, Chris Carr and Frank Walker. Manning has a healthy receiving corps after a two-week layoff.
The Colts will be anxious to come out fired-up proving to their critics they did the right thing by resting their starters during most of the final two weeks of the regular season.
Indianapolis has a bend-but-don't-break type of defense. The Colts allowed 19.2 points per game, which ranked them eighth in scoring defense. If you discount their past three games when they didn't care, the Colts only surrendered more than 17 points three times in 13 games.
Ray Rice is an excellent all-purpose back, but the Colts will be able to key on him. Joe Flacco no longer presents a serious quarterback threat because of a hip injury that has severely limited his mobility and affected the way he's throwing the ball. He had only two downfield completions last week.
The Ravens were extremely lucky last week that the Patriots committed turnovers and Rice was able to break a long run early. Those factors aren't going to fall into place for them this time.
25-Dime Cardinals
I can't go over a total this high, but I do expect a lot of points to be scored. I also expect a red-hot Kurt Warner to be able to trade, if not exceed, Drew Brees' point total.
The Saints haven't been sharp in their last three games. They've been idle now for two weeks so expect some rust. Their running back situation probably is worse than being reported if the team was so desperate to sign a washed-up Deuce McAllister.
New Orleans' secondary has been beat up, but should be close to 100 percent. However, respected pass rusher Charles Grant is out and Sedrick Ellis, their best run stuffer, is less than 100 percent. The Cardinals have upgraded their ground attack thanks to rookie Beanie Wells, who has fresh legs having not been used that much this season.
The Cardinals have covered their past five post-season games during the last two years. They have proven to be resilient and a dangerous underdog under Ken Whisenhunt, who can match the excellent play-calling ability of Saints coach Sean Payton.
Keep in mind, too, the Saints faced the league's easiest schedule. No team got to play against more rookie and backup quarterbacks than New Orleans, which drew Josh Freeman twice, Kevin Kolb, Chris Redman, Matt Moore, Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford.
Warner is a Hall of Famer. He showed that even without Anquan Boldin he can shred a good defense. The Saints' strength is their offense, not their defense. Larry Fitzgerald gives Arizona the most dangerous playmaker on the field.
The Cardinals are actually better than last year's Super Bowl team. The Cardinals didn't lose two games in a row all season. They had a 1-4 stretch late last season. This year's Cardinals also can run the ball better, has playoff experience and confidence and has proven big-play defensive performers in Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby to go with their high-potent offense.
