I picked up AlphaCappers Seattle/New Orleans play! Can someone else pick up the Indy/Jets pick? Here's what he had on the first game.
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Saturday NFL Playoffs Football
Jan 8, 2011 4:30 p.m., $10.00 Pick
New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks
(New Orleans 10 1/2, 44 1/2)
Jan 8, 2011 4:30 p.m., $10.00 Pick
New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks
(New Orleans 10 1/2, 44 1/2)
THE PICK >Seattle Seahawks +11 (Buy the 1/2 point if needed)
THE ANALYSIS >
</STRONG>The Saints will be trying to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl Champs since Brady and the boys done it with the Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. More than likely, they'll have to do it by winning 3 road games. Will New Orleans be able to expose the Seattle secondary again as they did back in Week 11? In that game they had 5 different receivers that caught passes for more than 23 yards. Drew Brees also three for 4 touchdowns in that one. Or, will Seattle have an answer for the Saints this time and prepare their defense and secondary adequately? Will the Seahawks be able to get their run game going? Last meeting, they were only able to muster 58 total rushing yards on 17 runs. They will have to control the ball, and the clock here to even have half a chance at winning. Keeping Brees of the field will be key. They''l have to generate turnovers and get points off of them. The defense will have to step it's game up and help keep some of the pressure off of whoever starts at the quarterback position. One thing about it, they have at least some big game experience as they had to win a "must win" tough game against the Rams and pulled through that one.
For the Saints, they'll be hoping to get back Thomas and Pierre at the running back position to help lighten the load up on Julius Jones. They'll also need to get Robert Meachem more involved at the wide receiver position. Reggie Bush should be fine and he reeks havoc whenever he's on the field. The Seahawks will key in on Colston as they know he beat them for 2 touchdowns and 113 yards last time out. The Saints are good in converting on third down conversions and they did just that on half of them against Tampa Bay this past Sunday. On offense, the Saints average 24 points per game and average 373 yards of total offense. They average surrendering 19 points and 306 yards per contest. Turning around some old stats will have to be a first because the Saints have NEVER won a playoff game on the road. Brees has struggled with turnovers more so this season than in years past and their road record against teams from the West is 1-1, losing to Arizona and needing overtime to beat the 49ers.
As for the Seahawks, they should have better success against the Saints this time around. You see, in their first battle this year, Seattle was catching the Saints fresh off of their bye week. Even though Seattle gave up nearly 500 total yards of total offense in that one, the Saints weren't a whole lot better as they allowed 425 yards. This time, they catch them in their own house and after a loss to TB. Now they'll have their crowd behind them and this will be a very noisy venue. They have stepped up many aspects of their game from then to now also. They are firing harder and faster off of the ball. They have a more consistent pass rush. They seem to have a lot more energy on both sides of the ball and are playing with a greater sense of purpose and passion. They'll definitely be up for this game as they have absolutely nothing to lose but everything to gain. I mean you are hosting the defending SB Champs. The Seattle defense against the Rams forced 7 different 3 and outs and didn't give up a single touchdown. Plus, playing Tampa Bay, they kept them from gaining a first down on their first 3 possessions so they are capable of playing a good game. On offense, the Seahawks will have to get Lynch going early and he'll have to have a solid game which I fully expect out of him. Against the Rams, he wasn't a factor in the first half of play as he was minus 1 yard. To start the second half of play, he fumbled. The, after he got his stuff together, he accounted for 76 yards on 14 carries.
Look for Seattle, if they win the toss, to put their defense on the field first. That is the point where their hometown crowd is the most pumped up. If they can get that critical first stop and force the Saints to have to punt, then they'll have a chance to strike first. Get on top early and force the Saints to have to play from behind in a hostile environment. Seattle will show several different defensive formations that may take Bress out of his game and make him change plays at the line of scrimmage from pass plays to running plays and visa versa. Now, will Whitehurst or Hasselback start for Seattle in this one? Will they use a QB by committee approach? Both bring good aspects to the offense as Whitehurst has mobility and the ability to scramble and gain yardage with his feet while Hasselbeck threw for almost 370 yards and completed almost 73% of his passes against the Saints in their first meeting this year. I'm willing to take my chances with either one here to be honest! Seattle should be pumped enough to give them a run for their money by all means and stay within the number. Grab the points here with the home team.
For the Saints, they'll be hoping to get back Thomas and Pierre at the running back position to help lighten the load up on Julius Jones. They'll also need to get Robert Meachem more involved at the wide receiver position. Reggie Bush should be fine and he reeks havoc whenever he's on the field. The Seahawks will key in on Colston as they know he beat them for 2 touchdowns and 113 yards last time out. The Saints are good in converting on third down conversions and they did just that on half of them against Tampa Bay this past Sunday. On offense, the Saints average 24 points per game and average 373 yards of total offense. They average surrendering 19 points and 306 yards per contest. Turning around some old stats will have to be a first because the Saints have NEVER won a playoff game on the road. Brees has struggled with turnovers more so this season than in years past and their road record against teams from the West is 1-1, losing to Arizona and needing overtime to beat the 49ers.
As for the Seahawks, they should have better success against the Saints this time around. You see, in their first battle this year, Seattle was catching the Saints fresh off of their bye week. Even though Seattle gave up nearly 500 total yards of total offense in that one, the Saints weren't a whole lot better as they allowed 425 yards. This time, they catch them in their own house and after a loss to TB. Now they'll have their crowd behind them and this will be a very noisy venue. They have stepped up many aspects of their game from then to now also. They are firing harder and faster off of the ball. They have a more consistent pass rush. They seem to have a lot more energy on both sides of the ball and are playing with a greater sense of purpose and passion. They'll definitely be up for this game as they have absolutely nothing to lose but everything to gain. I mean you are hosting the defending SB Champs. The Seattle defense against the Rams forced 7 different 3 and outs and didn't give up a single touchdown. Plus, playing Tampa Bay, they kept them from gaining a first down on their first 3 possessions so they are capable of playing a good game. On offense, the Seahawks will have to get Lynch going early and he'll have to have a solid game which I fully expect out of him. Against the Rams, he wasn't a factor in the first half of play as he was minus 1 yard. To start the second half of play, he fumbled. The, after he got his stuff together, he accounted for 76 yards on 14 carries.
Look for Seattle, if they win the toss, to put their defense on the field first. That is the point where their hometown crowd is the most pumped up. If they can get that critical first stop and force the Saints to have to punt, then they'll have a chance to strike first. Get on top early and force the Saints to have to play from behind in a hostile environment. Seattle will show several different defensive formations that may take Bress out of his game and make him change plays at the line of scrimmage from pass plays to running plays and visa versa. Now, will Whitehurst or Hasselback start for Seattle in this one? Will they use a QB by committee approach? Both bring good aspects to the offense as Whitehurst has mobility and the ability to scramble and gain yardage with his feet while Hasselbeck threw for almost 370 yards and completed almost 73% of his passes against the Saints in their first meeting this year. I'm willing to take my chances with either one here to be honest! Seattle should be pumped enough to give them a run for their money by all means and stay within the number. Grab the points here with the home team.
