Wildcard Weekend picks

We have have finally reached the postseason after a very unconventional regular season. It is the first season we have seven playoff teams from each conference and there are six games for the first time ever on Wildcard weekend. Tell your significant other you won’t be free until Monday as there will be non stop action with two straight triple headers. Grab some popcorn or beer (or both!!) and let’s make everyone some money. Home Team in CAPS

Saturday’s Games

BILLS -6 over colts

The Bills are the hottest team on the planet right now and it’s hard for me to go against them at home against Phil Rivers and his band of Indiana horse shoes. Josh Allen has been unconscious with a 15-2 TD Int ratio in the last five games in the regular season with the Bills scoring an average of 40.4 per game in that span. The Colts have been a team that has beaten up on bad teams all year (except the Jags in week 1) but has struggled especially defensively against the better teams in the NFL. Colts allowed 45 to the Titans, 28 to the Steelers 31 to the Packers, 32 to the Browns. Even with Cole Beasley possibly out I like the Bills to be able to pull away in the second half with an offensive line that has let Josh Allen read a novel with the amount of time he’s had to throw in recent weeks.

Bills win 37-20

rams +3.5 over SEAHAWKS

Jared Goff is dealing with a thumb injury but his participation in practice this week makes us guess he may just be a go. Whether it’s Goff or John Wolford who filled in admirably last week after a rough start the Rams defense is the reason I like the Rams in an upset. The Rams defense has allowed the fewest yards per play and the fewest big plays in football this season. The Hawks have been struggling to put up points over the entirety of the second half of the season (only 23 per game over the last 8, below league average). The Rams will make this game a fist fight that will come down to the wire. I recommend taking the under 42.5 and the points. I like the Rams outright but 3.5 is the safe play.

Rams win 20-17

WASHINGTON +8.5 over buccaneers

My favorite play of the week is the Washington football team plus 8.5 over the Bucs. A lot of the talking heads love the experience of Tom Brady against the offensively challenged Washington football team. You know what the weakness of Tom Brady (a legend but 43 and wasn’t known for his mobility when he was 25) is a pass rush. A defense that can rush four and make Tom get some happy feet. Washington’s one strength of their defense is the ability to get pressure on the quarterback by just rushing four with five first round picks on their defensive line led by likely rookie of the year Chase Young. The Bucs will pull out the game with a Brady to Godwin touchdown late but take the points in what will be a surprisingly good game. Most of America will all be rooting for Alex Smith and Ron Rivera for sure.

Bucs win 24-20 but Washington covers the spread

TITANS +3.5 over ravens

This pick is my least favorite of the six and will sprinkle just a touch on the Titans. I am taking Tennessee for two reasons, matchup and history. The Titans have had the Ravens number defeating them in the postseason last year and in overtime this year with both games being in the land of crab cakes. The Titans get the Ravens this time in Nashville and the limited fans are going to be fired up for their first home playoff game in 12 years. As I stated in my power rankings on Monday the Titans are awful against the pass but more in the middle of the pack against the run and the Ravens do not have the offense to attack the Titans weakness. Derrick Henry has a big game and the Ravens get stopped on a fourth and goal late as the Titans beat the Ravens again.

Titans win 31-26

SAINTS -10 over bears

This is my blowout of the week. The Bears defense has been overvalued even with the talents of Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson and Hakeen Nicks. Since the Bears Week 11 bye week the Bears have allowed 23 points a game which includes games against the Lions, Texans and Jags. The first meeting was a close game with the Saints winning in overtime in Chi Town but the Saints will control this game from the start with the Bears not being able to do much on a Saints defense that has been lights out in the second half of the season. Alvin Kamara or no Alvin Kamara expect a ball control game from Drew Brees and the Saints in a game that is over by the third quarter and let the Mitch Trubisky speculation begin.

Saints win 31-13

browns +6 over STEELERS

The Browns are the nobody believes in us team. I don’t know if I believe in them either but I like the value here. The Steelers outside of three drives against the Colts in Week 16 have been a bad offense for two months. The Browns are playing with house money here. Coach Kevin Stefanski is out with COVID. Joel Bitonio one of the best guards in football is out with COVID. Nobody is expecting the Browns to win this game. Baker Mayfield is using his free play at the casino and can put his coin in the slot machine and see if he can win big. I’ll take the Steelers to win the game but I think the Brownies lose the game late because Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin know how to win a playoff games late and this is the big step for the Browns to turn around their tortured history and get to this game. But take the points and enjoy this game. Let’s watch some football and enjoy the weekend!!

Steelers win 27-23 but Browns cover the spread

Last Week 8-7-1

Weeks 12-17: 51-38-6