NFC Wildcard Gambling Preview

Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals Spread: Falcons favored by 1 Over/Under: 50.5

I don't know if the 2008 Arizona Cardinals are the worst team to ever host a playoff game... but they are certainly on the list. They went 2-4 down the stretch and gave up 47, 35, 48 and 37 points in those 4 losses. Wow. Six of their nine wins came via a sweep of the pathetic NFC West. And their only two impressive victories - over the Cowboys and Dolphins - happened very early in the season.

The Falcons, on the other hand, had two more wins than the Cardinals in a much tougher division. They've beat a number of quality teams throughout the season and finished off 7-2 .

The only argument that can convince you to take the Cardinals is the experience difference between Kurt Warner and Matt Ryan. But I'm not buying it. Warner's last playoff game was the 2001 Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Meanwhile, Ryan has played at an MVP caliber for 16 games. He's not your typical rookie.

The Falcons will win this game big 35 - 21.

On a side note, you should consider taking the Over of 50.5 Both of these teams have very good offenses and field a less-than-average defense. The Cardinals hit the Over in 11 of their 16 games this year.


For more information about this matchup, check out our detailed Falcons - Cardinals analysis

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings Spread: Eagles favored by 3 Over/Under: 41.5

Another game - another time the road team is the favorite. This time, the Eagles are favored by 3 at the Vikings.

Everyone in the wolrd seems to be picking the Eagles in this game. Not me. I think the Vikings are actually underrated. They were in every game this season and don't have a bad loss on their resume.

And who the hell knows what to make of the Eagles. They look great in beating hte Giants, and then can only score 3 points against the Redskins. And lets not even talk about their tie against the Bengals or when Baltimore beat them by 4 TDs.

Of course, they looked great against the Cowboys last week. But that may have been the highlight of the season. I don't know if they will have the same intensity against the Vikings.

The reason I like the Vikings is due to their All-World RB - Adrian Peterson. He is exactly the kind of back you want and need in the playoffs. With the Minnesota fans going crazy in the Metrodome and a steady running of Peterson, I think the Vikings will wear down the Eagles and come out ahead in the game.

Bet the Vikings to voer and win the game 17 - 14.

For more information about this matchup, check out our detailed Eagles - Vikings analysis

AFC Wildcard Gambling Preview

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers Spread: PICK Over/Under: 49

The best first round matchup is clearly the Colts at the Chargers. Vegas has no idea who is going to win this game because the line is even.

The Colts closed out the season with 9 straight victories - making them the hottest team in the league. The Chargers also finished off strong, goign 4-0 down the stretch despite a putrid 4-8 start.

These teams have played 5 times in the past 4 years and all of the games have been close. This includes 28 - 24 Chargers win in last season's playoffs and a 23-20 Colts triumph just one month ago.

This game can definitly go either way, but I'm leaning towards the Colts in this one. It just comes down to the Chargers defense being not that good. At the end of the game, if Manning needs to score, I don't think the Chargers can stop him. It's that simple.

The Colts will win 28 - 24

For more information about this matchup, check out our detailed Colts - Chargers analysis

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins Spread: Ravens favored by 3 Over/Under: 37

This is a much more lopsided game to call. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Ravens in this game.

The Dolphins were a great story all year and deserve to be in the playoffs, but they just match up terribly against the Ravens. The Wildcat doesn't work at all against the Ravens defense. This was proven in October when the Ravens beat the Dolphins by 2 TDs and held them to 71 yards rushing. Expect more of hte same in the playoffs.

Many people will look at the Dolphins record and assume they are an elite team. Well, a closer inspection shows a different story. They only have one quality win on the season - and that came in Week 3 against the Patriots. There 11 wins include victories over teams such as the Chiefs, Rams, Raiders, Rams, Bills and Seahawks. Not exactly a murderer's row.

Baltimore, on the other hand, has wins over the Cowboys, Redskins and the Eagles. And three of their losses came against the best teams in the league - the Steelers twice and the Titans - by a total of 10 points.

Everything tells me that the Ravens will win this game. And, it's not going to be close. Final Score: Ravens 21 - Miami 10

For more information about this matchup, check out our detailed Ravens - Dolphins analysis

BCS Betting Preview

We're just about through a plethora of Bowl Games that no one cares about. (Unless you were captivated by the MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl). Now it is time for the BCS Bowls!

Penn State Nittany Lions at USC Trojans Spread: Trojans favored by 8.5 Over/Under: 45

The first game on the schedule is a traditional Big Ten - Pac Ten matchup (OK, so what if Penn St. has only been in the Big Ten since Joe Paterno reached mandatory retirement age.... work with me here).

Both teams were one slip-up from playing in the National Championship game. Penn St lost on a last second field goal to Iowa. USC got upset at Oregon St. early in the season.

That being said, each team only has one real quality win on the schedule... and they both came against Ohio St. USC destroyed Ohio St. 35 - 3 in early September (and the game wasn't that close) While Penn St. beat the Buckeyes in a hard fought matchup two months ago.

If we use Ohio St as a measuring stick, reason dictates that USC is the better team here. They were clearly the better team against Ohio St and had the advantage in every aspect of the game. Meanwhile, the Penn St - Ohio St. game could have went either way.

Expect this to be another embarrassing loss for the Big Ten in a Bowl Game. USC should win by at least two TDs and cover.

For more information about this matchup, check out our detailed Nittany Lions - Trojans analysis

Cincinnati Bearcats at Virginia Tech Hokies Spread: Bearcats favored by 2.5 Over/Under: 41.5

OK, this is a BCS Bowl Game in name only. These two teams probably wouldn't have winning records in the Big 12... but they did win their respective divisions and rules are rules.

I honestly don't have too much to say about this game. The Big East has looked good so far this Bowl season... so let's assume that the trend continues and the Bearcats cover. But that's just a guess.... I have no idea how this game is going to turn out.

For more information about this matchup, check out our detailed Bearcats - Hokies analysis

Utah Utes at Alabama Crimson Tide Spread: Crimson Tide favored by 10 Over/Under: 46

Alabama was the #1 team in the country until the final week of the season when they played Florida tough. Utah hasn't lost all year. They have two quality wins coming late in the season.. beating TCU by a point and blowing out BYU in their last game.

But let's not get too cute here. Utah is a nice story. They had a great season and should be proud of their accomplishment. They deserve to be in this BCS game.

Alabama, on the other hand, is a legitimate top team. They went 12-1 in the SEC and their defense gave up 10 points or less in more than half of those games.

I just don't see Utah scoring points on Alabama. This game reminds me of the Sugar Bowl last season when an undefeated Hawaii was matched up against SEC runner-up Georgia. Many people picked the feel-good Rainbows to get an upset win. But what happened? Georgia blew them out 41-0.

Expect more of the same here. Alabama will win in a blowout and will cover the spread.

For more information about this matchup, check out our detailed Utes - Crimson Tide analysis

Ohio State Buckeyes at Texas Longhorns Spread: Longhorns favored by 8 Over/Under: 53

The team everyone loves to hate - the Ohio State Buckeyes - are back in a BCS Bowl game. They are matched up against a Texas team that had a legitimate claim to the National Championship game.

Texas' lone loss of the season came in an instant-classic against Texas Tech. Ohio St. lost to two BCS bound teams - USC and Penn St.

This is a tough game for me to call. I am a life long Ohio St. fan and think they received too much crap for the way their season ended the last two years. I admit that the looked like shit in those last two games and were out-coached.... but it happens to the best teams in the country.

That being said, I've watched this team play many times this year and I'm afraid to say they are not a great team. They don't have that special something that past Buckeyes teams did.

Texas, on the other hand, has looked great all season. They are arguably the best team in the country and barely - barely - dropped one game in an extremely hostile environment.

Texas will win this game by 10. Not because Ohio St chokes again; Texas is just a better team this year.

For more information about this matchup, check out our detailed Buckeyes - Longhorns analysis



Check back soon for analysis on The National Championship game between Florida and Oklahoma.

Geno's NFL Video Picks: Week 17

The snow may keep Geno out of the studio - but it doesn't keep him from delivering his Video Picks

Geno's NFL Video Picks: Week 16

Geno is away this week - but Joe Conte stands in and makes Geno's picks (and reads his jokes).

Geno's NFL Video Picks: Week 15

Geno goes old school with his picks this week with references to Die Hard, Good Will Hunting, OJ Simpson and even Lewis & Clark.

Thank God he starts this off with a reference to Lil' Wayne or I would have been sure this video was shot in the mid-90s. The only thing we're mussing is a clip in which Geno tells us that the lack of respect Stan Humphries gets from the national media really Grinds His Gears.

But, don't be fooled, this is 2008 and Geno is this close to getting back to over 70% on the season. I challenge you to find another handicapper in the country with this kind of record. Especially one who has the balls to put up the video clips BEFORE the games take place. Well done, Geno, well done.

Geno's NFL Video Picks: Week 14

Geno is still hitting his picks at a documented 70% rate throughout the season. We're in Week 14 people.... this is not a fluke!

Now, if he could just get the quarterback's name right 70% of the time, we would be in good shape.

(*** Note *** In the above video, every time he says Trent Dilfer, think Jeff Garcia. The jokes will be much funnier that way)