Any time you can say that you’re in line to set all-time records in a league that has been around for over 60 years, you’ve truly done something special… unless you’re the New Jersey Nets…

Yep, that pretty well sums it up. Is there any other way to watch a game at the IZOD Center than with a bag over your head right now unless you’re cheering for the other team? Remember when this team was competing for Eastern Conference crowns and NBA Championships? But the days of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin, and Kerry Kittles are long since gone.

Ever since getting rid of G Jason Kidd, everything has seemed to be all downhill for this once-proud franchise. Kidd was dealt right at the ’08 trade deadline for what amounted to be a bag full of peanuts to the Dallas Mavericks. Even then, keeping together the tandem of Carter and Jefferson appeared like it had the potential to be exciting in ’09-’10. Aside from that, the hopes of building a new stadium in Brooklyn gave Nets fans from the Big Apple something to possibly be excited about.

But coming into this year, there was no stadium. There was no Jefferson. There was no Carter. And basically, there was no hope.

Just check out what this lineup looks like on a regular basis… G Devin Harris is probably the only player on the team that might have a chance of cracking the starting five on another NBA roster. Jarvis Hayes, Yi Jianlian, Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, Kris Humphries… Who are these guys???

So why should we be so surprised that this team is off to a 4-43 start to the NBA betting season coming into Wednesday night? Jersey’s offense ranks dead last in the league in points per game (89.8) and shooting percentage (42.2%), and it is getting outrebounded by a pitiful 5.6 boards per contest. The Nets put together a very impressive 19-game losing streak to start the season, which ultimately cost HC Lawrence Frank his job. To Frank, it must’ve felt like a blessing to be exiled from hell on earth.

The ’72 Philadelphia 76ers set an NBA record for futility with just nine wins on the season. Not only are the Nets on a pace to beat that mark, but they could legitimately obliterate it if they don’t figure out how to string some ‘W’s together in the weeks to come.

What’s worse is how little it appears as though anyone on this team really cares. It feels like every time you look up at the New Jersey bench, guys are cracking jokes or have their heads hung down. The boys just don’t play hard, and it’s really telling on the NBA wagering lines. Just look at some of these spreads this year that the Nets have had on their side! Recently, they were whopping 16.5-point underdogs in Utah, and they lost 116-83, failing to come anywhere near that hefty number.

If you’ve been betting on the Nets every night at JustBet Sportsbook, you’ve only gone a miserable 16-31 ATS. If that keeps up over the remaining 35 games of the season, Jersey is looking at finishing just 28-54 ATS. There’s only one team in the last 14 years that has put up a worse ATS record in basketball betting action, and that was the ’03-’04 Orlando Magic, who went just 27-54-1 ATS in the year before they landed C Dwight Howard with the #1 pick in the NBA Draft.

One thing is for certain, and that’s that the Nets can’t go anywhere but up. The new hope is that F LeBron James or one of the other high-priced free agents to be ultimately signs in New Jersey and starts to resurrect the franchise.

But if things for Jersey fans go as well next year as they have this year, another season of futility is in the cards.

Hey Edmonton Oilers, are you ever going to win a game in 2010? Remember when you were riding high after a five-game winning streak that wrapped up on December 11th? Since then, all you’ve done is win exactly one… that’s right… ONE game. You’ve been outscored by the aggregate score of 84-39 in that stretch, and now you’ve hit the low of all lows. Facing a Calgary team that had lost nine straight games itself, you came out and got thrashed 6-1 on Saturday night. So until you pick up a ‘W’ and make yourselves even remotely relevant again in the NHL betting world… C’mon Man!!!

The Indiana Pacers played a fantastic NBA betting affair on Friday night at home against LeBron James and Co. Not only were they outscored 36-18 in the opening stanza, they also only dropped nine points for the entire fourth quarter. But they had to expect better out of F Danny Grainger, right? Grainger is averaging 22.9 points per game, but the only thing that was more uninspiring than his 14-point effort against the Lakers on Wednesday was his 6/23 shooting performance against the Cavs on Friday. You know kid, I know you want to get the heck out of town, but can you at least try a little bit harder and shoot just a tad better than 26% from the field for a game in which you take so many shots? Pacers betting fans appreciate it… C’mon Man!!!

Does anyone know what’s going on with the Texas Longhorns? All of a sudden, they’ve allowed three straight teams to hang 80+ points on them even though they’re only conceding 67.5 points per game on the season. Once upon a time, this team was ranked #1 in the nation. Now, with three losses in its L/4 games, the worst of which came at home to Baylor on Saturday, the Horns will be lucky to hold in the Top-10. What makes matters worse? Texas hasn’t covered a college basketball betting line since December 22nd against Michigan State. Tickets to a Longhorns game: $10. Losing NCAA basketball betting ticket: $550. Watching a team fail to beat the number in eight straight games: Priceless… C’mon Man!!!

Let’s hear it for the Los Angeles Clippers, who became the first team in the NBA all season to lose to both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Jersey Jets this season! However, what made that feat all the more impressive is the fact that they did all of that in a span of three nights! Want an even better one? Check out the margins of victory for the two worse teams in the NBA… The T’Wolves won by 14, while the Nets won by 16. There’s never any excuse for play this… oh wait… It’s the Clippers… C’mon Man!!!

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One of the greatest things about the Super Bowl from a betting standpoint is the enormity of betting opportunities for sports bettors.  The Super Bowl has always been the single most popular game in the world when it comes to sports betting. Just to give you an idea of the money involved, Nevada is expecting nearly 100 million in wagering just within the state’s borders for this year’s Super Bowl. As a result, online bookmakers have taken advantage offering countless proposition and exotic betting lines for side action. For this year’s Super Bowl, bettors can literally wager on anything from the outcome of the coin flip to what color top Kim Kardashian will be wearing at the game.  In a previous post below, Rodney recently shared some tips for betting props along with some of the top prop odds and Super Bowl betting bonuses. With so many lines available, bettors can easily get caught up in all the excessive action in all the wrong ways. Since there are so many betting opportunities available, many bettors will wager money with a “careless” attitude and risk money on many chance bets. I spent some time breaking down some of these prop lines and to provide some predictions that will increase your chances of ending the season in the black.  Below are a few prop that I believe deserve some attention heading into the Super Bowl. All of the prop odds below can be found at Bodog Sportsbook (10% Bonus – Accepting Credit Card deposits for the Superbowl)

Prop Bet #1 – Will the Indianapolis Colts score every quarter?

Yes  +130
No  – 160

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are two offensive powered teams that will collide with a lot of points expected. The Saints secondary has been questionable all season and that throws up red flags for many reasons against Peyton Manning’s offense. In fact, the Colts have scored in 3 of 4 quarters in both postseason match-ups. While history may tell us that a team scoring all 4 quarters is unlikely in a Super Bowl, the Colts have a great chance. The reason is they have to keep the pressure on the Saints and their offense will not let up with the lead. The Saints hung 45 on the Cardinals and 31 on the Vikings. Therefore, Manning should get plenty of opportunities with the football and it’s doubtful the Saints defense will have an answer for the fast pace Colts offense. With some profitable juice, this is a great risk to consider.

Pick – Yes

Prop Bet #2 – The first 1^st down will be either a passing or rushing play?

Passing -200
Rushing  +160

Unless there is a 1 yard conversion, a passing play should be the result of the first 1^st down in the game. Neither offense has much confidence in their running game. In fact, both teams use their running games to control the clock rather than looking for success on the ground. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are two of the top quarterbacks in the league and it is no secret that both offenses heavily favor the pass. Both offenses will keep the ball in the hands of their star quarterbacks and hope they both get into a rhythm early. Unless there is a early short yardage situation, the passing game will be used nearly every down especially early in the game. Consider this a high percentage play that a passing play will result in opening first down of the game.

Pick – Passing

Prop Bet #3 – Total receiving yards – Robert Meachem

Over 45 ½  +105
Under 45 ½  -135

Robert Meachem has played a solid role in contributing to the Saints lethal passing attack this season. However, in recent weeks Meachem has been nearly ineffective. Over the last 3 games, Meachem has caught just 4 passes totaling 31 yards. The reason may be because the Saints have run the ball better and have gotten help from a ton of outside passing options. Whatever the case may be, Meachem has not even been targeted by Drew Brees but very rarely in the past few games. Running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas have been used more frequently catching balls out of the backfield taking some of those outside options away from Meachem. Wide outs Devery Henderson and Marques Colston will remain the primary targets in the passing game. If the Saints continue to use their backs in the passing game with effectiveness, Meachem may be left out of the picture once again.

Pick – Under 45 ½

Prop Bet #4 – Who will throw more interceptions?   

Drew Brees  -105
Peyton Manning -125

All eyes will be on both quarterbacks this Sunday and rightfully so. The Colts have Peyton Manning who before it is all said and done could go down as the greatest quarterback every. The Saints have Drew Brees who has absolutely mastered the New Orleans air attack. While most may agree that Manning is the better of the two, he is also the most vulnerable to giving up an interception. Manning threw 16 interceptions during the regular season while Brees threw just 11 total. In fact despite the Saints secondary that lacks respect against the pass, they actually picked off 26 interceptions during the regular season equaling the 3^rd most in the NFL. Safety Darren Sharper tied for the most picks in the NFL with 9 and the Saints defense will need those turnovers this weekend to pull off the victory. Even if the Colts prevail, Manning normally gives up at least one interception and that may be one more than Brees will throw this Sunday.

Pick – Manning

Prop Bet #5 – Team to receive the opening kickoff 

New Orleans Saints  -115
Indianapolis Colts  -115

This particular betting line is offered every year, but nearly always seem to go the opposite direction from what the betting public expects. However, we believe we got this year’s decision for both team’s figured out. The perceptions here is that both teams want to put their offenses on the field first which is why the line is considered a toss up. However, the Colts may elect the alternative if they do happen to win the toss. The Colts defense has played extremely well at times this year and their momentum tends to set the tone for the offense. I believe the Colts will put their defense on the field first to try and force a quick change of possession putting the advantage to their offense. On the other side of the coin, I just do not see how the Saints could put their defense on the field first allowing Peyton Manning the first opportunity to score. If the Saints win the toss, they will accept the ball and look to make an opening statement.

Pick – Saints

Underdogs are typically the way to go… This bodes awfully well for New Orleans, particularly catching so many points. The only teams to cover a spread higher than four points in recent Super Bowls have been these Indianapolis Colts in 2007 (-7 vs. Chicago Bears) and the Denver Broncos in 1999 (-7.5 vs. Atlanta Falcons). Aside from that, dogs larger than four points have been golden, going 6-2 ATS dating back to 1996. The underdog has covered six of the L/8 Super Bowls overall as well.

Run, run, run, as much as you can… Once again, in all likelihood, this is a huge trend that will be solid for the Saints. In the previous 43 Super Bowls, the team running the ball more in the game went a stellar 37-4 SU. (In Super Bowl V, both the Cowboys and Colts ran the ball 31 times. The same happened when the Bills and Cowboys rushed the pigskin 29 times apiece in Super Bowl XXVII) The Colts pass the ball on almost 63% of their offensive downs. New Orleans is still a pass-happy squad, but it only puts the pill in the air 55% of the time. The Saints are averaging carrying the ball 6.3 times per game more than Indianapolis does. Don’t think that the Colts don’t know about this stat though. An aerial based team in 2007 itself, the Colts still ran the ball 40 times combined with RBs Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai, and that’s why they captured Super Bowl XLI.

All Over the Under… Reaching 56.5 points in any NFL betting battle is difficult, but the truth of the matter is that it’s very possible, especially when you consider how good these two offenses are that will take the field on Sunday afternoon in Miami. However, keep in mind that only eight Super Bowls have exceeded 56 points in NFL history, and none have gotten there since 2004. It’s not like there has been a lack of offensive firepower in the big game either of late. Last season, the Cardinals had one of the highest-flying offenses in the league. The same could be said about the record-setting Pats of 2007-08 and the Colts from ’06-’07. Chew on this as well. Indianapolis only had three games this season, including the playoffs, get to that 57+ point mark. New Orleans has played both of its playoff games beyond that number and did play six games past that point in the regular season. However, only three of those occurred away from the Superdome.

Watch out for moneyline value… Normally speaking in the regular season, teams that are favored by 5.5-6 points are usually lined around -250 or so on the moneyline. But this is the Super Bowl, and the majority of money either comes in on the favorites to cover the football betting line, or the underdog to win outright on the moneyline. The end result? Deflated numbers for the favorites to win SU. Right now, at Diamond Sportsbook, you can find Indianapolis lined at -220, and if you shop, you may be able to find a -200 or so by game time.

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Every year, with the Super Bowl, comes the never ending betting that is involved. Along with the Indianapolis Colts being just under a touchdown favorite and the total going up from 56.5, sportsbooks are always listing an astronomical number of proposition odds and betting options. Listed below you will find an array of proposition odds from a combination of our top sponsor sportsbooks.

Some General Advice For Betting Props;
Do not be afraid to take the unders when betting on Super Bowl propositions. Generally with Super Bowl prop bets, the under is the sharper and wiser play. Most public bettors will take overs with the vast majority of their prop bets. The reason for this is due to one single human emotion; excitement. Many bettors are betting props just to add some additional excitement to the big game. That being said, it’s much more exciting to root for a milestone (such as passing yards or touchdown passes) to happen then it is to cheer for something to “not happen”. The average fan and sports bettor doesn’t want to root for Drew Breese and Peyton Manning to NOT throw touchdown passes. There is nobody that is more aware of this then the oddsmakers are, which is why Vegas sportsbooks make more money from Super Bowl proposition bets then they do from sides and totals on the big game. So, take my advice here and plan your attack with a contrarian point of view. Sift through the prop odds at your favorite books and look for inflated numbers that are above an individual players (or team’s) per game average. Then, keep an eye on the number for those prop odds at a few books, such as BetUS and Diamond Sportsbook, throughout the week and wait and see if the public will drive the those high numbers up even higher. Then, bet the under on those props a few hours before kick-off. Finally, as you watch the game, silently root for the opposite of what all your friends are cheering for. Chances are that you will be cashing your tickets and MAKING MONEY, while they will be wondering why they even made those ridiculous bets in the first place.

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List of Popular Super Bowl Prop Betting Odds;

Coin Toss
Heads -105
Tails -105

Saints -105
Colts -105

1^st Touchdown Scored
Pierre Thomas  8 to 1
Marques Colston 7 to 1
Devery Henderson 10 to 1
Robert Meachem 8 to 1
Reggie Bush 12 to 1
Jeremy Shockey 15 to 1
Drew Brees 40 to 1
Reggie Wayne 5 to 1
Joseph Addai 7 to 1
Dallas Clark 5 to 1
Pierre Garcon 10 to 1
Donald Brown 20 to 1
Austin Colley 10 to 1
Peyton Manning 50 to 1
Field 9 to 2
No Touchdown Scored 300 to 1

Longest Completion by Drew Brees
Over 39.5 -115
Under 39.5 -115

Longest Completion by Manning
Over 39.5 -115
Under 39.5 -115

Longest Rush by Bush
Over 8.5 -120
Under 8.5 -110

Longest Rush by Thomas
Over 11.5 -120
Under 11.5 -110

Points Scored by New Orleans
Over 25.5 -115
Under 25.5 -115

Points Scored by Indianapolis
Over 31.5 -120
Under 31.5 -110

Most Pass Attempts
Brees -110
Manning -120

Most Receptions
M. Colston +0.5 -110
R. Wayne -0.5 -120

Longest Reception by Colston
Over 23.5 -115
Under 23.5 -110

Longest Reception by Henderson
Over 17.5 -120
Under 17.5 -110

Longest Reception by Meachem
Over 17.5 -120
Under 17.5 -110

Longest Reception by Shockey
Over 12.5 -120
Under 12.5 -110

Longest Punt by Morstead
Over 51.5 -115
Under 51.5 -115

Longest Rush by Addai
Over 12.5 -115
Under 12.5 -115

Longest Rush by Brown
Over 9.5 -115
Under 9.5 -115

Longest Reception by Wayne
Over 23.5 – 115
Under 23.5 -115

Longest Reception by Clark
Over 18.5 -115
Under 18.5 -115

Longest Reception by Garcon
Over 25.5 – 115
Under 25.5 -115

Longest Reception by Collie
Over 18.5 – 115
Under 18.5 -115

Longest Punt by McAfee
Over 51.5 -120
Under 51.5 -110

Passing Yards by Manning
Over 304.5 -120
Under 304.5 -110

Pass Attempts by Manning
Over 36.5 -120
Under 36.5 -110

Completions by Manning
Over 26.5 – 110
Under 26.5 – 120

Rush Attempts by Addai
Over 15.5 -110
Under 15.5 -120

Rushing Yards by Addai
Over 65.5 -115
Under 65.5 -115

Receptions by Wayne
Over 5.5 -130
Under 5.5 100

Receiving Yards by Wayne
Over 77.5 -115
Under 77.5 -115

Receptions by Clark
Over 6.5 100
Under 6.5 -130

Yards by Clark
Over 69.5 -120
Under 69.5 -110

Are you sick of seeing the same ugly mugs on the television when you turn on SportsCenter, your favorite sports show, or the local news? Day after day, night after night, we continue to see and hear the latest on the same individuals over and over. It is understood that these are important figures in the sports world, but come on, give us a break on the same ole, same ole. We don’t need to know every twitter post from these guys! Here is the list of Media Darlings; the top 10 athletes loved by the media.

10. Manny Ramirez, left fielder, Los Angeles Dodgers.

How many times have you heard “that’s just Manny being Manny”? While the love fest for the left fielder has died down some since going to Los Angeles, he continues to get quite the coverage. Ramirez brought a lot of the news on himself, with his antics, such as going to the bathroom in between pitching changes, and his turbulent exit from Boston. Most recently, Manny served a suspension for breaking MLB’s performance enhancing drug policy. Ramirez helped lead his team to another NLCS this season, once again coming up short. After sweeping St. Louis, the Dodgers were downed by Philadelphia. Ramirez has 546 career homeruns.

9. Tom Brady, quarterback, New England Patriots.

I guess when you have a gorgeous celebrity wife, you can’t help but be put in the spotlight.  It can’t hurt that Brady has turned into a historic quarterback. Playing for Bill Bellichick never hurts either. Remember when Brady and his wife were expecting their child? What about when Brady got hurt? His coverage was all over, and still is today. Brady came back in 2009 as comeback player of the season, leading the Patriots to an AFC East title. Brady set another record this season by throwing for five touchdowns in one quarter (a win over Tennessee).

8. Alex Rodriguez, third basemen, New York Yankees.

No baseball player is dissected more than A-Rod. Rodriguez elected to make the jump from Seattle, to Texas, to the media capital of the world – in New York. It was iffy early in his tenure in New York whether he could survive or not, but the fall of 2009 proved he could. Whether it’s a ground out to third, a fly ball to right, or a grand slam, rest assured, you will see all of Alex Rodriguez’s at bats! Another steroid guy, as he admitted in February of 2009 to using them. A-Rod is just 17 homeruns short of 600, and is widely discussed as the next to break the all-time homerun record in Major League Baseball.

7. Lance Armstrong, cyclist.

For good reason, this guy is the best American cyclist ever. Luckily, for those of us ready to see Lance Armstrong retire for good, the Tour de France is only one month out of the year. If it were more, we would surely be getting a Lance overdose! Armstrong won seven straight Tour de France titles from 1995 to 2005. Armstrong is also known for his fight with testicular cancer, that he has had since 1996. Armstrong, in 2010, joined Team Radio Shack.

6. Terrell Owens, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills.

Known best for ripping apart talented football teams, Terrell Owens is slowly falling down the media love fest list. Owens was king during his final year with Tony Romo in Dallas. We still get to hear every comment he makes, just this time, nobody cares, because he plays in the northeast. No one is denying Owens’ talent. Out of Tennessee-Chattanooga, T.O. has been on six Pro Bowl teams, and amassed 1000 career receptions. Owens most famous sighting on television was with his great big goofy sun glasses, crying for his quarterback Tony Romo, in what may have been the biggest acting job by the wide receiver; “That’s my quarterback.  That’s my teammate.”

5. OchoCinco, wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals.

Twitter loves OchoCinco and his antics. Good thing they do, because the NFL sure doesn’t. We hear every time Chad Johnson, errr, OchoCinco goes bathroom, as he posts it on Twitter. Every Sunday, if you turn on the TV, 85 will be shown doing whatever he did that week to get fined. Drafted out of Oregon State, Chad officially changed his name to “OchoCinco” in 2006. The wide receiver has made the Pro Bowl six times, and has caught nearly 700 passes, for just shy of 1000 yards and 62 touchdowns.

4. LeBron James, guard, Cleveland Cavaliers.

The King has been a hit with the worldwide leader of sports since his high school days. The one guy that was getting his high school games covered by major cable channels. James’s issue with the hummer, along with his entire journey as a complete stud in the NBA have been chronicled daily. Currently, James is in the media for his status for the 2011 season. When he becomes a free agent, many believe James will bolt his home state and head to the money in New York. He has led the Cavaliers to the NBA finals once in his career. LeBron, who turned 25 in December, won his first Most Valuable Player award in 2009.

3. Brett Favre, quarterback, Minnesota Vikings.

Mr. retire and comeback, over and over again – Brett Favre. Favre is best known for hijacking the local news the last couple July’s. First it was his drama with his long time team the Green Bay Packers, then it was his desire to return. First to the Big Apple, with the New York Jets, followed by his retirement again, which led to another return; this time to Minnesota with the Vikings; a long time rival of the Packers. Favre, in 2009, had a scuffle with his head coach Brad Childress that led to ongoing media coverage lasting for weeks. Favre and the Vikings have righted the ship, and he is leading the high powered offense into the Big Easy to take on the Saints in the NFC title game.

2. Tim Tebow, quarterback, University of Florida.

As one individual put it when discussing Mr. Tebow and the media coverage, “no person has had the media on their knees more than Tim Tebow.” Known widely for the most popular collegiate athlete, Tebow has let his talking be done on the field. Tebow helped lead Florida to two national championships, and also has a Heisman to boot. Tebow is talked about as the second coming of God for all his countless missionary deeds. Most recently, Tebow has spent the past three summers in the Philippines, working with his father’s missionary and orphanage.

1. Tiger Woods, golfer, sex addict.

Especially now. Tiger Woods was plastered all over the news for weeks after his car accident, which led to his marital status going down the drain. Even before all the drama went down with Tiger, he was the lead story on weekends for all major tournaments. Woods has won 14 major golf championships, which is second most of any male golfer in history. Tiger has been awarded with the PGA Player of the Year for a record of ten times. Woods announced an indefinite leave from golf to focus on his marriage and family in December of 2009. Tiger has recently been reported to have been seen in Mississippi at a rehabilitation center to be treated for his sex addiction.

Others receiving an absurd amount of coverage:

Derek Jeter, shortstop, New York Yankees

Shaquille O’Neal, center, Cleveland Cavaliers

Rafael Nadel, Tennis star

Peyton Manning, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts

Tony Romo, quarterback, Dallas Cowboys

Donovan McNabb, quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles

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The 2009-10 NFL Football Playoff Bracket Can Be Found Below

We have been tracking the playoff race for nearly a month now and finally the 2010 NFL playoffs layout is set in stone. Wildcard weekend will get started off in an exciting way featuring two week 17 rematches in the NFC and also another week 17 rematch in the AFC. The question that everyone will be asking now is what can everyone expect heading into the start of the postseason? The Indianapolis Colts appeared to be on track for an undefeated season, but opted to rest their star players which resulted in two straight losses. Will the Colts be able to regain their rhythm when they take the field after their first round bye? The same can be asked for the New Orleans Saints in the NFC who were also on the route to perfection before losing 3 straight games to close out the year. Take a look as we give a brief preview of what to expect from both conferences and the teams to watch for during the rest of the playoff season.

NFC Predictions

The Dallas Cowboys defense pitched two straight shutouts to close out the season including a 24-0 win over the Eagles to win the NFC East crown. The Eagles and Cowboys will battle again in the first round of the playoffs and their defensive play should draw some attention. The Cowboys offense has been able to post points this year so if their defense continues to play well they are dangerous. Expect them to sneak by the Eagles in a much closer game, but nonetheless take down Philadelphia for the 3rd time this season. The other game to kickoff wildcard weekend in the NFC will be Green Bay at Arizona. The Packers blew out the Cardinals in the desert last weekend 33-7. The Cardinals exploded with magic last year during the playoffs and they will be a long shot to pull of those accomplishments again. The Packers have really played well all season and the Cardinals inconsistent play causes concern. Unless, the Cardinals defense really steps up the Packers will repeat next weekend. The Packers also could be the surprise team of the playoffs because if they can pull off another Arizona defeat they will take on the suddenly struggling Saints. If Aaron Rodgers continues to play well, the Packers could be waiting in the NFC Championship game to take on the winner of a Dallas/Minnesota match-up. The Cowboys and Vikings would be a very interesting match-up considering the Vikings explosive balanced offense. The Cowboys postseason drought may come to an end this season, but we give the Vikings the edge in a close one setting up Green Bay at Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game.

AFC Predictions

The loss of Wes Welker really hurt the Patriots chances for postseason success considering how Randy Moss has quietly ended the season. QB Tom Brady has also been banged up and their meeting with the Ravens should be very interesting. Expecting the Patriots offense to be less dynamic, the Ravens and Patriots should be a in a low scoring defensive battle. The game may be a toss-up, but running back Ray Rice for the Ravens could be the difference and capture Baltimore the victory. The other wildcard meeting features the week 17 rematch with the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets stomped the Bengals to earn their playoff berth with a 37-0 blowout. However, the Bengals starters were on the bench so do not expect another massacre. The Jets definitely have the momentum, but the Bengals defense will give a big effort and Carson Palmer will throw a few interceptions and score what many will believe as a mild upset. After those pair of games, the playoffs will move to the 2nd round with anticipated meetings with Indianapolis/Baltimore and New York/San Diego. The Chargers remain the hottest team in the league. Even with QB Phillip Rivers on the bench last week, backup Billy Volek directed a game winning drive to beat the Redskins 23-20. The Jets offensive up and downs will be apparent as the Chargers will roll. The Colts and Ravens should also present an interesting match-up. The Ravens defense can frustrate the Colts up front and short passes over the middle of the field. The Colts still have the advantage, but the Ravens could make things interesting. However, QB Peyton Manning and company should be ready after the week off to post a stellar offensive effort. The Colts take down the Ravens forcing a San Diego at Indianapolis battle for the AFC Championship.