I’ve got some good news and some bad news for you. The good news, I’m 7-1 straight up picking games in the playoffs. The bad news, I’m 4-4 against the spread. I had the Packers, Patriots, and Chargers, all winning and covering. I had a feeling the Giants could pull off an upset in Dallas, but I didn’t have the heart to pick two upsets on Sunday. I should have gone with the obvious distraction angle.. I guess I ended up thinking about the game too much.

There’s not much thinking to do this week. Four teams playing for a chance at the Super Bowl, and the ultimate prize, the Lombardi Trophy. The two biggest factors going into the NFL playoff games this weekend are the weather in Green Bay, and the play of Billy Volek. The temperature at Lambeau Field is expected to be in single digits. The New York Giants have seen plenty of bad weather, but on the road at Buffalo isn’t the same as traveling to Lambeau when Brett Favre has a chance to get to the Super Bowl. Billy Volek is gonna have to do his best regular season Todd Collins impersonation, and the rest of the team is gonna have to play lights out for the Chargers to stand a chance… A slight chance.

As always, the home team is in bold type.

San Diego +14 over New England
Sunday 12 pm PST on CBS
Prediction: Patriots 30 Chargers 17

New York +7.5 over Green Bay
Sunday 3:30 pm PST on Fox
Prediction: Packers 24 Giants 17

Tags: NFL Odds, NFL Playoffs, NFL Betting Line, Patriots, Chargers, Giants, Packers

Sorry everybody but I’m back with more NFL picks. I ended up 112-113-9 on the season. That’s right.. A loser. If I was married my wife would be writing a column about how her picks are better than mine.

But it’s the playoffs now which means I’m 0-0.. I get a fresh start and a shot at redemption. Too bad I probably won’t do any better.

The home team is in bold type.

Washington +3.5 over Seattle
Saturday 1:30 pm PST on NBC
Prediction: Seahawks 19 Redskins 17

Jacksonville -2.5 over Pittsburgh
Saturday 5:00 pm PST on NBC
Prediction: Jaguars 20 Steelers 13

New York +3 over Tampa Bay
Sunday 10:00 am PST on Fox
Prediction: Giants 24 Buccaneers 20

San Diego -10 over Tennessee
Sunday 1:30 pm PST on CBS
Prediction: Chargers 27 Titans 12

Tags: NFL Playoffs, NFL Playoff Games, tv schedule

If gambling was abolished, do you know who would suffer the most? The NFL and the NBA referees. Regardless of the NFL’s official stance on wagering, the reason the league is so popular is because of the violence, gambling, and video games. But I’m not here to call the NFL a bunch of hypocrites, I’m here to salute the gridiron gladiators. I am entertained and hopefully my picks do likewise.

I’m superstitious, so I never pick for or against my favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles. The home team is in bold type.

Houston -3 over Kansas City: I didn’t see a lot of the Texans in preseason but I saw all of Hard Knocks.

Buffalo +3 over Denver: The Broncos are gonna have a nice season but it’ll get off to a slow start in upstate New York. Under 37 is tempting.

Pittsburgh -4.5 over Cleveland: The Browns aren’t gonna put it together over 1 summer.

Tennessee +6.5 over Jacksonville: The rule of thumb is to decide which team you think is going to win outright, and then bet on that team. I’m breaking the rule. The Jaguars win a close game.

St. Louis -1 over Carolina: If the Rams are gonna be who I think they are, they have to win this game.

Minnesota -3 over Atlanta: Joey Harrington is 1-4 lifetime vs. Minnesota. 0-4 at the Dome. The lone win came last year at home in Miami.

Miami +3 over Washington: I’m not expecting a lot from either of these teams this season but I like Miami a little more.

NYJ +6.5 over New England. I can make an argument for both teams in this game. That makes me think the game will be close.

Seattle -6 over Tampa Bay: Holmgren vs. Gruden. Hasselbeck vs. Garcia. I like the Seahawks in those matchups and the game.

San Diego -6 over Chicago: One of these teams will be almost as good as last year and the other’s qb is gonna end up costing them.

Detroit +1.5 over Oakland: It wouldn’t be Oakland if they didn’t start the season with a quarterback controversy.. Which should start about midway through the 2nd quarter.

Dallas -5.5 over NYG: The Cowboys offense gets all of the attention but that defense is gonna be really tough up front.

Cincinnati -2.5 over Baltimore: If the game was in Baltimore, I would pick the Ravens.

San Francisco -3 over Arizona: Every year is the year that the Cardinals are gonna turn it around. This might really be their time, but not this week.