I’m really bucking the usual PatsPropaganda modus operandi today by making my picks for who will win this weekend, but this is probably the best football watching weekend of the entire year so I feel obligated.
We’ll include both the line and outright winner in case anybody wants to do some mobile NFL betting.
New Orleans (-4) @ San Francisco
I’m taking the Saints both to cover and to win. Maybe in the olden days where “defenses win championships” still applied I’d see the 49ers having a chance, but it’s now a quarterback league and nobody’s playing better than Drew Brees. Alex Smith and Frank Gore would have to play the games of their lives to keep this one close.
Denver @ New England (-13.5)
What kind of a homer blogger would I be if I ever picked against the Patriots in a prediction of any kind? Patriots win and cover. The ingredients for a blowout are all there. Doesn’t mean it will happen, but there’s a very good chance Pats win by 17ish.
Houston @ Baltimore (-7.5)
This one should be close, but I’ll give the Ravens the slight edge because I think their defense and quarterback are a touch better and they’re at home. The Texans should be able to contain Ray Rice with the speed that they have on defense, especially with Brian Cushing, but I just can’t imagine TJ Yates taking out the Baltimore defense in their house, even if Arian Foster has a big day. I lean towards Houston +7.5 on the line.
NY Giants @ Green Bay (-7.5)
The Packers might be the class of the NFC but I’ve seen enough of the Giants over the years to think they can pull the upset off. Let’s not forget how the Patriots beat the Giants in 2007 by a score of 38-35 then lost to them in the Super Bowl. The Packers beat the Giants by the same 38-35 score earlier this year, and I think the Giants will be loose and ready to play. It also helps that Eli Manning has won in Green Bay in the playoffs before.
