Tag: packers

NFL Wild Card Round Preview

imagesToday marks the beginning of the NFL Playoffs which means it’s time for me to tell you how you can make some money. I have to be honest though, this year might be one of the toughest years to pick the winners. Every game it seems like could go either way and to me it’s one of the most balanced out fields in a long time. Except the Broncos. They’re good. But I hate them. Anyway, here are you’re expert picks for the two games today and tomorrow.

Chiefs @ Colts (+1)– Here’s one of the most intriguing games of the first round. You have the Chiefs who may be the biggest fraud team in the NFL and the Colts who are the best Jeckyl and Hyde team of the season. To me the Colts are a better team on paper. Losing Reggie Wayne was a big blow offensively but they’re young wide receivers have picked it up and their defense has been playing pretty good. The Chiefs seem to have lost their purpose in life after losing to the Broncos and their defense has just disappeared. They’ve lost 5 of their last 7 games including a demoralizing home loss to the Colts in week 16 which makes me think the Colts will roll today. Andy Reid has a history of not getting it done in the playoffs and the Chiefs just simply put are playing their worst football at the worst time of the year.

Tbow’s Pick– 30-14 Colts +1

Saints @ Eagles (-3)– Everyone knows I am an Eagles fan so this pick may be biased, but let’s be real when I have ever done something like that? I have high hopes for the Eagles in the playoffs this season. The stars have aligned and they can very well have a smooth road to the NFC Championship game. Saints are 3-5 on the road this season and have always struggled in poor weather conditions. The Eagles have also won 7 of their last 8 games and that is the recipe for deep playoff success in recent years. It’s not always the better team on paper who wins this time of year, it’s the teams that are playing the best and the Eagles are doing that. They played a playoff game last week against Dallas and I believe they are ready to get their first playoff game in forever today. I expect the Eagles to get to Drew Brees on defense and make his life hell tonight. So let’s go Birds!

Tbow’s Pick– 27-17 Eagles -3

Chargers @ Bengals (-7)– Very interesting game here. Biggest spread of the first round and in the playoffs I almost always take the points. Both teams have had some impressive wins as of late but it is just sticking in my brain that San Diego should have lost to the Cheifs last week who sat all of their starters. Andy Dalton hasn’t been able to get out of the first round but he’s built some experience now and there’s no question the Bengals are a much better team. I also say every year how hard it is in the NFL to beat a team twice, and the Bengals beat the Chargers in week 13, 17-10 so you know what, I think I will take the underdog in this one. I really like Keenan Allen and I think this game will come down to a last second field goal but could go either way.

Tbow’s Pick– 21-20 Chargers +7

49ers @ Packers (+3)– Was very surprised to see Green Bay getting 3 points at home in a playoff game. Don’t see that very often. It is gonna be a bit nippy out in Green Bay but I don’t see that as an advantage or disadvantage for either team. Both have big running backs who can pound the ball all day. The difference will be if Green Bay’s defense can limit the big plays. This is one of those games that really can go either way, but the Packers offense is much better than the 49ers offense now that Rodgers is back so that is why I will give them the slight edge.

Tbow’s Pick– 24-20 Packers +3

So there ya have it. Put you’re money where my mouth is because I don’t have any, so take my advice, win some money and then throw some my way. Thanks.

NFL Divisional Round Preview

diviosnlLast weeks games were the biggest let downs of all time. One of the worst weekends of football ever. Every game sucked and then we were all forced to watch RGIII basically forced into ripping his knee apart. I was a little angry with myself that I wasn’t aware Christian Ponder wasn’t going to be playing seeing as that game was my only loss of the week putting me at 3-1 for the playoffs but realistically 4-0. Whatever. So this weekends games seem like they will all be pretty good. Saturday we got the Ravens and Broncos and the Packers and 49ers. Then Sunday Pats and Texans and Seahawks and Falcons. So here are some top of the line picks that you should definitely bet on if you want to make some money this weekend:

Ravens @ Broncos (-10)– Really Vegas? This is the playoffs. Maybe they didn’t get the memo but the Broncos quarterback is notorious for playoff one-and-dones and this Ravens defense is coming off an emotional win where they literally gave the Bengals zero ground. From a betting stand-point this game is a lay-up. You take the Ravens with the points all day everyday. Now with that being said, I really am unsure of who is going to win this game. My gut is saying that the Broncos pull it out but my head is telling me Peyton Manning is going to do what he usually does and that is lose in the playoffs. I think it’s definitely a low scoring game and the Ravens win on a late field goal to send the two horses packing.

Tbow’s Pick- Ravens +10

Packers @ 49ers (-3)- By far the game of the weekend right here. Well, at least that’s what most people think but I see this as a one-sided affair. I picked the Pack to lose last week but they caught a huge break with Christian Ponder not playing. On the surface you might think he wouldn’t have made much of a difference but if you saw Joe Webb throw a football you would know that the Vikings had no chance with him behind center. The Packers are a mediocre defense at best and their offense hasn’t impressed me of late. I think the extra week of preparation will work to the Niners advantage and their big play capability will be what puts them over the edge against the Packers defense.

Tbow’s Pick- 49ers -3

Seahawks @ Falcons (-3)- This is the matchup that I am most looking forward to. I said last week I liked the Hawks to win but wasn’t sure if they had what it takes to play on the road. Honestly, last week didn’t tell me much. Was their defense really playing that good or was it all because RGIII had one knee? The offense turned it up in the 2nd half but that’s only because the Skins defense couldn’t get off the field because of the offensive 3 and outs. I will tell you one thing. If the Seahawks start the game on Sunday like they did last week there is no chance they win the game. I’m really surprised at how low the spread is for this game. Falcons at home where they dominate and they basically dominated the conference all year. This is Matty Ice’s last chance to show that he’s not completely useless in the playoffs and this franchise cannot afford to lose another playoff game at home. Hawks made a good run but they are young and will be back next year, they need to learn to play on the road too.

Tbow’s Pick- Falcons -3

Texans @ Patriots (-10)- This is a very interesting game to say the least. You see it all the time in the NFL how hard it is for teams to win 2 games against the same opponent in a short time span. Patriots laid a beating on the Texans in week 14, and it had a pretty obvious effect on the entire team the rest of the season. The Texans were honestly saved by having to play last week because if they had a bye and were coming into the divisional round against anyone following all those losses you can guarantee them to lay another goose egg. They got to play however and get a little bit of confidence back in their game and that should make for a better showing on Sunday. I do like them to keep it close but I don’t know if they have enough to beat the Pats. I think it is possible but I like the Pats by a touchdown or field goal in this one. Don’t expect a blow out.

Tbow’s Pick- Texans +10

NFL Divisional Round Preview

So last week I went 3-1 in my picks, not bad. Many people thought the New Orleans spread was way too high and many thought the Broncos would get blown out so I would say 3-1 was pretty respectable. We have great games this week, and you might be interested to hear my thoughts in this week of the underdogs. Lets start in the NFC:

New Orleans (-4) at San Francisco

I have really been on the Saints bandwagon the past few weeks. They have been unstoppable it seems on offense. However, the Saints success is  connected to their ability to play at home. The Saints on the road are a much, much different team. Many of us are still waiting for the 49ers to be the 49ers we know, and that’s the one’s that stink up the joint. It simply just hasn’t happened because this team is solid. They have a top 5 defense, and an oustanding running game led by veteran Frank Gore. I like the 49ers to get to Brees all day and make his life a living nightmare, and for the 49ers to come away with the win. The spread will probably even move higher to maybe a -7 for the Saints by game time but either way I like San Fran to cover. Tbow’s Pick- San Francisco +4

New York Giants at Green Bay (-9)

I really didn’t expect what I saw from the Giants last week. The Falcons looked terrible, and that was mostly due to the Giants constant pressure and ability to make a stop when they needed to. The Giants played the Packers tight earlier in the season, and I think this game will be very close. In the NFL, a lot of success is created from momentum. The Giants have been playing playoff games since week 14 and we all saw how dangerous a hot team like that can be in the playoffs as the Packers were the same type of team last year. I like the G-Men to shock the world in Green Bay with a victory behind the guy I hate Eli Manning. Tbow’s Pick- New York Giants +9

Houston at Baltimore (-9)

I have watched a few Texans games and I have watched a few Baltimore games this year and to tell you the truth, neither team really impresses me. Joe Flacco can play great at times but can also play awful. The Texans are just a solid team that plays great defense and can limit youre offensive opportunities with their run game. I think this is going to be another close game, definitely closer than the 9 point line. However, I do like the Ravens to win the game. This is surprisingly Joe Flacco’s first home playoff game, so I think he will play good. If you are betting the line, I like the Texans to cover but come up short. Tbow’s Pick- Texans +9

Denver at New England (-14)

No big deal. Just a halo over Mile High Sunday

When I saw this line open up at 14 points I wanted to vomit all over myself. The better Tim Tebow plays the less credit he gets, it’s insane. I am going to post a fully detailed post about the reasons why Denver will win on Saturday so I will keep this post short and give you the summary. Pats haven’t won a playoff game since 07. Denver won their home game and everything else is gravy, no pressure. The game they played in week 15 would have been a much different game had it not been for 3 second quarter turnovers, and the Patriots don’t do well in the playoffs against an oponent they beat easily a few weeks earlier (they beat the Jets 45-3 in week 13 last year then lost 28-21 in the Divisional Round) I like the Tebow’s to cover and win against Brady and Co. behind Josh McDaniels sabotage. Tbow’s Pick- Denver +14

NFC Playoff Picture

Unlike the AFC, the NFC Playoff picture is pretty set right now. All the teams are in but one, and Green Bay has already locked up home field advantage throughout. Now, because the Jets are absolutely horrible and are dream killers, the Eagles have no shot of getting in, and it looks like their improbable playoff chance would have worked out had the Jets just been able to win. The Giants look to be the better team heading into their game against the Cowboys for the NFC East title this weekend, as Romo most likely will be playing injured. The last thing you want against a pass rush like the Giants is a quarterback who has to think about his injured hand all game.

While the playoffs teams are pretty much in, I think the NFC playoffs will be much more competitive and exciting than the AFC this year. In my opinion, every team in there will have a shot (unless the Cowboys pull off the upset this weekend). San Francisco has a ridiculous defense, only giving up 1 rushing touchdown all year and that was last week to Marshawn Lynch who had about 18 rushes inside the 5 yard line. Pretty impressive. The Lions, we all know, haven’t played a playoff game since probably before I was born, so while they have no experience, their offense can win them at least one game. Stafford is playing out of his mind lately, and he has the best wide receiver in the NFL to throw to.

An offense which may be even hotter than Detroit’s is the Saints. Brees breaks Marino’s passing yards in a season record in just 15 games, and it seems like they are putting up 40 points every week. They beat a good Atlanta team on Monday night, and at this point I might give the edge to these guys in the playoffs. They have so many weapons with Colston, Jimmy Graham, Lance Moore, Meechem, Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas I mean the list goes on and on. The only way to beat the Saints is to create pressure, something a Giants team could certainly do if they are matched up together. The only way I see the Saints losing is a stunner to the Giants (if they happen to play each other) which is very possible if the Saints miss out on the 2nd bye. The Falcons are a tricky team. They have all the tools but they just don’t seem to have the intensity every game. Something seems to be missing this year. Matt Ryan has the ability to play great and also has the ability to take his team out of the game. I like the Falcons to win one game in the playoffs but don’t see a deep run this year.

Lastly, the Packers are the head of the NFC. That being said, I saw a game against the Kansas City Cheifs that made me rethink these guys are unbeatable. Aaron Rodgers looked horrible and that defense could barely stop Kyle Orton and Jackie Battle, yeah exactly. They will be a tough team to play, especially seeing as the road to the Super Bowl goes through Lambeau, but I see an upset in the making. Last year they were a hot team who were playing playoff games the last 4 weeks of their season, and kept that intensity going right into the playoffs. This year, they are the 1 seed and will be resting players this last week and getting a week off. That can be a dangerous combination for a team who has only lost 1 game and won the Super Bowl last year. Look for a very close game and possibly an upset in their first playoff game. If the Packers can make it past the 2 week lull with a win, they might be going to the Super Bowl. So what do you think? Who is going to win the NFC? Vote below and if you are lucky enough to have an Android, you can download my new app by clicking on the link on the side of the page or searching Tbows World in the Android Market.