It
is time for the second round of the 2014-15 NFL Playoffs with four games this
weekend. Two on Saturday and two on Sunday.
I will follow
the same process as last week where I will make my personal predictions, which
will be bolded, and my collectible predictions, which will be italicized. I
will focus mainly on the skilled position players and try to display a variety
of player’s rookie cards. I will also try to cover different players for teams
that played last week.
First is last
week’s predictions and results:
Game 1:
Personal
prediction Panthers (1-0)
Collectible
prediction: Panthers (1-0)
Betting
odds: Panthers favored by 5.5 points with an O/U 37.5
The
Panthers won over Cardinals 27-16
Game 2:
Personal
prediction: Steelers (1-1)
Collectible
prediction: Steelers (1-1)
Betting
odds: Steelers favored by 3 with an O/U 46
The
Ravens won over the Steelers 30-17
Game 3:
Personal
prediction: Colts (2-1)
Collectible
prediction: Colts (2-1)
Betting
odds: Colts favored by 3.5 points with an O/U of 48.5
The
Colts won over Bengals 26-10
Game 4:
Personal
prediction: Cowboys (3-1)
Collectible
prediction: Cowboys (3-1)
Betting
odds: Cowboys favored by 6.5 points with an O/U of 48The Cowboys (and refs) won over the Lions 24-20
Now
let’s move on to the Divisional Round
Game
1:
Baltimore
Ravens at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Betting
odds: Patriots favored by 7 points with an O/U 47.5
Baltimore:
Joe
Flacco QB
Steve
Smith WR
Haloti
Ngata DT
New
England:
Tom
Brady QB
Rob
Gronkowski TE
Darelle
Revis CB
As
much as my wife wants the Ravens to win I think their march through the
playoffs is done. When New England is hitting on all cylinders they are
difficult to beat. People may try to point out the 17-16 win over the Jets in
Week 16 and 17-9 loss to the Bills in Week 17 but remember they had already
secured the #1 position in the AFC and pretty much played sandlot ball for the last
two weeks to rest their main players.
Collectibilty-wise
they also take control of the football binders, Brady over Flacco any day and
with Gronk as his backup the collectors will flock to the Patriots without even
giving the Ravens a second look.
WINNER: New England Patriots
Game
2
Carolina
Panthers at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Betting
odds: Seahawks favored by 11 points with an O/U 39.5
Carolina:
Cam
Newton QB
Greg
Olsen TE
Seattle:
Russell Wilson QB
Marshawn
Lynch RB
Richard
Sherman DB
The
Seahawks beat the Panthers 13-9 in Week 8 but this was during their downward
spiral, something they corrected before going 8-1 over the rest of the season.
This game, in Seattle, should be better result for the Seahawks.
As
much as collectors love Cam Newton when he plays well the love for Russell
Wilson is that much greater. Now add Lynch (Yeah…) and Sherman (at least his
mouth) and the Seahawks collectability is out of this world.
WINNER: Seattle Seahawks
Game
3:
Dallas
Cowboys at GREEN BAY PACKERSBetting odds: Packers favored by 6 points with an O/U of 52.5
Dallas:
Tony
Romo QB
Dez Bryant WR
DeMarco Murray RB
Green
Bay:
Aaron
Rodgers QB
Jordy
Nelson WR
Eddie
Lacy RB
I
will not address the picked up flag that essentially turned the game in to the
Cowboys favor last week. As long as Aaron Rodgers injured calf muscle can hold
out the Packers should be in control of this game in Green Bay.
With
collectors the Packers are loaded with players who are just loveable; Rodgers,
Nelson, Matthews and Hawk, you just want to own their cards even if you don’t
collect Packers cards whereas the Cowboys, who do have collectible players, are
the opposite on the likeability scale.
WINNER: Green Bay Packers
Game
4:
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at Denver Broncos
Betting
odds: Broncos favored by 7 points with an O/U of 54
Indianapolis:
Andrew
Luck QB
Coby
Fleener WR
Adam
Vinatieri K
Denver:
Peyton
Manning QB
Demaryius
Thomas WR
Wes
Welker WR
I
will say this up front, I am picking the Colts as my upset pick for the week. I
think that Manning, who is one of my favorite players, is starting to show his age.
The hits are beginning to really add up and the cold weather isn’t helping. As
much as I would love to see Manning win another Super Bowl I don’t see it
happening.
The
collectability here is a toss-up, we are looking at one of the greatest QBs
ever going up against the guy who replaced him in Indy. Both rosters are loaded
with solid players who have their own merit but in the end for the collectible prediction I am going with
Denver to win based on collectability on Manning alone.
WINNER: Denver Manning
See you next Friday with an update heading in to the next round.
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