Corky's 2013-14 NFL Playoff Predictions Roundup

Last week was my final NFL Playoff predictions using collectability as a way to determine who would win. Here is the results for the Conference Finals selections.

Game 1:

Personal prediction: Seahawks (1-0)

Collectible prediction: Seahawks (1-0)

San Francisco 49ers at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Betting odds: Seahawks favored by 3.5 points with an O/U 39

The Seahawks won 23-17

Game 2:

Personal prediction: Patriots (1-1)

Collectible prediction: Broncos (2-0)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at Denver Broncos

Betting odds: Broncos favored by 5.5 points with an O/U 55

The Broncos won 26-16

Here is my overall final tally of the NFL Playoffs. Three weeks and ten games total

Personal predictions 7-3

Collectible predictions 6-4

Well, based on the predictions things were pretty even between my personal selections and using collectability to determine the winners. I may not be perfect but 70% personal predictions is not bad odds.

File Under 5 Years Of WTF?

One of my blogging goals for the new year was to follow up on stories, this will allow me to expand on some stories or cover card sales or trades.

I began reading through some of my early posts the other day and I came across a post I wrote about Maurice Clarett and his problems after leaving Ohio State. In the story I had some links to a seller who was selling a couple of unique 1/1 Clarett cards at an insane price. Prices that were unbelievable even during Clarett's short time in the NFL. Imagine my surprise when I clicked the links and not only does the seller still have the cards, nearly five years later, but he has increased the prices from the original $1,000 price. What would make a sane person think that cards that don't sell for five years of a never-was player/criminal who’s entire NFL career was a pre-season with the Broncos has increased in value over those years?

Here are the current listings: 2005 SPx Spectrum and 2005 SP Authentic 

Maybe I should check back in 2019 to see if the cards are still available at $2,000. When you do a search of Clarett's card you find that after this seller's cards ($999-$1,499) the next highest card is $100. I understand his cards are 1/1 but there is a reasonable price range and a unrealistic price range, these cards would be the latter.

The Art Gallery: 2007 Topps Lord Of The Rings Masterpieces II Gandalf

I finally decided on a name for my sketch card piece, The Art Gallery. I figured that would cover everything from sketch cards to ACEO cards and anything in between. What better way to start my new Art Gallery serial than with my most recent pick up.

The first sketch card I am covering comes from the 2007 Topps Lord of the Rings Masterpieces II release. The release itself was a continuation of the LOTR Masterpieces release which had come out a year earlier. The two sets are based on Peter Jackson’s LOTR trilogy, which in turn was based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s books.

There is no denying that the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as the current Hobbit trilogy, are among the most influential movies of the modern generation while the stories themselves have been a part of popular culture for 60 years, since Tolkien’s first book in 1954.

When it comes to LotR/Hobbit series the most recognizable character, and easily my favorite, is Gandalf. I wanted a Gandalf sketch card but many of his cards are outside of the price range that I am willing to spend until this beauty showed up for a couple of dollars. It may not be the most detailed but it is obvious who the character is on the card.

One thing that drew me to the Masterpieces II sketch cards is the card design itself, the cards are pretty lightweight when compared to other sketch cards but I love the sandy/tan coloring and the border detail. These are a perfect representation of the storyline and makes me think of the maps of Middle Earth.