NFL Playoffs: Championship Games

Now you know why I typically leave this to the others here at LomHenn.com to pick the games. Last week I went a whopping 1-3 against the spread, getting only the Colts-Ravens pick correct. Granted, most people did not expect the Chargers to go down to the Jets and I really expected a better game out the Cardinals against the Saints. I should have known better than to pick the Cowboys last week, what the fuck was I thinking...

Anyhoo, we are down to the final four teams left standing. The four teams remaining have a combined three Super Bowl wins between them. The Colts have two, one in Baltimore and one in Indy while the Jets have their infamous win over the Colts in SB III. The Vikings have been four times and struck out each time, but so have the Buffalo Bills, so at least they are not alone in their sucking in the big game. And poor old New Orleans Saints, the perennial doormats for so long finally have a chance to make it to the big one.

You have three of the top quarterbacks currently in the NFL playing on Sunday in Manning, Favre and Brees, along with the Cinderella rookie Mark Sanchez. When you look at this weekend's matchup, it does kind of look like a NCAA final four pairing. You have two number one seeds (Indy and New Orleans), a number two seed (Minnesota) and the George Mason of the group (NY Jets). Something tells me that this Cinderella team will meet the same fate as George Mason did.

So here we go!

Game #1 - NY Jets at Indianapolis Colts (-7.5)

The Colts gave up their pursuit of a perfect season to rest injured players and strive for their ultimate goal, the Super Bowl. While I would have preferred the Colts to have tried a bit harder to achieve this feat, I cannot begrudge them for keeping their sights set on their original goal. The Colts choice to ease their foot of the pedal the final two weeks resulted in the Jets reviving their playoff hopes. With the help of two gimme games to end the season they made the playoffs as the #6 seed. The Jets defense has shown why they are the #1 defense the past two weeks in defeating the Bengals and Chargers. It also helps that the kickers for both teams sucked ass on their field goal attempts going 0-5 in both games.

Granted, I am a Colts fan, but I had a feeling after the Jets beat the Chargers that the Colts will have this game and make a return trip to Miami. I've had the feeling all week and it is getting stronger the closer we get to game time. I personally would have preferred to play the Chargers this weekend and get the monkey off our backs like we did against New England three years ago. The Colts starters who were taken out of the Jets game and were forced to watch the backups implode now want some payback.

The clock is about to strike midnight for this Cinderella. Go with the Colts (-7.5)!!!!

Game #2 - Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (-3.5)

It is hard to believe that the Superdome has never, ever hosted a NFC Championship game until now. It is hard to believe that the NFL keeps letting Brett Favre un-retire every fucking year, it seems.

Both of these teams high a high-powered offense and while the Colts-Jets game will probably be a slugfest, this game should be a shoot-out of epic proportions. Both the Vikings and Saints won their games by 31 points last week. Drew Brees has blossomed in New Orleans and is poised to take the Saints to their first ever Super Bowl. Brett Farve is the old man making one final push for another ring.

This one is tough to call, but I'm looking forward to a Colts-Saints Super Bowl in Miami. Go Saints (-3.5).

Possible upcoming Super Bowl topics?

• Will the Saints get their first Super Bowl?
• Will Jim Caldwell win a Super Bowl as a rookie coach and become the third black coach to win a Super Bowl?
• How low of a spread will a Colts-Saints Super Bowl have? Could we have the first pick 'em Super Bowl?
• Will Brett Favre retire again? And if so, will we have another episode of Ishtar the Series come next season?

These and much more here on LomHenn.com.

NFL Playoffs: Division Games

Since O'Hoolix has gone to the super secret mascot training grounds and will be incommunicado for the next few months, I will continue O'Hoolix's pursuit to provide our loyal readers with valuable betting knowledge. I shall strive to prove why O'Hoolix does this and I do not.

After last weekend's snoozefest for the NFL Wild Card games, hopefully this weekend will prove to be much more entertaining. It should be for Colts fans this weekend, since (a) the Colts are playing and (b) if the Colts should happen to lose, the angry mob with torches and pitchforks will be marching on the Colts Complex on West 56th Street shortly after the game.

Now on to the picks!

Game 1 - Arizona (+7) vs. New Orleans

The Jekyll and Hyde Cardinals are an enigma once again in the playoffs this year. They were once again better on the road (6-2) than at home (4-4) like last year. They got obliterated in a game at the end of season, GB this year and NE last year. Yet turned it around last week to beat GB at home. This week the Cards go into the Super Dome to face the Saints, who stumbled into the playoffs after starting the season 13-0. Unlike the Colts who turned their dial back from "11" and rested players, the Saints seemed to flame-out. The big question is can the Saints turn it back on or will they pull a Colts-like one-and-done?

I going to with Arizona (+7) to cover, but the Saints will squeak this one out 34-31.

Game 2 - Baltimore vs. Indianapolis (-6)

Baltimore roughed up the Patriots last week and look to get even for a 17-15 loss earlier this season. The Colts look to prove they can have a playoff bye week and not choke on it. The game will come down to weather the Colts rushing offense can be good enough to keep the Raven D honest and open things up for Peyton Manning and his receivers. Pierre Garcon returns to the lineup and will be the wild card for the game. Wayne will receive the most attention and Clark will garner some priority as well. That should leave Garcon will plenty of one-on-one coverage and Manning will love to exploit that. I would love to see the Colts storm out to a big lead, because Joe Flacco will have difficulty if he is forced to become a passing heavy offense.

Look for the Colts to pull away late and late interception by Gary Brackett will seal the game for Colts. Colts 24-14 over the Ravens.

Game 3 - Dallas (+2.5) vs. Minnesota

Like the Saints, the Vikings seemed to trip up at the end of the season and only ended up with the #2 seed in the NFC thanks to the drubbing the Eagles received in Week #17 by the Cowboys. The Cowboys on the other hand ended their atrocious December fades and bombs by going 3-1 and overtaking the Eagles to win the NFC East Division. As much as I might prefer a Farve-Manning Super Bowl pairing, I thinks Dallas is the hot team and will run down the Vikings 38-21 behind Tony Romo's 3 TD passes.

Game 4 - New York Jets vs. San Diego (-6)

The Jets surprised most of the pundits by beating up the Bengals two weeks in a row. The Jets may have the #1 defense, but they will not be able to handle Phillip Rivers this week. Rivers will be able to pick apart the Jets secondary and minimize Darrelle Revis impact on the Chargers' receivers. Mark Sanchez was good enough against the Bengals to win his first playoff game as a rookie. His second game will not be as kind. The wheels are about to come off for the Jets' QB. Sanchez will throw three picks and lose a fumble to the Chargers' stifling D. The Chargers will be heading to Indy next week behind a 35-14 thumping of the Jets.

So to sum up:

Arizona +7
Indianapolis -6
Cowboys +2.5
Chargers -6

Coming up next week:

- Will the Colts get the Charger-monkey off their backs in the AFC Championship game similar to the Championship game against the Patriots back in 2007?

- Will the Saints be able to get to their first Super Bowl?

All this and more (hopefully) next week at LomHenn.com. Good luck!

A Bientot

Week 1: 6-5
Week 2: 7-3
Week 3: 3-4
Week 4: 2-4
Week 5: 5-4
Week 6: 3-4
Week 7: 2-7
Week 8: 3-4
Week 9: 5-4
Week 10:6-3
Week 11:5-4
Week 12:4-8
Week 13:6-4
Week 14:7-6
Week 15:5-4-2
Week 16 5-6-1

Total:74-74-3

"a bientot" is French for "see you later" or "so long", O'Hoolix is signing off for several months as of today. Due to personal issues and upcoming work related time away O'Hoolix is leaving his .500 record for the 2009 NFL season intact. I would like to wish everyone a healthy, prosperous and happy 2010. O'Hoolix is down, but will be back, God Bless and take care.