I was on fire last weekend as I was a perfect 6-0 against the spread.  With only two games this weekend, it gets a lot harder to pick a side in the games.  Here it goes:

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP:

New England Patriots (-7 1/2) over the Baltimore Ravens:  The Ravens whipped the Patriots 33-14 just two years ago on this very field.  I think it’s going to be a lot different this time around.  I think the Patriots are going to jump to an early lead and force Joe Flacco to try to keep up by throwing the ball.  He NEVER steps up in a big game, while Tom Brady is 15-5 (75%) in his career in the post-season.  I like the Patriots to win this game 31-20 and cover the spread.

New York Giants (+2.5) over the San Francisco 49ers:  The Giants are on a roll right now as they have tightened up on D they last couple of weeks.  That is bad news for the Niners.  The Giants are going to keep rolling this Sunday as I have them beating the Niners 27-17.  I would seriously consider taking the money line with the Giants as you aren’t going to need the points.

I’m going to split the picks over Saturday and Sunday’s games that way you can parlay them if you want to.  Here is how I see the games going down this weekend:

SATURDAY:

San Francisco 49ers (+4) over the New Orleans Saints:  The Saints are not nearly as good away from home.  I have a feeling that the old school style of the Niners (running the ball on offense and playing solid defense) is going to help them win a close game today.  I like the 49ers to win this game 23-20.

New England Patriots (-13.5) over the Denver Broncos:  The Patriots had an easy time with the Broncos the first time around and they will again today.  I like the Patriots to win this game 37-20, as Tim Tebow won’t be too magical today in Foxboro.

Patriots/Broncos over 50 points:  The Patriots’ offense is so good and their defense is so bad, that I love the over in this game!

SUNDAY:

Houston Texans (+7.5) over the Baltimore Ravens:  This is going to be a slobberknocker tomorrow as both of these teams are going to run the ball and play defense.  For that reason, I expect the game to stay close.  I like the Ravens to win this game 20-16.

New York Giants (+7.5) over the Green Bay Packers:  This game is going to be a track meet.  With that in mind I’m going with the better offensive team, so I like the Packers to win 41-34….with the Giants covering the point spread by the smallest of margins.

Giants/Packers over 53 points:  This number jumps off the page at me as these two teams combined for 73 points in their first meeting this year.  I like the over with confidence.

It’s likely going to be a tough betting weekend as far as the NFL Playoffs is concerned.  The better deals might be in the totals this weekend.  Here’s a look at how I see the games going down this weekend:

Houston Texans (-4) over the Cincinnati Bengals:  I like the Texans to win this game because of their defense and running game later today.  I like the Texans to win this game 23-16.

Detroit Lions (+10.5) over the New Orleans Saints:  This game wreaks of a back door cover.  I like the Saints to win this game 37-27, but I like the Lions to cover.

Denver Broncos (+8.5) over the Pittsburgh Steelers:  I think the Steelers will find a way to win this Sunday, but it won’t be easy.  I like the Steelers to win 16-13, but the Broncos to cover the pointspread.

Atlanta Falcons (+3) over the New York Giants:  Michael Turner is going to make the difference in this game.  I like the Falcons to beat the Giants 33-30, so think seriously about taking the money line.

As far as the totals go, I would probably only bet on the over (47.5 points) in the Falcons/Giants game this Sunday afternoon.

The NFL this week is kind of strange.  There are a handful of games that will be really good to bet on, but a lot of games that are too close to bet on.  Here is how I see the games going against the spread:

PRINTING MONEY:

Carolina Panthers (+7.5) over the New Orleans Saints:  The Saints are going to be pulling players out of this game as the 49ers will be smacking down the Rams.  That means that Cam Newton is going to steal this game from the Saints.  I like the Panthers to win this game 31-23.

San Francisco 49ers (-10.5) over the St. Louis Rams:  The San Francisco 49ers can lock up the #2 seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs with a win over the Rams.  I like them to get the job done today beating the Rams 27-3.

GOOD BETS:

Kansas City Chiefs (+3) over the Denver Broncos:  This is going to be Kyle Orton’s big shot at revenge as he can make the Broncos pay the ultimate price for cutting him earlier this year.  The Broncos need this game to get to the playoffs, but they won’t get it, as I see the Chiefs winning this game 23-17.

New York Giants (-3) over the Dallas Cowboys:  The Giants and Cowboys are playing a do or die game tonight.  The winner is the NFC East Champ and the loser is going home.  Tony Romo’s bruised hand and Felix Jones’ hamstring is going to hamper the Cowboys’ effort in trying to keep up with the Giants tonight.  I like the Giants to win this game 34-23.

Detroit Lions (-4) over the Green Bay Packers:  The Packers have nothing to play for except pride in this game.  That means it’s likely going to be Matt Flynn and the backups against Matt Stafford and the starters.  The Lions can wrap up the #5 seed with a win today and they will get it 31-20 over the Packers.

Indianapolis Colts (+3.5) over the Jacksonville Jaguars:  The Colts have won two games in a row and the Jaguars are struggling right now.  The Colts’ players are going to cost them the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by beating the Jags 20-17 this week.

DECENT PLAYS:

Cleveland Browns (+6.5) over the Pittsburgh Steelers:   The Browns are going to be inspired to pay the Steelers back for some of their cheap shots a couple of weeks ago.  The Steelers are going to be resting some players this weekend.  That plays into the Browns’ hands, but they are still going to lose 20-17.

Buffalo Bills (+10) over the New England Patriots:  The Bills beat the Patriots the first time around and they are going to keep things close again.  I like the Patriots to win this game 34-27, as the Bills are a serious threat for a backdoor cover in this game even if they fall behind early.

Philadelphia Eagles (-8) over the Washington Redskins:  The Eagles are playing great football lately.  In Pat Benatar’s words……It’s a little too little and it’s a little too late.  The Eagles will win this game 27-17.

TO CLOSE TO CALL:

Baltimore Ravens (-2) over the Cincinnati Bengals:  Both of these teams need this game and it’s likely to be a slobberknocker. I like the Ravens to win this game 20-17 in Cincy.

Houston Texans (+1.5) over the Tennessee Titans:  The Titans need this game for a  shot at the playoffs, while the Texans are locked into the #3 seed for the AFC Playoffs.  I like the Titans to win this game 21-20.

Chicago Bears (+1.5) over the Minnesota Vikings:  The Vikings will be at home and the Bears have pretty much given up lately.  I like the Vikings to win this game 17-16, but for the Bears to cover….barely.

Atlanta Falcons (-10.5) over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  The Falcons will likely be playing backups in this game (if the Lions beat the Packers earlier in the day), but they are still going to thump the hapless Tampa Bay Bucs.  I like the Falcons to win this game 27-16.

PUSH CITY:

Miami Dolphins (-3) over the New York Jets:  The Dolphins are going to ruin any chance of the overrated Jets making the playoffs today.  I like the Fins 23-20.

Oakland Raiders (-3) over the San Diego Chargers:  The Raiders have a shot at the playoffs with a win today, so I look for Carson Palmer to get them there.  I like the Raiders to win this game 33-30.

Arizona Cardinals (-3) over the Seattle Seahawks:  This is going to be a knock down, drag out street fight.  I like the Cardinals to win this game 23-20.

This could be the weekend of the underdog in the NFL this weekend….as far as covering the pointspread goes.  Here is how I see this weekend’s games against the spread:

STEALING MONEY:

Carolina Panthers (-7.5) over the Tampa Bay Buccaneeers - The Buccaneers have packed it in already this year.  That is not good news for them today as the Panthers are playing their best football of the season right now.  I like the Panthers to win this game 34-10!

Green Bay Packers (-11) over the Chicago Bears - The Packers are going to take this game very seriously, because the Bears are their most heated rival.  The Bears will be starting QB Josh McCown and RB Kahlil Bell tomorrow night, enough said.  I like the Packers to win this game 38-16.

NEXT BEST:

Philadelphia Eagles (+1) over the Dallas Cowboys - The “Dream Team” has finally shown up as the Eagles are playing well right now.  This is about the time that Tony Romo implodes as he never seems to play well when the games get big.  I like the Eagles 27-23 in this game and I would bet the money line.

Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5) over the Oakland Raiders - The Chiefs look like a new team with Romeo Crennel as the head coach and Kyle Orton as the starting QB.  The Chiefs popped the Raiders 28-0 in Oakland earlier this year.  This game is going to be closer though, with the Chiefs winning 27-20.

Washington Redskins (-6.5) over the Minnesota Vikings - The Redskins have been playing well lately, while the Vikings look lost.  The Redskins are going to win this game 27-16 today.

Atlanta Falcons (+7) over the New Orleans Saints - This is going to be one of the best games of the week in the NFL.  I like the Saints to win this game 33-30, but I like the Falcons to cover the pointspread.

NOT BAD:

Seattle Seahawks (+1.5) over the San Francisco 49ers - The Seahawks amazingly still have a chance to make the playoffs.  The 49ers could be in for a letdown after last Monday Night’s punishment of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I like the Seahawks to pull an upset and win this game 16-14.

Tennessee Titans (-7) over the Jacksonville Jaguars - It’s do or die time for the Titans as far as the playoffs go.  They won’t overlook the Jaguars this weekend after what happened to them in Indy last week.  I like the Titans to win 23-13.

San Diego Chargers (+2) over the Detroit Lions - No one is playing better than the San Diego Chargers right now.  I see them winning a shootout 31-30 over the Lions in the best game of the day.

CLOSE CALLS:

Pittsburgh Steelers (-10.5) over the St. Louis Rams - Sure, the Steelers are starting Charlie Batch at QB.  It won’t matter as the Steelers are going to run all over the Rams’ D and they are going to shut down the Rams’ O today.  I like the Steelers to win this game 20-7.

New York Giants (+3) over the New York Jets - This is going to be a very entertaining slugfest as these two teams don’t like each other.  I like the Jets to win this game 21-20, but for the Giants to cover.

Cleveland Browns (+11.5) over the Baltimore Ravens - The Browns aren’t going to win this game, but they are going to put up a good fight.  I like the Ravens to win this game 24-14.

Arizona Cardinals (+4.5) over the Cincinnati Bengals - The Cardinals have been playing outstanding football lately as they are making a late season playoff push.  The Bengals are pretty tough at home in the Jungle.  I look for the Bengals to win this game 20-17, but for the Cardinals to cover.

Miami Dolphins (+8.5) over the New England Patriots - The Dolphins are going to keep this game close due to the Patriots’ awful defense.  I like the Patriots to win this game 34-26.

PUSH CITY:

Denver Broncos (-3) over the Buffalo Bills - I look for Tim Tebow to pull some tricks out of his hat today.  I like the Broncos to win this game 20-17…..making it a push.