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Saturday NFL Playoffs.........
These are my plays for Saturday's playoff games............
5 STAR: NEW ENGLAND (-6) OVER Tennessee
Tennessee comes into this game banged up against a rested Patriots team that is a perfect 8-0 straight up and against the spread at home. McNair showed some rust last week against the Ravens, but they still managed to get the job done and advance in the playoffs. I don't see similar results for them this week against defensive genius Bill Belichick. There are not many coaches that can devise a better game plan With two weeks to prepare than Belichick. I look for the Pats to force a few turnovers in this one and I don't see Tennessee coming close to putting up the 30 points that they scored against New England in a 38-30 loss earlier this season. The Patriots are 13-1 against the spread in their last 14 games, while Tennessee is on a 2-5 against the spread slide. Teams that advance out of the Wild Card Round are only 12-23-1 against the spread in the next round since 1995 and teams that won their wild card game on the road (as Tennessee did) have had it especially tough, going just 2-6 against the spread in the next round. The weather should also play into New England's hands, Tennessee hasn't played a game in below-freezing temperatures since 2001, when they dropped both of those games straight up and against the spreads. New England on the other hand, is 3-0 this season when playing in games where the temperature is below the 32-degree mark. Look for New England to get it done here!
2 STAR: ST. LOUIS (-7.5) OVER Carolina
The Panthers have had a great season, and played great last week against the Cowboys, but don't be fooled into taking the points in this one. Carolina has a great defense, but they will not be able to shutdown the Rams attack at home on the turf, nor will they be able to match scores with the Rams with their grind it out offense. Carolina also falls into the negative trend of teams that advance out of the Wild Card Round, where they are only 12-23-1 against the spread in the next round since 1995. Carolina has had quite a turn around this season, but playoff road teams that had a losing season last year are only 5-32 straight up and 13-23-1 against the spread. The Rams most likely thought they had home field advantage wrapped up before playing Detroit two weeks ago in an uninspired effort that cost them that home field advantage, but look for them to be very focused in this game. Rested teams that play their first playoff game when coming off of a straight up and against the spread loss are a solid 19-8 against the spread. The Panthers ended the season on a 1-4 against the spread slide, while St. Louis is a solid 6-1 against the spread in their last 7 home games. I like the Rams big in this one!
5 STAR: NEW ENGLAND (-6) OVER Tennessee
Tennessee comes into this game banged up against a rested Patriots team that is a perfect 8-0 straight up and against the spread at home. McNair showed some rust last week against the Ravens, but they still managed to get the job done and advance in the playoffs. I don't see similar results for them this week against defensive genius Bill Belichick. There are not many coaches that can devise a better game plan With two weeks to prepare than Belichick. I look for the Pats to force a few turnovers in this one and I don't see Tennessee coming close to putting up the 30 points that they scored against New England in a 38-30 loss earlier this season. The Patriots are 13-1 against the spread in their last 14 games, while Tennessee is on a 2-5 against the spread slide. Teams that advance out of the Wild Card Round are only 12-23-1 against the spread in the next round since 1995 and teams that won their wild card game on the road (as Tennessee did) have had it especially tough, going just 2-6 against the spread in the next round. The weather should also play into New England's hands, Tennessee hasn't played a game in below-freezing temperatures since 2001, when they dropped both of those games straight up and against the spreads. New England on the other hand, is 3-0 this season when playing in games where the temperature is below the 32-degree mark. Look for New England to get it done here!
2 STAR: ST. LOUIS (-7.5) OVER Carolina
The Panthers have had a great season, and played great last week against the Cowboys, but don't be fooled into taking the points in this one. Carolina has a great defense, but they will not be able to shutdown the Rams attack at home on the turf, nor will they be able to match scores with the Rams with their grind it out offense. Carolina also falls into the negative trend of teams that advance out of the Wild Card Round, where they are only 12-23-1 against the spread in the next round since 1995. Carolina has had quite a turn around this season, but playoff road teams that had a losing season last year are only 5-32 straight up and 13-23-1 against the spread. The Rams most likely thought they had home field advantage wrapped up before playing Detroit two weeks ago in an uninspired effort that cost them that home field advantage, but look for them to be very focused in this game. Rested teams that play their first playoff game when coming off of a straight up and against the spread loss are a solid 19-8 against the spread. The Panthers ended the season on a 1-4 against the spread slide, while St. Louis is a solid 6-1 against the spread in their last 7 home games. I like the Rams big in this one!
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