2014 Wild Card Weekend Discussion and opinion thread

[st bobby]

I have looked at the games and I like all 4 underdogs. I think Dallas is over valued as they have destroyed last 3 opponents. Baltimore is about even with Pitt and Baltimore on paper is better running team. Cincy defense vs Luck. And Carolina is overvalued since they won big last week and Arizona has injuries. What is everyones elses takes? Lets get some opinions in here and debate every game like they make the point spreads and see if we can come out with 4 for 4 or 3 for 4 this weekend.

[st bobby]

Remember no opinion is wrong till after the game. Lets get them out here and discuss every angle of every game. This could be a profitable thread if we get everyone to participate.

PLUS I HAVE SOME SPARE TIME CAUSE THIS BOWL GAME ON TV ONLY ONE TEAM CAME TO PLAY. I HAVE THE WRONG SIDE SO I AM DOING OTHER THINGS THAN WATCHING THIS DEBACLE.

[CheCheBoFumbe]

First thoughts, may change my mind because I haven't looked real close yet.

Carolina
Baltimore
Indy
Detroit

[st bobby]

Its a good start. Mid week we should all make a case for each team we like. Then take it from there. No arguments but constructive discussions please. Each one of us are good handicappers. We just may value a stat or trend more than we should and this should help us all value the games how they should be valued. Right or Wrong. LOL. I am hopeful that this could be a great thing and something we can continue to do. Atleast through the playoffs. We can name it the cappers of the roundtable each week and open for discussion.

[st bobby]

We all want each other to win. We are all on the same side. I notice its nice to say good luck and all Im on that side as well. But we don't tend to say I am on the opposite side. Maybe that could be good. Nobody is 100%. But lets say if we are on the wrong side and having a discussion of why you like the team vs. why I do could get both on the right side. It isn't gonna be fool proof cause I know people will be pissed if on the right side and talked into the losing side. But if you look at the long term goal we want to win 53%. Unlikely to hit better than 60%. If we don't get mad over the short term and see what effect this has long term then we can have something going. We can get moderators to keep a rolling record of all agreements to see what we end up with.

[jcindaville]

Like
Cincy
Zona
Lions
Steelers

[jcindaville]

I think the colts blow.

Can't back a team with a losing record, love the Zona D!

Don't trust Romo in a big game.

Ravens just don't seem right, something appears wrong with them

[BigWeiner]

I like Cincy with the points. Pitt has some serious injury issues but I don't like Balt so I'm not touching that one. I'm teasing Detroit with the over in that one. Carolina is gross but cant back Cards with no QB or RB.

[kbsooner21]

Cowboys and Romo are playing better than anyone in the league minus the Seahawks right now. I guess none of these games down the stretch has been big for Romo? I guess none of the road games in which they won every road game this year wasn't big for Romo? Not sure what else the guy needs to do. Detroit can't hardly score and with Suh being suspended, Dallas is going to destroy them. Offensive line will dominate and Murray with run for 100+ imo.

Le'Veon Bell's knee will determine the Pitt game imo. If he comes out and is 100%, Pitt wins the game handily. If he comes out favoring the knee, I give the edge to Balty. I agree with the Ravens seemingly off. They just don't seem like the normal Baltimore team to me. I say that with not having watched them very much though this year.

Cincy D is playing great down the stretch. Dalton is the QB I can't trust in a big game yet though. A.J. Green injury could be huge too. Colts sputtered down the stretch. Don't really have much of a run game. T.Y. Hilton injury/status is a concern. Right now I'd lean to the points as I think it's a fg game either way.

Carolina stinks. Arizona now stinks with Lindley at QB. Not sure I could play this game with a gun to my head.

[st bobby]

Detroit +7 Dallas has throttled the last 3 teams they played. Detroit got beat at Green Bay again. But Detroit has a great run defense allowing 3.4 yards per rush to slow Dallas rushing game. Dallas allows 4.6 yards per rush. Detroit will control the ground game and the clock wearing out the Dallas defense. Which will come in handy since they only average 5.8 yards per pass attempt. They need to keep the ball away from Dallas with ball control. Dallas may win but I think Dallas is overvalued at 7 here. Detroit also played a tougher schedule.

Cincy +4 Cincy has the way better defense. Allowing 3.8 yards per rush and 6.3 per pass attempt. Indy allows 4.4 per rush and that is what Cincy wants to do. I think that cincy grinds out long drives and eats the clock. Indy likes to pass but Cincy can also slow that down.

1/3

Baltimore +3 Baltimore averages 5 yards per rush and Pitt allows 4.5 per rush. That spells disaster for Pitt. Pitt will have success passing the ball when they get it but Baltimore should win this game outright. They are from same division and know each other well. I think this game is what we are used to seeing from these two. Tight game no more than 3 point difference.

Arizona +4.5 Arizona is battle tested playing a much tougher schedule than Carolina. Arizona gets a small edge in the rushing department as Carolina allows 4.6 yards per rush. That will be very helpful since Arizona is so banged up at QB. Ill take Arizona over the team that won a division with a sub 500 record.

I have a friend that plays a system in the playoffs that he has done well I believe. I don't follow it cause I kinda think it is funny but from what I hear it works and he has been doing it for over 10 years. Whatever covers game 1, dog/fave, he bets the opposite in game two. So with his system he says it won't be 4 dogs. So for shits and giggles if I had to pick a favorite each day I would pick Pittsburgh since they have such an edge in passing. The avg 8.6 yards per attempt while Detroit avgs 6.5 Quite and edge there. On sunday Id take Dallas since they have an edge in the passing game of 2 yards per attempt.

[st bobby]

So far all agree with Cincy +4. The others are kinda up in the air so far. Arizona maybe. Dallas/Detroit no preference yet but a great Thanksgiving matchup. Baltimore/Pitt is up in the air yet. Can anyone make a case for either team in those other matchups?

[ravenmaniac]

I think the colts blow.

Can't back a team with a losing record, love the Zona D!

Don't trust Romo in a big game.

Ravens just don't seem right, something appears wrong with them

Something is wrong with them. Try 18 players on injured reserve. They are on their 4th and 5th string DBs. One of their starters this weekend at DB, Rashad Melvin was signed off the Miami Dolphin practice squad about 3 weeks ago. Since both teams had 20 point blowout wins this year against each other this year I look for an old fashioned Ravens/Steelers defensive game something like 20-17

[ravenmaniac]

Tough games to call.

Carolina/Zona. Herd to bet on a team with a 7-8-1 record but also hard to bet on Lindley at QB for the Cards
Ravens/Steelers. Bell being out is going to have a major impact on the outcome of this game. However Flacco has really looked bad the last few weeks. In addition they are calling for rain/snow Saturday nigh which should add to the excitement.
Colts/Cincy Another hard game to call. Luck hasn't played well recently and I sure don't trust Andy Dalton in these situations.
Dallas/Detroit. Hard to pull the trigger on Romo and the Cowboys who have 1 playoff win since 1997. However Detroit has problems and I don't trust Jim Caldwell as head coach.

Will take one or two games but not really sure who at this time.

[jcindaville]

Cowboys and Romo are playing better than anyone in the league minus the Seahawks right now. I guess none of these games down the stretch has been big for Romo? I guess none of the road games in which they won every road game this year wasn't big for Romo? Not sure what else the guy needs to do. Detroit can't hardly score and with Suh being suspended, Dallas is going to destroy them. Offensive line will dominate and Murray with run for 100+ imo.

Le'Veon Bell's knee will determine the Pitt game imo. If he comes out and is 100%, Pitt wins the game handily. If he comes out favoring the knee, I give the edge to Balty. I agree with the Ravens seemingly off. They just don't seem like the normal Baltimore team to me. I say that with not having watched them very much though this year.

Cincy D is playing great down the stretch. Dalton is the QB I can't trust in a big game yet though. A.J. Green injury could be huge too. Colts sputtered down the stretch. Don't really have much of a run game. T.Y. Hilton injury/status is a concern. Right now I'd lean to the points as I think it's a fg game either way.

Carolina stinks. Arizona now stinks with Lindley at QB. Not sure I could play this game with a gun to my head.

No..... They aren't big. Win a playoff game, those are big

[kbsooner21]

No..... They aren't big. Win a playoff game, those are big

Dallas hasn't been to the playoffs since 2009. What big games are you talking about the last 5 years then?