LL's Playoff Thread

[Livin' Large]

0-0

Took this weekend off so I could get a real good look at all 8 playoff teams. I will post my thoughts on next weekend's Divisional Playoff games in this thread.

Seattle -8.5
Indy -8.5
Chicago -3
Denver -3

Good luck!
LL

 

[hedgehog]

All favorites :scared :scared I will assure at least 2 underdogs will cover. Good luck...

 

[baby johnson]

those may jst be the posted lines

 

[Livin' Large]

Hedgehog, those are the opening lines. I would never play four favorites!

 

[Livin' Large]

First Thought

3 road teams won this past weekend. Home teams coming off a bye win at a very high percentage in the second round. Therefore, only one road team will win straight up this weekend. The question to research the rest of the week, is which dog will it be?

 

[Livin' Large]

Second Thought

I'm starting to think the Panthers are the dog who will win straight up. The Bears have too much pressure on their shoulders in this game.

1 - Division winner
2 - At home
3 - Inexperienced QB
4 - Inexperienced RB
5 - Inexperienced head coach
6 - Favored

The Bears were an underdog the first time these two teams met in Chicago. Now the roles have reversed. Chicago is in the same situation that Tampa Bay was in against Washington, except for the head coaching factor. We all saw what happened to the Bucs. Therefore, if Carolina is the only road team to win this weekend, that means Indy, Seattle and Denver advance. Now, on to the next question. Which one of those three favorites won't cover? Back with more later!

 

[toastonastick]

Second Thought

I'm starting to think the Panthers are the dog who will win straight up. The Bears have too much pressure on their shoulders in this game.

1 - Division winner
2 - At home
3 - Inexperienced QB
4 - Inexperienced RB
5 - Inexperienced head coach
6 - Favored

The Bears were an underdog the first time these two teams met in Chicago. Now the roles have reversed. Chicago is in the same situation that Tampa Bay was in against Washington, except for the head coaching factor. We all saw what happened to the Bucs. Therefore, if Carolina is the only road team to win this weekend, that means Indy, Seattle and Denver advance. Now, on to the next question. Which one of those three favorites won't cover? Back with more later!

Bears have pressure????? You have to be kidding. Oh yeah, they were pre-season Superbowl favs. Everyone had them picked. They haven't lived up to expectations, so the pressure is on.

Don't bash me to hard I'm a homer.

 

[Livin' Large]

Toast,

I admire your allegiance to the Bears! I have the ultimate respect for what Chicago has accomplished this season. However, when I said the pressure is on the Bears this weekend, I wasn't talking about pre-season expectations. I was talking about how the inexperienced Bears will handle a playoff game. Carolina knows what this is all about, Chicago doesn't. A totally different brand of football is played in the post-season. Also, do you really think the Chicago players are thinking, we weren't predicted to win our division so we have no pressure on us this weekend? No, they expect to win. They are the #2 seed in the NFC, they are at home, they are favored, and they already beat Carolina at home. They will feel the pressure, trust me! Good luck to you this weekend.

 

[Livin' Large]

Another thought, Carolina just totally shut down one of the top 4 running backs in the NFL (Barber). This put all the pressure on inexperienced Manning. The result was devastating for the Giants. If the Panthers can shut down Barber, don't you think they will have success stopping Jones? If so, all the pressure will then be on Grossman. That's not a pleasant thought if you're a Chicago fan!

 

[Dizzayton]

Don't you think NE is the most likely team to pull the upset? I personally like the dogs on Sat and Favs on Sunday. Good luck.

 

[Livin' Large]

It's official, I just laid my first wager of the post-season. Carolina's #4 ranked rush defense will stack the box with 8 or 9 guys, prevent Jones from doing anything significant, and force Grossman to beat them.

PANTHERS +3

 

[Livin' Large]

Dizzayton, no, I don't think New England is the most likely underdog to pull the upset. The Patriots were down by 25 at one point during the first meeting. They got manhandled! Don't let the final score fool you. Denver is undefeated at home, mentally and physically rested, and extremely confident. Dillon and the Patriots average 3.4 yards per rush. That won't get it done in the playoffs. New England can't air it out all day long and expect to get a road victory against a formidable opponent.

 

[Mjolnir]

i totally agree on panthers. i think i'm one of the few who are still blinded by the pats mystique. i havent followed denver this year, i like plummer, but when you stack up the teams and then the coach, i gotta back pats. i think i might do them as a ml bet. of course i have several days to change my mind. the weather certaintly isnt going to bother pats. gl everybody.

 

[Livin' Large]

Second play is now in. Don't let the hook deter you from playing Denver on Saturday. The Broncos will win by double digits. Again, no running game, equals no road win in the playoffs.

BRONCOS -3.5

 

[Livin' Large]

When the Colts take the field on Sunday, the big four (Manning, Harrison, James, Wayne) will play their first full game since losing to San Diego. Rest is always good, but that's too much rest! Pittsburgh will run the football to keep Indy's high-powered offense off the field. This will shorten the game, and it will allow the Steelers to hang around until the end. I think Indy will find a way to win in the end, but the 9.5 points are a gift.

STEELERS +9.5

 

[Livin' Large]

Seattle and Washington, there has been much debate over this game since Saturday. The Skins must be dead tired, physically, mentally and emotionally. Sean Taylor drained some of the positive energy Washington had on its side when he spit in Pittman's face. The Hawks will be out for revenge on Saturday, and they will get it. Alexander will have more success running on the Skins then he did in the first meeting. Hasselbeck, Jackson, Jurevicius, Engram and Stevens will shred Washington's inexperienced secondary to pieces when necessary. Gibbs and the coaching staff have done an amazing job with this team, but a cross-country trip to Seattle will be the final nail in the coffin for the Skins!

SEAHAWKS -9

 

[Livin' Large]

2-0

Carolina +3 now becomes my Game of the Year!

 

[Livin' Large]

3-0

Carolina for the sweep!

 

[Livin' Large]

4-0

SWEEP!

 

[Livin' Large]

PLAYOFFS: (4-0)

Opening lines:

Seattle -5'
Denver -3'

A lot of work to be done this week before pulling the trigger.

Good luck!
LL