NFC CHAMPIONSHIP:
I'll start with a rehash of what I have said all season: They were a prime suspect coming into the season, and IMHO the Philadelphia Eagles have shown that Super Bowl look. From the opening bell, the bigger the game was for them, the more likely it was going to be that my money would be on Philadelphia, until there was some convincing evidence to the contrary. On the whole, my faith in the Eagles has been justified and profitably rewarded. Philadelphia is the best coached team in the league and has been for several years - it's as simple as that. The Eagles became a better team after Donovan McNabb went down and having McNabb back and leading his team with his customary flair is nothing more than what I expected.
Tampa Bay under Gruden has been sound and solid and confident throughout, and the Tampa backers can make a case that these are not the Buccaneers of yore. On the other hand, it would take a while for you to convince me that Tampa is superior in any area, and these teams have gone at it enough for me to expect a highly focused group of Eagle's to be at their best today with their ability to manage the moment and make as many and whatever big plays are needed to earn a championship. When it comes to this being the time for Tampa to move the Philadelphia mountain that stands in their way, my money and a good deal more of me believes that it will be the Buccaneers that will be left out in the cold.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/4979022.html
( - - "We want to put pressure, not only physical, but mental pressure on the offense," (defensive coordinator Jim) Johnson said, "so they have to worry about us. That's still one of our main goals. We still try to factor in [the offense's] weakness, wherever it may be, but we still want to have our basic stuff. We want to put mental pressure on the quarterback, on the blocking scheme, whatever it is."
- - "I think Coach Johnson has come up with a few schemes that they're not able to block," (linebacker Carlos) Emmons said. "It's enabled us to get some pressure on them, and they haven't been able to adjust to it. It goes back to the schemes we've had. They've seemed to have trouble picking up the blitzes we've run against them. That's kept them in long-yardage situations. They've given up sacks and negative yards." )
It was noted elsewhere in this forum that the last ten teams that played a conference championship game on the road the prior year and hosted the championship game the following year have a perfect 10-0 record SU and ATS. You might call them teams that have that Super Bowl look.
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AFC CHAMPIONSHIP:
Tennessee has shown plenty of heart (and lately a chip on their shoulder) in riding the singular heroics of Steve McNair to overcome adversity all season long and arrive at the doorstep of the Super Bowl. The Raiders have shown no less character in the long road to this point and know well the feeling of how their last two seasons ended. I expect the sagacious Raider's veterans will be prepared in all necessary respects to win this game on home turf. I am inclined enough toward the Raiders to speculate with my wager that the circumstances of today's game are not far removed from the mold of championship games decided by more than one score.
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POST SEASON RECORD: 3-5 (-2.00*)
- - I played those eight selections a number of different ways to the tune of 11.5 units worth of wagers, and changing two strong initial leans at more or less the last moment for what I knew were insubstantial reasons has brought me to the place where I didn't want to be, which is a postseason that has been and still is only one team deep.
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY:
Philadelphia(-3)(-130) for 2.5*
Oakland(-7)(-120) for 1.5*
I'll see what fun I can have with these:
PARLAY: Philadelphia(-4 and Un34) and Oakland (-8 and Ov46') for 0.50* @ 11.5/1
PARLAY: Philadelphia(-4 and Ov33') and Oakland(-8 and Un46') for 0.50* @ 13/1
GL
I'll start with a rehash of what I have said all season: They were a prime suspect coming into the season, and IMHO the Philadelphia Eagles have shown that Super Bowl look. From the opening bell, the bigger the game was for them, the more likely it was going to be that my money would be on Philadelphia, until there was some convincing evidence to the contrary. On the whole, my faith in the Eagles has been justified and profitably rewarded. Philadelphia is the best coached team in the league and has been for several years - it's as simple as that. The Eagles became a better team after Donovan McNabb went down and having McNabb back and leading his team with his customary flair is nothing more than what I expected.
Tampa Bay under Gruden has been sound and solid and confident throughout, and the Tampa backers can make a case that these are not the Buccaneers of yore. On the other hand, it would take a while for you to convince me that Tampa is superior in any area, and these teams have gone at it enough for me to expect a highly focused group of Eagle's to be at their best today with their ability to manage the moment and make as many and whatever big plays are needed to earn a championship. When it comes to this being the time for Tampa to move the Philadelphia mountain that stands in their way, my money and a good deal more of me believes that it will be the Buccaneers that will be left out in the cold.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/4979022.html
( - - "We want to put pressure, not only physical, but mental pressure on the offense," (defensive coordinator Jim) Johnson said, "so they have to worry about us. That's still one of our main goals. We still try to factor in [the offense's] weakness, wherever it may be, but we still want to have our basic stuff. We want to put mental pressure on the quarterback, on the blocking scheme, whatever it is."
- - "I think Coach Johnson has come up with a few schemes that they're not able to block," (linebacker Carlos) Emmons said. "It's enabled us to get some pressure on them, and they haven't been able to adjust to it. It goes back to the schemes we've had. They've seemed to have trouble picking up the blitzes we've run against them. That's kept them in long-yardage situations. They've given up sacks and negative yards." )
It was noted elsewhere in this forum that the last ten teams that played a conference championship game on the road the prior year and hosted the championship game the following year have a perfect 10-0 record SU and ATS. You might call them teams that have that Super Bowl look.
---------- ---------- ----------
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP:
Tennessee has shown plenty of heart (and lately a chip on their shoulder) in riding the singular heroics of Steve McNair to overcome adversity all season long and arrive at the doorstep of the Super Bowl. The Raiders have shown no less character in the long road to this point and know well the feeling of how their last two seasons ended. I expect the sagacious Raider's veterans will be prepared in all necessary respects to win this game on home turf. I am inclined enough toward the Raiders to speculate with my wager that the circumstances of today's game are not far removed from the mold of championship games decided by more than one score.
---------- ---------- ----------
POST SEASON RECORD: 3-5 (-2.00*)
- - I played those eight selections a number of different ways to the tune of 11.5 units worth of wagers, and changing two strong initial leans at more or less the last moment for what I knew were insubstantial reasons has brought me to the place where I didn't want to be, which is a postseason that has been and still is only one team deep.
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY:
Philadelphia(-3)(-130) for 2.5*
Oakland(-7)(-120) for 1.5*
I'll see what fun I can have with these:
PARLAY: Philadelphia(-4 and Un34) and Oakland (-8 and Ov46') for 0.50* @ 11.5/1
PARLAY: Philadelphia(-4 and Ov33') and Oakland(-8 and Un46') for 0.50* @ 13/1
GL
