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Cards (+7) over Saints-x

After last year's magical run to the Super Bowl, not many thought that Kurt Warner had another one in him, but after watching his performance against Green Bay last week, it looks like he does.

Every throw, every handoff, every play call, seemed perfect. He was 29 of 33 for 379 yards and FIVE touchdowns. He had MORE TD's than incompletions.

Wow! Last season, he guided Arizona to four straight covers in the playoffs, and with last week's W, he is now riding a 5-0 post-season spread streak.

Nothing seems to rattle him, and New Orleans doesn't have the defense to start. The Saints are 25th in total defense (357 yards per game) and 20th in points allowed (21.3 per). And coming in with three straight losses, an 0-5 spread run, and having covered only two of the last 10, makes this an easy play to the underdog.

Actually, it makes this baby a BEST BET!

 

Ravens (+6.5) over Colts-x

Rested or rusted? That's the 2000 pound gorilla in the room.

Was it smart for Indianapolis to swat away a chance at a perfect season in order to rest the starters for the Super Bowl run? We'll find out.

One thing we DO know for sure, is Joe Flacco can win a playoff game. As a rookie, Flacco guided Baltimore to the AFC title game, and is off to a hell of a start with a gorgeous 33-14 win over New England last week. Of course, the Patriots were just a shell of the great teams that Tom Brady took to the Super Bowl, but still, a road win is very impressive.

These two hooked up in Baltimore back in November, and the Colts squeezed out a 17-15 victory. But the Horseshoes HAVE NOT had much success recently with a first round bye in the playoffs, going 0-3 since 1999.

With a superb running game, and a fearless QB, we expect the Ravens to stay within a field goal to the final gun.

 

Cowboys (+3) over Vikings-x

We went shopping today in Vegas and found a couple of plus three's at the Mirage and the Hilton, so we're buying Dallas. Still woulda bought at +2.5, but +3 always looks stronger.

Speaking of strong, you really can't fade the Cowboys. They have won four in a row, straight up and against the spread, and Tony Romo is actually oozing confidence and weapons. In that four game run, the'Boys outscored the opposition 99-31, Romo completed 66.7% of his passes, and spread 12 TD's around to three running backs and five receivers. Having eight legit scoring options has really made life easy for Romo, and impossible for opposing defenses.

The scary thing, the unknown, is Brett Favre.

For the most part, he has been fabulous this season, but this agile, speedy and agressive Dallas defense could make him miserable.

 

Jets (+7.5) over Chargers-x

New York comes to the Left coast having won six of the last seven where San Diego is waiting with an 11 game winning streak.

This is nothing new to the Chargers who came into the 2006 playoffs on a 10-0 run and lost at home to New England in the divisional round. The Lightning Bolts also had an 8-0 run to close out the 2007 season, and were bounced out of the playoffs by the Patriots, a team from...the AFC East.

Everyone keeps questioning the Jets and head coach Rex Ryan, but they just keep rolling. With the NFL's number ONE rushing game (172 yards per game), the number ONE scoring defense (14.8 ppg) and the number ONE overall defense (252 ypg), ya gotta believe that the New Yorkers can hang.

We DO expect San Diego to squeeze out a win at home, where they have a fabulous 28-7 record the last four years, but the final margin should DEFINITELY be under a touchdown.

 

x-home team

Last week: 1-3

Season record: 123-119-2

 

NFL 2009 Playoffs Divisional Weekend Latest Line

 

Favorite	Points	Underdog
Source: J. McCarthy
NEW ORLEANS	7 (57)	Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS	6 1/2 (44)	Baltimore
MINNESOTA	3 (46)	Dallas
SAN DIEGO	7 1/2 (42)	NY Jets

Baltimore is 10-2 vs. the spread its last 12 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in the previous game. The Ravens are also 7-2 vs. the spread their last nine playoff road games. Head coach John Harbaugh is a solid 14-1 straight-up and 13-2 vs. the spread when facing an opponent coming off a straight-up loss. This includes a perfect 10-0 vs. the spread if his team is coming off a win. Seven of the Colts 14 wins were by four points or less this season.

Take Baltimore +6 1/2 for another Best Bet winner.

 

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Kurt Warner

NFL's Great 8 Take Center Stage In Divisional Playoffs
NFL 2009 Playoffs Divisional Weekend Preview

The NFL 2009 Season is down to its "Great Eight" as the Divisional Round of the NFL 2009 Playoffs. On Saturday the Cardinals take on the Saints in New Orleans while the Ravens travel to Indianapolis to meet the Colts. On Sunday, the Cowboys are on the road against the Vikings while the Jets head west to face the San Diego Chargers. Here's a preview of this weekend's playoff games

What to Look For
NFL 2009 Playoffs Divisional Weekend Preview

Since the NFL moved to a 12-team playoff format in 1990, No.1 seeds in the NFC are 17-2 (.895) in the Divisional Playoffs. However, the NFC top seed has lost in the Divisional round in each of the past two seasons. Plus more NFL Playoff facts, figures and milestones.

NFL 2009 Playoffs: Super Season Kicks Off
NFL 2009 Playoff Statistics

The NFL playoffs begin on Saturday and Sunday, January 9-10, with Divisional Weekend. On Saturday, the New York Jets play at the Cincinnati Bengals (NBC, 4:30 PM ET) and the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Dallas Cowboys (NBC, 8:00 PM ET). Divisional Weekend continues Sunday with the Baltimore Ravens at the New England Patriots (CBS, 1:00 PM ET) and the Green Bay Packers traveling to face the Arizona Cardinals (FOX, 4:40 PM ET).

NFL 2009 Playoffs: It's Playoff Time
NFL 2009 Playoffs Divisional Weekend Preview

'You can throw the records out now,' says New York Jets tackle DAMIEN WOODY. 'Once you get into the playoffs, it doesn't matter what you did in the regular season. Everybody is 0-0 right now. We're just glad we're one of the 12 teams to have an opportunity to play for it all. We're ready to go.' The NFL 2009 playoffs, which conclude on February 7 with Super Bowl XLIV, begin with Divisional Weekend.

NFL 2009 Divisional Weekend: What to Look For
NFL 2009 Playoffs Divisional Weekend

Winners in the Divisional round have won the Super Bowl six times, and at least one Super Bowl participant in each of the past four years played a Divisional game.

 

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