I usually make my picks on Thursday but to be honest, I needed a little extra time this week to try and sort out things in the NFL Playoffs before making any hasty decisions. It seems like it was only a few years back when you could count on the favorites in the playoffs but the Cardinals and Ravens continue to prove things have changed by posting back-to-back upsets.

After breaking down the two matchups every way I could think of, I could still envision scenarios that had each of the four teams winning so I did what all good "handicappers" do when in doubt: copy a proven winner's formula. So, as the posts came in from various Beat The Blogger regulars, I kept my eye out for one in particular. I figured after winning four different weeks (I'm running out of photos to send her), Beat The Blogger star "Nancy" was the person I should hitch my wagon to. Unfortunately for me and fortunately for the rest of you, "Nancy" hasn't posted her picks yet so I'm foced to go it alone and hope for the best. Besides, you'd figure she has to cool down sooner or later, right?

I'm a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan dating back to my childhood when my bedroom was decked out in nothing but black and gold, but I will admit I'm a little leery about a team beating another team three times in the same year. Despite my reservations about the three-peat factor and the fact that I typically don't allow myself to make picks based on what my heart says vs. what my head tells me, I'm going with the Steelers anyway. Not just because I'm a big fan but because the Ravens are dinged up a little right now and those teams are so evenly matched that I think the injury factor could be the difference.
Predictions
Pittsburgh 27-17
Arizona 31-17

Here are the Beat The Blogger picks for the week so you know what you're up against. Good luck.

Syracuse over Notre Dame
Wake Forest over Clemson
Pittsburgh over Louisville
UCLA over Arizona St.
Kidd (points/assists) over Deron Williams (points)
Chris Paul over Allen Iverson (points)
Baltimore +6 over Pittsburgh
Over
Arizona +4 over Philadelphia
Under