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

I recently got a press release from Upper Deck touting their latest Insert card which provides collectors with exactly what they've been searching for ever since the Paleolithic Era: cards with dinosaur teeth and bones embedded in them. Finally, a product I can sink my teeth into. Sorry, about that one, it was just too easy.

The 2008-09 version of Champs Hockey will be the lucky product to feature this revolutionary concept. I'm guessing it won't be long before the set rules the hobby in much the same way as the Tyrannosaurus Rex ruled the Earth back in the Cretaceous Period. Really? Dinosaur teeth? Is this some type of proactive April Fool's Day joke or does the cardmaker actually believe this is going to generate a buzz?

(Here's an excerpt from the press release minus the attribution identifying who said it because I'm assuming the person is still embarrassed after having to stand behind such a ridiculous statement in the first place.) 

“The 2008-09 Champ’s Hockey product is a perfect vessel to deliver something truly unique like this to the hobby. When we saw these pieces coming in, everybody was in awe. The inclusion of these cards in this hockey release helps bring the Ice Age to the ice.”

Ice Age to the ice, get it? Now that line might just be the only good thing to come out of this whole "innovation."

To be fair, I realize it's getting tougher and tougher to come up with new and creative ways to tempt the collecting public but this ain't one of them. We've already had hair, teeth and bones to go along with gloves, jerseys, bats, balls and shoes inserted into cards. What's next: game-used underwear swatches? I'll pass on those, too.  

The following are this week's Beat The Blogger matchups. As always, make your picks using the point spreads provided (if needed) and make sure you get your selections posted at least 1/2 hour before the start of the first game (11 a.m. Saturday, Jan 17). Also remember to designate your "doubler" pick which will get you one additional point added to your total if picked correctly. If someone can post a perfect score of 11 they will be win (2) 8-by-10 signed photos. If not, the highest total of those entries that Beat The Blogger's total will win the week's contest. The Blogger's picks will be posted on Thursday so make sure you check back to see what your up against. Good luck.

Saturday, Jan. 17                       YOU MAKE THE CALL
College Basketball
Notre Dame at Syracuse
Wake Forest at Clemson
Pittsburgh at Louisville
Arizona St. at UCLA
Saturday, Jan. 17
NBA Basketball
Which will be higher?
Jason Kidd (Dallas) Points + Assists total
vs. Deron Williams (Utah) Point total
Who will score more points?
Chris Paul (New Orleans) or Allen Iverson (Detroit)
Sunday, Jan.18
NFL Playoffs
Baltimore +6 at Pittsburgh
Total Points (34) Over or Under
Philadelphia -4 at Arizona
Total Points (48) Over or Under
 
 

Just wanted to share a few thoughts I had about this weekend's NFL matchups and the league in general.

It's January so it must be time to ponder if Brett Favre will return next year. Personally, I hope he does just so the last memories we fans have of him are throwing tight spirals to closely covered receivers rather than throwing wobbly ducks into the waiting arms of defensive lineman, but that's just me.

While I am a big fan of Favre because I'm a Packer fan and I remember the David Whitehurst and Randy Wright eras, I'm not one of those fanatical Favre followers who is blind to his shortcomings (locking onto one receiver, forcing the issue instead of simply throwing it away, and perhaps most discouraging, his inability to co-exist with fellow players in the locker room much like Barry Bonds) and only focusses on the Hall of Fame abilities (cannon arm, never-say-die attitude no matter the score and good ole boy personality) he used to display with regularity.

Because of his God-like status in Wisconsin and with much of the American media, Favre has been given a free pass for much of his career, but I do enjoy the fact that people are now starting to see the many flaws that have been hushed in the past. For those of us who have followed his career closely, the recent remarks made by his Jets teammates regarding the special treatment he received and how he couldn't or wouldn't interact with teammates was nothing new. Favre has been doing those same things for many years now but his former teammates in Green Bay would never share the information because they'd be run out of town faster than well, Favre was after last season's bumbled renegotiations. Favre's shortcomings were treated in Green Bay much like a boys weekend in Vegas or a night out at the Fight Club and that's because the man was bigger than the franchise for a while there and nobody wanted to risk upsetting the franchise.

So while I'm still a big fan of the man from Mississippi, I enjoy the fact the truth about him is now becoming common knowledge because let's be honest, nobody and I mean nobody, is as perfect as the media would've had you believe.

In other NFL news, looks like LaDainian Tomlinson's injured groin will keep him from playing against the Steelers. I'm guessing many Pittsburgh fans out there are confused by their thoughts of sadness regarding his injury status. For years, opposing defenses have prayed LT would get dinged up and miss their matchup, nowadays, they'd likely rather face the shell-of-his-former-self LT than they would an emrging superstar in Darren Sproles.
Prediction: Steelers 23-17

Common sense makes me want to go with the Titans this week against the Ravens because rookie QBs usually struggle in the playoffs (see Matt Ryan last week), but my gut tells me Joe Flacco and the Ravens will pull the upset. As long as Flacco doesn't get carried away and try to single-handedly win the game, I think the Ravens defense will have no problem shutting down the offensively challenged, one-dimensional Titans.
Prediction: Baltimore 26, Tennessee 16

The Eagles late-season surge has many believing they're peaking at the right time but the Philly offense has trouble sustaining drives and managing the clock and that will play right into the hand's of the Giants. Just remember, just because they haven't played in a while doesn't mean they aren't the same team that many regarded as the best team in the league all season long.
Prediction: NY 27, Philly 24

If Anquan Boldin was healthy I would have no problem taking the Cards in an upset special but it appears the Pro Bowl receiver could miss this week's matchup and that's a major cause for concern in Arizona. I'm not sold on Jake Delhomme and the Panthers passing game but I think home field and the Panthers 1-2 punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will be enough to hold off Kurt Warner and Arizona.
Prediction: Carolina 27-21

Here are the Blogger's picks for this week's matchups. Make sure you get your picks posted by 3 p.m. (CT) on Saturday to be eligible to win. Good luck.

Baltimore +4 over Tennessee
Over 34.5
Arizona +10 over Carolina
Under 48.5
Philadelphia +4 over NY Giants
Over 40
Pittsburgh -6 over San Diego
Over 37.5
Kobe
Howard (Doubler)

This week's Beat the Blogger matchups will feature a heavy dose of NFL games and a pair of proposition picks. All of the games will be on Saturday and Sunday so we should have our weekly winner determined by Monday morning assuming somebody can Beat The Blogger's total.
                                              You Make The Call
As always, make sure to get your picks posted by 1/2 before the start of the first game, which is the Baltimore at Tennessee game, set to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. (CT) on Saturday. Also remember to designate your "Doubler" pick which is the selection you feel most confident in. If you get your "Doubler" pick correct, you get two points awarded to your total. I'll post my picks on Thursday so you know what you're up against. To enter, click on the "Comments" section on this post or do the same to the post I make Thursday with the Blogger picks. Good luck.

NFL Playoffs
Jan. 10
1. Baltimore +4 at Tennessee
2. Total Points Scored Baltimore vs. Tennessee (34.5) Pick Over or Under
3. Arizona +10 at Carolina
4. Total Points Scored Arizona vs. Carolina (48.5) Pick Over or Under
Jan. 11
5. Philadelphia +4 at NY Giants
6. Total Points Scored Philadelphia vs. NY Giants (40) Pick Over or Under
7. San Diego +6 at Pittsburgh
8. Total Points Scored San Diego vs. Pittsburgh (37.5) Pick Over or Under
Jan. 11
NBA
9. Who will score more points?
Dwyane Wade (Miami) or Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles)
10. Who will have more rebounds?
Tim Duncan (San Antonio) or Dwight Howard (Orlando)

Just got done reading the AP NFL Player of the Year results and while I agree with the pick of Drew Brees, I can't for the life of me understand how Brees didn't receive one single vote in the MVP balloting (Peyton Manning won his third such award).

Both awards are voted on by a panel of nationwide media members which makes the results even more puzzling because these are the guys that cover the teams on a weekly basis. How can a guy be named the MVP of the league by a whopping 32-4 vote and then finish second in the POY voting, 22-9? And how can the POY not receive a single vote in the MVP balloting? It makes about as much sense as the Vikings naming Tavaris Jackson their starter in the playoffs.

And while I don't agree with the shared philosophy of many that the MVP has to come from a winning team, let's not forget that Brees and the Saints came withing two points of reaching the playoffs, and the fact that Brees came withing a few yards of breaking Dan Marino's long-standing single-season passing yards record, all while playing without his top three playmakers (Marques Colston, Reggie Bush and Jeremy Schockey) for much of the season. Also consider that Brees threw for more than 1,000 yards more than Manning, tossed seven more touchdown passes, produced more yards per completion and finished with higher quarterback rating than Manning, and it's hard to argue that the voting criteria for these awards is out of whack.

Don't get me wrong, Manning and the Colts rallied from a terrible start and were the fashionable pick to roll through the AFC in the postseason because of their late-season surge. But regular-season success in the NFL is worth about as much as much as a Ryan Leaf rookie card and the high-powered Colts and Manning were one and done come the postseason.

So the question remains, should a player be punished for playing on an injury-ravished team that finishes 8-8 and falls short of making the playoffs? Just because Manning and the Colts played one more game than the Saints doesn't mean he had a better season than Brees, does it? The numbers definitively say "no."

If you believe Manning deserved to win the award, I'd love to hear your thoughts and justification. Click on the comments section below the post and let me hear ya.