Written by Al Beaton
| 08 January 2010
Our own media star, Blane aka Wolverlion, has been forwarding his Hillbilly Huddle picks for most of the season.
In case you have forgotten, the Hillbilly Huddle airs every Friday and Monday between 7 and 8 AM on the blowtorch of SE MI, 97.5 Y-Country radio, WYTZ FM. You hosts are football expert Wolverlion, and 97.5 Y country morning man Wild Bill Lewis.
With the regular saeason over, Blane is still making picks for the Hillbilly Huddle, even if he's no longer taking on a listener with the selections. We decided we were having too much fun with our weekly picks to let it go to blog post limbo just yet. So we're going to continue making our NFL picks through the Super Bowl.
One of the more entertaining weekends of the year is almost upon us, that being the 4 games making up NFL Wild Card Weekend, and as a Lions fan, it gives me a chance to (hopefully) see some good football.
I have no rooting or betting interest in the games, other than wanting to see Rex Ryan cry. With caveats out of the way...on with the picks! Blane's are in bold, mine in italics.
Saturday
New York Jets @ Cincinnati:
Blane: I am tempted to take the Jets here, however, the wins they got the last 2 weeks of the season were over teams that were sitting many of their key players. I expect the Bengals to come out fired up and win a close game at home. Part of me thinks that Sanchez might hand this one to the Bengals on a platter. I do not trust rookie QB's in the playoffs on the road.
Big Al: Both teams have taken the ball out of their quarterback's hands, and given it to their very effective running games. Even if the Jets are asking Mark Sanchez to only "manage the game" (football speak for " You suck...uh, rather, you're not good enough to make plays"), it's still asking quite a bit for a rookie to win a playoff game on the road. In what is a fairly evenly matched game, it may come down to a quarterback making plays. When asked, Cincy's Carson Palmer has proven he can, Sanchez...not so much.
Take Cincy, if only because a loss will make Jets' head coach Rex Ryan cry...again.
Phildelphia @ Dallas:
Blane: I know Dallas just beat the Eagles last week in the same venue, that said, I like Donovan McNabb in the playoffs. Westbrook seems healthy, and the Cowboys have been failures in the playoffs as of late. Take the Eagles to win one on the road.
Big Al: Surprisingly, the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game in well over a decade (1996, to be exact). I expect the trend to continue, even though they are playing in Jerry Jones' billion dollar monument to his ego. Why? It comes down to, as it always does, quarterback. Give me Donovan McNabb over Tony Romo every time. Plus, if you believe in momentum, the Eagles have been playing like gangbusters for the 2nd half of the season, save for taking the day off in their season finale against the Cowboys.
In the end, I'm taking the Philly for one reason, and reason only. I just don't believe in Wade Phillips as a head coach. In a battle of wits with the Eagles' Andy Reid, Phillips is an unarmed man.
Sunday
Baltimore @ New England:
Blane: With the loss of Welker, this is the only playoff game I expect the Patriots to win. I know it is Tom Brady and all, but the loss of the leagues leading receiver cannot be overlooked. It will be easier to take Randy Moss out of the game, and focus on Maroney and the running game. I just do not think the Ravens are good enough to do that this week. Look for a one and done from the Pats.
Big Al: Losing Wes Welker to a severe knee injury swept the leg of the Pats' playoff chances. Yes, the Pats still have Randy Moss, but not even Bill Belichick knows which Moss is going to show up from week to week. If Moss decides to take the day off, Tom Brady's pistol will be out of bullets. The Pats rally don't have any other weapons. The Ravens have an excellent defense, and as long as Joe Flacco doesn't turn the ball over, a respectable offense. Ravens' back Ray Rice will be the difference in the game. Take the Ravens.
Green Bay @ Arizona:
Blane: I do not know exactly what to make of this game. The Cardinals are hit and miss, the loss of Rogers-Cromartie hurts the Cardinals defense in a big way, BUT, I thought all that about the Cards last year and they proved me wrong all the way to the Super Bowl and if not for a miracle catch from Santonio Holmes, we would be calling the Cardinals the defending Super Bowl Champs. I will take Arizona at home.
Big Al: When in doubt, look at each team's quarterback and see who is the home team. So lets check, shall we?
The Cards have wiley veteran Kurt Warner, a proven big game performer who has taken two different franchises to the Super Bowl, and is going to be enshrined the Hall of Fame. The Pack has Aaron Rodgers, who has had an excellent year (4400+ yards passing, 30 TDs), but is making his first playoff start. The Cards are at home, playing in their weird, shiny, spaceship looking stadium.
The Cards win in the closest game of the weekend.
