NFL Divisional Playoffs

The best weekend of the NFL playoffs is upon us and we have four games that are all rematches from the regular season, including a rubber match between the Eagles and Giants.

We were 2-2 for Wild Card weekend, winning with the Ravens and Eagles.

It's snowing here in the east, so what better to do today and Sunday than watch football?

SATURDAY
Titans -3 RAVENS: Tennessee won in Baltimore 13-10 earlier this season and expect another fairly low scoring slugfest between two teams that have no love for each other. Baltimore forced their defense upon Miami last weekend, but don't look for the Titans to rely on Kerry Collins to win. Expect Tennessee to follow the blueprint used by the Giants against the Ravens and to pound it on the ground. I don't see Baltimore mustering much offense and expect Tennessee to be far more physical than Miami was and get after Joe Flacco. The loss of Kevin Mawae could hurt the Titans, but I expect them to play a safe ball-control game. Titans 21-13

Cardinals +10 PANTHERS: Cardinals were better than I expected last week and found a good rhythm after staggering down the stretch. They kept it close at Carolina back in October, losing 27-23. The loss of Anquan Boldin really hurts, however, but since Arizona is playing with house money, expect them to air it out anyway. Still, Carolina is rested and hasn't lost at home this season. They should be able to chew up the clock with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Oh, and Arizona is 0-5 in the east this year, a bad omen. Carolina 31-23

SUNDAY
GIANTS -4 Eagles: Philly was the lone road team to beat the Giants at home this year, but New York was on cruise control at the time at 11-1 and coming off the Plaxico Burress fiasco. Having already won at Philadelphia, they just didn't match the Eagles' intensity and desperation that game. Sunday is a different story. Brandon Jacobs is healthy, the team is rested and the Giants will want to assert their strength early by ramming it down Philly's throat. If they contain a banged-up Brian Westbrook as they did in their first meeting, the Eagles will be hard pressed to score much. The Giants are right where they want to be: at home defending their title with people doubting them. Too much for the Eagles to overcome. Giants 27-10

Chargers +6 STEELERS: Their first meeting in early December resulted in the only 11-10 game in NFL history and conditions tomorrow should be about the same: Snowy and in the 20s. I really like how San Diego has run off five straight wins but I have serious doubts whether Darren Sproles can come close to matching what he did against the Colts going up against the league's best defense. Still, don't underestimate the determination of Philip Rivers. Big question is whether Ben Roethlisberger has sufficiently recovered from his concussion and if he holds up. Defense rules the day here. Steelers 17-16.

NFL Wildcard Weekend

We wrapped up a dismal season picking games against the spread, coming in at 114-130-12 after a 7-8-1 mark in Week 17.

For what it's worth, my friends at the NY Post, who run the Bettor's Guide every week, didn't fare much better. Nine of the 10 folks listed there also finished under .500, and I had the identical record as the erstwhile Hondo.

Good thing I don't gamble outside of the occasional office pool and Super Bowl boxes.

For the record, here's who we saw in the playoffs way back in Week 1.

NFC Wildcards
GIANTS over Dallas
SEAHAWKS over Panthers

Divisional
SAINTS over Giants
BEARS over Seahawks

Championship
SAINTS over Bears

AFC Wildcards
PATRIOTS over Ravens
Broncos over BENGALS

Divisional
CHARGERS over Broncos
Patriots over COLTS

Championship
CHARGERS over Patriots

Super Bowl
Chargers over Saints

Shows you how much I know, getting only six of the 12 playoff teams right. Alas, last year we went 9-2 in the playoffs and Super Bowl, so let's see if we can approach that mark.

On to this weekend's game.

SATURDAY
SEAHAWKS -3.5 Redskins: Forecast calls for rain in Seattle, but what else is new? Love the Redskins coming of their four-game win streak just to get here, but think this is where it ends. Short week, Seattle is relatively rested, and Todd Collins is due to come back to earth facing a sturdy Seattle pass rush. The Seahawks are better than I thought they'd be this year and don't be shocked if they wind up in the Super Bowl. Seahawks 27-20

STEELERS +2.5 Jaguars: Pittsburgh lost at home to the hot Jags three weeks ago and are in a rare home underdog spot tonight, which I believe gives them more than enough motivation. Sure, they're banged up on the offensive line and miss Willie Parker, but I expect Ben Roethlisberger to outplay David Garrard, while sloppy conditions slow the Jaguar rushing attack. Expect a nasty slugfest. Steelers 24-21

Viewer alert: Both games today are on NBC, so do your best to avoid their studio show and that douchebag Keith Olbermann, the current leader for the famed LGF Fiskie Award.

SUNDAY
Giants +3 BUCCANEERS: New York has been on full throttle the past two weeks, putting up 73 points against Buffalo and New England while Tampa has been on cruise control. Look for the Giants to establish the run, play it safe underneath in the passing game against sturdy Bucs pass defense. Giants have more weapons with Jacobs, Bradshaw, Burress, Toomer and rookies Kevin Boss and Steve Smith and are 7-1 on the road. Jeff Garcia 2-0 against New York in the playoffs, but the Giants league-leading pass rush should keep him in check. Giants 24-20

CHARGERS -9.5 Titans: San Diego hasn't won a home playoff game since the 1994 season and is peaking at the right time, while Titans may be left with Kerry Collins at QB and are missing their top receiver in Roydell Williams and TE Bo Scaife. On top of that, LenDale White is questionable. Forecast calls for rain, so expect LaDainian Tomlinson to get the ball around 25 times and ornery defense to take out their recent playoff frustrations on Tennessee. Likely the only blowout of the weekend. Chargers 37-13

If these picks pan out, the matchups you'll get next weekend are Seattle at Green Bay, New York at Dallas, San Diego at Indianapolis and Pittsburgh at New England.