We have four good games on tap this weekend. Two Saturday and two Sunday and we have your winners here.
First up Saturday is America's Team- the Jacksonville Jaguars playing in KC against the Chiefs. KC Coach Andy Reid is something like 100-1 coming off a bye week. KC is favored by 9 and that's a lot against a Jaguar team that came back from a 27-0 deficit last week to eke out a win, although when the Jags played the Chiefs earlier this year KC won by 10. The likelihood of that happening again is the same as something like a federal judge sanctioning the former president a million bucks for filing frivolous lawsuits. Could happen- not likely.
Of course we love the undercat, and the Jags are tempting, but the theme in the divisional round is that the clock is striking 12 and it's time for Cinderella to go home. We will take the 9 and the Jags. but that is not our formal pick. That is just a bet we make so we can root for a team while swilling a Cab-Franc. We are advising to pick the over 52. It's more likely KC goes up 35-10 and wins 42-21 then the Jags keeping it close.
Next up Saturday night are the New York Football Giants at Philly and the Fly Eagle Fly Eagles. The Giants surprised us last week, but the chatter on sports talk radio this week about the Giants having a chance is way way out of control. Philly dominated the league this year. Absent a serious injury to their QB they are going to the Super Bowl. The Giants played well, but again, the clock is striking 12 and it's time for Cinderella to go home. Philly -7.5 assuming Hurts isn't hurt. Because we listen to our readers and have heard the colors can sometimes be hard to read, we repeat- Philly -7.5 assuming Hurts isn't hurt. If there is any question about Hurts, then the Giants are +300 and we like risking a hundrery to win three grand. It certainly gives us something to root for as we watch the game from our favourite weekend watering hole. By tonight we will be sipping a nice Reisling for dessert.
The Sunday early game is the best game of the weekend. Cincy at Buffalo in a repeat of the game that was canceled a few weeks ago. Buffalo is favoured by five at home. Too much. The Bills should win this game 34-31. Cincy will keep it close and really the game is even in our opinion, so you have to take the value and the points. Cincy surprised everyone last year and won on the road at KC and went to the super bowl. So do not be surprised if they win on Sunday. Buffalo is 8-8-1 against the spread this year. We will take that coin flip and Cincy +5 and over 48 which is a very low number considering the firepower both teams bring to this game.
And now here is your "upset" for the weekend. The Cowboys are 3.5 point dogs on the road in San Fran. The San Fran QB is a third string rookie drafted as the very last player in the draft. He's been good, but he's a rookie. Dallas has a defense better than anything Purdy and the 49'ers have seen. Dallas has Dak and he knows how to win (and lose) playoff games. It will be a Dallas/Philly NFC championship game next week. But for today take those cowpokes and 3.5 and over 46. The most compelling drama this weekend? Whether the Dallas kicker can make an extra point after missing FOUR last week.