5 picks for '08

New Years Day is always one of my favorite days of the year (See my April 3, 2006 post, where I ranked it as the fourth best sports day on the calendar.) But I felt that yesterday was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe it was that my two favorite schools, Florida and Illinois, both lost. Perhaps it was the ugly blowouts in three of the six bowls. I’m not really sure. But something was lacking.

Thankfully, there is plenty of football still to be played. The NFL playoffs kick off this weekend and there’s the BCS Title game on Monday night. So without further delay, here’s my breakdown and picks for all five games:


My picks in bold

NFL

Washington at Seattle

This was the toughest pick of all four NFL games. The Redskins have been playing very well lately under the guidance of backup QB Todd Collins, winning their final four games of the season. Clinton Portis is pounding the rock well and the fact that all this success has happened since the horrific death of teammate Sean Taylor is astounding. But heading up to the great northwest is not easy. Seattle is 7-1 at home this year, and Qwest Field always seems to give opponents problems. Matt Hasselbeck won’t have an easy time passing against a fast and physical Washington defense, but I think he’ll do enough to get the ‘Hawks the win.


Jacksonville at Pittsburgh

I don’t like picking road teams in the playoffs, considering that last season the only visitors to win in January were the Colts and Pats (Look at the QB play for those squads). Jaguars quarterback David Gerrard isn’t on that level yet, but thankfully he doesn’t have to do too much for Jacksonville to get the win. Running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew will get the tough yards and milk the clock, while a banged-up Steelers offense just doesn’t have enough playmakers to keep up. I like Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin and I think that if healthy, the Steelers could challenge the Patriots and Colts for AFC supremacy. But too many injuries will cost the them.


New York at Tampa Bay

Another tough NFC game to chose, especially because I have seen close to five Giants games this year and not a single snap of Bucs football. (It’s not my fault all the TV networks have an East Coast bias) You’d assume then that I think New York will dominate. But that is not the case. This will be a close game, because of the turnover issue. Eli Manning and the Giants have trouble holding on to the ball (Though that NYG running game is surprisingly strong), while Jeff Garcia and the Buccaneers are great protectors of the rock. Still, I’m not convinced that Tampa Bay has enough playmakers to keep up with those Giants backs and Plaxico Buress.


Tennessee at San Diego

I still think that Vince Young is better than Phillip Rivers, even though the facts don’t back it up. (Even though it’s not clear if VY is playing) And I like the Titans D and kicker Rob Bironas. That being said, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Chargers won by 25 points. (Yes, I realize that Norv Turner is the coach of San Diego) Tennessee has absolutely no offensive weapons and will have a tough time matching points with Ladanian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. Watching the Titans versus the Colts backups last week, I wasn’t impressed at all. Their defense, led by D-tackle Albert Haynesworth, is pretty good, but won’t be enough to contain that San Diego attack.


BCS Championship Game

#2 LSU vs. #1 Ohio State

While I am not a fan whatsoever of OSU, I like to support the Big Ten come bowl season (Except for last season). But that isn’t the reason that I’m taking the Buckeyes. And it also isn’t because Ohio State has been very impressive, because outside of the Penn State game, that hasn’t been the case. Yet I still like the Bucks because of the motivation issue. Everybody is handing the LSU the title because the game is in Louisiana and the Tigers won the SEC, a conference which admittedly is better than the Big Ten. But since early October, the Tigers have been far from an elite team. They lost twice, barley hung on to beat Auburn and Tennessee and hasn’t dominated a single squad. LSU lives on the edge with the crazy play-calling of coach Les Miles, and against a fundamentally sound OSU squad, that’s a big risk. I could see this game going either way, but I think the Big Ten’s best will hold on to win the crystal football.