Tony and Andy tied across the board last week. How about that. Tony scored a solid hit picking the Browns, while Andy pegged the Rams upset over Seattle – and both actually got half their bets correct.

Go figure.

  Straight-up Spread
Andy 5-1 3-3
Tony 5-1 3-3

Quite possibly the best weekend of football games in any given year is the divisional round of the playoffs. Here are our picks:

Saturday Andy – Straight Andy – Spread Tony – Straight Tony – Spread
Rams at Packers (-6.5) Packers Rams Packers Packers
Ravens at Bills (-2.5) Ravens Ravens Bills Bills
Sunday        
Browns at Chiefs (-10) Chiefs Chiefs Chiefs Chiefs
Buccaneers at Saints (-3) Buccaneers Buccaneers Buccaneers Buccaneers

Tony

Other than the Buccaneers, I’m going chalk for the week. Ultimately the Packers got lucky in facing a weak sixth-seed, which will help cover up their own deficiencies, at least for a week. The Chiefs will face a tough test with the Browns, but it’s impossible not to bet on Patrick Mahomes right now. The Ravens are one of the hottest teams in the league, but they have the unfortunate draw of another of the hottest teams in the league in the Bills, and the snow (and Lamar Jackson’s lack of experience ever playing in it) could hinder their offense.

In my one upset pick, I’m taking Tom Brady and the Bucs to upset the Saints, who just haven’t seemed to be firing on all cylinders since Drew Brees went out injured. Even the 52 points they scored on Christmas day didn’t look that special going up against the Vikings Junior Varsity defense. Brady’s will to win may just outlast Bruce Arians seeming need to choke in the big games–but we’ll see how he can do against Aaron Rodgers next week, as we might be looking at a Rodgers Rate vs Patrick Price in the Super Bowl.

Andy

While I largely agree with Tony this week, I think a couple of these games are going to be closer than expected. I think the Rams would have a better shot at an upset if Jared Goff and Aaron Donald weren’t injured, but the defense can shut down top receivers and the newly minted starting RB Cam Akers is capable of putting up a big game and keeping Rodgers and Co. on the sidelines. Ultimately, the Pack probably advances, but I think it’s closer than expected.

The Bills are a great story and probably my favorite team left in the playoffs, but I think Lamar Jackson exorcised a big demon last week and the Ravens are the more experienced playoff squad. Kansas City will make short work of an improved-but-not-quite-there-yet Browns team, but the upset of the weekend will take place when Tampa sends Drew Brees to the broadcast booth.