Conference Championship Picks: The Fight For Fifty...

No topical hot takes for ya this week, friends. But I've still got some football picks! And who doesn't love a good football pick!? Yeah, I thought as much...

Conference Championship Picks

New England Patriots (-3) @ Denver Broncos + UNDER 44.5

Nearly two months ago, Brock Osweiler and the Broncos needed OT at home to beat the Edel-less Patriots. This time around, I don't think Peyton Manning and the Broncos will be that fortunate...

I expect Denver to have some success running the ball. But I also expect the majority of those runs to be wasTed on stalled out drives. Ya know, because their passing game is a shadow of it's former high flyin' self, and the Patriots' secondary tends to make it's best plays in the reddest of areas. Or at least it feels that way. Not sure how the stats play out on that one, actually. But I feel like I could always easily back that argument merely by yelling "MALCOLM BUTLER!" loud enough to scare my detractors into fetal-like submission. So I'm gonna stick by that claim. With Chung as my witness...

Yeah, so that's how I see it playin' out. Denver will struggle to pass the ball the way they'd like, and they won't get to Brady like they did 2 months ago sans-Edelman (3 sacks). They'll have enough moments to keep it close, but not close enough to cover that numby. Patriots 24 Broncos 20. Yep, they'll cover the spread by a point, and fade the under by that mythical half. You may call that living dangerously, but I call it respecting Denver and Vegas while still proudly promoting the PATRIOT WAY GUY!!!!...

Should be a good one, though. So get your p-corn ready...    

Carolina Panthers (-3) vs Arizona Cardinals + UNDER 48.5

In the nightcap, we're likely to have a few more fireworks than in the Brady v Manning ball control convention above. Not that Arizona and Carolina don't want to control the ball, but both would much prefer to make big plays and score points in bunches...

I am a little wary of the weather, however. As it'll be much nastier in Charlotte (high 30s with a chance of freezing rain) than it's scheduled to be in Denver (40s and dry-ish). And that's why I'm ultimately fading this over/under, too. I mean, I know that NFL players come from all over, have played for different teams, and should be OK in any weather. But this Arizona team has only played outside twice since Thanksgiving. And while the Cardinals won both contests (San Fran & Philly), and one even went OVER 48, it's just another thing that doesn't appear to be going in their favor. Along with being on the road, and not being the team with Cam Newton as its QB. Not to mention that horrible Carolina turf, which I can't imagine will hold up too well under a barrage of water and ice...

It's Cam Newton's time to shine, though. And there will be no denying him and his Panthers in this one. Not rain, not sleet, and not snow! And certainly not Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals. At least not in this scenario...

Carolina 27 Arizona 17


Last Week: 3-3-2

Overall: 133-115-12 (.535)


So there ya go. It'll be Patriots/Panthers in Super Bowl 50. It may not be bold, but here's to hoping it'll prove profitable. Or at the very least, here's to hoping this will all serve as as suitable distraction from our everyday lives, and give us a reason to dine on some delicious food and imbibe an ill advised amount of adult beverages...

Enjoy, friends. And I'll catch you next time...


#BAGSMUNMAN