Eagles vs Cardinals Matchup Not Receiving Same Attention
January 16, 2009
Is it me, or is the Ravens vs Steelers matchup the sexy matchup of the weekend? No, it’s not only me. The guys at endzonebetting seem to agree.
This Eagles vs Cardinals matchup is the game that I want to see, in my opinion. We’ll either have Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid factoring in Super Bowl XLIII odds roughly one month after the Philadelphia media wanted both to be fired/released. Now the Philadelphia media could be betting on their team on the Super Bowl 43 lines.
Or how about the story lines with the Cardinals. From Kurt Warner, leading another team to the Super Bowl at age 37. From Matt Leinart watching on the bench, or Edgerrin James a crack at a Super Bowl while Peyton Manning is at home watching, this Eagles vs Cardinals matchup has many enticing themes.
You could also have Ken Whisenhunt going up against his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, or John Harbaugh going up against his former mentor, Andy Reid.
Storylines galore, but I still have to side with the experience of the Eagles.
NFL Conference Championships
January 13, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII, otherwise known as Super Bowl 43 is just around the corner. And by just around the corner, I mean that there are the Conference Championships, a week off (soon to be the week that the Pro Bowl is played), and then the Super Bowl.
Eagles vs Cardinals matchup: Eagles -3
The Arizona Cardinals were not expected to be here. Not even their fans expected them to be here as the Cardinals needed two extensions to sell out their stadium in the Wild Card round.
The problem for the Cardinals in this Eagles vs Cardinals matchup is that the Eagles are the perfect kryptonite to the Cardinals. The Eagles have an excellent passing defense and a solid passing offense. The Cardinals offense is a one-dimensional passing unit while their defense has allowed the most passing touchdowns in the NFL.
The Eagles will find a way to pressure Kurt Warner and get the job done.
Eagles vs Cardinals pick: Eagles -3
Ravens vs Steelers matchup: Steelers -6
The Ravens and Steelers will meet up for a third time this season and the question is whether the Steelers have the Ravens number or whether beating a team three times in one season is too difficult.
The Ravens vs Steelers matchup will be extremely physical. Both teams rank atop the league in total and scoring defense.
The main difference between the teams should be the extra week off for the Steelers. Let’s face it, the Ravens are a very physical team but they’ve played football for 17 straight weeks. The Steelers had a bye week last week and should be more fresh for this contest.
But even so, sportsbook odds have the Steelers favored by six even though both contests this year were decided by less than six points. Steelers probably win but it’s a close one.
Ravens vs Steelers pick: Ravens +6
Home Underdogs Popular In Wild Card Round; Home Favorites Popular In Divisional Round
January 9, 2009
Just one week after all four home teams were underdogs in the opening round of the playoffs, all four home teams are favorites in the Divisional Round.
Home teams dominate in this round, so buyer beware before you get to liking all four road teams.
Ravens vs Titans odds: Titans -3
Second verse, same as the first. No – not referring the Week 3 meeting between these two teams.
The Dolphins needed to run the ball to beat the Ravens and they could not. The Titans need to run the ball against the Ravens and they will not.
The Ravens simply don’t give up a lot of yards on the ground so if you’re Tennessee, you need Kerry Collins to lead you to a victory. This is exactly what everyone has been questioning all season – now we’ll find out if Collins is up to it.
The Ravens forced the Dolphins into five turnovers and they only made 13 turnovers all season long.
Titans vs Ravens pick: Ravens +3
Cardinals vs Panthers odds: Panthers -10
The Arizona Cardinals were vastly outplayed in the first half of their game against the Atlanta Falcons and essentially ended up winning on a fluke play where Michael Turner couldn’t handle a hand off.
Virtually all of the Cardinals scores last week came off of big plays as they had very few sustained drives. Expect more of the same this week as the Cardinals take their pass-pass-pass show on the road. The Cardinals can’t run the ball – the Panthers can run with the best of them. You do the math.
Cardinals vs Panthers pick: Panthers -10
Eagles vs Giants odds: Giants -4
This will be the third time these two teams meet up this season as the visitor has won both times so far. The Eagles kicked the crap out of the Giants in the last meeting as the Giants only points came off of a blocked field goal attempt that was returned for a touchdown.
The Giants have lost three of their last four games and simply are not a confident team right now. They were virtually unstoppable early on in the season but it looks like their best football is behind them. A bye week may mean they are rested but it further hampers momentum. This will be a field goal game but it’s better to trust the team that is playing better right now, and that’s the Eagles.
Eagles vs Giants pick: Eagles +4
Chargers vs Steelers odds: Steelers -6
In a season where the Super Bowl is up for grabs and there is no clear favorite a la the New England Patriots last year, the San Diego Chargers look like the team of destiny. They have won five straight, exorcised their demons against the Indianapolis Colts last week and will be looking to revenge another regular season loss this weekend.
The Chargers lost in Pittsburgh earlier in the year but the Chargers were really struggling. This is a confident team who has been riding Philip Rivers over the last five weeks.
The Chargers will likely be without LaDainian Tomlinson but that might be a good thing. He’s been struggling to run all season long and the switch to Darren Sproles might actually provide a boost for the Chargers.
Look for Ben Roethlisberger to make some mistakes – he’s coming off a concussion and that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Chargers vs Steelers pick: Chargers +6
Since the drug scandal broke in baseball, Jose Canseco has made a concerted effort to drag every player possible through the mud. The only people he hasn’t accused of using steroids are Barrack Obama and Peter Gammons.
In baseball circles and any other groupings of people where they used circles, Canseco is considered nothing more than a sleezy rat.
As they say, what goes around comes around and Canseco got his in a celebrity boxing match against former Philadelphia Eagle, Vai Sikahema:
Let’s be honest, Sikahema basically did what both of Canseco’s ex-wives and half of the Major League players would like to do: punch Canseco in the face several times.
Outside of an appearance on VH1’s The Surreal Life, that about wraps up Canseco’s career.
