NFL Picks Divisional Playoffs sponsored by Studio Yukupo and NCAA College Football Picks Bowl Championship Week

I started reading Sergei Lukyanenko's Night Watch, the Russian supernatural thriller that was adapted into the most successful Russian movie of all time and it's pretty fantastic. There are strong references to destiny and pre-ordained events in the course of the book, partly revolving as it does around the star-crossed love between two magicians, a romance created by a meddling sorceror who tampered with the road of fate. The very tenuous link between that and what's happening here is, is any of Tim Tebow's run as quarterback of the Denver Broncos pre-ordained? There were an awful lot of 3:16 related coincidences stemming from his latest miracle, a passage referring to the most doubted person ever in human history. The answer of course i no, because first of all, miracles don't happen eight times in three months and secondly, he and the Broncos are going to get splattered against the wall this weekend by the Patriots and I am most definitely not saying that in the hopes of putting the reverse-jinx hex on New England. Definitely not.

Picks after the jump.

Key: 
Home Team listed in CAPS
(*) = Line Differential

Saints (-4) at 49ERS
Broncos (+13.5) at PATRIOTS
Texans (+7.5) at RAVENS
Giants (+7.5) at PACKERS

Chris picks: 49ers, Patriots, Ravens, Packers

I pick: 49ers, Broncos, Texans, Giants

All underdogs this week, and all of them were easy picks. There is often a big overreaction to big winners in the wild card round. The Saints put up a lot of points on the Lions and the Panthers, but the 49ers are much stiffer and on their own home field should be able to hold the Saints far closer. The Saints won't roll over getting hit a little but it won't be the cake walk that many expect. In the evening matchup, I have a strong suspicion the Patriots will pull away late and win by three touchdowns like the first matchup but the better value is with the Broncos. I doubt it will be their finest hour.

TJ Yates may be starting at quarterback for the Texans, but I don't have faith that the Ravens can cover 7.5 against a team with a defense as strong as Houston. In the final playoff game, Green Bay may be the number one team in football but I don't think the gap is that large over the following pack (no pun intended). On offense the Giants can keep pace with the most overpromoted player in the league and on defense, they might be better. Home field counts though - I like the Giants to cover, the Packers to win.

Last week:
Chris: 1-3
Me: 3-1

BCS National Championship
Home Team listed second in CAPS
vs = Neutral Site game
(*) = Line Differential
[*] = National Ranking

[1] LSU (+2.5) vs [2] Alabama

Chris picks: Alabama

I pick: Alabama

We both liked Alabama and on my part it's because I had been picking against Jordan Jefferson ever since he was reinserted as the starter and so it proved as he flopped in the big game.

Last week:
Chris: 5-4
Me: 4-5

Playoff Final
Chris: 16-17
Me: 16-17