Conference Championship Sunday!

Yes, it is finally here, and the Sunday which will finally determine the two combatants for the Super Bowl two weeks from Sunday in Indianapolis. These four teams are teams that some predicted will be here. Such as the Patriots, and Ravens. Then, there is another team which most predicted to just miss the playoffs and probably collapse down the stretch, which they almost did in the Giants. Then, another which absolutely nobody predicted to do just squat in the regular season, and postseason for that matter in the 49ers. So, these should be good games, and on to the picks!

Baltimore at New England, 3, CBS

These two teams met rather recently in the postseason, just two seasons ago, in the Wild Card round, when Baltimore ran all over New England in New England. That is the only blemish in the Patriots record against Baltimore all-time, as they are 4-0 in the regular season. These two teams will be a contrast of styles as well on both sides of the ball. Baltimore on defense will want to rush Tom Brady and roll him out of the pocket, where he is far less accurate. While New England will probably keep 7-8 in the box and force Joe Flacco to make deeper throws to targets Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith. Then, on offense, New England will be throwing the ball a lot, that's part of the reason why Brady eclipsed Dan Marino in all time passing yardage for a season this year. New England has an incredibly wide selection of targets, from running backs the Law firm in BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk to smaller wide receivers in Deion Branch and Wes Welker to big bruising tight ends which no team can seem to cover in Aaron Hernandez, and the new record for most touchdowns in a season by a tight end in Rob Gronkoswki. Baltimore will counter with a very balanced attack featuring plenty of Ray Rice and Ricky Williams. Both of these running backs will wear you down throughout the day and probably pile up over 100 yards combined. Then, Baltimore will throw in some passes, mainly short little hitches, screens and curls, with a possible 15 yard seam route thrown in for good measure. This game should be very physical, but I think relatively high scoring, and New England is also playing for their owner, Bob Kraft. The reason why they're playing for Kraft especially in this game is because Kraft lost his wife, Myra to cancer just before this season started. Kraft, even now swells up in tears even four months after her death, so the Patriots have won patches dedicated to Myra throughout the season, and hope to complete the AFC's home field advantage since 2002.

Pick: New England 38, Baltimore 23

New York Giants at San Francisco, 6:30, Fox

This game is a rematch from week 10, when the 49ers really made a splash on the national stage and beat the Giants 27-20 to improve to 8-1 and started the Giants on a tailspin which nearly made them miss the playoffs the way they were headed. This game also helped propel the 49ers to win the number two seed and host this game, which is huge, as the 49ers are 7-1 at home on the season. The only blemish coming against the Cowboys, who beat them in overtime. The weather may provide a factor in this game as well. San Francisco has had rain, and will have rain throughout the weekend, so the field will probably be a mess come game time.  Both of these teams are fairly similar in play, as both rely on the running game in the offense to really let their quarterback shine, while on defense, they've both got front fours which are all pro quality. So, this should be a great game as well. But, I do expect this game to be fairly low scoring because of the defenses being so good. I also can't pick against the Giants, with the way they're playing, dominating in their first two playoff games. I don't expect this game to be quite such a cakewalk though.

Pick: New York 21, San Francisco 16

This is being hyped up as "Epic Sunday" by Fox, and it is if you're an all around football fan, with Arsenal versus Machester United in a very good football match between two rivals in the morning, and then the two conference championship games. May this be a great Sunday of football for you! Enjoy it!