Wild Card Weekend & BCS National Championship Game

Yes, the NFL playoffs have finally come after four long months. This year has brought in six new teams and a city which hasn't hosted a home playoff game since 1993, in Houston, when the Houston Oilers hosted a game in the Astrodome. But, there is also another team which is going to the playoffs this millennium, that being the Detroit Lions who are going to the Superdome for their first playoff appearance now since 1999. Finally, there are the Denver Tebows, uh, I mean Broncos, who are surprisingly enough, are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2005, when they reached the AFC Championship game, but lost to the Steelers.
Then, there is the BCS National Championship game, which just seems like it's been four months until we get to see it. As Bob Ryan noted on "Around the Horn" earlier in the week, the BCS needs to figure out something to get buzz around this game, as there is absolutely zero right now, considering it will be 37 days since LSU last played and 44 since Alabama last played. The game is almost like starting a new season for one game, it makes zero sense. But, then again, the entire BCS system doesn't, so why should anything they do make sense? There is my little rant. Now, on to the picks!

Cincinnati at Houston, 4:30, Saturday, NBC

As mentioned above, the city of Houston hasn't hosted a game in nearly 20 years, and the crowd will be really raucous and crazy in Reliant Stadium. Cincinnati fans are also eager for a win in the playoffs, as the Bengals haven't won a playoff game since they beat the Houston Oilers ironically in 1990. So, either one of these fan bases will be incredibly happy at the end of the day, knowing that one of their franchises will be moving on and be one step closer to the Super Bowl.
These two teams met earlier in the season, in Cincy, where Houston narrowly escaped with a victory, 20-19 where they scored a touchdown with only six seconds left in the game. Both these teams really are coming into the playoffs limping, as Houston basically gave up on their season after they clinched the AFC South, losing three straight, and Cincy has yet to prove it can beat a playoff caliber team. Cincy this season is 0-7 against playoff bound teams, while they are 9-0 against non playoff teams. Granted, nearly all of the losses were close, by a combined 30 points in six of the seven losses.
The edge will go to Houston solely based on them already beating Cincinnati and the fact that this time they are at home, with the crowd behind them. Plus, this game they've got their all pro wide receiver in Andre Johnson to help them out. But, this game will be very close.

Pick: Houston 24, Cincy 20

Pittsburgh at Denver, 4:30, Sunday, CBS

If this game was played four weeks ago, in the regular season, I'd give Tim Tebow and the Broncos a chance to beat the reigning AFC Champions. But, in the four weeks since, there is no way that Denver can beat the Steelers. As Denver has struggled mightily to score points in the past few games, only putting up three in their 7-3 loss at home to the Chiefs last week, which was painful football to watch. Plus, Tebow hasn't been able to secure the football, losing the ball six times the past two weeks. But, the worse problem is that Tebow only completed six passes last week against a much weaker defense than Pittsburgh's in Kansas City's.
Granted, Denver still has a chance with their defense, as Pittsburgh is really banged up, with them missing all pro center Maurkice Pouncey to an injury as well as star running back Rashard Mendenhall to a season ending ACL tear in last week's loss to the Browns. Plus, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not as mobile as he was earlier in the season, due to a severely sprained right ankle which he re-aggravated last week against the Browns. So, expect one incredibly low scoring game, featuring a lot of running the ball. However, the Broncos will have questions heading into next season figuring out if Tebow really is their guy under center.

Pick: Pittsburgh 13, Denver 6

Detroit at New Orleans, 8, Saturday, NBC

These two teams also met earlier in the season, but that game did not feature Detroit's monster of a defensive tackle in Ndamukong Suh, who was suspended for his stomp to the face of a Green Bay lineman. Will Suh really make that much of a difference though? My suspicion is no, as Suh can't change the game the way he did back in college. Granted, he will make a difference and help the Lions to try and help contain the dynamic Saints offense, which has been great the past few weeks, scoring at least 31 points in five of their six games.
Detroit hasn't been playing too badly either, as they've scored, and scored in bunches at times, scoring over 40 in three of their games this season. Plus, they've got arguably the best receiver in football in "megatron" Calvin Johnson, who can go up and grab balls in double and even triple teams. I'm expecting this game to be a complete shootout, with both teams seeming to score at will, but the decisive factor will be the Saints playing at home, where they've been unbeatable this season, going 8-0.

Pick: New Orleans 42, Detroit 36

Atlanta at New York Giants, 1, Fox

New York is coming into this game having to win its final two games to even have a shot at the playoffs, and they did, and winning both games rather convincingly over rivals Jets and Cowboys. The key for the Giants is that they have both Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs in the backfield, as when they are both participating, the Giants are one dangerous team on the ground, and in the air. This year especially, with Eli Manning really breaking out, having a career high in passing yardage, as well as nearly eclipsing his career high touchdown mark, with 29, plus Manning didn't turn the ball over in key situations. Manning was helped exceedingly by second year breakout star Victor Cruz as well as tight end Jake Ballard in the passing game, as Cruz provided the big plays and Ballard provided a safety valve for Manning in the middle of the field.
On the other side of the ball, the Giants have four great pass rushers that can get to Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan which can rotate in and out very easily.
Atlanta got themselves in position to face the Giants by completely trouncing the Bucs last week 49-24, and scoring six touchdowns before you could believe it. They did it at home, which helped, as well as having Michael Turner just turn on the jets and not have anybody stop him. Atlanta has been doing very well at home, but they also have three receivers who are pretty good as well, in Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez. The trio of those receivers combined for over 3,000 yards receiving and will be trouble for the Giants secondary. However, I don't think that the Falcons can beat a hot Giants team which has won three of its last four, and a team which can wear people down.

Pick: New York 24, Atlanta 20

BCS National Championship Game
Alabama vs. LSU, Monday, 8:30, ESPN

Granted, this is not the game most wanted, but after watching Oklahoma State struggle against Stanford, I think this is probably the right choice. These two teams really battled it out back in November, with both offenses struggling to get anything going against either suffocating defense. The game was a field goal fest, with LSU coming out on top 9-6 thanks to Alabama not having a competent kicker in that game. Granted, I don't think that this game will turn out to be the snooze fest the earlier one was, but it will still be a defensive struggle. Neither team will be moving the ball all that much, but expect one or two touchdowns in this game. The game is so evenly matched, it's essentially a coin flip, and I'm expecting Alabama to get its revenge on LSU here in their backyard of New Orleans.

Pick: Alabama 13, New Orleans 9