Wrote this about SF this week earlier in another thread:
Be careful with the Carolina has nothing to lose angle. This has worked
well with some big dogs in the past in the playoffs (NO/SEA and
PIT/DEN). It worked well because the dogs were huge dogs and really had
no chance and the favs were frauds. I remember hammering Denver in that
game because Pittsburgh was a total flake. Not the case here at all. SF
is a very strong team and aren't waiting to be beat like those other
teams were.
You also had angles where the superior teams often
overlooked these teams with "nothing to lose" because there was such a
gap. That gap does not exist here. This line is virtually a pk and most
importantly SF lost to CAR on their own field. No way they overlook the
Panthers.
Also, there is not one position where Carolina is
better than SF. Not one. You could argue the D-line, but with Aldon
Smith back and wreaking havoc it's a push at best. SF is better
everywhere else across the board. More efficient running, stopping the
run, passing, and stopping the pass. They've also got the experience and
won't give a garbage if this game is on the road.
I wouldn't
trust Ron Rivera here either. This guy was a baffoon before 12 weeks ago
and cost CAR games left and right. Now the pressure is really on here
and who's to say he won't revert to his old self and darn it up? He's
never been in the playoffs. Harbaugh is leagues better at this point.
Don't
know how SF can be running on fumes either. They are finally healthy
and have won 7 in a row. They are just peaking and finding a groove. CAR
has all the makings of a team running on fumes. They have not been good
since their win streak was snapped and look like the classic team that
hit their stride too early. They barely beat a disgraceful ATL team,
were stomped in NO, unimpressive against the Jets, and pulled the other
NO game out of their behind in a game they were dominated.
GL,
but I just don't see the reasons to play CAR. SF is the better team and
they aren't a flake so the "nothing to lose" angle gets thrown out. So
does HFA IMO when you have an experienced team like SF.
Also played
Seattle -1/Denver -2 tease.Like both teams spread, but have a tough time laying this much in the playoffs. Liked Denver to smash SD earlier in the week, but can't lay DD against an elite QB and team that has only lost by DD once all season. Too much respect. I do think Denver scores a pile of points though. They've been waiting all season for this game. The Manning playoff factor is overblown and he should shred a terrible SD defense with all his receivers healthy and off a bye. GL Chargers. They'll need it.
Everyone knows it, but the Saints stink on the road. This team is putrid against good defenses too. They've played six road games this season against Top 15 DVOA pass defenses and they are 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS averaging 16.5 PPG. Brees has been especially horrid as he's compiled a 75.6 QB rating in those games with 8 TD and 9 INT. He's been bad every game too with his highest rating being 80. That 75.6 QB rating is worse than Case Keenum, Christian Ponder, Jason Campbell, EJ Manuel, and Chad Henne. None of those guys are going into Seattle and winning a playoff game against an elite defense and neither is Brees who has shown nothing to suggest he's better than those guys in this type of situation (road against good pass D). Better QB + defense + best HFA in the league is more than enough here.
GL gents.