AFC and NFC Championship Free Picks

New York Jets +8 +275 Over 39½
Indianapolis Colts -8 -350 Under 39½
The New York Giant Killers or rather the New York Jets travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts in the AFC Championship. The Jets already have one win over the Colts but a second win won’t be so easy. In week 16, the Colts sat down their starters and the Jets had their way with the Indy practice squad.

This time around, Peyton Manning has one goal in mind, crush the Jets and move on to the Super Bowl.

The Jets have held their previous two playoff opponents to 14 points but even Rex Ryan believes that will be next to impossible this Sunday. The Jets defense was the best in the league this season limiting opponents to about 15 points a game, due in large part to pro-bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis. Revis has been so solid that opponents have stopped throwing in his general direction for fear of their passing being intercepted or batted away.

If there is a quarterback who can rescue a receiver from Revis Island, it’s Peyton Manning. The Colts shouldn’t have too much trouble scoring against the Jets, as they faced the elite defense of the Ravens and had little trouble moving the ball.

Scoring will be a sore spot for the Jets, if they can pound the run and take a lead they could be in a position to win the game or at least cover. However, if they fall behind and are forced to throw the ball, New York will be in trouble. In games where Mark Sanchez has thrown more than 20 passes, the Jets are 2-7, because of Sanchez’s propensity to find opposing corners as much as his own receivers.

The Line of 8 is higher than I like but I think this is the end of the road for the scrappy jets. Take the Colts

Minnesota Vikings +4 (-115) ML+160 Over 53
New Orleans Saints -4 (-105) ML -180 Under 53

This game will signify a changing of the guard; one elite quarterback will be turned aside by another elite quarterback. Drew Brees has been spectacular this season, completing the highest percentage of passes in league history. The offensive line allows Brees all the time he needs to make the right pass, opponents have only sacked him 20 times this season.

The Minnesota Vikings pass rush is scary, as we saw last week against Dallas. They pounded Tony Romo all game long, sacking him six times and forcing three turnovers. Can they do it again, they’ll need to if the Vikings have any hope of slowing the Saints juggernaut offense.

The Vikings offense let by some guy named Fav-ruh, the guy from Something About Mary, seriously Favre has turned Sidney Rice into an elite receiver and forced defenses to respect the Vikings pass game. That respect has gives RB Adrian Peterson more room to run and pound his way to the end zone.

The Saints defense isn’t bruising like the Vikings or of the shutdown variety of the Jets but they make enough big plays to allow Brees and co. time to blow the game out.

With apologies to Green Bay and Arizona, this game will be the most exciting game we’ve seen in the playoffs, the number of game breakers is incredible; Favre, Brees, Peterson, Percy Harvin, Reggie Bush, Jared Allen, this list could go on and on.

Picking a winner won’t be as easy, I like the Saints but I don’t like the -4, so I’m taking the Vikings to lose this by a field goal.