Wild Card Weekend 2013

Good morning everyone.  I didn't end up having to work my Wednesday night shift, but I do have to work tonight, so I'm bringing these predictions to you a day early.  Maybe being awake will help me to get at least 1 out of these 4 games right...  :)  Actually, I did very well predicting the outcomes of last season's NFL playoff games.  This year I finished up with an 81-81-2 record for the regular season on my college and NFL picks.  From here on out we'll refer to that as a .500 record and start a new count for the playoffs.  Below are my predictions for this weekend's Wild Card Round.  My final scores account for how I think the games will finish against the spread and in regard to the over/under...



Cincinnati (10-6) @ Houston (12-4) - Saturday 3:30 CST

Houston's lack of defense caught up to them in the last 4 weeks of the season as they ended up dropping 3 of those contests.  One win would have given them home field advantage in the AFC throughout the course of the playoffs.  Meanwhile, the Bengals have won 7 of their last 8 games, the lone loss being a 20-19 defeat against the Cowboys.  These teams last met almost a year ago to the date, when the Texans beat the Bengals 31-10 in last year's Wild Card Round.  My prediction is...

Houston 24  Cincinnati 17   -----   Texans (-4 1/2), Under (43 1/2)




Minnesota (10-6) @ Green Bay (11-5) - Saturday 7:00 CST

It seems like Adrian Peterson is still running from last week.  Two very different games between the Vikings and Packers this season.  The Pack won 23-14 about midway through the season at Lambeau while the Vikes won 37-34 last week.  This playoff game is in Green Bay and it is likely to be cold, so my prediction is...

Green Bay 27  Minnesota 17   -----   Packers (-7 1/2), Under (46)




Indianapolis (11-5) @ Baltimore (10-6) - Sunday 12:00 CST

The Colts have won 5 of their last 6 games, their lone loss being a 12-point defeat at the hands of the Texans (which is the amount they beat Houston by last week coincidentally).  The Ravens have lost 4 out of their last 5.  With that being said, the Ravens schedule was tougher than that of the Colts.  The rookie Luck against the Ravens outdoors in January in Maryland, so my prediction is...

Baltimore 27  Indianapolis 13   -----   Ravens (-6 1/2), Under (46 1/2)




Seattle (11-5) @ Washington (10-6) - Sunday 3:30 CST

What a great way to end the weekend.  The Seahawks have won 5 straight games (with some VERY IMPRESSIVE wins in there) and the Redskins have won 7 straight games (including what was for all intents and purposes a playoff game against Dallas last weekend).  This game features the other two star rookie quarterbacks in Wilson and Griffin III.  In the second game of the day near the nation's capital, my prediction is...

Washington 27  Seattle 24   -----   Redskins (+3), Over (45)



Yes, a lot of teams are going to score 27 points evidently...  :)  I hope that you have fun with those.  If any of you have predictions as to the final scores of these games (or even just the winners) and want to go "on the record" with your selections, feel free to type your picks into the comments section.  Have a great day and I'll see you again tomorrow!