Conference title game picks...

Conference Championship Sunday is upon us!!

We have reached the conference championship stage of the NFL season with New England, Baltimore, New York and San Francisco vying for Super Bowl berths.

At the start of the playoffs, I predicted a Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh Super Bowl so I’m looking good at the moment!!

Here we go:

AFC Championship:

Baltimore @ New England

New England comes in with their high octane offense to face a tough, gritty Ravens team. The Pats have home field advantage but I will go with the Ravens defense.

Baltimore 23-17

NFC Championship:

Eli Manning has strung together a few good games in a row…but that has been his pattern so this may be the dud week. The ‘Niners will look to “ground and pound” the Giants into submission.

San Francisco 30-21

Ok…there you have it….back in a week with my Super Bowl pick!!

NFL Divisional games…Sunday

After the excitement of Saturday’s action, the final two divisional games will be on tap Sunday.

Firstly in the AFC:

Houston @ Baltimore

The Texans and Ravens both have strong defensive units but I think the Baltimore home field will be tough to overcome.

I look for this one to be low scoring but will take the Ravens

Baltimore 20-13

NY Giants @ Green Bay

The Giants nearly got them in the regular season and may just pull out the Lambeau upset on the back of their defence.

NY Giants 34-31

Saturday playoff picks....

NFL Divisional Games

We have now hit the divisional round of the NFL playoffs with four games set for this weekend so I’ll jump right in with my Saturday picks.

New Orleans @ San Francisco

The Saints roll into San Francisco with their high octane offense looking to advance to the NFC title game but will encounter a stiff 49er defense in this one. The ‘Niners in turn will hope their ball control offense paired with the defense will be enough to get them home in this one.

Well, I will go with the San Fran crew to get it done at home.

San Francisco 27-20

Denver @ New England

These teams meet in a rematch of their late season game where the Patriots sent the Broncs reeling. The “Tebow Crew” will hope to stay close enough on the scoreboard for some last minute heroics.

I do not see it happening this week Bronco fans, the Patriots may not go all the way but they will advance to the AFC Championship next week.

New England 34-20

BCS Title pick...LSU

BCS Title on the line in NOLA

Alabama (2) vs. LSU (1)

We are down to the finale of the 2011-2012 college football season with the BCS Championship game to be decided in New Orleans on Monday night (Tuesday morning Aussie time).

This year, we have the much hyped rematch between Alabama and LSU. LSU won at Alabama 9-6 in overtime during the regular season on their way to an undefeated season. This time around the Tigers are playing in their backyard and looking to clinch the title.

While I expect another close one, I think in the end LSU will get home based on their special teams play and defense.

Good luck to both Aussie kids today...Brad Wing (LSU) and Brisbane's own Jesse Williams.

LSU 20-14

I have enjoyed predicting the games from here in Australia for my second season and will be doing NCAA again for the 2012 season.

I also still have a few weeks of NFL playoff games to pick so I am not totally done with football yet...

Sunday's picks...

Wild Card Sunday…

After a pretty poor prediction performance on Saturday, I’m back with my tips for Sunday’s games. I am also throwing in my GODADDY.com bowl pick.

NFL Wild Card Games

Atlanta @ NY Giants

The Giants defense has been tough lately and getting healthier. Either of these teams could go the distance in the NFC but playing outdoors in New York, I think it will be a Giants type of game.

NY Giants 28-24

Pittsburgh @ Denver

Well I think the Tebow magic has dissipated over the last few weeks and although the Steelers are not the healthiest team going at the moment, they are still Pittsburgh and it is after all playoff time.

Pittsburgh 24-10

GoDaddy.com Bowl

http://www.godaddybowl.com/

Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois

Both of these teams come in on big winning streaks Arkansas State (9) and Northern Illinois (8).

The fans in Alabama should see a good football game leading into Tuesday’s “Big One”. Northern Illinois always puts in a good bowl performance but this year I will go with the unknowns and tip Arkansas State.

Arkansas State 33-28

Tomorrow I will have a look at the BCS title game and make my pick for that one…

Big football Saturday....

NCAA Bowl, FCS Title and NFL Wildcard Games

On Saturday, we have quite a few games to be decided with the NFL playoffs underway, the FCS Championship game and the Compass Bowl all on the football menu.

First up we will go with the NCAA games:

BBVA Compass Bowl

http://www.bbvacompassbowl.com/

SMU vs. Pitt

This one matches up an underachieving Pitt against a valiant and improving SU team. The Mustangs had losses in four of their last six games of the regular season and hope the layoff has given them enough time to prepare for the Panthers who were up and down all season.

Overall, I think Pitt will have enough to get them home in this one but they will have to keep themselves from committing turnovers.

Pitt 30-23

FCS Championship

http://www.ncaa.com/championships/football/fcs

Sam Houston State vs. North Dakota State

Sam Houston State comes in undefeated against the Bison whose only loss came against Youngstown State.

On form and by factoring in the home state advantage, I will give the nod to Sam Houston State to win their first title.

Sam Houston State 37-22

NFL Wild Card Games

The NFL playoffs are here and kick off on Saturday with two wild card games. Well, my preseason pick of Philadelphia vs. San Diego in the Super Bowl is obviously not going to happen so now…..wait for it……my Super Bowl pick is….the Harbaugh brothers…Baltimore vs. San Francisco!! I know I will hear a lot of “Flacco” for this one!! LOL!!

But here we got with the first two games:

Cincinnati @ Houston

The Texans are hurting in their first playoff appearance and Andy Dalton could pull this one out in his return home. Do not be surprised at all by an overtime game where the winner will probably not score more than 24 points.

Cincy 24-21

Detroit @ New Orleans

This one may be closer than their Week 13 match but I do not see the Saints getting surprised in their first playoff game again this season.

New Orleans 28-20

Back tomorrow with Sunday’s games…

Cotton Bowl pick...Arkansas...

Cotton Bowl Prediction…

Cotton Bowl

http://www.attcottonbowl.com/home/

Kansas State (8) vs. Arkansas 6)

Both of these teams come in with 10-2 records, each with their losses to fellow Top 10 teams so this could be a good one.

Kansas State had losses at Oklahoma State in a close one after getting blown out by Oklahoma at home. Being from the same SEC division as the BCS Title game teams, it is easy to guess which two teams Arkansas had losses to. Yep, they had losses at Alabama and at LSU.

This one should go to Arkansas and may not be as close as one would expect.

Arkansas 38-20

Clemson is the tip for Orange Bowl win...

The Bowl excitement continues…

The 2011-2012 NCAA bowl menu will serve up another tasty matchup on Wednesday when we get this seasons Orange Bowl. Expect another back and forth battle that may again go down to the last possession.

Orange Bowl

http://www.orangebowl.org/index.html

West Virginia (23) vs. Clemson (15)

West Virginia and Clemson meet in this year’s edition of the Orange Bowl and champions of the Big East and ACC conferences. The Mountaineers got hot at the business end of the season, winning their last three games to clinch the conference title. Clemson on the other hand bounced back from losing three of their last four games to beat Virginia Tech for the ACC title.

The Tigers have had a bit over a month to right the ship and may have just enough in the tank to get home in this one but it could be a close one.

Clemson 31-27

We are getting closer to the big one…back with more picks tomorrow….

Sugar Bowl Prediction...

Sugar Bowl on tap Tuesday

Sugar Bowl

http://www.allstatesugarbowl.org/site.php

Michigan (13) vs. Virginia Tech (11)

The Wolverines make it back into the BCS Bowls this season and face perennial contenders Virginia Tech. Michigan’s only losses this season were to Michigan State and Iowa while Tech had a regular season and ACC Championship game loss to Clemson.

Quarterback Denard “Shoelace” Robinson led Michigan in passing and rushing this season but will face a Hokie defense that ranked seventh in the nation in points allowed. Meanwhile the Tech offense led by Logan Thomas and David Wilson will face an equally stingy Wolverine defense that ranked sixth in points allowed.

In the end I expect Frank Beamers crew to get the win in a close defensive battle.

Virginia Tech 24-20

Big Day for Bowls....

Big Bowl Day, first of BCS Bowls

Monday sees the first of the BCS games along with several other interesting games in a busy day for NCAA football. The action kicks off at noon (3am Tuesday morning Aussie time) with the Ticketcity Bowl.

Ticketcity Bowl

http://www.ticketcitybowl.com/

Houston (19) vs. Penn State (22)

The Cougars lost out in their conference championship game to Southern Mississippi, knocking them out of a possible BCS bowl. The Penn State saga is well known at this stage so we will leave it at that.

On the filed look for Houston to pull out all stops against their Big Ten foes, in the end I feel the Cougars will pull out a hard earned win.

Houston 30-24

Gator Bowl

http://www.gatorbowl.com/

Ohio State vs. Florida

This one pits two of the season’s underachievers who are both looking to next season though there are NCAA sanctions hanging over the Buckeyes.

This one will be a tossup but I will go with the home state team.

Florida 27-22

Outback Bowl

http://www.outbackbowl.com/

Michigan State (17) vs. Georgia (16)

Michigan State 28-23

Capital One Bowl

http://www.capitalonebowl.com/

Nebraska (20) vs. South Carolina (9)

Nebraska goes to its first bowl from the Big Ten to face South Carolina in Florida. The Gamecocks used a tough defense to get to the ten win mark this season while Nebraska found the new conference to be not as welcoming as they would have liked.

Look for Couth Carolina to complete their first eleven win season!!

South Carolina 30-17

Rose Bowl (BCS)

http://www.tournamentofroses.com/TheRoseBowlGame.aspx

Wisconsin (10) vs. Oregon (5)

Wisconsin was my preseason pick to win it all but they slipped along the way and will face the explosive Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

It could be a high scoring affair but in the end, the Wisconsin ground game will get them the victory in Pasadena this year.

Wisconsin 38-28

Fiesta Bowl (BCS)

http://www.fiestabowl.org/

Stanford (4) vs. Oklahoma State (3)

Another one that could have easily been for the championship on preseason predictions but both teams had hiccups along the way.

Andrew Luck will be looking to close out his career on a high note but Oklahoma State still has a bit of a chip on their shoulder so they may be hungrier.

Do not be at all surprised if this one goes down to the last possession.

Oklahoma State 40-38

Enjoy the games…back with more tomorrow!!!

NFL Regular season finale...

NFL Final Week

The 2011 NFL season has reached its final week with playoff possibilities galore in the AFC. Basically every AFC game this week except one could affect who plays next weekend.

Last week, I had a decent 12-4 prediction week putting me at 145-95 for the season. I am hoping to end the regular season with a good week so here we go:

Carolina @ New Orleans

The Panthers have shown a little fire lately and may become a team to watch as Cam Newton develops. This week however it will be tough to get a win against the Saints who are tuning up for the playoffs.

New Orleans 34-24

Buffalo @ New England

New England 24-20

Chicago @ Minnesota

Minnesota 31-27

NY Jets @ Miami

The Dolphins could do the AFC a favour and keep the Jets out of the post season and another improbable run to the AFC Championship. Miami has been tough lately and will pull off the minor upset.

Miami 27-21

San Francisco @ St. Louis

San Francisco 30-14

Detroit @ Green Bay

The Packers may limit the use of a few players carrying injuries so that opens the door for a big Detroit win

Detroit 27-20

Washington @ Philadelphia

Philadelphia 31-17

Indianapolis @ Jacksonville

Jacksonville 34-24

Seattle @ Arizona

Arizona 30-28

Kansas City @ Denver

Kyle Orton returns to Denver to haunt the Broncs who released him earlier in the year.

Kansas City 23-14

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta

Atlanta 38-24

Baltimore @ Cincinnati

Baltimore 24-20

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland

Pittsburgh 27-17

San Diego @ Oakland

Well my Chargers have disappointed again and now go into the Black Hole with the Raiders looking to get into the playoffs….give it to Oakland in memory of Al.

Oakland 24-21

Dallas @ NY Giants

Essentially the first wild card game, the winner advances, the losers reminisces. I think the Giants will get the best of Dallas again.

NY Giants 30-24


Tennessee @ Houston
Titans need this one to keep post season hopes alive. Houston has struggled lately, could be the game of the day...slight not to the Titans.
Tennessee 21-17

Happy New Year all…see you next week for playoff picks...

NYE Game predictions....

New Year’s Eve Bowls

Since it is 1:40am local time here in Australia, today’s picks will be short and sweet as game time is close.

Meineke Bowl

Texas A&M over Northwestern 36-24

Sun Bowl

Georgia Tech over Utah 27-21

Fight Hunger Bowl

Illinois over UCLA 30-14

Liberty Bowl

Cincinnati over Vanderbilt 27-17

Chick-fil-A Bowl

Virginia over Auburn (25) 23-21

Happy New Year, enjoy the games!!!