A quick look at the latest NFL Playoff scenarios as we head into Week 17. It is pretty simple in the AFC, as these 5 teams are in:
1. New England Patriots - #1 Seed, home field throughout playoffs.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers - The Steelers can clinch the #2 seed and the AFC North title by beating the Browns on Sunday
3. Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens can sneak in to the #2 seed with a win and a Steelers loss
4. Kansas City Chiefs - The Chiefs are in and are locked into the #3 seed.
5. New York Jets - The Jets are in as well.
The 6th spot in the AFC is still up for grabs. If the Indianapolis Colts win, they are in. If they lose, and Jacksonville wins, the Jaguars will take the final spot. Indy hosts Tennessee on Sunday while the Jags head to Houston to face the Texans.
It isn't nearly as clean cut in the NFC. Here is who is in:
1. Atlanta Falcons - A win and the Falcons are the #1 seed. Lose on Sunday and it gets a bit more complicated.
2. Chicago Bears - The Bears are the NFC North champs and have clinched at least the #2 seed - and a first-round bye - no matter what they do on Sunday.
3. Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles blew a golden opportunity on Tuesday night to get a week off. Now they will have to win 3 playoff games to get to the Super Bowl. This week?s game against Dallas means zilch.
4. New Orleans Saints - The Saints sent a message to everyone Monday night that they will be a factor in defending their Super Bowl title.
There are two spots still up for grabs in the NFC, including the NFC West Championship. Here are the teams still hoping to get in:
St. Louis Rams & Seattle Seahawks - The Rams and Seahawks are playing a winner-take-all showdown this Sunday in Seattle. The winner is the NFC Champion. The loser goes home.
Green Bay Packers - If the Packers win, they are in. A loss and the Pack will need some help.
New York Giants - The Giants need to win and hope the Packers lose. A loss and the G-Men are done.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - First, Tampa has to win. Then, they need the Packers AND Giants to lose.
Now to the games:
DETROIT ?3? over Minnesota Pinnacle
The Eagles pulled a complete no show against the Vikes on Tuesday and that?s what happens when you?re a 14-point favorite and figure all you need to do is show up. That win has the Vikes way overvalued here. Had Philly showed up and blown out the Vikes like they were supposed to the Lions might be a 6? or 7-point choice here. That unlikely win has set up a perfect setting the lay the points. Minnesota will play on five days rest and couldn?t give a rat?s behind about this game. The Lions, meanwhile, are playing great football and suddenly they?re finding ways to win games as oppose to finding ways to lose. That?s a big sign of a team on the rise and with three wins in a row and a chance to end the year at home and create a lot of interest for next season expect the Lions to give it everything they have. Play: Detroit ?3? +1.00 (Risking 2 units).
INDIANAPOLIS ?9? over Tennessee Pinnacle
We guess the Titans would like the make life miserable for the Colts and under favorable conditions they might have been able to. Thing is, the Titans are a garbage team with no pass rush whatsoever and giving Peyton Manning time to operate is a disaster waiting to happen. The Colts control its own destiny and a win here puts them in and there?s no way this defenseless invader is going to get in the way of that. Seriously, Tennessee?s defense is a joke beyond a joke. They don?t tackle well, they?re soft and they simply cannot stop anyone. The Titans only chance of keeping this close is if they put up 21 or more and that?s not going to happen either. Blowout city from the first quarter and beyond. Play: Indianapolis ?9? (Risking 2.02 units to win 2).
Miami +1.95 over NEW ENGLAND Pinnacle
Man is this sweet or what? Here we have a Dolphins team that is going to show up for sure playing a Pats team that has nothing to play for whatsoever. The Pats minus every regular is equivalent to Miami playing the Carolina Panthers and now the books are offering +1.95 on the 6-1 road Dolphins. This is a must bet. Play: Miami +1.95 (Risking 2 units).
CLEVELAND +6 over Pittsburgh SportsInteraction
How do we know this is an overlay? It?s simple. The Ravens in the exact same scenario last week were a 3?-point favorite in Cleveland and now the Steelers, who are worse than the Ravens are two points more. For those of you who bet on Baltimore, congratulations are in order but you know it as much as we do that the Brownies were supposed to cover that game and probably should have won outright. The Ravens got the bounces but were not the better team. In a similar situation exactly a year ago, that being the Steelers in a must win situation against Cleveland, the Steelers lost outright and missed the playoffs. This year they?re in so the game isn?t as crucial, but the result is likely going to be the same. These Steelers simply do not warrant this price against a dangerous Brownies squad that can run the ball and that plays rock solid defense. Those who bet Baltimore last week got away with it but won?t be so fortunate this week. Play: Cleveland +6 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
Note: Check back Sunday for the possibility of couple more plays.
You can also listen to Randall on his syndicated radio show, "Inside the Lines". Sunday mornings between 10:00AM and 12:30PM on The Fan590
1. New England Patriots - #1 Seed, home field throughout playoffs.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers - The Steelers can clinch the #2 seed and the AFC North title by beating the Browns on Sunday
3. Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens can sneak in to the #2 seed with a win and a Steelers loss
4. Kansas City Chiefs - The Chiefs are in and are locked into the #3 seed.
5. New York Jets - The Jets are in as well.
The 6th spot in the AFC is still up for grabs. If the Indianapolis Colts win, they are in. If they lose, and Jacksonville wins, the Jaguars will take the final spot. Indy hosts Tennessee on Sunday while the Jags head to Houston to face the Texans.
It isn't nearly as clean cut in the NFC. Here is who is in:
1. Atlanta Falcons - A win and the Falcons are the #1 seed. Lose on Sunday and it gets a bit more complicated.
2. Chicago Bears - The Bears are the NFC North champs and have clinched at least the #2 seed - and a first-round bye - no matter what they do on Sunday.
3. Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles blew a golden opportunity on Tuesday night to get a week off. Now they will have to win 3 playoff games to get to the Super Bowl. This week?s game against Dallas means zilch.
4. New Orleans Saints - The Saints sent a message to everyone Monday night that they will be a factor in defending their Super Bowl title.
There are two spots still up for grabs in the NFC, including the NFC West Championship. Here are the teams still hoping to get in:
St. Louis Rams & Seattle Seahawks - The Rams and Seahawks are playing a winner-take-all showdown this Sunday in Seattle. The winner is the NFC Champion. The loser goes home.
Green Bay Packers - If the Packers win, they are in. A loss and the Pack will need some help.
New York Giants - The Giants need to win and hope the Packers lose. A loss and the G-Men are done.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - First, Tampa has to win. Then, they need the Packers AND Giants to lose.
Now to the games:
DETROIT ?3? over Minnesota Pinnacle
The Eagles pulled a complete no show against the Vikes on Tuesday and that?s what happens when you?re a 14-point favorite and figure all you need to do is show up. That win has the Vikes way overvalued here. Had Philly showed up and blown out the Vikes like they were supposed to the Lions might be a 6? or 7-point choice here. That unlikely win has set up a perfect setting the lay the points. Minnesota will play on five days rest and couldn?t give a rat?s behind about this game. The Lions, meanwhile, are playing great football and suddenly they?re finding ways to win games as oppose to finding ways to lose. That?s a big sign of a team on the rise and with three wins in a row and a chance to end the year at home and create a lot of interest for next season expect the Lions to give it everything they have. Play: Detroit ?3? +1.00 (Risking 2 units).
INDIANAPOLIS ?9? over Tennessee Pinnacle
We guess the Titans would like the make life miserable for the Colts and under favorable conditions they might have been able to. Thing is, the Titans are a garbage team with no pass rush whatsoever and giving Peyton Manning time to operate is a disaster waiting to happen. The Colts control its own destiny and a win here puts them in and there?s no way this defenseless invader is going to get in the way of that. Seriously, Tennessee?s defense is a joke beyond a joke. They don?t tackle well, they?re soft and they simply cannot stop anyone. The Titans only chance of keeping this close is if they put up 21 or more and that?s not going to happen either. Blowout city from the first quarter and beyond. Play: Indianapolis ?9? (Risking 2.02 units to win 2).
Miami +1.95 over NEW ENGLAND Pinnacle
Man is this sweet or what? Here we have a Dolphins team that is going to show up for sure playing a Pats team that has nothing to play for whatsoever. The Pats minus every regular is equivalent to Miami playing the Carolina Panthers and now the books are offering +1.95 on the 6-1 road Dolphins. This is a must bet. Play: Miami +1.95 (Risking 2 units).
CLEVELAND +6 over Pittsburgh SportsInteraction
How do we know this is an overlay? It?s simple. The Ravens in the exact same scenario last week were a 3?-point favorite in Cleveland and now the Steelers, who are worse than the Ravens are two points more. For those of you who bet on Baltimore, congratulations are in order but you know it as much as we do that the Brownies were supposed to cover that game and probably should have won outright. The Ravens got the bounces but were not the better team. In a similar situation exactly a year ago, that being the Steelers in a must win situation against Cleveland, the Steelers lost outright and missed the playoffs. This year they?re in so the game isn?t as crucial, but the result is likely going to be the same. These Steelers simply do not warrant this price against a dangerous Brownies squad that can run the ball and that plays rock solid defense. Those who bet Baltimore last week got away with it but won?t be so fortunate this week. Play: Cleveland +6 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
Note: Check back Sunday for the possibility of couple more plays.
You can also listen to Randall on his syndicated radio show, "Inside the Lines". Sunday mornings between 10:00AM and 12:30PM on The Fan590
