NFL Wild Card Picks + BCS Championship pick

After an entertaining season of Football we are down to the final games. Here are my picks for the games of this weekend plus the BCS title game.

Cinci @ Houston(-3)

Neither of these teams have any real chance to contend for the Super Bowl or even survive the next round. The Texans have the NFL's 2nd best running attack and a defense that has played well all season. This is the franchise's first trip to the playoffs so the fans will be as loud as they have been all season. The Bengals have been somewhat of a surprise with rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green performing at a high level and having an adequate running game with Cedric Benson rushing for slightly over 1000 yards. Intrestingly, with the AFC North being so strong this year, both wild cards came from this division with the Bengals beating all nine non playoff teams they met this season and losing all seven games to teams in the tourney. I am a bit hesitant on this game because both teams have inexperienced quarterbacks with T.J. Yates actually having a seperated shoulder and is one big hit away from being benched for the relic of ineptitude Jake Delhomne.
Nevertheless, I believe that Dalton will continue to regress and have some jitters on this big a stage and believe that Houston's dual back running game will gash Cinci enough while its stout defense comes up with enough plays to win and cover.

Houston 24
Cincinatti 16


Detroit @ New Orleans (-10.5) ov/under 59.5

This game has the makings of an offensive shootout with two prolific offenses. For various reasons I do not totally wish to over-analyse this game or what I have noticed about both teams. This is how I perceive the game proceeding- Saints make some big plays and get a lead, Detroit makes a big error- likely an interception and fall behind by 14-21 points. Saints become more conservative and Detroit rallies to get back into the game late. Saints hold on and put it away. I predict a Saints win but believe the point spread could go either way as the final margin will be between 6-14 points. I do feel confident in the over 59.5 though.

New Orleans 45
Detroit 37

I will get to the other games in the next post.