CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

I've got weird prop bets galore...

Eagles/Cardinals(H) 1st half +.5 2nd half

DeVoodoo's pick: 2nd half

I feel good about laying a half-point in the 2nd half. There's a good chance these two potent offenses will slug it out at the end, with a flurry of points in the final minutes.

LaRon McClain 1st rush attempt O/U @ 3.5 yards

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

The Steelers will try to prove dominance early by forcing the Ravens to the air. The stifling Steelers' D will swarm on McClain's first carry of the game. 

Try Polomalu total tackles O/U @ 4.5

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

It's the playoffs. There's no way Polamalu isn't around the ball at all times.  

Ravens/Steelers(H): any team to score 3 unanswered times?

DeVoodoo's pick: NO

I think this game will be what we all expect -- low scoring, defensive, physical football. It's pretty difficult to score three unanswered times in a contest like this. 

Joe Flacco total passing yards O/U @ 173.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

This rookie QB is cool, but the Steelers have proven they know how to rattle him.  

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Sorry for the radio silence. Holiday travel, etc has kept me away from the action. But I've finally made my divisional round picks...

6-pt. teaser
Cardinals +4 Panthers (H) / O/U @54.5

DeVoodoo's pick: Panthers -4 & UNDER
Windy, cold conditions (plus WR Anquan Boldin's bad hammy) should keep the Cardinals' offense in check. Playing at home, with confidence, and considering how terrible the Cardinals have been all year on the road, I thought the safest play was to tease the Panthers down line from -10 and further pad the O/U.

Eagles +4 Giants (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Eagles
Call it nothing more than a gut feeling, but I don't expect the Giants to repeat as champs, so why not pick the Eagles as the ones to beat them? Besides, they're division rivals, so playing the Giants at the Meadowlands is a familiar assignment for the Philly crew.

6-pt. teaser
Chargers E Steelers (H) / O/U @ 44

DeVoodoo's pick: Steelers & UNDER
Taking this tease was essentially a means to tease the Steelers down to even. The O/U has me slightly concerned, but a bet worth playing, I think.

Prop bet
LeRon McCalin O/U rushing yardage for the game @ 72.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER
Sorry I couldn't go a more traditional route here, but this game has me stupified. I honestly have no idea who will win this contest, though I'm leanign toward the Titans. But, man, how can you bet against that Ravens D? So I decided to bet against LaRon McClain, as much as I admire his skills. I think the Titans will do everything in their power to make Flacco beat them; head coach Jeff Fisher won't allow his squad to die a slow death via Ravens' runnings backs.