MY AFC & NFC CHAMPIONSHIP PICKS

Sunday, January 24th
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AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Patriots 29 Broncos 23:
Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady Round 17, and I couldn't be more nauseous. (Seriously, this will be another great match-up between these two grizzled veterans. I will enjoy the game despite myself). The Pats are riddled with injuries (up to 16 players listed at best as questionable), but one of them is NOT Tom "The Deflator" Brady. The Broncs are a bit healthier and playing at Mile High, but Manning is not back to 100 by any stretch. New England not afraid to play on the road at all. Brady finds a way like he did last weekend vs. Chiefs.


NFC CHAMPIONSHIP:

Panthers 37 Cardinals 34:
As long as Bank of America field is in DECENT shape (and after last week's game vs. Seachickens, that is a BIG IF), there should be lots of points in this one. Larry Fitzgerald and the AZ receiving corps will be a challenge to defend with a depleted Carolina secondary. Carson Palmer will need to be on top of his game for this battery to work (he did not bring his "A game" last weekend vs. Pack). But, let's face it, this IS the year of THE CAM and the now 16-1 Panthers. As long as Carolina doesn't take a half off (a la Seattle game) and plays a full and intense 60, Newton & Co. will be a Gano FG better to set up another Panthers-Pats Super Bowl at Levi Stadium. 

MY NFC & AFC DIVISIONAL PICKS

Saturday, December 16th

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New England 26 Kansas City 23:

Pats come into playoffs losers of 4 of last 6, but home field advantage will be a big help in this one (although no snow predicted). Alex Smith having an incredible year for Chiefs, and the defense is stout. Tom Brady will find some way to pull this one out of his hat (or another 3 letter word). #gochiefs

Cardinals 37 Packers 33:

Cards laid waste to Pack a couple of weeks ago in the desert (38-8). Aaron Rogers looked sharp (as did the running game) vs. Redskins last weekend, but Skins are by far the weakest team in playoffs. Green Bay makes it a much better game this time around, but AZ moves on. 

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Sunday, December 17th

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Panthers 30 Seahawks 27:

I have been flip-flopping on this pick all week. Russell Wilson is playing VERY well (even in the negative zero conditions in Minneapolis he showed out), and he knows a thing or two about playing well in Charlotte (college & pro). Wilson wants this game badly back in the Ol' North State, but CAM is the MVP!!! Jonathan Stewart is back of the DL for Panthers, and Marshawn Lynch says he is "ready" to come back this weekend (although he said the same about the Vikings game). Gano gives the Panthers a win with a FG late. 

Broncos 33 Steelers 27:

Yeah, Peyton Manning is back, but not sure how close to 100% he really is. Steelers probably shouldn't be in Divisional round after that UGLY and somewhat lucky win over Bengals last weekend. Steel Curtain won in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago, but Broncos find a way at Mile High. (I will get physically ill if I have to watch another Pats-Broncos game). 

2015 BOWL MATRIX CHALLENGE (sponsored by Shreddie's & Bojangle's)

2015 BOWL MATRIX CHALLENGE STANDINGS
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                         R4   R5     R6   R7     R8    Champ   Overall       W/L

Will                   26      5       5     45     35         -10       241        30-12
Jeff                    13      0      20     31   16            9        217        28-14
DGray               15      2      -5     50    20           -10      207        28-14
Bruce                17     -4     12     14      0           -35      128        27-15
Richard             24     25     15     23    13           -95      118        29-13
DGreen             18      18   -12     -9     3            -48       97         23-19
Ryan                 18     10     20    10      0             -95      82        24-18
Chuck                21    -14     20    -5    -15          -25       65        19-23
Craig                -10     -10     -7     30   -1            -65       48        20-22


Matt                    4        0     -10    15    -1            X       95         22-19
(Matty Ice became infatuated with UNC basketball and sat out the title game).




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42 GAMES AND HERE WE GO...

NEW SCORING SYSTEM:
This year we will be using a CONFIDENCE level pick system (game by game). Here's how it works... each game will be assigned a range (most games will be from 1 to 5, but some games will be 1 to 10). Instead of assigning point values to each game as in years past, you will pick the winner and what level of CONFIDENCE you have in that pick (5 being MOST, 1 being LEAST). You will receive the amount of CONFIDENCE points towards your BOWL MATRIX total. If you do not get the pick correct, those number of CONFIDENCE points you assigned to at pick will be SUBTRACTED from your total.

2015 BOWL MATRIX CHALLENGE (sponsored by Shreddie's & Bojangle's) CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Monday, January 11th
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CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PRESENTED BY AT&T (CONFIDENCE 25 > 1)
8:30 #2 Alabama (13-1) vs. #1 Clemson (14-0) ESPN


ALL THE CATEGORIES BELOW HAVE A CONFIDENCE LEVEL OF 10 > 1

Total points after 1st quarter (closest):

Total points at halftime (closest):

Total points after 3rd quarter (closest):

FINAL SCORE, not TOTAL points (closest... you must also pick the winning team to get these points):

Player who CATCHES 1st touchdown pass of game:

Player who SCORES 1st rushing touchdown of game:

TOTAL YARDS (rushing & passing) by ALABAMA (closest):

TOTAL YARDS (rushing & passing) by CLEMSON (closest): 

Most Valuable Player: 

2015 BOWL MATRIX CHALLENGE (sponsored by Shreddie's & Bojangle's) ROUND 8 (Games of Jan. 2nd)

Still rockin' the 10 > 1 CONFIDENCE points (stakes get higher for title game on Jan. 11th)

Saturday, January 2nd
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TAXSLAYER BOWL
12:00 Penn State (7-5) vs. Georgia (9-3) ESPN

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL
3:20 Kansas State (6-6) vs. Arkansas (7-5) ESPN

VALERO ALAMO BOWL
6:45 #15 Oregon  (9-3) vs. #11 Texas Christian (10-2) ESPN

MOTEL 6 CACTUS BOWL
10:15 West Virginia (7-5) vs. Arizona State (6-6) ESPN