The NFL Degenerate picks Vikings vs Niners, Titans vs Ravens, Texans vs Chiefs and Seahawks vs Packers in the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round
(Picks in CAPS)
SATURDAY
MINNESOTA +6½ at San Francisco
Kirk Cousins made me a believer last week with a composed performance in a hostile environment in New Orleans, and I don’t think the Norsemen suddenly fall apart and get outclassed here by Niners team in its first playoff game under Jimmy Garoppolo and with a load of hype to live up to. San Fran humbled Green Bay six weeks ago but has allowed its last five opponents to score in the 20s or above. I see both teams putting up points, so taking the over, particularly in a teaser, might be a good play as well.
Tennessee +9½ at BALTIMORE
Can the Titans score enough to keep up with the Ravens, or can they slow the game down enough to stay competitive as they did last week against a fading team with a quarterback who moves as if wading in quicksand? Leaning toward a ‘no’ on both, so where does that leave us? With a young team loaded with talent and expectations laying a huge number against a team that has been on a pretty good roll of its own that includes beating the defending Super Bowl champs, whatever you think about them, and on the road to boot. Bottom line: I want to take Tennessee, but I just don’t see them pulling it off two weeks in a row on the highway.
SUNDAY
HOUSTON +9 at Kansas City
Chiefs are itching to erase memories of last year’s AFC title game, and I happen to believe they will reach the Super Bowl. This is a lot of points to give to a Houston team that doesn’t score a lot but doesn’t give up a lot, either, more so now with a healthy J.J. Watt wreaking terror on opposing backfields. Texans did enough to win last week, hunch is they will do enough to cover this week. The over has been getting a lot of action so I’m kinda liking the under, especially in a teaser.
Seattle +4 at GREEN BAY
Home team has won the last 8 in this series, and with Aaron Rodgers on a mission to silence the doubters who have dissed the Pack this season, this looks like the end of the road for the ‘hawks, despite their 8-1 road record. Green Bay was 7-1 SU at home, with 6 of the 7 wins by more than this line.