My thoughts on the TITLE GAMES

[ATLfun]

Why, I am avoiding the Patriots game? Well, I will start with the Patriots. When is a legend not so legendary?

When is a legend not so legendary? Hmm, that would be tonight. Man, does Brady look ordinary.

[ATLfun]

Well Bunk, I guess we both covered. I had the over and the Niners at both -3 when it was 110 and -2 1/2 when it was -150.

Thank goodness I stayed awayed from the Baltimore game. Though, I did take them in the contest. :sm:

[BUNK MORELAND]

My wagers

Atl +4.5
Over 49
Pats -7.5
Over 52

1 unit a piece..

Home dog getting more than 3 . I'll take it .. More experienced QB , with better offensive weapons.

I have to believe that Ravens run out of gas in the 4th quarter today... That road game in Denver (5 quarters) had to take a toll on them ..

We'll see.

Im not crazy about these plays .. the one thing I keep hearing is that ATL defense is not that good. So I will go over and I don't thing Baltimore is very good on defense anymore.

I feel better about the totals than I do about the sides .

[Horfin]

I really like ATL, I think they win straight up. GB lost becuase of a defensive coord that would not change the defnese to match the Read-Option. Atlanta is a fast defense and those long runs by K wwill not happen. Atlanta should be able to expose deficiencies in the overrated SF defense. When the pressure is on, I think the young QB fails.

ATL ML

(What do I know, I am 3-5 in playoffs)

[Stifler's Mom]

I personally look at that +4.5 as massive bait to get people to take Atlanta, who normally wouldn't if you were just picking the SU winner.

A few points that make me like SF (other than the fact that they are the better team):

This will be the second straight very physical defense ATL will face. That could be a tough task to overcome.

Seattle, with fellow rookie QB Wilson, moved the ball at will on the ATL defense last week once they woke up from that brutal travel schedule (w---->e 2 straight playoff games) and probably some early game jitters.

This same ATL team is notorious for being blown out in the playoffs. Yes, they managed to scratch out a win last week (at home, vs a team in as brutal of a spot schedule wise as you'll find in the nfl), but not without first blowing a big lead and not without some good fortune at the end getting in fg range with very little time left.

You used to be able to bet against inexperienced QB's in the playoffs years ago and do very well, but that theory really wouldn't gotten you too far in the last decade or so, and especially when that inexperienced qb is on the team with the (far) better defense and better running game to compliment him.

Colin K knows nothing but winning thus far from his Nevada days and now in the NFL and I don't think he will prepare or play to do anything less this week either, in other words I don't think he will go out there hoping to win, but rather expecting to win, and I don't really feel ATL has the defensive weapons to throw him off his game.

[BUNK MORELAND]

I am so torn on this game

Probably a good idea for BUNK to lay off this one.

Crabtree news is not good for 9ers backers.:puke:

[ATLfun]

Winning ugly will certainly catch up to .. and a discipline team will get you a few more wins that you probably should have.

I'm flip flopped I think .. I used to be as hard headed as it gets, but now I think I may be getting old.

We got some ATL people in this thread, guys who watch the Falcons week in and week out telling us that they feel SF will win ...

I am a Falcon doubting thomas by nature. I remember Danny White throwing two touchdowns to Drew Pearson in the final minutes of the fourth quarter of the 1981 NFC championship to come from behind and win. Damn, that makes me old.

But I just don't see who the playmakers are going to be along the d-line. Abraham practiced today and is listed as probable but that is a joke. And while I like Kroy Bierman, he his hardly a stud at the end position. If Green Bay/Mathews cannot get the job done, how is Atlanta going to do it?

However, Atlanta somehow did it against the Vikings with Moss, Carter and Cunningham when they were like 12 point dogs at the Metrodome. So as a fan I hold out hope. As a wager, no way-no how.

[BUNK MORELAND]

Just check pinnacle

SF - 3.5
NE - 8

We all know pinny isn't the place to go to get a good number on the dogs.
But it's historically a sharp line ..

[BUNK MORELAND]

weather in New England this weekend

Temps in the mid 40's

WINDY - 25 mph

[BUNK MORELAND]

I'm the biggest Falcon fan this side of hell. My brother and I have discussed
Atl all year. My point has been they have been winning ugly and his point has been they are an 8-8 team but less penalties and turnovers brought them to #1 seed. They lost to a worfless Carolina team for crying out loud. Atl has to play better than they have all year to win this one and if they don't, I'll be rooting for SF in the SB.

Winning ugly will certainly catch up to .. and a discipline team will get you a few more wins that you probably should have.

I'm flip flopped I think .. I used to be as hard headed as it gets, but now I think I may be getting old.

We got some ATL people in this thread, guys who watch the Falcons week in and week out telling us that they feel SF will win ...

[The Mailman]

The more I think about this game the more I see Atlanta having to respect the Niners run game and SF having success which will open up the passing game.

The thing that worries me though is that Kaepernick is young and inexperienced. It doesn't matter how good you are, there is no substitution for experience. With this being a road game, I would think the young QB may be vulnerable.

He sure seems like he's got charisma though.

My last thought is that Atlanta may have peaked too early. Seeing them give up all those points to Seattle in the second half is something to be concerned about.

And lastly, Matt Ryan sure has been good at home. I like the Niners though.

[Daws1089]

Why is the number 1 seed, a team who rarely loses at home now all of a sudden getting 4 pts at home? I guess that is the thing that I am having the most trouble coming to terms with. I think that speaks volumes about San Fran. Normally I would be he first guy lining up to play a home dog, believe that, especially in the playoffs, but I just cant get behind Atl here. San Fran has so many weapons on both sides of the ball, Atl's defense does not do anything great, but does limit penalties which I think keeps them in games. Someone said they lost to Carolina, well I think they could struggle with the SF offense which will look a lot like Carolina's. Kaepernick will be fast on that turf too. I think you have to take the over or nothing in this game. Atl should be able to exploit SF linebackers a bit with Tony G and the two stud Wrs and I definitely think SF puts up maybe 28-31 pts.


As far as the NE/BAL game when was the last time the public soo heavy against the patriots? Normally the pats are the public's darling team to get them all their money back. Believe me, I've bet against the pats many times and almost always pay for it. I would lean to taking the points again here. Baltimore always game plans well for new england. I would expect Balt to play keep away from Tom Brady as that is really the best way to limit their offense. I would actually lean towards under 51 in that game. Think we see some field goals and Baltimore chewing up clock to keep this in the low 40s.

I'm not dead set on anything but that is where I'm at.

[Nelson Lewis]

Here's the way i see it for the Dirty Birds to have a chance...

Establish a run game!

Matty ICE Ryan cannot win this game by himself. In order for the Birds to have any chance, they're going to need a 100 yards rushing. In order to win the game, they're going to need 150 yards rushing. Thinking they can do either one of these is very suspect, considering the O line and the production of the backfield so far this year. However, I'm leaning that they can, and we will find out real quick from the opening possession if so, or at least they better. I don't want to see any screens in the 1st Qtr. If they go back early to trying to rely on this and not attempt to establish a run game, then they're hopes of winning are shot from the start. From the D side, you have to hope to get pressure on Kap without over rushing him. If he single checks and takes off, Atlanta is going to have to be able to be in place to stop it. If they can't, it could be a long night for the Dirty Bird Defense, especially if the O can't establish a little run game and some decently long drives to control some TOP. Once again, this happening is a little supsect. But, it can to say the least.

Now, we could talk San Fran, but why? They are the away favorite and all stats etc point to them clearly. It's easy to wager on SF, or even SF ML if you choose, which leads me to this...The spread of +4-4.5 scares me a little too as it lies in the dead zone.

As for a Total, If you think that the Dirty Birds can keep this game close, or even pull of the victory, then I would have to go against what looks to be an Over game, and lean Under as I stated before, in order for this to happen a run game would need to be established, helping to kill clock, and hopefully lowering the score. And of course, if you look for SF to run away with it with a game filled with big plays, then you go Over.

I personally have not played this game yet. Everything screams SF and Over, so I lean Atlanta and Under, possibly even ATL ML as I think if they cover, then they win SU. Either way you choose, we should be in for a great game to watch. Good luck to all and enjoy.

[ATLfun]

I saw the haggler ray fight marvelous Marvin won IMO

Yeah, I was thinking Hearns and typed Hagler. Hearns always had a puncher's chance. People should really catch some of the Hearns/Hagler replays. Hagler was a top notch champion, and I have nothing but respect for him.

[Reggie Hamlin]

I saw the haggler ray fight marvelous Marvin won IMO