danielmphan says:
PHI @ AZ

hose places favoring Philadelphia by three were making bettors lay extra juice in the 20-to-30 cent range. LVSC’s opener was Eagles minus 2 ½.

“The Eagles have to be favored,” Seba said. “It’s just a matter of by how much – 2 ½, three, 3 ½.

The Eagles have the post-season experience factor going their way, along with a much stronger defense. The Cardinals, though, have become a force at home during the two years Ken Whisenhunt has been coaching them.

Arizona has won 12 of its 17 home games under Whisenhunt, 11-6 against the spread. The Cardinals stuffed Michael Turner in beating Atlanta at home during the first round of the playoffs and then upset Carolina as double-digit road ‘dogs, 33-13, despite not having Anquan Boldin.

“I could see the total coming down,” Seba said. “Playoff games can get tighter. Teams tend to get more conservative. The Cardinals also are running the ball better.”

danielmphan says:
Combining the OLR and FRANK

Here are the plays

BAL +3

AZ/CAR OVER 48.5

AZ +10

NYG -4

PITT -6

danielmphan says:
Hats off to the Eagles for turning their season around, but it’s hard to see lighting striking twice on the road. A little too much is being made of Philadelphia’s win over the Giants on December 7 at the Meadowlands – Brandon Jacobs was injured during that game, and the Giants are not the same team without him. Jacobs is a human wrecking ball, a man born to play football. Jacobs reduces defensive schemes and the sort of stuff that perplexed poor Tarvaris Jackson on Sunday to so much hot air. The Eagles all know Jacobs is coming, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to stop him. The absence of a deep threat means that the Eagles can stuff the box against Jacobs more than makes me entirely comfortable, but I still can’t see any way around the Giants -4 with Sports Interaction being the pick.

danielmphan says:
http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=167090&article

NFL playoff division round picks

By FRANK DOYLE | January 6, 2009 |

Quarterback is always a good place to look for difference-makers. Joe Flacco has played well for the Ravens this year but he can’t really compare to the veteran savvy of a Kerry Collins. However, Baltimore’s game plan will be to establish the run and not allow the Titans to force Flacco to throw. The Ravens run. It’s what they do. And Tennessee has questions over both Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth, so I’m figuring that Baltimore can dominate the line of scrimmage, establish the run and pound Tennessee into submission that way. Now, could Kerry Collins still march the team downfield and win it in the dying seconds? Yes, he could, but the percentages say that Baltimore +3 with Sports Interaction is the pick.

danielmphan says:
Additional Notes on AZ @ CAR

“Arizona is dangerous,” Seba said. “The Cardinals could steal a game if Carolina isn’t ready. The line is so high because the Cardinals are on the road, they have a bad defense and Carolina is rested.

“Carolina’s DNA is to be conservative. I can see not wanting to lay a lot of points with the Panthers, especially with Arizona being able to score at any time.”