It’s go time!!!\u00a0\u00a012 teams enter, 1 team leaves.\u00a0 Who will that team be?\u00a0 Well, we\u2019re getting a little ahead of ourselves.\u00a0 The important question is: who can we bet on to win today\u2019s games?\u00a0 Now you\u2019re talking.\u00a0 The Machine has the answers you need to get you through the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Cincinnati at Houston (-4.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n A rematch from last year\u2019s wild card round, the Bengals march in to Houston to once again try to dethrone the Texans.\u00a0 Last year, the stars were aligned for a Bengals victory:\u00a0 Schaub was hurt, putting then rookie TJ Yates behind center.\u00a0 However, Andy Dalton, our favorite football ginger (sorry Shayne Graham) threw three picks, and the Texans won easily 31 to10.<\/p>\n This game should be more competitive that last year.\u00a0 The Bengals have quietly put together a solid 10-6 season, and Dalton may be the most under the radar QB in the league (proof that the NFL doesn\u2019t want a ginger QB to succeed, right Rush?), throwing for 27 tds and nearly 3700 yards.\u00a0 A.J. Green is a stud, and Jermaine Gresham provides a great safety valve.\u00a0 On defense, the Bengals are also pretty complete.\u00a0 Proving once again that character concerns are for pussies, the Bengals took a huge risk on Vontaze Burfict this year, but it paid off HUGE, as Vontaze led the team with 127 tackles and 0 arrests.\u00a0 Shit, Pacman Jones didn\u2019t get arrested this year, which makes The Machine wonder if the Bengals actually lock up their players on off days or shut down every strip club in Ohio.<\/p>\n However, despite all these positives, the Bengals are run in to a Texans squad that is healthy, hungry, and playing with a huge chip on their shoulders.\u00a0 The playoffs are all about balance, and no team has better balance right now than the Houston Texans.\u00a0 Schaub is healthy, and Foster and Andre Johnson need to introductions.\u00a0 Andre Johnson had a monster year, and only got better as the season went on, averaging 10\/130 over the past three games.\u00a0 On defense, the Texans are legit, led by JJ Watt and his 20.5 sacks.\u00a0 The Texans are well-balanced throughout their D, with Watt on the line, Cushing at LB, and Kareem Jackson at CB.<\/p>\n While the Bengals will put up a better fight than last year, they\u2019re still a year away from making a serious playoff run.\u00a0 The Texans, meanwhile, are ready to win now.\u00a0 They run the best play-action in the game, so look for them to burn Cincy on a few long plays.\u00a0 The Texans are just too much to handle, and Ginger Nation waits another year for a Ginger QB in the Super bowl (any chance Peyton can dye his hair?)<\/p>\n Texans 24, Cincinnati 17.<\/p>\n Minnesota at Green Bay (-7.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n A rematch from last week, Minnesota and Green Bay play each other for the third time this year.\u00a0 They split the regular season series, and the Vikings are getting no respect, coming in to Green Bay at more than a touchdown underdog.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a lot, considering the Vikes have Adrian Peterson and his non-human knee.\u00a0 AP has torched the Pack this year, averaging a ridiculous 204.5 yards per game.\u00a0 AP alone will keep the Vikings in this game.\u00a0 That\u2019s good because, besides Peterson, the Vikes have a collection of overachievers and no names on offense.\u00a0 Who thought Kyle Rudolph and Michael Jenkins would become receiving threats?\u00a0 Percy Harvin has talent, but a #1 WR needs to put up more than 677 yards.\u00a0 However, it all falls on Christian Ponder.\u00a0 The Packers should put 11 in the box to stop AP.\u00a0 If Ponder can get in a rhythm, it will force Green Bay to play a more balanced scheme, which will open up lines for AP.<\/p>\n Green Bay is perhaps the most unbalanced team in the playoffs, ranking 20th<\/sup> in the league in rushing and 9th<\/sup> in passing.\u00a0 They have no running game and a Defense that gives up big plays.\u00a0 Having said that, they also have Aaron Rodgers, and what they lack in balance they make up in explosiveness.\u00a0 Rodgers loves playing the Viking, averaging 325.5 yards against the Vikings this year.\u00a0 The Pack will need to rely on their passing game, because their running game is suspect at best, led by Alex Green and his 464 yards (0 tds).\u00a0 Rodgers is second on the team in rushing with 259 yards (2 tds).\u00a0 On defense, the Packers do just enough, ranking 11th<\/sup> in the league in passing and 17th<\/sup> in rushing.\u00a0 This middle of the road defense won\u2019t kill you, but it certainly won\u2019t make game-changing plays.<\/p>\n Each team has their flaws, but the advantage goes to the Packers.\u00a0 The home team won each game this year, and look for that to continue tonight.\u00a0 This game will be close, but the nighttime crowd at Lambeau Field (note:\u00a0 on The Machine\u2019s bucket list) will give the Packers the energy they need to move on.\u00a0 Take Minnesota with the points.<\/p>\n Green Bay 31, Minnesota 27.<\/p>\n **Update**\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Christian Ponder is not playing.\u00a0 Instead, Joe Webb will be leading the charge.\u00a0 Now, the Vikings deserve no respect.\u00a0 Thus, disregard everything that’s written above:\u00a0 the Pack easily win by double digits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s go time!!!\u00a0\u00a012 teams enter, 1 team leaves.\u00a0 Who will that team be?\u00a0 Well, we\u2019re getting a little ahead of ourselves.\u00a0 The important question is: who can we bet on to win today\u2019s games?\u00a0 Now you\u2019re talking.\u00a0 The Machine has … Continue reading