After a strong finish to the regular season, Pro Picks hopes to peak in the postseason. So the search begins for Best Bets and Upset Specials.
Our focus turns to a team with an awful recent playoff record. Yes, the Bengals (10-5- 1, No. 9 AP Pro32) are in the playoffs for the fourth straight year. And, no, they didn’t win any postseason matches in those three previous trips.
Indeed, they have not won a playoff game since the 1990 season. Yet …
Cincinnatiisa31-2-point underdog at AFC South winner Indianapolis (11-5, No. 8 AP Pro32) on Sunday. For the Bengals to defy history, they’ll need to pressure Andrew Luck, who led the league with 40 touchdown passes. Luck torched the Bengals for 344 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-0 romp in October.
We need to pick a road team, so …
BENGALS, 27-23
No. 7 Detroit (plus 7) at No. 4 Dallas, Sunday
Neither side inspires much confidence when it comes to the postseason. The Lions (11-5) rarely make it, and then go out right away. Dallas (12-4) has been a shell of the franchise that Tom Landry and then Jimmy Johnson coached.
COWBOYS 33-17
No. 10 (tie) Arizona (plus 6) at No. 13 Carolina, Saturday
It’s a shame the Cardinals (11-5) have been so damaged by injuries because they have been among the feel-good stories of 2014. But with Ryan Lindley at quarterback if Drew Stanton can’t get back from his knee surgery, and with so many backups playing elsewhere, it’s difficult to envision them getting past the Panthers (7-8-1).
Yes, Carolina is only the second division winner in NFL history with a losing record, but it won its final four games and has shown some nice balance on offense and defense.
A team hosting the Super Bowl in its own stadium won’t happen this season.
PANTHERS, 20-16
No. 10 (tie) Baltimore (plus 3) at No. 6 Pittsburgh, Saturday
Nasty. Vicious. Brutal.
And highly entertaining.
This might be the best rivalry in the NFL, and when these teams collide in the playoffs, well, the intensity is ratcheted up. Simply, these AFC North teams don’t like one another. Never have, never will.
Pittsburgh (11-5) won the division, but one of its key performers, RB Le’Veon Bell, is battling a knee injury. That places more emphasis on QB Ben Roethlisberger throwing to the sensational Antonio Brown. And against the week secondary of the Ravens (10- 6), that could be decisive.
STEELERS, 31-24
2014 RECORD: Against spread: This week (11-4); Season (128- 116-5). Straight up: This week (11-4); Season (169-85-1) … Best Bet: 7-10 against spread, 10-7 straight up. … Upset special: 9-8 against spread, 7- 10 straight up.
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