There are only three games remaining in the NFL season. This weekend four teams will battle it out for conference titles and a spot in Super Bowl XLVII.
NFC Championship Game
San Francisco 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons
This is the easier of the two games to pick. The Falcons are an underrated team, but even though they will be playing at home I can’t see them winning this game. The 49ers look like a team ready to play in a Super Bowl and I reckon their defense will prove the difference. There won’t be any last minute heroics from the Dirty Birds this weekend.
Take the 49ers at -4
AFC Championship Game
Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots
This match is a repeat of last year’s championship game where the Ravens came so close to knocking off the Patriots. Ray Lewis reminds me of Jake and Elwood Blues who were on a mission from God. The Patriots are about as exciting as a dry cracker and the Ravens will believe in their hearts they can win this game, which is half the battle. The only problem is the Ravens will be tired after their epic struggle in Denver, but if they are still in the contest at the end of the third quarter, I reckon they’ll surprise everyone.
Take the Ravens at +9.5
The tennis will continue this weekend at the Australian Open. The best advice I can give you is to monitor the weather. It can get awfully hot in Melbourne and you can literally fry an egg on those hard courts when the thermometer is soaring. If it does get hot look for the fit youngsters to cause upsets against those older players with too many miles in their legs. Look out for Li Na in the women’s draw. She is at good odds and has ticked all the right boxes.
Cricket, basketball, football and the golf from Abu Dhabi head the list of other sporting attractions for the weekend. Any golf tournament featuring Tiger and Rory is worth watching and I will be taking the 15/2 odds on offer for the Tiger.
Good luck and good punting.
