The Conference Championships in the NFL, starring the four best teams in the league, take place on Sunday. Here is my analysis on the games, along with my fearless picks:
SUNDAY
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos -5 3:00 pm CBS
Brady vs Manning. Brady is 10-4 against Manning-led teams in his career. In the playoffs, Brady leads Manning 2-1, with the home team winning each time. The running game may hold the key to this game, however. Knowshon Moreno has been a stud this year for the Broncos, rushing for over 1,000 yards and has contributed in the passing game as well. He had 60 catches for 548 yards during the regular season, and his work as a pass blocker has been simply phenomenal. The Patriots have rediscovered their running game the last two games. LeGarrette Blount has exploded for 355 yards and four TD’s in his last two games and, along with Stevan Ridley, have taken some of the pressure off Tom Brady, who was sacked 40 times this past season, his highest sack totals since 2001. Manning had no such issues this season, and he had a dream season against NFL defenses, breaking the season TD mark with 55 touchdown passes, and breaking the all-time single-season yardage record. I picked Denver at the beginning of the season, so I’m sticking with them. Taking the Broncos minus the points.
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks -3 6:30 pm FOX
Interesting game to handicap, to say the least. Both QB’s have struggled against their opponent this week. The 49ers and Seahawks defenses have somehow managed to keep Kaepernick and Wilson under wraps. It will probably come down to which team can run the ball more effectively. Marshawn Lynch has been a monster all year, and in his last four games against the 49ers in Seattle, he has averaged 112 yards and scored six TD’s. San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick is going to have to pick up the pace running the ball to keep the ferocious Seattle defensive line from controlling the game. If he does, the 49ers have a shot. The Seahawks’ home field advantage may be too much for the 49ers to overcome. I’ll take the easy way out and go with the Seahawk minus the points.
I went 2-2 last week in my picks. My record in the playoffs against the spread so far is 5-2-1.
The Dolphins are still in “interview” mode, and have interviewed at least six candidates for the GM job. Let’s keep hoping and praying that the candidates are more qualified than their predecessor:
Here’s more on the Fins from Armando Salguero:
Next season, the Dolphins will play the AFC West and NFC North in addition to their usual AFC East opponents.
2014 Home schedule: Buffalo, New England, NY Jets, Kansas City, San Diego, Green Bay, Minnesota and Baltimore.
2014 Road schedule: Buffalo, New England, NY Jets, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, Oakland (in London), and Jacksonville.
Here is the 2014 draft order. The final order will be determined by playoff results. The only thing that is certain is that the Houston Texans are on the clock.
Mel Kiper and his hair bring us his first Mock Draft:
Of course, we can all continue to sleep at night, knowing full well that Aaron Hernandez remains in jail, where he belongs.
The A-Roid situation continues to be the headline around baseball. It seems to be winding down, however:
In other news around baseball,
Major League Baseball will begin an expanded instant replay format for the 2014 season. Here are the stories from ESPN and FOX SPORTS, along with expert opinions from Jayson Stark of ESPN, and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX SPORTS.
Marlins’ pitchers and catchers report February 16th, position players arrive February 20th, and the spring training games begin February 26th, when the Fish play the University of Miami Hurricanes. They will then play the FIU Panthers on the 27th. Both of those games will be in Jupiter.
Here is the complete preseason schedule for the Fish:
Moving to the hardwood:
The Heat are looking to end a three-game losing streak tonight in Philadelphia, when they take on the 76ers. It doesn’t get any easier this week. Counting Friday’s game, the Heat have five games in seven days.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: The Miami Heat have lost three games in a row going into tonight’s game against the 76ers in Philadelphia. When was the last time the Heat lost three consecutive games? The answer comes later, alligator.
The Heat’s schedule for the rest of the month:
Heat @ 76ers Fri 1/17 7:00 pm Sun Sports
Heat @ Bobcats Sat 1/18 7:00 pm Sun Sports
Heat @ Hawks Mon 1/20 5:30 pm Sun Sports
Celtics @ Heat Tue 1/21 7:30 pm Sun Sports
Lakers @ Heat Thu 1/23 8:00 pm TNT
Spurs @ Heat Sun 1/26 1:00 pm ABC
Thunder @ Heat Wed 1/29 7:00 pm Sun Sports, ESPN
More Heat and NBA coverage:
Here is the Heat’s complete regular season schedule:
College Sports Information Central:
Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have the latest from Coral Gables.
From FIU, David J. Neal of the Herald has the latest in his blog:
Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and the Seminoles:
From Gainesville and the University of Florida:
We welcome the Central Florida Knights to the blog:
Central Florida Blog / Knights Note Pad
The Florida Panthers lost to the San Jose Sharks last night, 3-0 The Cats hit the road for their next three games, first on Saturday against Carolina, on Monday against Pittsburgh, and on Tuesday against Buffalo. Game times for all three game is 7:00 pm, and you can watch them on Fox Sports Florida.
In soccer, Major League Soccer expects to make an announcement on David Beckham’s plans for an expansion team in Miami within the next two or three weeks.
In boxing news,
Here is Santos Perez’ weekly boxing spotlight column from the Miami Herald.
Congratulations are in order for Santos, who will be inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame this year. Very well deserved. Long time local promoters Tutico Zabala and Walter Alvarez also will be inducted. Congratulations to them as well.
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I’m selling three lots totaling a little over five acres in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, overlooking the New River, a quick 35-minute drive from Boone and Blowing Rock. Click here to see some photos and feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
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THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: The Miami Heat have lost three games in a row going into tonight’s game against the 76ers in Philadelphia. When was the last time the Heat lost three consecutive games?
The last three-game losing streak for the Heat was on Jan 10, 11,and 13th 2012, against the Warriors,Clippers, and Nuggets. BTW, the last time they lost more than three consecutive games was Feb 27, Mar 3, 4, 6, and 8, 2011, when they lost five games in a row against the Knicks, Magic, Spurs, Bulls, and Trailblazers.
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
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