Possibly, but with the Colts having basically rested their personel the last 2 weeks of the regular season, and then having a week off, I don't think Peyton Manning is going to find his stride right away, and that means Baltimore will be able to bang at Indy with their running game.
McGahee and Rice have been beasts down the stretch, and if the Ravens can take adavantage of an Indianapolis defense that has been yielding over 4 yards per carry on the ground, this one stays close all the way.
Baltimore has lost 5 games this year, 4 of them by 6 points or less. That includes that 17-15 Week 11 heartbreaker when Flacco tossed a game-ending pick in the red zone late in the 4th quarter. It should also be noted that Peyton Manning threw a pair of interceptions in that game, and with Ed Reed back in the lineup, I give Baltimore's defense a chance at rattling Manning the way they rattled Tom Brady last week.
The Ravens have been able to win 3 of their 4 road playoff games since last year, and while they may not win this win, they certainly will be a tough out for the Colts this Saturday night.
Take the points.
10 DIMER - NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Tricky line here, as the Cardinals can put the points on the board, so you would think getting a full TD is a gift with the dog, especially since the Saints crapped the bed at 0-3 both straight up, and against the spread to end the season.
BUT....Keep this in mind, the Cardinals defense was absolutely atrocious last week at home, what will it be like on a short week on the road this week? I figure the Saints offense will get humming again, especially at home where they were 6-0 before the Dallas game. The extra week off gives offensive whiz Sean Payton a little more time to design some wrinkles against a defense that couldn't stop anything last week on their home field.
Asking the Cards to go on the road and step up big in the Superdome is too much to ask, in my eyes.
I think the Saints regain their mid-season form in this one, and force Warner to make a few costly mistakes.
Lay the lumber
10 DIMER - VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
Take note, Tony Bennett has the Cavaliers playing his system to perfection right now, and with Miami getting a dose of reality this week at Virginia Tech, I can see the Cavs increasing on their 6 game winning streak, especially on their home floor.
Virginia is 3-1 against the spread in their lined home games, and they are also in triple-revenge against the 'Canes.
With that 81-66 beatdown suffered in Blacksburg earlier this week, the 15-2 Hurricanes have got to be asking themselves, "are we as good as our record indicates?"
With that question swirling in their heads, I can assure you Tony Bennett will have his team primed to notch win # 7 in a row.
Garrett 1/16
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