Let's Venture Into The NFL, Ducks Will Take Title

Let's take a quick look at this week's NFL Playoff games:

Saturday
Baltimore at New England (-7.0)
Baltimore won a tough game at Pittsburgh to get the trip to New England. The Patriots were pronounced dead in the water early in the season, but as long as Tom Brady is playing the Patriots will be a difficult challenge. I think New England will win, but I do not think they will cover the seven.

Carolina at Seattle (-10.5)
I think this is the gimme of the weekend. I just don't believe in Carolina. Seattle has the best home field advantage in pro football. This will be over early because Seattle's offense is much better than Carolina's offense. Take the Seahawks both ways.

Sunday
Dallas at Green Bay (-5.5)
Ice Bowl 2? Dallas benefited from the worse call/no call in the history of pro football last weekend. It will take more than the refs to save them in frigid Green Bay. The elements will definitely be a factor. The Packers' defense is suspect, but I don't and never have believed in Tony Romo, especially in a big game. And his is a big game. Bad news for Jerry Jones -- the Cowboys lose. Good news for Jerry Jones -- no hugs from Chris Christie. Take the Packers to cover.

Indianapolis at Denver (-7.0)
Young gunslinger vs. old gunslinger. Peyton Manning is missing something. Can he find it before Andrew Luck and the Colts get to town? I think so. Take the Broncos both ways.

Monday
National Championship Game
Ohio State vs. Oregon (-6.0)
The spread has been dropping, but I still believe the difference in the game is going to be the speed of Oregon's offense and the play of Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Ohio State's magical run comes to an end. Take the Ducks to cover.

Quick Takes
-- I don't know what NIKE was thinking when they designed Oregon's national championship game uniform. The Ducks are usually clad in green, neon yellow, silver, etc. Monday night's uniforms are black and gray. Not a hint of green or yellow. Oregon is selling it by saying the uniform is business-like. If I were a Duck fan, I would have a fear of messing with the mojo.

-- The Clemson men's basketball team, after an awful effort in its ACC opener against North Carolina, bounced back with a gritty effort at No. 5 Louisville. The Tigers, 16-point underdogs, led 22-18 at the half. Louisville dominated the opening minutes of the second half with a 17-0 run to take a 35-22 lead. It looked as if the Tigers were headed for their second straight blowout loss. But Clemson put together a methodical rally and actually cut the deficit to two points late in the game before finally falling, 58-52. The biggest problem -- lack of any type of scoring inside. Landry Nnoko has become the invisible man. Second biggest problem -- Can't make a jump shot, long or mid-range. The Tigers are getting shots. They just can't make them.

-- I think I am going to start a pool. Name the date and time remaining in the game when Gabe DeVoe finally scores a point for the Tigers. One of the biggest mysteries to me this season has been DeVoe. He averaged more than 30 points per game in high school, but he is 0-for-Clemson. How does that happen?