Who's Going to the Super Bowl?

Alright, before I get into the NFL Conference Championship games, I'm going to take a few words to talk about the Lakers/Cavs game. First, the Cavs gutted that win out and deserved it, unfortunately the Lakers didn't make enough plays down the stretch, more specifically Pau Gasol bricking two free throws that would have tied the game. In any case, this should not be used as gauge for how things play out come May and June when the playoffs get underway. Case in point, the Magic swept the Lakers last year during the regular season, but lost in the Finals. There still remains a lot of basketball to be play and generally regular season basketball is not necessarily a predictor for what happens in the playoffs.

Now onto the main event that is the conference championship. In the AFC, we the Peyton Manning led Colts v. Rex Ryan's Jets. As we speak, Rex Ryan is probably spouting off more lines about how confident and loose his team is. And true they really don't have anything to lose, but its hard for me to believe that a team who hasn't won a Super Bowl since Namath is not going to be tight. Especially with a rookie quarterback. And as I have said previously, the regular season and the playoffs are two different beast and an experience team like the Colts who have been there year after year understand this, but do the Jets? I believe that in the first meeting between the teams, that if the Colts have left their starters in they would have won the game. Despite the immense pressure the Jets put on good opposing quarterbacks (see Rivers, Phillip), going against a 4-time MVP and possibly the smartest QB to ever play is entirely different. Peyton Manning is the greatest QB of our generation and by winning his second title this year (Colts, my pick to win it all) he will have solidified his status as a Top 5 QB All-time. Fear not Jets fans, because you guys have something special brewing in the Meadowlands. They are a young and talented team and will only get better in the next few years. Colts, 27-13.

Next up on the docket, Vikings v. Saints. This match-up has all the offense of firepower you could want. With two of this season's most productive QB's guiding their team, I expect a shootout similar to that of the Cards and Packers in the Wild Card. My gut feeling tells me Brett Favre and Company still has so magic left and will advance to the Super Bowl, but it will come down to the wire and Farve will lead the Vikes on last minute game winning drive to seal the deal. This game is very intriguing because their offenses mirror one another. Two stud Qb's, good RB's, solid WR's, x-factors in Harvin and Bush. The defense is a toss up. In the game last week against Dallas, the Vikes couldn't stop the run and were fortunate enough to get up quick enough to derail that three headed monster of Dallas. This week, they'll be in a similar setting going up against NO's three headed attack of Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and a rejuvenated Reggie Bush. However, given how the Saints Defense has tailed off as the year went on, surrendering 30 points to Redskins for example, the edge goes to the more Vikings, who have the edge rushers to pester Brees, the CB's to hang with any trio of WR's, their weakest link is a rookie MLB. My guess is Drew Brees doesn't choke like Romo so New Orleans will be very game come Sunday. In the end, I think Brett Favre will be Brett Favre, with his experience in big games and the chance to get back to the Super Bowl, which is why he keeps retiring and then unretiring, is going to be too much for the Saints. Vikes, 34-31.

As always, feel free to add your input. I want to know who you think is going to win on Championship Sunday and why. This could be up for great debate. Let it be known that the past two weeks I have gone a combined 1-8, with my lone winning pick, the Colts.