Wild Card Saturday: Predictions

Wow. I'm sorry I wasn't there to report on it, but what a wild and wacky finish that was last week. That was positively insane, too. Eagles and Packers made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, but I'm happy for them.

Now, onto the playoffs. Four teams going in today. Two heavy favorites, two ready to upset. Let's begin with the 4:25 matchup.

AFC Wild Card, Part One-
COLTS:

vs. CHIEFS

Who should win: Chiefs. They've had a hell of a season, only being looped into the Wild Card position because they share a division with the Broncos, and they're....the Broncos. Andy Reid has done wonderful things in revamping the defense and revitalizing Alex Smith into a great QB again. They're the favorite to win it today, and a lot of people are saying they will.
Who shouldn't be counted out: Colts. Around the week when they lost to the Broncos is when we found out the Chiefs' weaknesses, and they were displayed in bigger form over the last few weeks. Looking the opposite way, we found out everything the Colts excelled at when they took down the Broncos. Even if their season has been inconsistent, they're still a tough team, even if they're a bit whittled down from last year.
Who will win...

CHIEFS
Even if they definitely have some weaknesses, and even if they might not be a Super Bowl team, they still have the tools to outmatch Indianapolis. I'm not saying I'm counting the Colts out, but the Chiefs are the better team.
Odds of the Chiefs winning: 3 to 1
Odds of the Colts winning: 9 to 1
Odds of the winner of this matchup making the Super Bowl: 7 to 1 if Chiefs, 100 to 1 if Colts.

NFC Wild Card, Part One
SAINTS:

vs EAGLES.

Who Should win: Saints. Right now they have the better record, they had the better start to the season, and they have the better defense. Drew Brees is having yet another brilliant season, which makes three billion for him. Sportswriters are saying they're the team to beat.
Who shouldn't be counted out: Eagles. I forget who, but someone called the Eagles 'the team that no one wants to play'. This team might have more potential championship pieces than the team that almost won it in 2005. They have some of the best offensive pieces in the NFL, some All Pro caliber defensive pieces, and a rising young quarterback who has impressed. I also should point out the obvious, that the great but inconsistent Saints are used to warm, below-sea-level weather, and they're heading right into Philly. We just had a major snow storm here yesterday, and it's gonna be absolutely freezing tonight.
Who Will Win:

EAGLES!
The pieces are there, even if they're not as consistent. They are playing in their natural environment, with all of their players ready to go. The Saints will be without Pierre Thomas tonight, and they will be positively frightened.
Odds of the Eagles winning: 5 to 1
Odds of the Saints winning: 7 to 1
Odds of the winner of this matchup making the Super Bowl: 6 to 1 if Eagles, 15 to 1 if Saints.

So, those are my predictions for today. Let's see how it all goes down.

Football Custom of the Day: Charles Edition

Tomorrow night is a football event that will no doubt be talked about by local teenagers and network talking heads. Tomorrow, Andy Reid returns to Philadelphia, bringing his 2-0 Chiefs back home. It will be a very interesting game, as since his departure from the Linc, Reid has somehow regained the ability to perform as a head coach (yet word is still out on the ability to not look like a walrus during press conferences). Meanwhile, the Eagles are slowly regaining their stuff, despite being beaten by the Chargers in a very close match last week.

So who will win this one? Well, it's a bit too early to call the game's outcome, but I can already predict which factors of the game will win/lose.

WINNER: Lincoln Financial Field. No doubt numerous amounts of fans will want to journey down to Philly and catch Reid again, or maybe boo him. Plus, it's an Eagles game. People go to those.

LOSER: Chiefs fans at Lincoln Financial Field. Actually, even worse...

LOSER: Eagles fans who will have to sit next to Chiefs fans at Lincoln Financial Field. Especially considering the amount of alcohol that is sure to be in the air, or on the ground, or flung at fans.

WINNER: Andy Reid, who finally gets some good press back in Philly now that he's home.

LOSER: Anyone who has to watch Andy Reid wear red. A.) It isn't exactly flattering, and B.) For a guy that spent so many seasons in black and green, it just doesn't look right.

WINNER: Alex Smith, because he doesn't have to play the Eagles again after this, and succumb to the Philly fans. Matter of fact, he's a winner because he doesn't have to go back to Seattle, St. Louis or Arizona, and get crap from their fans. Or Candlestick. Man, he hates Candlestick. But then again, who doesn't.

LOSER: Anyone who had to read that whole paragraph.

WINNER: LeSean McCoy, because knowing him, he'll probably have a nice night.

LOSER: Anybody on the Eagles that isn't LeSean McCoy. Even Vick.

LOSER: Nick Foles. You know, unless Reid really wants to get back at Vick.

WINNER: NFL Network broadcasters.

LOSER: Anyone who has to sit through those NFL Network broadcasters just to see the game.

Either way, it's sure to be an interesting game, and knowing me, I hope the Eagles win.