Chris Schultz on the Conf, Finals

[Lukester]

3:00 PM Sunday, January 23, 2011
Green Bay (-3.5) Chicago Schultz Picks: Green Bay:
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So much that goes into who wins a football game ends up coming down to which team is playing better, as opposed to which is the best team. For me, the Packers are the team that are playing better right now. Aaron Rodgers, regardless of weather conditions is a better quarterback than Jay Cutler, especially in terms of accuracy and consistency of his throws. Rodgers has piled up 546 yards with six touchdowns in his last two playoff games, while also not throwing an interception. Rodger's patience will also be tested against the Bears as sometimes in football, you have to put together a 16 and 12 play drive to produce points against a tough defense and Rodgers understands that. For Chicago, Devin Hester is the wildcard. In Week 3, he was the difference maker in the Bears' 20-17 win over the Packers when he returned a punt for a touchdown. Hester needs to give the Bears a short field whenever he can to help the club win. I think though that the Packers speed and power on defense will end up leading them to victory. The Packers were the fifth best defensive team during the regular season – second best in points allowed, while the Bears had the 30th rank in total offence, and only a 21st rank in scoring offence. I think the Packers can and will shut the Bears down. I'll take the Packers by a final score of 24-16.





6:30 PM Sunday, January 23, 2011
NY Jets Pittsburgh (-3.5) Schultz Picks: NY Jets:
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Both of these teams are in the AFC Championship game due to their excellence on defense. The Steelers ranked first in scoring defense during the regular season – second in total defense, while the Jets ranked sixth in scoring defense and third in total defense. The Steelers only weakness is their offensive line, where the club lost starting tackle Willie Colon in the pre-season and another tackle Max Starks mid-season. The Steelers are using their third and fourth best players at those positions, and their pass protection has suffered because of it. The Jets are facing a different Steelers defense than the one that they beat 22-17 earlier in the year, as safety Troy Polamalu, who did not play that game, will suit up for this one. That's significant because he could be the difference in the game. Logically speaking, the Jets defence beat Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady in back-to-back playoff games. This is a field goal game to me, and the Jets will fight to the end. Therefore I pick the Steelers to win the game 20-17, but the Jets will cover the spread.

[Lukester]

Schultzie in the Playoffs:
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3-1 ATS (WC)
2-2 ATS (Div)
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5-3 ATS

[LordCC]

Thanks for posting his picks!