NFC Championship (New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears) aka "The Ditka Bowl": Since Mike Ditka has been the head coach for both of these teams, some have called this game, the Ditka Bowl. Da Coach preferes to state that he is the only person to be fired as head coach by both of these teams. Early in the week, da Coach did not want to state who he was rooting for in this game, drawing outrage from some locals, including calls of a boycott of Ditka's restaurant (If you go to Ditka's, I strongly recommend the oyster shooters as an app. and some room for the ice cream pie for dessert!! It's price-y, $9 if I recall, but large enough to feed a group of 4 and it is awesome!!). Eventually da Coach came out and stated that he was rooting for da Bears and picking the Bears. Well, it seems like very few outside of Chicago are picking the Bears. The Saints certaintly have plenty of weapons on offense, Brees, Duece and Reggie Bush. But the Saints are certaintly not without weakness, including injuries to Joe Horn, and others. While Bush has been dynamic and sensational recently, I think the Bears linbackers, especially Urlacher (this is his chance to shine on the big stage) will contain him. Personally, I am more concerned with Duece McAlister running up the middle, exploiting the absence of Tommie Harris. Snow is predicted on Sunday and hopefully it will be here in time to put the clamps on the Saints offense. Rex doesn't have to be Sexy Rexy but he can't be "Totally Gross, Man!" I think the Bears special team will need to step up and they will. Da Bears! Da Bears!! Bears 24- Saints 21!!!
Some extremely generous home court clock manangement allowed the Duke Blue Devils defeat Clemson 68-66. After Duke literally tossed this game away, allowing Clemson to tie the game with a gift 3-pointer, Duke was given 4.4 seconds on the clock. At best it should have been 3.4 seconds ont he clock. Duke needed every tenth of those 4.4 seconds as David McClure barely got the shot off for the winning basket. Clemson fans (and Duke-haters generally) will be pretty pissed about this game and the rematch at Clemson on Feb. 22, 2007 will be pretty interesting. 
NFC Championship (New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears) aka "The Ditka Bowl": Since Mike Ditka has been the head coach for both of these teams, some have called this game, the Ditka Bowl. Da Coach preferes to state that he is the only person to be fired as head coach by both of these teams. Early in the week, da Coach did not want to state who he was rooting for in this game, drawing outrage from some locals, including calls of a boycott of Ditka's restaurant (If you go to Ditka's, I strongly recommend the oyster shooters as an app. and some room for the ice cream pie for dessert!! It's price-y, $9 if I recall, but large enough to feed a group of 4 and it is awesome!!). Eventually da Coach came out and stated that he was rooting for da Bears and picking the Bears. Well, it seems like very few outside of Chicago are picking the Bears. The Saints certaintly have plenty of weapons on offense, Brees, Duece and Reggie Bush. But the Saints are certaintly not without weakness, including injuries to Joe Horn, and others. While Bush has been dynamic and sensational recently, I think the Bears linbackers, especially Urlacher (this is his chance to shine on the big stage) will contain him. Personally, I am more concerned with Duece McAlister running up the middle, exploiting the absence of Tommie Harris. Snow is predicted on Sunday and hopefully it will be here in time to put the clamps on the Saints offense. Rex doesn't have to be Sexy Rexy but he can't be "Totally Gross, Man!" I think the Bears special team will need to step up and they will. Da Bears! Da Bears!! Bears 24- Saints 21!!!
AFC Championship Game (Patriots @ Colts): I have gone back and forth on picking this game. Like Daddy3dogg, I would love to see a rematch of Super Bowl XX and my general rule in the playoffs is to not pick agaisnt Tom Brady. But, the Colts are at home, they have defeated New England this year and the Colts, not the Pats are the team with Adam Vinitari ("Pure Money") and the Colts defense, somehow has performed well in the playoffs. You can usually count on Peyton Manning choking in a big game but the Colts have won two playoff games with subpar performances by Manning! Manning, big game or not, is due for a big performance, especially at home. But still the Patriots have Brady and Belicheck!! The Colts have to slay their foe, just like the Jordan Bulls had to get past the Pistons. I am going with the Colts in another close one: 27-24. 
