Pigskin Picks

Time for a quick look at the weekends football games in the most exciting football weekend of the year.
Conference semi-final weekend is usually the most enjoyable with four games and usually all are somewhat watchable as far as teams to root for.

Lets start with the game that starts in a few hours as the Cardinals travel to New Orleans.
This should be the same type of shootout as occurred in the desert last week,but the biggest question that I have is this-Will the Saints that ripped off 13 wins in a row be available or the team that hasn't won in a month be the team that appears?
Either way,this is the fun game of the weekend to see.

The hated Ravens roll into Indianapolis off a crushing of the Patriots last week against the roll over and play dead Colts.
I like Peyton Manning a lot and I have always gotten the feeling that he doesn't care for the lay down tactics that Indy has used so unsuccessfully through the years.
Joe Flacco appears a bit beat up for Baltimore,but as much as I hate to say the Ratbirds are a live underdog in this one.

Dallas against Minnesota is the glamour game of the weekend and the game that I least want to see.
I cannot stand Dallas and always have liked Brett Favre,but the Favre routine has grown really thin.
This one comes down to this-Dallas has finished strong and Minnesota hasn't,continuing Favre's late season failings over the last three years in three cities.
Which do you want to hear all next week-The return of America's team or the Brett Favre possible Super Bowl return?

The Jets and Rex Ryan travel to San Diego in what looks like the mismatch of the weekend.
The weak offense through the air of New York against the multiple weapons of the Chargers,but keep in mind that Norv Turner still coaches San Diego and that is a factor that upset selectors shouldn't forget.

Predictions
Saints 42-35
Colts 24-16
Cowboys 20-13
Jets 20-19,Upset special!

Bullpen Notes

The Devils lost Thursday in Phoenix 4-3 and return today in Denver against the Avalanche at three,so after four missed games in a row for various reasons,I'll be back tomorrow with some actual thoughts on the game.

Derek Dooley is the choice for the desperate Tennessee Vols as the replacement for Lane Kiffin.
Dooley had a losing record (17-20) in three years at Louisiana Tech,but the son of Georgia legend Vince Dooley was the best of a shallow pool to choose from.
At least,Dooley is familiar with the program and that helps.
Tennessee could be in danger of becoming one of those has been SEC programs like Arkansas and Ole Miss,if they aren't careful...

The Pirates added two veteran bullpen arms in DJ Carrasco and Brendan Donnelly to one year deals.
Both are fine with me ,especially considering the deals are for just one year.
Older relievers tend to have wild swings in their numbers from year to year that I dont feel comfortable paying either big money or giving multiple year contracts to.