Merry Christmas........

My two Monster plays this weekend are: Kansas City -2.5 and Arizona +4.5. Due to family/holiday obligations there is no time for a write up. Load up on these games and thank us later!

From all of us at Propick Sports Have a Merry Christmas.

Stay Classy San Diego.............

Despite a dismal 6-7 record, the San Diego Chargers find themselves only one point underdogs in tonight's contest against the Baltimore Ravens. While the Chargers have played better as of late, they are still a train wreck. Head coach Norv Turner has managed to keep his job in previous years as a result of the Chargers late season heroics. That said, this year should prove to be too much for Norv to overcome.

The Ravens are 10-3 and find themselves in a position to stay atop their division and possibly secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. In addition, they should be getting middle linebacker Ray Lewis back for tonight's game. With the Chargers offensive line struggling and battling injuries, common sense suggests the Ravens win this game going away.

Chargers +1 over the Ravens. This line opened the day at Chargers +2.5. After seeing underdogs cover all day, I am going to side with Vegas on this one. The smartest minds are in Vegas, not in anytown USA. You want to follow the common man off a cliff? Be my guest. Tonight I will be releasing the Chargers who traditionally come alive in the month of December......Stay Classy San Diego. Chargers +1 over the Ravens.

Total Of The Year!!!!

Bills vs Dolphins UNDER 42.5. No write up due to time constraints. I will be releasing more holiday winners later. Stay Tuned!!!

Mr. Personality......

In an attempt to regain some much needed relevance in the Los Angeles football scene, the Bruins of UCLA, made the mother of all splashes. Rather than opting for the "it" coach to lure their fans back to the Rose Bowl, UCLA decided on former NFL crybaby/siss face Jim Mora jr. Despite having zero college coaching experience, Mora's immaturity should serve him well going forward.

Whether it was the smug attitude towards everyone in his wake, or just his expressions that conjured up images of a child having his ball taken away from him, I cannot wait until this guy goes up against Lane Kiffin and the Trojans. Regardless of who wins, I cannot recall two sons of coaches with such cantankerous personalities being matched up against each other mano a mano. In fact, the game will be an afterthought. The pre and post game whining and bellyaching along the sidelines for sixty minutes is all I care about. Whoever emerges victorious from their epic battles will look like the kid who got the keys to a brand new car, while the loser will look as if they are in desperate need of a diaper change. Well done UCLA, well done!

Now onto college hoops. If I do not regain my handicapping form, I will be the Jim Mora jr. of prognosticating. Today's college GOY (game of year for any neophytes out there) is Michigan State +4 over Gonzaga. Izzo has a big, talented young squad and there is no better coach in the college ranks. When Michigan State loses, it is a result of being outclassed, not out hussled. The Release.....Michigan State +4.

Aloha.....

After an icy past few NFL releases, I will keep it short. While no one likes a quitter, no one can tolerate a Loser! With that in mind, I release Hawaii +2.5 over Pacific tonight in NCAA hoops.

While some may view this as a desperate attempt to get back on the horse, I choose to view this as a wise investment. Good luck all!

Sunday........

Browns +7 over Ravens. The common man is overwhelmingly loading the boat on the Ravens today. After all, the Ravens are a superior team on both sides of the ball. However, upon closer inspection, the Browns have always played the Ravens well at home. This is a division game and we are choosing to side with the home dog in a bitter rivalry.

Redskins +2 over Jets. Despite an abysmal season, the Redskins are a live dog. They have routinely played teams even though they find themselves at the bottom of the NFC east. As badly as this Jets team needs to win, I cannot help but view this as a classic trap game. Take the Skins +2 at home today.

Gobble....Gobble

First off we at Propick Sports would like to wish all of our avid supporters a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Now lets talk some turkey. Today's NFL action features two highly anticipated games, along with what looks to be a snooze fest between the Cowboys and Dolphins. After crunching the numbers and making the necessary adjustments in this shortened week, we are quite confident that our readers will find themselves flush with cash come later this evening.

Packers and Over...Teased down. Despite failing to cover last Sunday against the Bucs, the Packers have gone through opponents like a hot knife through butter. Rodgers is in a 2007 Tom Brady like zone, and the Lions defensive backfield is a mess. As someone who usually takes the Lions on Turkey day, I must step aside and do the unthinkable- take the road favorite. However, this is the "sharp" way to play it: Tease the Packers down to -.5 and the over 49. Getting 6 points with the Packers and Over should be more than enough cushion. The release: Tease down the Packers and Over.....Gobble Gobble Propick style.

Cowboys vs. Dolphins. At first glance my instinct screamed "stay away". Once the Cowboys got rid of Wade "Wadeface" Phillips, betting these games just hasn't been the same. Constant expressions of dumbfoundedness have been sorely missed. Without an edge I am going to lean with the Cowboys -7 but this is not a strong conviction play. This is strictly a good way to pass the time and avoid those relatives you can do without.

Ravens vs. Niners. The total in this game is 39.5 or 40. Either way the common man has spoke loud and clear: "with both teams having great defenses, the Under is a no brainer". Guess what? The common man is a euphemism for LOSER. I will take the Over despite the myriad of reasons for this game being a low scoring slugfest. As I write this, some radio pundit just predicted a 9-7 game. If you need anymore confirmation that this, you won't find it!

Redemption Day...

After a lackluster performance yesterday, Propick Sports has circled the wagons and are releasing our Big NFL Sunday Night Play. Tonight's Giants vs. Eagles game should be a dogfight (no pun intended). However, with all the injuries to both teams-especially the Eagles, this is a difficult game to call. As a result, we are releasing the Under (45.5) for tonight's game.

Expect the Eagles to try and slow the game down. In addition, the Giants are notorious for struggling inside the red zone. Tonight's release......Under 45.5 total points.

Over-Board......

This is Propick Sports College Football release of the month. In an effort to spread cheer and give thanks, we at Propick are releasing another big totals play. Tonight's matchup between Arizona and Arizona state features what should be a wild west shoot out. However, at a total of 70, the line is begging you to take the under. With that said, I will run in the other direction and take the over.

Tonight's blowout play of the month.....Arizona/Arizona State Over 70.

*Ohio State -6.5 over Penn State. As putrid as Ohio State has looked offensively, I remain confident that Penn State will completely unravel throughout the balance of the season. After battling back and almost pulling out a big win last week at home, expect Penn State to spiral downhill from here. Buckeyes -6.5 over Penn state.

Cowboy Up!

After arriving home less than thirty minutes ago, it is now time for my NFL release.
Today's Bills-Cowboys game features two wide open offenses that are overdue for a breakout game. At 48, the total is begging you to take the Over. Call me a fool but the Over it is.

Game of the Year Release: Over 48 in the Bills- Cowboys game.

Release #2. Bengals +3.5 over the Steelers. At first blush this game is a complete mismatch. The perenial powerhouse Steelers, coming off a bitter loss a week ago, against one of the biggest loser franchises in all of sports. Not so fast my friends. This Pittsburgh team is banged up and are in the unenviable position as road favorites against a feisty young team with an excellent defense. At +3 this game has the earmarks of a push. However at +3.5 I absolutely love it! Close your eyes and take the Bengals, you will thank me later this afternoon.

Bear Trap......

When the line for tonight's matchup between the Eagles and Bears opened with Eagles minus 7.5, I immediately jumped on the hometown Eagles and bought the hook down to an even 7. Like the masses, I too felt like the Eagles had turned the corner last week and salvaged their season with a blowout victory over the Cowboys.

Fast forward to tonight and the Eagles are now laying 8.5 points and the whole world is convinced this is the beginning of a something big. Despite an erratic season thus far, the gambling public is convinced that the Eagles can not only win their division, but also challenge the Packers for the NFC title.

While I am loathe to jump on board the common man bandwagon, I will make a rare exception for tonight. The Bears are walking into a hornets nest tonight and i am expecting a 31-17 type of contest. Tonight's release.....Eagles -8.5 over the Bears.

Husker Do.....

In what can be framed as a "classic letdown" scenario, I am laying the 4.5 points with Nebraska over Michigan State. While this line got down to 3.5 midweek, no worries, lay the wood because this game won't be close.

After three big wins over Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin, this is a hornets nest that Michigan State is walking into. Nebraska -4.5 over the Spartans today.

Be back later ........

NFL Game of the Year......

Once in a while a statistical anomaly appears out of nowhere. After grazing through our statistical models for week 8 of the NFL season, we at Propick Sports noticed a glaring error. Upon further review, the aforementioned error was in fact, the correct line for this weekend's game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Cincinnati Bengals.

At 4-2 this young Bengals team has been one of the bigger surprises in this NFL season. However, scratch beneath the surface and you will find many a chink in their armor. Meanwhile at 2-4, the Seahawks have managed to put together a few good games both in victory and defeat, despite their porous record. While our mathematical model computed an even point spread in this game, there were several trends which suggest that the Seahawks should be favored at home.

Questions for bettors to ask themselves. 1) Why should this Bengals team be a field goal favorite on the road, let alone in an environment as difficult as Seattle? 2) With several key injuries on the defensive side of the ball are you confident that a rookie quarterback and wide receiver will have success in such a hostile environment? Finally, the Seahawks have played well throughout the past few years at home and this trend should continue. Whether a few special teams plays, turnovers,etc. I expect the Seahawks to not only cover, but win the game outright. The Pick: Seattle +3 over Cincy.

Less Than Zero.....

After our bonus release turned out to be a complete stink bomb, Propick Sports is offering a mea culpa to our avid fan base. When 75% of the gaming public cashes in, one must question "are all the joe nobody's crushing it?" After all, when every jackass is on the same side of the bet, I run not walk. That said, our call was dead wrong and we must admit that and move forward.

In anticipation of Propick's next big release, we must first address the St. Louis Rams. After a lackluster effort against the Dallas Cowboys it has become apparent that head coach Steve Spagnuoloa is the "Vinny Barbarino" of NFL coaches. This is another example of an above average coordinator turned head coach. Note to everyone- this experiment has proven to be nothing short of a failure. This Coach knows defense but his team is abysmal and their effort is disgraceful.

Bonus Release.....

Cardinals +3.5 over the Steelers. This line could not smell any worse. The Cardinals have looked awful and according to most experts the Steelers should win this game going away. I couldn't disagree anymore. Cardinals +3.5 and consider playing the moneyline (Cardinals outright winner).

Gaming Gods Vs. Common Man

After hearing Rex Ryan's verbal jabs earlier this week, the initial reaction of our staff was to short the Jets in this marquee matchup against the San Diego Chargers. With a talented squad and top 5 quarterback, the Chargers boast a roster than can compete with anyone.

Meanwhile, despite all his claims to the contrary, Rex's Jets are nowhere near a Superbowl contender. In fact, the Jets are barely a playoff team at this point in the NFL season. That my friends is the overwhelming view of the "common man". With the current line at Jets -1, why would anyone not bet the Chargers? The answer is an easy one.....

The common man and all his buddies are betting that the gaming gods have it out for the Jets this weekend. As much as we would like to agree, we simply cannot. The common man and the chargers will both go down this weekend......Jets -1 over the Chargers.

NFL Sunday........

Patriots -6.5 over the Cowboys. After hearing all week about how bad the Patriots defense has been, here is the ultimate panacea-Tony Romo. Regardless of how talented the Cowboys are, they consistently make mistakes and that is the recipe for disaster against a Tom Brady led team. My statistical model favors the Patriots by 8.5 points. Anything under a touchdown is a gift. Patriots -6.5 over the Cowboys. All that is missing from this circus is Wade (Wadeface)Phillips.

Honky Tonk City..........

Vandy +12 over Georgia. Close to 70% of the gaming public is on the Bulldogs following an impressive victory last week. Vandy is a quality team that, despite not having much success in the SEC, plays hard. With the home field edge and a twelve point cushion, I am pounding the table on the Commodores.....Vandy +12 over Georgia tonight.

GOY......

I proudly present Propick Sports College Football Game of the Year. While we usually reserve this for my subscribers, consider this a blank check as a show of our appreciation.

After an impressive second half showing last week, the Michigan wolverines have found themselves back in the top ten and among college football's elite. While this conjures up memories of past glory for Michigan fans everywhere, do not get used to it. This team has played well thus far and received their fair share of breaks. However, this will all end this weekend at the hands of the Michigan State Spartans. The release.....Michigan State -2 over Michigan. Thank us later.

Drumroll Please..........

Georgia -7 over Mississippi State.Georgia will struggle in the SEC this year as a result of having to compete with the likes of LSU, Alabama, Florida, etc. This is the type of game they can and will win handily.

South Carolina -10 over Auburn. This might be South Carolina's best team in a recent memory. As talented as Auburn is offensively, they are woeful on the defensive side of the ball. Ten is a hefty number to lay but this is a "situational play". Home crowd, revenge for last years thrashing in the SEC championship game,etc.

Check back later for my NFL releases. As for tonight's big clash in the Swamp- Alabama -4 over Florida, I side with the Gators. Home field edge is huge and I anticipate Florida's defense being able to contain Alabama and their young quarterback. This is a "discipline play", take the home dog.

Weekend Winners.....

Illinois -2 over Arizona State in my biggest college release of the year.

NFL
Atlanta +2.5 over Philly. The common man could not be anymore in love with the Eagles and down on the Falcons. When was the last time everyone was right?

Patriots -6.5 over the Chargers. After an abysmal defensive performance expect a much different outcome this Sunday. The Chargers are historically a porous early season team.

Thank me Later......

What better way to usher in the 2011 college football season than by opening up with a bang? After an impressive 2010 season, we at Propick Sports believe the best is yet to come. With a slew of big games this weekend, I will start with tonight's big battle down in Waco.

TCU is coming off an impressive season which culminated in a Rose Bowl victory over the Wisconsin Badgers. Tonight TCU finds themselves in hostile territory as they enter the unfriendly confines of Baylor Stadium. After such an impressive 2010 campaign, the numbers of lemmings on the TCU bandwagon has reached a fever pitch. With some key seniors having graduated, I am going to remain cautious when evaluating this TCU squad. Despite recent success, TCU is still not a top tier program, they are good but not that good.

Tonight's release: Baylor +4 over TCU. I will fade the road favorite in a home opener between two teams battling for the state of Texas.

Dream Team?

After dubbing themselves the "Dream Team" of the NBA, the Miami Heat found themselves with quite a lot of explaining to do after falling short against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Adding insult to injury, the crown jewel of the off season free agency class, Lebron James, laid the mother of all eggs during the final minutes of these games.

Fast forward a few months and now you have the Philadelphia Eagles, making similar claims, following an impressive collection of off season free agent talent. That said, championships are not won in the off season and more importantly,unlike their "soul mates" in south beach,this Eagles team is not the most talented team in the NFL. After digesting a few NFL over/under prop wagers for the year (which will be released within the next few weeks), I consulted resident gaming god, "Dream". Dream could not have been more succinct when he replied "Short the Eagles. Vick will get injured at some point this season, the offensive line is average at best, and the team is overrated".

After a few more disparaging words regarding the Eagles have "missed their window years ago", Dream concluded by saying they are a second rate organization and a city of losers. "Focus on the Phillies because that's the only shot the city has of hosting a championship parade".

For today's release......Dream likes the Yanks to bounce back and take the rubber game off this series against the Twins. Lay the 165 and take Nova and the bombers to win this game in easy fashion. *Propick's release is the Angels at home over the Orioles. I have not been a believer of the O's for a while now and laying 140 @ home is a bet I will make everytime with this Angels team.

Dream's Day.......

What do you get the 51 year old man who has it all? Cash? (don't embarrass yourself), legends suites at the stadium (please....see above),or maybe an outing with a crew of models looking for a night on the town. If you answered NO to all of the above you would be correct.

After celebrating his 50th in grand style last year, Dream (aka the Gaming Icon), decided to take a more low key approach this year. As he told me earlier, 51 is a Euphemism for "old enough not to care". Despite various attempts to lure Dream out for a king size steak and front row seats for tonight's Red Sox-Yankees game, I was rebuffed in unceremonious fashion. As a result I am forced to release a winner in honor of Dream.

Tonight's rubber game between the Yankees and Red Sox follows a trend that the common man cannot possibly fathom. With the Yankees taking game one of this series in surprising fashion, the Red Sox pounded a heavily favored CC Sabathia in yesterday's outing. With Josh Beckett laying only -160 against a "weathered" Freddy Garcia the common man is heavy on the Sox tonight. In honor of dream and his ability to think outside the box, I am releasing the Yankees +155. Good luck and Happy Birthday Dream!

Easy Money.......

The Phillies are -145 on the road against the Cardinals tonight. Sporting a 9-2 record in their last eleven games, the Phillies are hitting stride. Furthermore the Cardinals are 2-8 in their last ten games and to make matters worse, they are facing Cliff Lee. While Kyle Lohse is a very serviceable pitcher, he is not in the same league as Lee. Add in the fact that Albert Pujols is out of the Cardinals lineup for sometime to come and you have an easy play. Phillies -145 over the Cards tonight......

Welcome Aboard.......

Instead of Isaac serving up drinks, instead I offer Dream serving up winners live from Congressional. After a long week, I just received a message from Dream informing me to take the Yankees -200 and the run line. This is one of those games where you hold your nose and lay the wood. Tonight's play.....Yankees -200 and Yankees runline, courtesy of Dream.

Narrow Escape.....

After sitting ice side for one of the worst games in Stanley Cup Playoff history, let alone a game 7, hockey guru "Dream" decided to take his act on the road. Lucky for Dream, he was able to avoid the mayhem that ensued by leaving at the end of the second period, before the idiots took to the streets. Upon hearing of the chaos, I immediately texted Dream to get his take on a rare gaming loss, as well as to make sure he and his crew of babes were not injured.

"The Peurto Rican Day Parade times a hundred" - Dream
As someone who in no stranger to the streets of NYC, Dream could only muster up the aforementioned quote upon seeing the footage/destruction in Vancouver. The only time he had ever encountered anything like this was during one of the Peurto Rican Day Parades back in the mid 1990's, when he made the mental mistake of walking through Central Park. Before I digress any further, I wanted to express a "Mea Culpa" from Dream for his game 7 gaffe. While he figured goaltending would keep this series close, in the end he was expecting a low scoring game 7 with the Canucks prevailing. Despite nailing the Under(5), the loss on the game really touched a nerve.

As a courtesy to Propick loyalists everywhere, tonight's play is a freebie courtesy of Dream. Consider this a lotto ticket.....Under 8 in the Indians-Pirates game. Between the two of these teams they have about $47 in salary and that should be enough to keep this game low scoring.

The Most Interesting Man in the Gaming World.........

Prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Series between the Bruins and Canucks, resident hockey guru and cultural icon, "Dream", called me with a prediction: Canucks in seven.

With game 7 less than an hour away, I received a follow up call from Dream, who is rinkside for this epic battle. Despite some dicey reception courtesy of Dream's Iphone, the message was loud and clear: "Vancouver wins 2-1 tonight. Take Vancouver and the Under".

As Dream basks in the glory of his "Roy Hobb's like call", he was quick to point out that all this travelling is taking its toll. With a jaunt to the US Open in the near future, Dream's racking up mucho miles on his netjets card. After his last release, several Propick Sports members inquired as to who Dream is and where he can be seen.
People, with all due respect, Dream is like a mythic creature who was conjured up by the gaming gods. This man is a human blackbox spitting out hockey winners with unrivaled acumen. That being said, for everyone watching tonight's game look for the sharp looking cat surrounded by what can only be described as "a parade of babes".

After tonight, Dream goes back into lockdown mode until the end of Baseball season. While I will not tell you what to do....I would heed Dream's advice and go large on Vancouver and the Under.

Practice?

Dallas -2.5 over the Heat. In an effort to be a succinct as possible I will spare my loyal fans a verbose analysis on why the Mavs will cover tonight. As many of you remember, I have compared the NBA to professional wrestling in the past. While David Stern and company would have loved a Kobe vs Lebron NBA Finals, instead they got a less celebrated matchup. Guess what, this series needs to go a minimum of 6 games in order to stay relevant.

Tonight's release....Mavericks -3 over the Heat.

Happy 37th Birthday Allen Iverson. Despite a stellar career, Iverson may be best remembered for his quote during a 1997 press conference in which he so eloquently said "Practice? We talkin bout practice? How the hell can I make my teammates better by practice. We aren't talkin about games...we talkin about practice. I'm supposed to be the franchise player and here we are talkin about practice. Upon hearing Iverson's message I immediately thought "whoever came up with practice makes perfect", was completely full of crap. Just ask Iverson himself, aka "the answer".

Lord of the Pucks........

As I stewed over blog post number 400 for the better part of ten weeks, I decided that tonight would be the perfect time to return to my craft. After receiving several voicemails from gaming icon, Dream, I would be negligent in my responsibilities if I were to further withhold his Stanley Cup releases. For those of you living under a rock in Southeast Asia for the past two years, Dream is Propick Sports resident hockey expert. Last season Dream posted a 13-2-1 record during the regular and post season. Furthermore, Dream is also no stranger to the bases or pigskin.

After a medical condition landed Dream in a Connecticut hospital (not at liberty to disclose the exact location but here's a hint..."follow the money"), Dream is back in the saddle and can smell blood in the water. In games 1 and 2, dream's prescient calls were a thing of beauty. Despite some sweating in game 2, Vancouver was able to eek out a 3-2 win at home and seemingly take command of this best of seven series.

Not so fast.....As Dream mentioned to me once this series began, goaltending would be the reason for Boston staying in this series and eventually losing in seven games (ironic that Boston goalie Tim Thomas played the role of goat in game 2). While Vancouver is the better team, this series has all the trappings of a dogfight, inspite of many "so called experts" suggesting otherwise.

At Bruins -115, Dream sees this as a complete no brainer. Let the snake oil salesmen and pundits alike, call for a sweep. In the eyes of Dream, this line is a gift.

Tonight's release ...courtesy of the Dream: Bruins -115 over Vancouver.

On a side note, the only thing worse than former Mets General Manager and ESPN commentator's taste in women is New York Congressman Anthony Weiner's tearful apology for sending inappropriate twitter photos to random women. As Dream so adroitly pointed out, "the guy actually looks like a Weiner. This guy gives new meaning to:don't ask, don't tell with that emaciated frame". As many a lady can attest to, "no one is confusing Weiner with Dream anytime soon". With multiple triatholon's under his belt, along with a clean bill of health, Dream is ready to kick ass and take names starting with tonight's action.

Madness......

After yet another month long hiatus, Propick Sports is back and ready to deliver. Founded in 1997, Propick has a long, proud tradition of sports handicapping excellence. Like a prized fighter who takes a respite before returning to the ring, Propick used this time to reflect on the action which has been unfolding during March Madness.

Great Eight. With two spots to the Final Four on the line, tonight's action should provide a backdrop for what will no doubt be a wide open Final Four Field. With Ohio State and Duke both losing, the only prohibitive favorite left is Kansas. With a history of erratic tournament behavior in their past, I would issue a cautionary tale to anyone expecting a cakewalk for good old "Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk".

Arizona. At 60-1 to win the whole tourney entering this week, I released the Arizona wildcats as my Futures Play of the Year to my subscribers. In addition to having a hard nosed head coach, the Wildcats possess a dominant interior game and are coming up with clutch play from their guards. After crushing the defending Champion Duke blue Devils Thursday night, I expect another impressive performance Tonight versus Uconn. Tonight the play is Arizona +2.5 or 3 over Connecticut.

GOY.....

After last weekend's 2-0 performance I have decided to shower my loyal fans with some dinero courtesy of tonight's college hoops action. Being late for my Valentine's weekend affair, I will be as succinct as possible.

Villanova -2.5 over Pittsburgh.This is my situational Game Of The Year Release. All the stars line up for a Wildcat victory tonight. Lay the tight number and thank me tomorrow.

Utah State -16 over Fresno. This is more a statement about Fresno State than it is about Utah State. This is a meaty line but there is good reason. Lay the lumber and be glad you did.

Make Money Now.....

As I was engulfed in my last minute preparation for tonight's Superbowl release, I came across an infomercial that claimed to "make people money, without any risk". While these types of commercials are certainly not new, this one was epic. A fifty year old blonde woman with fake cans interviewing a middle aged medicine man, with claims that would make the likes of Carlton Sheets quiver. As the claims became more assinine, this dopey interviewer became more dramatic. But I digress.....

For tonight's action I am releasing Rider +7 over Fairfield as my pregame "value play" in college hoops.

For tonight, all the common man money is on the Packers/Steelers Under 45. While I have no real opinion either way (slight lean on the under), I will stay away as a continuing effort to avoid betting with the masses. As for the game itself, I am releasing the Packers -2.5 or 3 over the Steelers. This is an evenly matched game but the Steelers are suffering from some key injuries. Although this is a resilient and battle tested squad, I am backing the upstart Packers in what serves to be a better matchup against a subpar Pittsburgh secondary.

Pain Trade......

Heading into this Sunday's NFC Championship game, I cannot recall a more beloved "road favorite" than the Green Bay Packers. As good as the Packers have looked these past few weeks, this is a rivalry game at Soldier Field. Whenever ten of my dopiest friends are asking me to "push a bet on Green Bay through for them", it can only mean one thing- head for the hills.

The Pain trade refers to the move in a direction which will have a negative impact on the overwhelming majority of people. Since I have successfully identified these poor schmucks as people betting on the Packers, there is only one choice. Take the home dog with the points. The Bears catching three and a hook is the correct discipline in this game. After all, what are the odds of everybody you know making money on the Packers tomorrow? Exactly. Stay tuned for thoughts on the Jets-Steelers matchup.

Heavy Heart......

Before I delve into my customary practice of releasing winners like confetti at the Puerto Rican Day Parade, I must first express my heartfelt condolences. This afternoon my uncle and long time Propick supporter succumbed to cancer. Uncle Marty was one of the finest people to have ever walked this planet. While it might be a stretch to compare someone who spent his whole life helping others to myself(even though I do line people's pockets with money on a weekly basis),I will make the comparison anyway.

With a heavy heart I am releasing my NFL Game of The Year tomorrow. With the majority of my friends and the overwhelming view of the common man on the Ravens, I have no choice but to back the Steelers. With the extra week off to get healthy, Pittsburgh hosts a Ravens team that is vulnerable on the defensive side of the ball. With the "common man" focusing on the blow out win over the listless Chiefs last week, I choose to look at the overwhelming advantage home teams have during the divisional round of the playoffs.

Despite being a solid road team and possessing weapons at the skill positions, quarterback Joe Flacco has made mistakes against Pittsburgh in the past. With a healthy Troy Polamalu roaming the secondary, I expect more of the same. This will be a hard fought slugfest for four quarters but in the end the Steelers will cover the number and win a 20-10 type of game. Steelers -3 over the Ravens.

Silencio Por Favor.....

In an effort to be as succinct as possible (that and the fact that I am blogging from work), I will release this weekend's winners.

Seahawks +11 over the Saints (if you have to ask why then you obviously don't adhere to my outside the box thinking)

Jets +3 over the Colts.

Chiefs +3 over the Ravens. Much like the Saints, the Common Man is all over the Ravens. In the event the Saints and Ravens both cover, Monday should be declared a national state of Emergency. Even more disturbing than the ever growing federal deficit will be the success of the Common Man. A far more disturbing trend.

Brave New Year.....

With a new year comes high expectations. After a two week blogging hiatus, the king is back. As Wild Card Weekend fast approaches, it is time to turn this rig into over drive. Without releasing any of these games yet, I will admit that there is a Game I absolutely love and will be highlighting as my first ever Playoff Game of the Year.
As for the National Championship game this upcoming Monday, I will be making a major release on this event as well. Sit back, relax, and get ready to collect a pile full of money. This is Propick's version of a home based business.

Tonight's NBA Winner is the New Jersey Nets +7 at home over the Bulls. As bad as the Nets are, they are competitive at home and the Bulls have been a disappointing road favorite. During the sleepy month of January, I have traditional buried the book by taking the dog with the most fleas on it. The release...Nets +7 over the Bulls.