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2009 NFL Playoff Picks & Predictions: Conference Championship Round

It’s time to take a look at the scores that NFL odds makers have predicted to occur in this Sunday’s conference championship games. I’ve taken the point spread and the total of both matchups to compute the score that the odds makers have projected. You can use this handicapping tool to help you with your conference championship NFL picks this week and if you’re looking for a house to bet those picks, check out Bookmaker and receive a 20 percent cash sign up bonus. I have analyzed each matchup below to provide further insight on the line.

Odds makers predicted score: Philadelphia Eagles 26 Arizona Cardinals 22 - the Philadelphia Eagles are listed as a 4-point favorite with the total set at 47. The Eagles were a 3-point home favorite on Thanksgiving night when they rolled the Cardinals 48-20. The Eagles have also won twice on the road already in the postseason so odds makers have no choice but to give Philly the road chalk. What’s slightly interesting here is that odds makers have set the total of this game two points lower than they did in the first meeting this season when 68 points were scored. If they are trying to encourage action on the over, they will likely get their wish as the playing conditions in Arizona will be pristine. When making your NFL betting selections on this game, you’ll have to ask yourself if you think the Cardinals are ready to come back down to earth or if they are in fact the real deal. Odds makers obviously were not sold on Arizona last week when the Cardinals won outright by 20 points as a double digit underdog on the road. They appear to be sold on the Eagles here, who have already beaten the Cardinals once and have arguably played the best football in the NFL since that win over Arizona.

Baltimore Ravens 14 Pittsburgh Steelers 20 – the Pittsburgh Steelers are a 6-point favorite with the total set at 34. We have seen totals of 43 points and 22 points respectively in these teams matchups against each other this season. The number odds makers have faced us with here is nearly the median of the first two totals. While these teams know each other better that they know themselves and while they both play exceptional defensive football, it is worth noting that the over is a perfect 3-0 in the last three games played in Pittsburgh. The total was listed at 34.5 in the earlier season meeting in Pittsburgh when the teams combined for 43 points. But also keep in mind that the betting public favors the over and that NFL odds makers often try to use that against them. Pittsburgh being favored by 6 points here is slightly surprising. The Steelers were also 6-point favorites when these teams met in Pittsburgh in late September. The Steelers did not cover that number as they won by just 3 points in overtime. The Steelers did cover as a 3-point underdog with a 4-point win in Baltimore in mid-December. With both games being so close, this number begs action on Baltimore. Odds makers are setting their trap, but the question here is if they have underestimated the Ravens.

Editor’s Note: Jimmy Boyd’s one and only 5* 2009 NFL Playoffs Game of the Year goes Sunday in the Conference Championship round. Be there!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• 2009 NFL Playoff Odds: Conference Championship Round
• NFL Playoff Odds: Round 2
• NFL Power Rankings: Round One Playoff Edition
• 2009 BCS Championship Predictions – Florida v. Oklahoma Football Odds & Picks
• 2009 Big East Conference Tournament Predictions

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