THUNDEROUS DOMES

There is no doubt the home dome crowd will play a role in today's game. Hedgie was shocked the 'mature' Chargers choked so much. Snaps over the head of Rivers and missed FG's by Keating are about as bad as it gets. You have to give the J-E-T-S a lot of credit however. They have a proven method of winning and a certain swagger. Today that will end because of a few variables that are too tough to overcome. Playing in a loud raucous crowd will be very difficult for a rookie QB and Oline. The Jets will have to stick to the run game which they are very good at. This time they face a Colts team that is MUCH BETTER at TACKLING than their past two foes. Expect LB Brackett to have a big day tackling and perhaps pick Sanchez. On the Offensive side Peyton Manning is 4-0 against Rex Ryan defenses when Rex was the coordinator in Baltimore. He's better at any QB in the game at adjusting and taking what the defense gives. Expect a HUGE day from Dallas Clark in the middle of the field. He's currenlty 5-1 at sportsbooks to score the first TD. The line has been creeping back higher with news that Colt's DB powers will not start but backup Lacey has started 9 games this yr and will do just fine vs Sanchez. This game looks to be a low scoring slugfest chess match. The Colts have not blown out teams this year so laying 8+ might be a bit of a reach. Hedgie sides with UNDER 40 in the game. Colts 24 - Jets 13 2 stars

This is Hedgie's favorite game of the Day. The storylines are incredible with Brett Farve & Drew Brees and the paths they both took to get here. Once again the home dome crowd will be an x-factor. New Orleans hasn't been to a superbowl in 43 years. This team led by Drew Brees is the soul of the town. Drees Brees is quotes as saying that when he took the job of QB after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 : "This was my calling" . Dan Pasquerelli ,espn sportswriter, says he takes multiple advils when he covers the games because the noise literally gives him pouding headaches. The Viking are a great home team and thrive on their own Dome crowd but have proven to be vulnerable on the road with only going 1-4 ATS on the road. Another key factor is HEALTH. The vikes come in a tad banged up. DT's Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams are not 100% and going up against an underrated Saints OLine. Also, Percy Harvin is expected to play but don't expect him 100% either. Wouldn't be surprised if the Dome noise alone gives him migraines! The best athlete on the field today is a healthy REGGIE BUSH. He's clearly back to full strength after last weeks performance vs Cards. With a vikes shaky secondary , Drew Brees on a mission and Reggie Bush at full strength Hedgie can't see Saints losing this one. Money is coming in on the vikes so might be able to catch -3 on this game. Either way SAINTS -3.5 3 stars

hedgie post by noon sunday..

colts/jets...money coming in on colts and creeping back to the over with colts DB Powers downgraded to doubtful

vikes/saints .. most money on vikes +3.5 and over 53....hedgie watching percy harvin status very closely

sunday playoffs

Cowboys +3 2 stars

defense is playing great. the vikes Oline really struggled the last 4 weeks of the season. 3 points is great value here

* UPDATE* also, vikes/boys UNDER 45.5 2 stars ed werder reporting from the field that after talking to brett farve that their will be an emphasis on the running game to keep dallas defense at bay. a little game plan revealed which should keep the clock ticking

Chargers -7 2 stars

this is a different chargers team than in years past. they have all been together and are a mature team. they will be well prepared and rivers has been playing at a high level. revis is a great cb but he can't cover jackson, floyd and gates all at once. gates poses a huge problem for the jets. if the jets get down they simply can't rely on a rookie qb to bring them back. money has been coming in on the jets so might be able to catch -6.5 at kickoff

NFL PLAYOFFS

The hedgie needed to clear his head from the past couple weeks and go to a remote island to get back on track. This formula has worked in the past and hedgie expects it work again.

It is impossible however to not feel the nearby pain and suffering in the neighboring country of Haiti. There are many heavy hearts today and aproximately 24 NFL players have ties to Haiti including Colts WR Pierre Garcon, Saints RB Pierre Thomas, Saints LB Johnathan Vilma, Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie, and Cardinals CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie who will all be playing this weekend. The best way to contribute to the cause by simply text messegng "HAITI' to 90999. A $10 donating will go the Red Cross and a charge will appear on your cell phone bill. Another reputable organization to donate to is Wyclef Jean's Yele.org.

On to pigskin - the hedgie sees alot of inflated TOTALS based on last weeks scores.

In the Saints/Cards game 57.5 is the highest posted Total in the last 20 years for a playoff game. Yes, both offenses are prolific but the hedgie expects to see some defensive adjustments with some bend-don't-break schemes. Pierre Thomas is back for the Saints and he provides the Saints offense with a tougher run oriented mindset which will help chew some clock. Looking back all season if you used 57 as the Total the Cards would have been 2 Over and 15 Under while the Saints 6 Over and 10 Under. The cards defensive unit called a players only defense meeting to focus on better 'Tackling' and fundamentals. With better tackling comes more clock time. Hedgie sees this game with the Saints getting a lead and pounding Thomas to wear down a tired Cards defense in the 4th quarter....

UNDER 57.5 4 stars

The Hedgie loves RAY RAY. Last week he was so prepared he was stealing Tom Bradys play calls and the defense knew exactly where the ball was going. If not for the imposters on the Patriots defense last weeks game would have stayed Under the posted 43.5 As soon as that game was over Ray Ray was studying the Colts on the plane ride home. The Colts and Ravens know each other very well. For the Ravens to win they will need to rely on their run game and Peyton will be forced to dink and dunk in the passing game to earn his points.

UNDER 44 2 stars

wildcard sunday

pats/ravens UNDER 43.5 3 stars

cards/packers...PASS

NFL WIldcard

Bengals/Jets OVER 33.5 3 stars
Throw last week's game out. Once the Bengals got down they stuck with a vanilla gameplan knowing that they would face the Jets this week. This line is simply too low based partly on last week's score. The Jets will be aggressive and trying to force turnovers and although it's cold in Cinci the winds are light. This game should fall in the 37-41 range


Dallas/Philly UNDER 45.5 1 star
Dallas defense has been playing well lately while the O-line has been opening holes for the run game. Expect a big dose of marion barber and the dallas 3 headed backfield. Also, Eags are UNDER 9 of their last 12 postseason games under Andy Reid.