Consider the following Championship Game play

[Taxman]

42 Conference Championship playoff games since 85

NFC home teams: 14-7 SU, 12-9 ATS, 10-11 O/U
NFC HF: 13-5 SU, 11-7 ATS
NFC HF <-3: NONE, all HF except for one game was more than 3 points!

NFC #1 seeds: 13-7 SU, 11-9 ATS (only 1 #1 did not make it to the NFC Championship game)
NFC #1 seed vs. NFC #2 seed: 8-6 SU/ATS
NFC #1 seed HF vs. NFC #2 seed: 7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS

Team w/ losing record LY A for Championship game: 3-8 SU, 4-7 ATS since 85.


AFC home teams: 11-10 SU, 9-12 ATS, 11-10 O/U
AFC HF: 11-7 SU, 9-9 ATS
AFC HF -3: 4-1 SU/ATS, 4-1 O
AFC #3 seed has never hosted the AFC Championship game. 0-2 SU/ATS away
AFC #4 seed: 4-0 SU/ATS away on AFC Championship game.

Favorites with regular record
3 game difference: 3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS (CHI/NO)
Same record: 2-4 SU/ATS (IND/NE)

PLAYED
Bears -2

Saints O is stronger than Bears, however, Bears D is better (granted they have struggled lately, they do not give up the big play the Saints D does) than Saints. As always, I will take D over O everytime. Plus, weather will not be a factor. Local weather is calling for 1-3", however, flurries in the 2H.

Leaning IND -3


5-1 YTD (posted "played" plays); had a bye week 16-17
Divisional: 1-1
Wildcard: 3-0

[dragon1952]

I'm not sure about the weather not being a factor. I'm seeing reports of 2-4" of snow and at least light snow during the game

[Jeff]

I think weather will play a role.

You know the old saying, if the weathers is bad, it's bad for both teams........but I tend to think it would have to favor the Bears. The offense is where the Saints have an edge. If the field is anything like it was last week, (the footing was pretty bad) with a little wind and cold, it will slow the Saints down.

As I mentioned in the BW key release write ups, I'm banking that the Bears D from the first half of the season makes a cameo today....

[Boone Moone]

It's true that the conditions would have to favor the Bears......As I noted in an earlier post about the Bears relying on "intangibles" to get the job done, of course weather being one of them.

While I still feel the Saints are the all-around better team, the edge would be with the Bears, knowing the good/bad parts of their home playing field.............Like you said though Jeff, they both gotta play on it.................but we'll be able to tell early on -- who's having problems with it and who's not.............Myself, I'm not over-indulging on this one, but I can see myself lining up early for the halftime bet.............Good Luck guys......

[Jeff]

I should rephrase my post.....

While I think the weather will have a very small role, I don't think when all is said and done, that we'll look at this game and say, one team or the other won because of the weather.

It may cause some adjustments, but overall, I think this game is dedcided like most games.......big plays. Turnovers. etc.etc.

[Carpet]

Nice call on the BEARS TAX MAN

OFF to the Super Bowl we Go..............

Mud Holed em, Defense wins games
back to the swamp for the saints
and on to Miami for the Bears

Carpet