Dick maintains his torrid pace, and Tom stays close behind after the first 2 weeks of the playoffs.  Can they keep up the pace?  Rumor has it that Dick has some negative karma hanging over him this week (it was shown to the other Savants when the lunch place he chose didn’t have what he ordered). Can Tom keep the momentum going on a week when the picks seem pretty tough?  And, what about Rand and Frank who each missed a 50 last week.  Rand takes the strategy to go opposite Tom and Dick in hopes of catching up.  Frank places his faith in Brett Favre.  Will he get jilted, or will Brett makes amends for the Packer playoff bust 2 years ago?  Lots to watch this weekend as the season may be down to a 2 person contest unless the leaders fall.  

The Guest Picker Playoff Challenge:  Greg Hobbs handled his opponents last week by having the only positive result.  The other 3 - well, they either tied for second or tied for last depending upon how full or empty your glass is.  OK, OK, OK - so the tiebreaker last week wasn’t so good for breaking ties as all 3 choose the same number of interceptions by Farve and Romo.  It was good for entertainment value. So, we decided that all 3 advance this weekend with a twist.  2 GPs will hit the street this week.  The top 2 will advance to the Super Bowl.  Remember the slate is wiped clean each week - so no carryover results for the GPs. What is this week’s tiebreaker?  Reggie Bush All Purpose Yards (return yardage, rushing, receiving).  Greg noted that Reggie has one good game and he suddenly becomes important enough to be in the tiebreaker.  Well - it worked as evidenced by yardage predications starting with a low of 92 and going all the way up to 187.  Good luck and enjoy the games - we’ll see who our 2 survivors are.

Playoffs
Dick  +100 -50  = +50
Tom  +80 +10 = +90
Rand  -80 +30 = -50
The Goracle -100 +50 = -50

This Week’s Guest Pickers

Greg Hobbs, Doug Howe, Scott Holtzman, and Marcia Mayes  

This week’s picks
Dick: $50 on Indy/New York Jets Under 39. Dick’s love for the over/unders reaches new heights with his 3rd straight total points pick.  Unfortunately, he doesn haven’t the Cow defense to rely upon this weekend.  In case you missed it - the Cows did exit the playoffs last weekend, but Coach Puffalumps remains to push the Cows to just short of the prize again next year.  XXX This one was way over after the Jets found a way to participate in the scoring. Cassidy’s perfect post-season ends. 

 Tom:  $30 on Indy -7.5.  Tom stays with Indy who did him right last weekend.  They should win, but will they cover?  Let’s hope that Sanchez needs to throw. +++ Peyton comes through again this week.
          $10 on New Orleans -3.5. Tom decides to go opposite Frank - why?  Frank is ice cold, so why not? XXX Uh Oh, does this mean Frank is back?    
          $10 on New Orleans/Minnie Under 53. This was the last remaining pick open under our picking rules - so Tom put $10 on it for good measure.  Without the Cardinal defense in the building, there is a slim chance this will stay under. XXX It was under through the end of the 3rd quarter.  
           
        Rand: $30 on Indy/NY Jets Over 39.  Rand goes opposite Dick on this one.  Will he make a big leap up the standings?  We’ll see. +++ Rand scores big with this one.   
          $10 on New York Jets +7.5. Rand goes with the Jets to go opposite Tom on this pick.  Note:  you may start noticing a trend of following the great Greg Hobbs’ picks.  Did he know them in advance?  Yes. XXX The Jets run was good - but Indy was too much.    
          $10 on New Orleans/Minnie Over 53. Even though he denies the coincidence of matching The Hobbery’s picks, Rand closes out his picks with this matching one as well.  Can he close the gap wtih Dick and Tom with all these opposite picks?  +++ Rand is back in the game with a good weekend. 
 
                   
         Frank: $50 on Minnesota +3.5.  Frank’s cold streak extended for another week.  Can Brett get him back on the right side with this one?  Going against the possible team of destiny - be careful.  +++ Frank’s bold move on Brett and Co. pays off.
             
This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - Greg Hobbs +10, Doug Howe +50, Marcia Mayes +50, and Scott Holtzman -50

Greg:  $10 on NYJ/Indy Over 39.  Greg goes against Dick with this one.  Is Cassidy worried?  Based upon Greg’s results, he should be. +++ Another excellent pick by the Hobbery.   
          $20 on New Orleans/Minnie Over 53. Greg likes the offenses in this one.  A good pick if both teams show up.  +++ Easy win with both offenses controlling the game. 
          $20 on New York Jets +7.5. Greg believes in Buddy’s son - and maybe the whole Jet story line.  XXX A little too much faith in Buddy’s son.
           Reggie Bush A/P Yards: 149

Doug:  $30 on Indy -7.5.  Doug stays with Indy again this week.  Can Tom and Doug be right on a same pick 3 straight weeks?   +++ Doug knows to stay on the right side of a Peyton Manning pick. 
          $20 on Minnesota +3.5. Doug likes Brett and Co. this weekend.  The Viking defense was really good last weekend - will they be this weekend?  And, did he really mean to make the same pick as Frank and go against Tom? +++ Doug tops off a perfect week with this pick.  Believe in Brett - at least to cover.
           Reggie Bush A/P Yards: 92

       Marcia: $40 on New Orleans/Minnie Over 53.  Marcia almost goes 50 on this pick.  What about these teams’ D? +++ Marcia knows offense, and it pays off.
          $10 on Indy -7.5. Marcia goes with Peyton and Co. against the upstart Jets.  This should be a good pick for GP separation. +++ Marcia’s hedge pick comes through as well - picking with Peyton helped.  
                    Reggie Bush A/P Yards: 187

       Scott: $20 on NY Jets +7.5.  Scott stays with his Jets after they reward him last week against the Chargers. XXX Scott had left an earlier message to pick Indy - the last second change dooms his picking season.
          $20 on New Orleans -3.5. Scott goes opposite Doug on this one.  Scott is buying into the Saints’ destiny. XXX another last second change sinks Scott again.  
          $10 on Minnie/NO Under 53. Scott goes opposite Greg on this one.  There should be some good separation this week.   XXX If you’re going to go out - go out in style.
          Reggie Bush A/P Yards: 126         

          Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** Perhaps the Savants have been spending a bit too much time concerning themselves with country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Tom and Dick blast out of the gate at +50.  Rand and Frank, well, not so much as blast as a trip.  Will the change in pick order help or hurt.  Last week Frank took the consensus good pick - Packers +1 - and it earned him last place and the first pick this week.  Will Frank protect the Savants from another obvious pick gone bad this week?  Who will get the Super Bowl bound Cowboys this weekend?  Will Cassidy break the most emails sent within a 24-hour period this week?  Of course, it is his own record that he’ll be trying to break.  Can Rand regain some momentum, or is he still off his game after losing a big lead in the regular season?  Stay tuned. 

The Guest Picker Playoff Challenge:  What an opening weekend.  Greg and Doug were fast out of the gate - Marcia and Scott not so much - but in the one important stat, they were faster than Don who had both his picks miss the mark last week.  As the competition is down to just 4, will the strategy change?  Can Doug stay on the end of year roll he has been on - this will be his 5th straight week to make picks.  Will Scott’s haste to go on vacation be his undoing?  Can Greg avoid an early exit this week to keep the top seed in the running?  What does Marcia have in store to separate herself from the pack this weekend?  This week’s tiebreaker:  the combined total interceptions for Brett Farve and Tony Romo.  Good luck.

Playoffs
Dick  +50 +50 = +100
Tom  +50 +30 = +80
Rand  -30 -50 = -80
The Goracle -50 -50 = -100

This Week’s Guest Pickers

Greg Hobbs +10, Doug Howe -10, Scott Holtzman -10, and Marcia Mayes -10  

This week’s picks
Dick: $50 on Dallas/Minnie Under 45.5. Dick has fallen in love with the over/unders.  He still on for 50, but what has happened to him in the playoffs?  He claims it is because he can’t get his Cows for 50.  Maybe. Note that is he on his own with this week’s pick (not following one of Greg’s picks) +++ Apparently Dick knows when the Cow offense decides to stay home. 

 Tom:  $20 on Indy -6.5.  Tom thinks Peyton and his receivers will be a better matchup against the suddenly defensive Ravens. +++ Pretty easy pick here.
          $10 on SD/Jets Under 42. Tom enters the over/under world hoping that the Jets try to take the air out of the ball. +++ I suppose it is time to acknowledge that the Jet defense is for real.   
          $10 on Arizona +7. Tom figures he might as well join the Kurt Warner bandwagon. XXX Maybe you should pick against Kurt Warner in the playoffs.
          $10 on Indy/Balt Under 44. Tom covers the under just in case that Raven defense is for real. +++ Another easy under game.  
           
        Rand: $50 on Dallas +3.  Rand gets the guaranteed win this week with the Super Bowl bound Cowboys.  They can’t be beat by Brett and Co., can they? XXX Rand snatches defeat by taking another of the consensus good picks of the weekend.  
                   
         Frank: $50 on San Diego -7.  Frank takes another well-liked pick in this one.  Not quite as good as last week’s, but will Frank’s backing sink the Norvells this week? XXX The rumor is true - Frank has been contacted by officials from each of the remaining teams begging him not to pick them this week.
             
This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - Greg Hobbs, Doug Howe, Marcia Mayes, and Scott Holtzman

Greg:  $30 on NYJ/San Diego Under 42.  Greg likes low scoring games this weekend.  Will the Jet defense keep up their stellar play, or have they achieved all goals and headed for their off-season rest? +++ Easy win on the under with the Jets’ D  
          $20 on New Orleans/Arizona Under 57. Greg thinks Vegas is licking their chops for an easy win on the under.  Or, will one team be able to hit this crazy number themselves? XXX Although they quit scoring early in this one, almost hitting the number at half time doomed this pick. 
           Farve/Romo INTs: 1

Doug:  $30 on Dallas +3.  Doug stays a true believer staying with the Cows for the second straight week. XXX Doug should have listened to Frank - you can’t trust the Cows.   
          $20 on Indy -6.5. Doug makes this pick even after hearing Tom pick the Colts.  Will last week’s joint success carry over for another week?  +++ Doug should keep picking with Tom - it is working.
           Favre/Romo INTs: 2

       Marcia: $30 on San Diego -7.  Marcia doesn’t back down from this pick even after hearing Frank load up on it.  A home team against a ‘just happy to still be in it’ eastern time zone team playing a really good team - it should be an easy win.  XXX Even after hearing Frank take this pick, Marcia goes down in flames with him.
          $20 on Arizona/NO Over 57. Marcia goes opposite Greg on this one.  Interesting. +++ This one made it over even though the teams mailed in the 2nd half. 
                    Favre/Romo INTs: 2

       Scott: $20 on Jets +7.  Scott likes the AFC dogs this week.  Can the Jets keep up with the Chargers?  +++ Scott knows his Jets.
          $20 on Baltimore +6.5. Scott goes opposite Doug on this one.  But, are the dogs out of class this weekend?  XXX The Ravens were not quite ready for another road game.
          $10 on Arizona/NO Under 57. Scott and Greg share the view that this won’t be a shootout like last week’s Cardinals’ game.  We’ll see. XXX Oops, not an under with that Cardinal defense involved.  
          Favre/Romo INTs: 2         

          Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** Perhaps the Savants have been spending a bit too much time concerning themselves with country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Talk about a group of guys who need to wipe the slate clean - yes, the one and only Savants head into the Playoffs with the tally reset to zero.  We’ve been doing this for years to make the playoffs just as exciting as the regular season.  It is wide open, and anyone can win.  Will we have some positive scores for the playoffs - GUARANTEED. Put that in 3-inch headlines.  And, how do I know this?  Not based on our current track record, but instead on our years of good playoff picks.  And, The Goracle unveiled Savant Shirts for us to wear during the Playoffs - I think our mamas used to say looking good is the first step to picking good.  There is a chance that the photo may make its way around - that is unless we broke the camera.  As there are fewer games to chose from in the postseason - expect to see lots of strategy in who picks first, and how much to weight the picks.  Of course startegy in picking correctly should probably be the focus. We also unveil a new playoff for the GP’s this weekend.  It looks like some fun as our top regular season pickers are back.

The Guest Picker Playoff Challenge:  We enjoyed having the GP Competition this year, so we put Rand to work devising just the right tournament for our best regular season GPs.  The top regular season GPs are as follows (note 1 point for a win and .5 point for a tie):  Greg Hobbs - 3; Doug Howe - 2.5; Don Sweeting - 2.5; Scott Holtzman - 1.5; and Marcia Mayes - 1.5.  Yes, all you had to do was win 1-week and tie the next to make it into this illustrious group.  So, how does the tournament work?  Well, each week the GP with the lowest total that week is eliminated from the group.  The remaining GPs advance to the next round - with a clean slate.  As you can see below, each GP took the strategy to just beat one competitor as they all have at least 2 picks.  What about ties?  Each round will have a tie-breaker that will send someone packing.  This week it is the number of Tom Brady passing yards.  Good luck, and let the games begin.

Playoffs
Dick  +50 
Tom  +50  
Rand  -30
The Goracle -50

This Week’s Guest Pickers

Greg Hobbs, Doug Howe, Don Sweeting, Scott Holtzman, and Marcia Mayes  

This week’s picks
Dick: $50 on Green Bay/Arizona Over 47.5. Dick’s fine regular season has him picking after Frank and Tom to start the Playoffs.  With both Dallas and Green Bay off the board, Cassidy turns to an over/under. Did the fact that the leading regular season GP has that game factor into the pick - we’ll never know. +++ Dick wants extra credit for the 96 total. 

 Tom:  $50 on Dallas -4.  Tom is bullish on the Cowboys.  Will they show they can’t be trusted yet again, or is this the new look team that pounded Philly last week and is out to pound them again this week? +++ Tom’s jump on the Super Bowl bound Cowboys pays off.
           
        Rand: $20 on Dallas/Philly Under 45.  The “for-real” Dallas Defense can get Rand started off on the right foot.  Of course, the homerun hitting Eagles could show up this week and make it a bit more tense.  XXX Garbage time TD by Philly sinks this under.
          $10 on Cincy/Jets Under 34. Word is out that they’ve agreed to play an extra 15 minutes of football - and the Under still won’t be in danger. XXX Even with Cincy leaving points on the field, this one goes over.  
          $10 on New York Jets +2.5. Rand knows Cincy stinks.  This pick looks good as long as Sanchez isn’t needed to pass. +++ Hail to the Jets - at least for another week.
          $10 on New England -3.5. Two flawed teams square off in this one.  I suppose it makes sense to take the one that is 11-0 in home playoff games with Tom Brady starting. XXX Which QB looked like they weren’t ready for the playoffs? Tom Brady.
                   
         Frank: $50 on Green Bay +1.  Frank takes the consensus great pick - should he be worried about that consensus.  And, what about the rule:  never, ever, pick against Kurt Warner in the playoffs. XXX Frank was winning at the end of regulations - just not at the end of OT.
             
This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - Greg Hobbs +50, Doug Howe +30, Don Sweeting -50, Marcia Mayes -10, and Scott Holtzman -10

Greg:  $20 on New York Jets +2.5.  Greg agrees that Cincy is bad and done.  Besides, we all want another week of Rex Ryan newsconferences. +++ A surprisingly good game - Rex Ryan and the Jets continue on another week. 
          $30 on Green Bay/Arizona Over 47.5. This looks like an easy one - unless of course that Packer defense really is as good as it is starting to look.  XXX Always helps when both teams almost make it over the number.
           Brady Yards: 199

                               Doug:  $30 on Dallas -4.  Another hometown drinker of the silver and blue Koolaid.  Being on the same pick as Tom has to be worrisome. +++ Doug believes what he sees.  
                          $10 on Green Bay +1. Doug goes with Frank on this one.  Doesn’t he know not to go the same as the Savants - oh right, they’re better in the Playoffs. XXX Oh so close.  
                    $10 on New York Jets +2.5. Doug is with Rand and Greg on this one.  I’m for taking a nap with during this one. +++ a good win for the Jets. 
          Brady Yards: 272

Don:  $30 on Cincy -2.5.  Don steps out where no one has gone before - showing those Bengals some love.  This will sets up some big separation in the GP competition. XXX But for the kicker Shane Graham, they should have had a chance. 
          $20 on New England -3.5. Don also buys into the fact that NE doesn’t lose at home in the playoffs - and that Baltimore is not the Baltmore we remember. XXX Both division champs crash ends Don’s season as well.
           Brady Yards: 180

       Marcia: $20 on Green Bay +1.  A popular pick this week.  Should we go ahead and mark it down as correct- nah. XXX Another one goes down with the Pack. 
          $20 on Baltimore +3.5. Marcia likes the good running team in the cold weather.  Maybe, but that is Tom Brady over on the other side. +++ Too much too fast for the underwhelming Pats.
          $10 on Cincy -2.5. Marcia joins Don on this one.  Can the Bengals really pull out of their tailspin? XXX Nope, not this year. 
           Brady Yards: 257

       Scott: $20 on Green Bay +1.  A stonecold lock on this board.  Scott stays in step with the competition. XXX And yet another pick fails with the Pack. 
          $20 on Baltimore +3.5. Scott and Marcia go 2 for 2 with their first two picks - what will separate them? +++ The Ravens look to cause problems next week as well. 
          $10 on Dallas/Philly Under 45. Scott and Rand share the low scoring view for tonight’s game at the Jerryworld. XXX Another victim of garbage time. 
          Brady Yards: 264         

          Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** Perhaps the Savants have been spending a bit too much time concerning themselves with country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

The Guest Picker Update:  Doug Howe showed consistency by using his second -10 in a row to catapult him on to another week with his win over Scott Holtzman.  To keep this competition fair, we’ve added two competitors for him this week.  Jim McTeigue of Triumph Golf and Andrea Huguely of American Airlines.  Jim goes way back with the Savants and with Doug as a left coast guy.  His understanding of those west coast teams should have taken any advantage that Doug had away.  But, alas it didn’t.  Andrea, the best of the picking Huguelys, was brought on to show off her skills on a worldwide basis.  OK, so this probably doesn’t even qualify as local, but it is public.  After all their picks, Doug prevailed with a win.  What is in store for the GP competition for the playoffs?  A new and improved competition sure to keep us all at the edges of our seats.   

This Week’s Headlines:  The Savants Regular Season Picks Officially Pronounced Dead.  What a season! None of the Savants finished above zero.  Dick lost every pick for 7 straight weeks, and he ends up tied for first.  Rand has a 100 point lead with two weeks left and managed to limp to a tie.  Tom turns a -30 with 4 weeks left in the season into a -230.  And the newest Savant, Frank Gore (fka The Goracle) fit right in with a tidy -150 for the year.  The good news - they can’t get any worse (oh, we can only hope).  Congratulations to Rand and Dick for their first place tie.  A trophy presentation will be announced shortly.  What will we see in the playoffs?  Can Dick stay hot by picking the Cows?  Will Rand abandon the 4 corners defense?  Will Tom ever get another pick right?  Will Frank regain his nickname in time for the offseason? On to the playoffs.

Final Regular Season Standings
Dick  -100 +50 = -50
Tom   -180 - 50 = -230
Rand    -20 -30 = -50
The Goracle -100 -50 = -150

This Week’s Guest Pickers

Doug Howe +30 versus Jim McTeigue -30 versus Andrea Huguely +10  

This week’s picks
Dick: $50 on Dallas -3. Dick rides to the top of the pick list by coming home to roost with his Cows.  Will the confidence carryover into the playoffs?  +++

 Tom:  $50 on Dallas/Philly Over 48.  Tom choosing the whatever vacation pick works the same as his other picks.  XXX.
           
        Rand: $10 on San Diego -4.  The Chargers show that even a non-caring team can beat the Redskins - but they can’t cover.  XXX.
          $10 on Tennesee -4.5. Rand’s Titans win, but not enough for his pick to cover. XXX 
          $10 on Philly/Dallas Under 48. Rand is right on top of the Cows dominant defense as the total was never in doubt. +++.
          $10 on Denver -13. Let’s see, suspend your only playmaker before a must win game to get into the playoffs.  Youth - you gotta love it. XXX.
          $10 on Jacksonville +1.5. Rand who successfully picked against the pathetic Jaguars for the last few weeks suddenly decides to tie his lot with them this week.  XXX.
                   
         Frank: $50 on Philadelphia +3.  Frank can’t ride the Eagles to victory over Dick’s Cows. XXX. 
             
             
This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - Doug Howe, Jim McTeigue and Andrea Huguely

Doug:  $30 on Chicago -3.  Doug seems to have taken this pick from the Cassidy school of I see dead people.  +++.
          $10 on Atlanta -2.5. Atlanta cares enough to play the last week of the season. +++. 
           $10 on Tennessee -4.5. Doug joins Rand in going down with this pick.  XXX.

           Jim:  $30 on San Diego -4.  The Curse of the Redskins sends Jim home.  XXX. 
          $10 on San Francisco -7. Jim does use some local knowledge on this easy pick. +++. 
           $10 on Philly +3. Don’t ever pick against Cassidy’s Cows and expect to win. XXX.
           
        Andrea: $20 on Dallas -3.  That is the best way to get on Cassidy’s best side.  +++.
          $10 on Denver -13. If only the line would have been +21 instead. XXX 
          $10 on St.Louis/SF Under 40. Andrea takes a page out of Rand’s playbook with an O/U win. +++.
          $10 on Jax/Cle Under 38.5. Mangini’s Brownies close the season with 4 straight wins - and a little offense to sink this pick.  XXX.

Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** Perhaps the Savants have been spending a bit too much time concerning themselves with country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Last Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

Scott Holtzman -30 versus Doug Howe -10