Super Bowl XLIV (44) Prop Bet: The Coin Toss

To see our coin toss prop bet analysis for the 2011 Super Bowl XLIV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, click here.

Over the next week and a half leading up to the Super Bowl, we'll be taking a look at various proposition bets for the 2010 Super Bowl, Super Bowl 44, Super Bowl XLIV, The Big Game, or whatever it's called these days.

The Super Bowl is growing nearer and nearer each day, and many bettors are torn on which side they won't to throw money on. Not between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, but between heads or tails--the two sides of the Super Bowl coin toss.

As we stated last year, the coin toss is always a popular prop bet because, well... it just is. It's a guy flipping a quarter into the air, only much more intense because millions of quarters are wagered on that one special coin. For whatever reason, it's one of the most wagered Super Bowl prop bet despite the fact that the wager is decided before kickoff.

For casual fans or those just watching the game for the Super Bowl commercials, it's nice to bet on the coin toss since it requires no knowledge whatsoever of the actual game being played and is completely random.We'll do our best to at least give you a little knowledge about the history of the Super Bowl coin toss.

People try to read a lot into the coin flip. Some common degenerate questions include: Does one side of the coin weigh more than the other? Does tails really never fail? Does the coin bounce differently off of FieldTurf as opposed to natural grass? Am I really wagering on the coin flip? We won’t be able to answer all of these question, but here are some fun facts to help you through betting on the coin flip:

• Heading into Super Bowl XLIII (43) last year, the Super Bowl coin toss had landed on heads 21 times and tails 21 times, astonishingly splitting the first 42 Super Bowls. Last year, only because the coin couldn’t land on its side, tails was the winner, giving the tails side of the coin a 22-21 all-time advantage. So, yes, tails never fails—except for nearly half of the time.

• The team to win the coin toss has a losing record in the Super Bowl of 20-23, but these "winners" have had even less success recently. In the last 13 tosses, the winner of the toss was the loser of the game in 10 of those contests, including five losses in the last six (the Giants of two years ago bucked this trend when they knocked off the unbeaten Patriots).

• Amazingly enough (and of very little meaning) is the fact that the NFC has won the last 12 tosses and is 29-14 all-time in calling the correct side of the coin. So you can either bet against the remarkable trend or ride it until it dies. Might as well enjoy the ride.

So, the bottom line is, when betting on Super Bowl props, the coin flip is always a toss-up.

Our recommendation? Guess. Blindly. This is a prop just for fun to get the action going on what is hopefully a long and enjoyable (and profitable) Sunday. Don't take the coin flip too seriously if you plan on flipping your wagers into some serious coin.

Stay tuned for more in-depth analysis of some fun and some crazy Super Bowl 44 prop bets.

2010 Pro Bowl Prop Bet: The Chad Ochocinco Kick

Pro Bowl Pro Bet Alert! We have on good authority that Chad Ochocinco will be kicking in this year's Pro Bowl, so bet Yes (-130) to this prop:

Chad Ochocinco (AFC) Will he have a Field Goal or Extra Point Attempt - Must Play
01/31/10	370	Yes	-130
19:20 ET		No	even

So who have we heard it from? How about Ochocinco himself, via twitter:

OGOchoCinco

I cant wait to kick these damn field goals and play defensive back, headed out, peace, love and sssssssssoooooouuuulllll!!!!!

Get those bets in and enjoy the Pro Bowl!

Free 2010 NFL Pro Bowl Picks

As we prepare for non-stop coverage this week leading up to the 2010 Super Bowl XLIV (44), we make a pit stop at the Pro Bowl, played in the Great 48 for the first time in decades.

We are in Miami to cover the Super Bowl, and we will get that chance on Media Day, but we are not going to the Pro Bowl, instead spending time with our trusty laptop in the hotel room--all for your benefit!

So, without further ado, here are our Free 2010 NFL Pro Bowl Picks:

NFC -3 over the AFC

OVER 58

In a game where anything can really happen, we are always tempted to just go with the underdog and take the points. In this case, though, the quarterback play in the AFC is questionable at best, and we just can't bet against the trio of Aaron Rodgers, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo. QB play is everything in the high-scoring Pro Bowl--at least that's what we are banking on.

Speaking of high-scoring, the Pro Bowl almost always is. And in a game where anything can happen, prepare for everything to happen.

If our coverage isn't enough for you, be sure to head on over to Doc's Sports. Check out their Sports Interaction Review or place some bets through them at Pinnacle Sportsbook.

More Super Bowl prop betting analysis will follow today, as well as updates from Miami throughout the week, so make Stock Lemon your home (page) for Super Bowl XLIV (44) coverage!

We've Landed in Miami!

Stock Lemon, welcome to Miami. As we mentioned earlier, Super Bowl XLIV (44) will mark our first with an actual credential to media day, and we're not letting it go to waste. In fact, we'll spend the entire week down here to get a better feel and a bettor's feel on this year's Big Game in the NFL.

Our Super Bowl coverage has already begun with our in-depth breakdown of this year's National Anthem, as sung by Carrie Underwood, and there is plenty more to come. In the next few days we'll give you updates from media day and breakdown proposition bets such as The Coin Toss and The Gatorade Shower.

And we're not the only ones having fun with Super Bowl XLIV, as the folks at Doc's Sports have Super Bowl Predictions (as we will also get to) and much more, including the return of Super Bowl Squares!

Keep checking back with us here at Stock Lemon for more Super Bowl coverage, as well as some fun Pro Bowl picks tomorrow.

Super Bowl XLIV Prop Bet: The National Anthem

To see the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) National Anthem Prop Bet, featuring Christina Aguilera in the game between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, click here.

Over the next week and a half leading up to the Super Bowl, we'll be taking a look at various proposition bets for the 2010 Super Bowl, Super Bowl 44, Super Bowl XLIV, The Big Game, or whatever it's called these days.

Before the Colts and Saints execute their keys to the game, America (and several other countries outside of the United States) will be paying close attention to some keys prior to kickoff -- the keys sung by Carrie Underwood during the National Anthem, just as we did last year when we were quite possibly single handedly responsible for shifting the opening line. If you recall, the long winded Jennifer Hudson's anthem line was set at 1 minute and 54 seconds before we got some research in (aka watched YouTube videos of previous anthems. We found that all three of her available anthems on YouTube were at least four seconds longer than that mark, and strongly recommended the over. Then, the line moved to 2 minutes and 1 second overnight. The result? It took Hudson 2 minutes and 13 seconds.

This year, with yet another American Idol winner taking the opening tune, the results should be much different. Carrie Underwood could sing the shortest Anthem since Billy Joel did it in 1 minute and 30 seconds back in 2007 (in a Super Bowl broadcast by CBS... in Miami... featuring the Colts).

So, let's get down to business this year. According to Bodog, the 2010 Super Bowl XLIV National Anthem prop bet line, as sung by Carrie Underwood:

Super Bowl XLIV - How long will it take Carrie Underwood to sing the National Anthem?

Clock starts as soon as Underwood sings first Note and Stops when she sings her last note.

Super Bowl XLIV - How long will it takeCarrie Underwood to sing the National Anthem?

Clock starts as soon as Underwood sings first Note and Stops when she sings her last note.

Over 1 Minute and 42 Seconds	-105
Under 1 Minute and 42 Seconds	-125

The 1 minute and 42 second line is way below Jennifer Hudson's, and well above Billy Joel's. So where does Carrie Underwood stand and what can Underwood's National Anthem history tell us about her upcoming performance prior to the Super Bowl? Let's get to the tape.

Underwood's first anthem comes to us from June 6, 2005 before Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs in Detroit. As you can see, she starts at roughly :15 into the video, ending at 1:58 (remember it counts through the completion of the final note). Anyone who has ever failed math before knows that her total time is 1 minute 43 seconds, one second above the Super Bowl anthem prop. But don't be so quick to jump on that over. Let's take a peak at a few more videos first.

This next video comes to us courtesy of the NFC Championship game on January 26, 2006, when Underwood was in Seattle to sing the National Anthem prior to the Seattle Seahawks date with the Carolina Panthers. This one begins at :25 and ends at 2:05, totaling 1 minute 40 seconds. This is, of course, below the current line for the Super Bowl by two seconds, and is doubly significant because it is the only anthem on file of her at a football game. That under is suddenly looking appealing, if only we could see a couple more videos...

Next up is July 11, 2006 at the MLB All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. This video serves both as research and a further reminder of how nice it will be not to listen to Joe Buck on Super Sunday. The singing starts at :32 in and goes until 2:10, giving us a total anthem time of 1 minute 38 seconds, now four (FOUR!) seconds below the line. We're starting to see a pattern here as she continues to progress. How about one more video to cement our bet?

Our last piece of video evidence comes from the 2007 World Series on October 27, 2007. Underwood sang the Star Spangled Banner prior to Game 3 of the series between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies, with this the first game in Colorado. Take a listen to this one and not only will you be rewarded with more Joe Buck at the end, but you'll hear that she starts at :23 and ends 1:59. She trails off a little and it is difficult to spot the exact end, but we think 1:59 is a fairly safe judgement. This would mean that her most recent anthem went 1 minute and 36 seconds, a full six seconds below her prop bet line of 1 minute 42 seconds. That's about all the information we need.

Let's review:

June 6, 2005: 1 minute, 43 seconds (one second OVER her Super Bowl line)

January 22, 2006: 1 minute, 40 seconds (two seconds UNDER)

July 11, 2006: 1 minute, 38 seconds (four seconds UNDER)

October 27, 2007: 1 minute, 36 seconds (six seconds UNDER)

With each passing anthem, Carrie Underwood has taken less and less time to sing the Star Spangled Banner. We understand that it is the Super Bowl and some singers milk the opportunity for all it's worth (see Hudson, Jennifer from last year), but we don't see Underwood going that route. It isn't like she hasn't sang the National Anthem at a big event before, already hitting both of the other major sports' championships, an all-star game and the NFL's next best thing to the Super Bowl. For us, the above videos provide all the evidence we need to make a sizeable bet on the UNDER 1 minute and 42 seconds, at just -125 juice.

NBA Super Bowl XLIV: Pacers vs. Hornets

It's 2010 Super Bowl XLIV (44) mania, and every angle of every corner of every angle will be covered in the next couple of weeks by the real media. So what can we do in the blogging community? Make up more angles!

How about this: What if we somehow tried to predict who would win the Super Bowl based on the NBA counterparts in their respective cities? Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

If Super Bowl XLIV were to be played by the NBA versions of the NFL teams participating in Miami, the Indianapolis Colts would be substituted for the Indiana Pacers while the New Orleans Saints would be replaced by the New Orleans Hornets. Still with us?

While the Hornets are probably (definitely) the better basketball team, how would the teams fare on the football field? Let's take a look at some of the key players on the rosters and match them up with their counterparts.

Indianapolis Colts/Pacers

QB Peyton Manning = SF Danny Granger

The unquestioned centerpiece of the team, providing a mostly offensive attack. Good enough to build a team around with the potential to be great.

RB Joseph Addai = PG T.J. Ford

Players who showed great promise and have since slowed down. The Pacers can't wait to unload T.J. Ford, and you might be surprised at how much the Colts may share that sentiment about Addai.

WR Reggie Wayne = SF Mike Dunleavy

Good players and often underappreciated. Dunleavy has had injury issues so it is difficult to really compare, but when these two are healthy they must be accounted for. Neither will mind carrying the load or playing second fiddle and helping teammates.

TE Dallas Clark = PF Troy Murphy

Tough competitors who put up way better numbers than you would expect them to. Murphy has been one of the more underrated forwards in the game for years while Dallas Clark is just now getting the attention he deserves after the departure of Marvin Harrison.

DE Dwight Freeney = C Roy Hibbert

This one is a stretch, considering Hibbert is still growing and Freeney is a veteran leader at this point--but Hibbert has that potential. He showed in college how much he could impact the game, and opposing offenses know that that's all Freeney does.

LB Gary Brackett = C Jeff Foster

Nothing flashy out of either player, but mainstays in their team's lineup for a reason. Consistently solid players.

New Orleans Saints/Hornets

QB Drew Brees = PG Chris Paul

Okay, this one is too easy. The similarities between quarterbacks and point guards are clear, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better match than this in the league. Both Brees and Paul are fundamentally sound but at the same time flashy, and their play dictates largely, if not nearly entirely, the success of their respective clubs.

FS Darren Sharper = C Emeka Okafor

The two big off-season acquisitions in Nawlins have paid dividends this season, both on the defensive side of the ball. While Emeka might actually be a defensive downgrade from Tyson Chandler (who they traded away to acquire Okafor), the presence of the former Husky can't be denied. Obviously, neither can that of Pro Bowl safety Sharper, acquired through Free Agency from the Vikings.

WR Marques Colston = PG Darren Collison

Both young players taken relatively late in the draft and expected to do little, who have burst onto the scene and played huge roles in their team's success.

RB Reggie Bush = SF Peja Stojakovic

Considering the achievements both have been able to garner in the past, you expect more from them. Bush was dominant at USC, and while he's having a good playoffs, it's impossible to say he's lived up to his hype. Just a couple of years ago Peja was carrying the Hornets to one of the top seeds in the Western Conference Playoffs. Now, his play has dropped off along with his teams. Both teams need these guys to perform to be really great.

LB Jonathan Vilma = PF David West

Remarkably great fits on their teams, as West goes together beautifully with Chris Paul and Vilma is the exact perfect fit for the Saints defense.

TE Jeremy Shockey = SF Jamesy Posey

Overpaid, overrated recent free agent acquisitions who show just enough productivity to keep you hoping that they will live up to their billing. Still, it's hard to argue with them, as they have both been winners throughout their careers.

So there's that. Amidst all the rehashed stories of Super Bowl week(s), this is our attempt to create a new story. At least we tried.

And for the record, we'll take the Hornets.

2010 Super Bowl XLIV (44) Coin Toss, National Anthem and Other Fun Prop Bet Analysis Ahead

Plenty of excitement coming up here at Stock Lemon, as we plan on rolling out our analysis on the Super Bowl coin toss, National Anthem and several other fun props in the coming days.

On top of that, we'll get to cover the Pro Bowl live from Miami. As we mentioned earlier, this will be Stock Lemon's first trip to the Super Bowl (first of many, we hope), and we plan on blogging our butts off when we get to Florida on Saturday and throughout the rest of the Super Bowl week.

Until then, our annual analysis of some of the most ridiculous--as well as some of the most potentially profitable--Super Bowl proposition bets will be coming as early as Thursday.

So, as always, stay tuned and thanks for making Stock Lemon your home for the 2010 Super Bowl XLIV (44) in Miami.

We'll have you covered.

Uganda Gets Jets-Vikings Super Bowl

We're talking, of course, about the championship merchandise that is printed in big games. The NFL needs to be ready for any outcome in the championship game, so they print t-shirts and hats for both teams so that they can immediately be worn by the winning players following the game.

The losing merchandise? It gets sent to a relief organization, World Vision, where it is distributed to countries such as Uganda, Niger and Sierra Leone.

Per a great New York Times article from three years ago, the same will happen with the loser of the Super Bowl between the Colts and Saints:

The Super Bowl will end about 10 p.m. Sunday, and by 10:01 every player on the winning team — along with coaches, executives, family members and ball boys — could be outfitted in colorful T-shirts and caps proclaiming them champions.

The other set of championship gear — the 288 T-shirts and caps made for the team that did not win — will be hidden behind a locked door at (Sun Life) Stadium. By order of the National Football League, those items are never to appear on television or on eBay. They are never even to be seen on American soil.

They will be shipped Monday morning to a warehouse in Sewickley, Pa., near Pittsburgh, where they will become property of World Vision, a relief organization that will package the clothing in wooden boxes and send it to a developing nation, usually in Africa.

The MLB actually destroys the merchandise, while the NBA sends losing Finals gear to a charity overseas. The NFL goes the World Vision route, which causes for confusion in Niger--should any of the citizens know anything about American Football.

Stock Lemon To Attend Super Bowl XLIV in Miami

Big news for us here at Stock Lemon, folks, as we've managed to obtain credentials to media day in Miami for Super Bowl XLIV (44).

The media day circus is known for credentialing strange outlets, leading to outlandish interviews--and we're happy to be a part of said circus this year!

So, when we say that our coverage of this year's Super Bowl will be unprecedented, we mean it (and that's saying a lot considering our extensive coverage in the past).

We look forward to bringing you coverage, especially of the Super Bowl XLIV prop bets we love so much. Now you know why we've been a little extra excited about this year's big game in the NFL.

See you in Miami!

Breaking: Colts Favored By -3 1/2

This just in, the Colts will be favored by -3 1/2 points against the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV (44). The over/under is set at 56. Get your early bets in!

Of course, expect non-stop coverage for us, as we have a big Super Bowl announcement to make. In the meantime, check out our Early Super Bowl Prop Bets.

As always, stay tuned.

Early Super Bowl XLIV (44) Prop Bets

If you're looking for some early Super Bowl XLIV (that's 44) prop bets, you've come to the right place.

We're making Stock Lemon your home for Super Bowl proposition betting in 2010 and thought we should go ahead and post some standard prop bets that will be offered for the matcup between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. (Of course, as we grow closer and closer to kickoff each day, we'll have some of the wackier bets listed as well.)

Here's a general list of what to expect:

First, there are your regular lines. The Colts will likely be favorites, although this is the first time that both one Seeds from the AFC and NFC will square off since 1993. Those lines will be different on a quarter-by-quarter basis and updated as the game goes on. The Over/Under will likely be high as well given the offensive firepower. Here are some others you can expect:

• Game line
• Moneyline
• First half line
• First quarter line
• Second quarter line
• Third quarter line
• Fourth quarter line (not including over time)
• Over/Under

Then you get a little more specific:

• Total points scored by the home team (Colts)
• Total points scored by the visiting team (Saints)
• First team to score
• Last team to score
• Will the last team to score win the game?
• Will there be a score in the last two minutes of the first half?
• Will either team score three unanswered times?
• Will there be a score in the first six and a half minutes of the game?
• Which team will have the longest touchdown?
• Will there be a successful two-point conversion?
• Will there be a safety?
• Which half will have the highest point score?
• Which quarter will have the highest point score?
• Will the home team ever have the lead?
• Which team will commit the first turnover?
• Which team will use the coaches' challenge first?
• Which team will be the first to call a timeout?
• Will there be overtime?
• Which team will get the first penalty?

Then, as we inch closer to the game, we'll have plenty of player props:

• Who will have more yards between a Colts RB/WR like Joseph Addai and Saints RB/WR like Pierre Thomas?
• Who will have more tackles between a Colts defender like Antoine Bethea or Saints defender like Darren Sharper?
• How many yards will a team's star player like Reggie Wayne have? (Answers will be in increments: between 1-60, between 60-90, etc.)

Then, of course, there will be the wacky and fun Super Bowl prop bets as well:

• How long will the National Anthem last? (This will be an over/under, usually somewhere between 1:30-2:00.)
• How many times the announcers will say ____? (Could be the name of a player not involved in the game, for example.)
• How many times will cameras show ____? (Could again be a famous person or player not involved in the game but in attendance.)
• Will this be the highest rated Super Bowl ever? (Game will air on CBS.)
• What color will the liquid poured on the winning coach be? (Multiple Choice.)
• Who will the game MVP thank first?
• What songs will the halftime entertainer sing? (The Who are the halftime performers this year.)
• Will the coin toss be heads or tails?

That's it for now. Hopefully this generic list will suffice. Don't worry, though, plenty more prop bets will be coming, so stay tuned and make sure to check back to Stock Lemon for more updates on your Super Bowl 44 proposition bets for 2010.

Former Packer QB Makes Big Play to Lead NFC Team To Super Bowl

Just as everyone expected, a former Packer QB made a decisive play to lead his team to a Super Bowl. We're talking, of course, of Mark Brunell (pictured bottom left), whose snap on Garrett Hartley's game winning field goal helped the Saints to Super Bowl XLIV.

What? Were you expecting somebody else?

The Vikings, meanwhile, can now officially add a word into their dictionary that Packer fans have know for years.

Favred

-verb

1. To have one's hopes raised to ridiculously joyous levels so as to put a person in a state of vulnerability, causing blindness to the inevitability of complete and utter failure.

And with that final Brett Favre choke, the Super Bowl -- and thus, the Super Bowl 44 coverage here at Stock Lemon -- is set. The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans saints will go head-to-head in Miami.

Be sure to follow Stock Lemon throughout the next two weeks with unprecedented Super Bowl XLIV proposition bet coverage.

NFL Playoffs - Championship Weekend

New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts

We all know the formula for the Jets if they have any plans on making the trip to Miami for the Super Bowl. Run the ball. Play the hell out of some defense. Seems easy enough right?

New York’s battle will begin with the play action pass. Mark Sanchez is young. We know this, and when he gets confused bad things happen. But to have an over reliance on the run game here will not surprise the Colts. It will be fun to watch the balancing act of New York in trying to protect the mistakes of Sanchez while also trying to confuse the Colts defense with some play action downfield to help keep the defense honest.

Thus far, Sanchez has held his own in terms of making the right decisions…but one has to think that the simplicity of the Jets offensive scheme has to catch up with them at some point. If the Jets can somehow win the time of possession battle they will put themselves in good position to win the game. If they use their offense as an extension of their defense by keeping the Colts off the field with long drives that eat up the clock, then it will just mean that much less time to worry about Peyton Manning and the rest of the Colts offense. On defense, they face a similar task as last weeks matchup versus San Diego. The upgrade from Philip Rivers to Peyton Manning is substantial, as Manning is smarter at the line of scrimmage and adjusts better to defensive pressure on the fly. In most cases, Manning adjusts to the defense faster than defenses adjust to him…which is what makes him so damn good. New York simply has to hope that they land a few body blows with a confusing blitz package that gets to Manning a few times. Maybe we will see Manning audible at the line after he sees an alert, only to have the Jets disguise a blitz coming from the other side. It will be fun and interesting to watch.

The Jets are playing with house money here. They were almost left for dead midway through the season before backing into the playoffs with some help and now they have caught fire at just the right time. They do have a formula in place to advance even further, but I am going with the smarter and more experienced team who has been there before. Remember, the Colts were winning 15-10 in their late season matchup with the Jets before pulling most of their starters and gift wrapping a New York victory.

Colts 24-17

Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints

This game pits the saga of the Brett Favre comeback with the resurrection of post-Katrina New Orleans. One storyline has become as dilapidated as the figure it follows while the latter is one of community and hope.

The Saints came out last week and played like bats out of hell. Ever since this team began to slump towards the end of the regular season, I have been hesitant to put all my chips into the middle with them. Thankfully last week they reminded everyone why they were the most dominant and exciting team in the NFL for the seasons first 13 weeks. The secondary remains underrated as their numbers on paper are skewed due to the fact that they have been holding big leads for the high-powered Saints offense for most of the season. What they are at its core is a physical, ball -hawking defense that forces turnovers and makes big plays. It is almost amazing to think that teams would even start to think about sleeping on Adrian Peterson, but he has really slowed down his production as Brett Favre and company have stressed the passing attack downfield. I think Peterson gets loose today.

If this game gets into a shootout, Minnesota will lose this game handedly. They simply do not possess the same game changing scheme as New Orleans do.

Minnesota’s front seven is intimidating and can get to the quarterback without bringing much exterior pressure. However, their secondary can be exposed and will be if they are unable to take Drew Brees down. Brees and company will look to attack, attack, attack downfield and once the Vikings secondary starts playing on its heels they will look to gash on the edges with super versatile duo of Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. If they are unsuccessful pushing the ball downfield, they will lose this game.

When it comes down to it, I think Adrian Peterson finally breaks out of his slump and goes for 100+ yards on the ground as Minnesota will look to take some pressure off the offense and resist getting into a shootout. That being said , I am going to roll with the home field inspiration and a team that looks close to unstoppable on offense when things are clicking…and they usually are.

Saints 31-24

2010 Super Bowl 44 Proposition Bets Coming Soon!

It's Conference Championship weekend, which means one thing-- Super Bowl prop season is almost here. Those of you who followed our highly publicized Super Bowl prop coverage last year are in for a treat this year, as we're pulling out all the stops to make this our best Super Bowl prop coverage yet!

Before we can get to all the Super Bowl XLIV fun and excitement, however, we need to figure out the teams who will be playing in the Super Bowl. Here are our Free NFL Playoff Picks for the AFC and NFC Championship games.

Jets +8 over the Colts

Vikings +4 over the Saints

It's been a whacky ride so far this postseason, and we expect that to continue. We're not saying that the Super Bowl will be between the Jets and Vikings... just that they will cover.

Good luck and we will see you back here for extensive prop betting on Super Bowl 44!

Sunday Free NFL Playoff Picks

We're on our way to a 2-0 day in the NFL playoffs today and we look for more of the same with two picks tomorrow:

Chargers -8 over the Jets

Cowboys +3 over the Vikings

Good luck!

Match Play - NFL Divisional round

Written by: MJK

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

If the Cardinals matchup with the Packers last week was any indication, we should expect a lot of points on the scoreboard when these two teams square off. The Saints are coming off a season in which they staked their claim as the best team in the NFC record wise, locking up the #1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This advantage begins against the defending NFC Champions and an equally hungry Cardinals squad. Statistically, the Saints outperformed the Cardinals (and just about everyone else) in total offense this season…but Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has the best quarterback rating in postseason history and is not to be discounted when trying to match these two teams up.

Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin is not likely to play, but surprisingly I do not think this will be enough of an issue to slow down this Cardinals offense as noticed by last weeks 51 point outburst, as well being 2-0 without Boldin the past two postseasons. Steve Breaston and more importantly Early Doucet have stepped up more than enough to keep this offensive train rolling, much to the credit of Warners pocket presence and preparation. Even though I fully expect a shootout to happen, we cannot sleep on the run game of either of these teams. For the Cardinals, rookie running back Beanie Wells has impressed as he has learned the nuances of NFL defenses. He has shown flashes of brilliance and could gash this overrated Saints defense if given the chance.

The Saints on the other hand are coming off a bye week in which they limped into the postseason after three weeks worth of sub par play. Still, they were they highest scoring offense in the NFL this season but it will be interesting to see how they react to coming off a bye week. It really was discouraging watching this team play at such a high level for most of the season, only to watch the team play such uninspired ball down the stretch. Who knows how much bearing this will have in the outcome of this game. We all know what quarterback Drew Brees and company are capable of but much like Beanie Wells for the Cardinals, running back Pierre Thomas (if healthy) is a multi talented back who can catch passes and is elusive enough to gain a good amount of yards against an over aggressive Cardinals defense.

When it is all said and done I truly believe these offenses are extremely evenly matched regardless of what the regular season stats say on paper. The combination of Warner to Fitzgerald has yet to be stopped in postseason play the past two seasons and until that happens I wont be counting out the Cardinals offense in any scenario. Most importantly, the Cardinals defense is extremely underappreciated and is physical and aggressive enough to keep the Saints off balance. It will be tough for either of these teams to hold one another under 30+ points. That being said I have more faith in the Cardinals speedy and athletic defense than the New Orleans unit who still has problems on the edges and in the front seven. I think the Cardinals have a bigger chip on their shoulder after falling short last season and walk into NOLA and rip the hearts out of the Louisiana faithful.

Cardinals 38-31

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts

Much like the Saints, Indy sputtered into the postseason and their bye week after a couple of really bad performances to end the season. However, Indy was rolling right along until they started pulling starters out of games in an effort to preserve key players for the playoffs, making their end of the season slump a little more understandable.

Baltimore is coming off an impressive whooping of the once dominant New England Patriots in the opening round. Baltimore has been able to run the ball more effectively than any other team in recent weeks and this really has been the bread and butter to their team success. Ray Rice and Willis McGahee have been running fools over in impressive fashion and really have asserted themselves as forces to be reckoned with. Joe Flacco has taken major steps back since coming out of the gates to start the season, but he still resembles enough of a game manager to where he should not hurt the team downfield, and if he gets the right looks he has an upside of a 300 yard day. If outside lineback Terrell Suggs can make a big play early in the game much like he did last week against Tom Brady, the Ravens could use that momentum swing and never look back.

Indy has looked so impressive throughout much of the year its really hard to pinpoint how they matchup in this situation. The team has had a lot of trouble performing well in postseason games after coming off a bye week and this should pose a threat to the fluidity of their offense. Defensive end Dwight Freeney has reasserted himself as one of the most feared defensive ends in the league. If he gets loose today, then Baltimore will have problems. That being said, the Ravens wont be throwing the ball enough for Freeney to be a factor. But it only takes one play to change game.

I think the Ravens are riding high on some good momentum right now and could very well rush for 200+ yards today, but I think they offer just enough offensive shortcomings for the team to be worried about keeping pace with a Colts offense that probably will come out looking sluggish and rusty, but will click when it needs to in order to move on to the next round.

Colts 24-20

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings

This game is the most difficult to matchup simply because the Cowboys are playing at such a high level right now while the Vikings are the better team top to bottom.

Dallas just came off back to back victories over a Philadelphia Eagles team that for much of the season looked like the favorite to come out of the NFC East as champions. Dallas has put most of the questions of past late season performances to rest as their offense has really hit their stride, and even more impressively their defense has gelled as a unit. Quarterback Tony Romo has utilized his weapons to the best of his abilities as we can almost expect a big day out of Jason Witten and Miles Austin. The most important aspect of this offense will be the three headed rushing attack of Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. The Vikings boast the NFLs best run defense, but if Dallas can use its mixture of backs well enough- it could be the difference in the game. The play of linebacker Demarcus Ware, DT Jay Ratliff and CB Mike Jenkins has vaulted this defenses play into the upper echelon of the NFL, and they will have to bring their A game here.

The Vikings have had a few blips on the radar this season but for the most part they have been as consistent as teams come. Their offensive line play has come under a little scrutiny lately as running back Adrian Peterson has not been able to break off the big games we have all become accustomed to seeing. I think this has much more to do with relying more on the pass than anything, but in any event Peterson simply has not been the game changing force we have all come to know. Brett Favre has reinvented the Vikings offense with an impressive season, making a pro bowler out of once maligned receiver Sidney Rice. The Vikings have as much, if not more weapons on offense than the Cowboys do and will attempt to open up holes in the front seven for Peterson by stretching the field with Rice and rookie Percy Harvin. I would expect defensive end Jared Allen to have a big game, although this defense has not been nearly as impressive since lineback EJ Henderson went down with a broken leg a few weeks back. Cornerback Antoine Winfield has also been hobbled.

I have bet against Brett Favre too many times this season (mostly because I am tired of his act), but when the Vikings click on all cylinders they cant be stopped. The Cowboys are trying to piggy back off of the momentum they have gained in beating a one dimensional Eagles team two straight weeks, but I think this task may be a little too tall. I simply do not trust Wade Phillips enough to lead this team to the promised land.

Vikings 31-17

New York Jets vs. San Diego Chargers

Jets head coach Rex Ryan has been talking a lot of talk this postseason and if last weeks win was any indication, his team is more than prepared to walk the walk. The truth is the Bengals were a bit of a mirage all season and the Jets were able to exploit some of their inefficiencies with their well planned defensive scheme.

All season long the Jets have used their defense as the cornerstone for the teams success. This defense is scary top to bottom, highlighted by cornerback Darrell Revis and linebackers David Harris and Bart Scott. Most importantly, Ryan’s scheme has proved to work time and time again. They just have an attitude that is carried about them that is reflected through the mirror image that is the tenacity of their head coach. On offense, the two headed running back monster of Thomas Jones and Shonne Green have really taken the load off of rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. When Sanchez has looked comfortable in the pocket this season, he has been the perfect game manger for this team. However, when he has been confused or under pressure he has had a deer in headlights look that should trouble any Jets fan. The Jets will have to rush for over 180+ total yards in order to win this game, and Sanchez will have to play mistake free football.

The Chargers have simply been on fire, riding a franchise best 11 game win streak while locking up the #2 seed in the AFC. Philip Rivers has taken the next step into the NFL’s elite group of quarterbacks, and while running back LaDainian Tomlinson is not the runner he once was…he has still provided just enough spark down the stretch to keep defenses honest. The x-factor in this game will be tight end Antonio Gates as he provides a huge mismatch for anyone on the Jets defense. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson is almost guaranteed to be shut down by Revis, making Gates the most important aspect of this teams offense.

It takes a lot of pride swallowing to roll with Norv Turner, but the Chargers are too hot to ignore. Even though I don’t think the Jets are getting enough credit, once again its difficult investing a lot of faith in a rookie quarterback. Although, I think Sanchez will play relatively well and this will be a close game…I think the Chargers will have just enough to move on.

Chargers 28-24

Let's Try This Again - NFL Playoff Picks

Here are our NFL picks for today:

Saints -7 over Cardinals

Colts -7 over Ravens

Good luck!

Match Play: Wild Card Playoffs

Sunday Game Edition

Written by: MJK

Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots

Ray Rice versus the Pats run D

Its not everyday we encounter a player who is enough of the total package to do the things Ravens running back Ray Rice does.  Not only does he run the ball with a great combination of power and elusiveness, but he has also become of the best receivers out of the backfield in the league today.  If the Patriots have visions of advancing to the next round than stopping Ray Rice will be priority #1.

The mystique of the Patriots has taken a hit this season.  Everyone remembers their performance from the 2007 season in which they marched through everyone before losing in the Super Bowl to the Giants. This is not the same team.  Tom Brady is banged up, Wes Welker is out for the remainder of the season, and most importantly the defense is young, inexperienced and at times a sieve versus the run.  Nose Tackle Vince Wilfork and ILB Jerod Mayo are going to have to play their keys to perfection, allowing safeties Brandon Meriweather and Brandon McGowan to roam without worry.

Ray Rice has emerged as one of the most dangerous players in the league this year.  He does lose touches to Willis McGahee in certain spots (around the goalline especially) but this keeps him fresh. Not only has Rice provided quarterback Joe Flacco with a nice security blanket out of the back field, but he has earned the trust and respect of his teammates.  The second year player will be sure to gash this Patriots defense with great tenacity.  IF the Patriots can hold Ray Rice under 100 total yards, they will win this game. However, this is not a likely feat considering their defensive woes throughout the season.

Verdict- Ray Rice- 22 Rush- 130 yards- 2 touchdowns-5 receptions- 50 yards

Outcome- Ravens- 24-20

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals

Battle of the secondaries

Both of these offenses are very potent and constantly look to use their passing attacks as extensions of the run game, while also taking plenty of shots deep. On paper, the Packers may be the more complete team…but the Cardinals are hungry and looking to prove that last seasons Super Bowl run was no fluke.  It will come down to stopping the intermediate and long passing games to determine the outcome of this game.

Arizona is still wondering if ultra speedy cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will play, all indications are that he will…but if he does not it will be a big hit to a defense that could use all of its best playmakers.  They will have the task of slowing down quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his array of vertical threats in Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. Safety Adrian Wilson is an all-pro player who brings smarts and physicality to a secondary that is active and underrated as a unit. Converted cornerback Antrel Rolle is athletic enough to compete with any route combination over the middle, while he and Wilson bring enough oomph for the Packers to have to worry about passing lanes up the middle. Still, Rodgers and company are a smart bunch who seem to continue to grow together with every game.  Rodgers will be looking to assert himself upon the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.

Along with the aforementioned DRC, the Cardinals are also waiting until game time to announce if wide receiver Anquan Boldin will play in today’s game after sustaining ankle and knee injuries last week.  If Boldin cannot go it will put a huge damper in Arizonas offensive gameplan.  Steve Breaston’s roll will expand, and he is more than capable of handling the duties, but no receiver in the NFL presents opposing defenses with the physical presence of Boldin. Green Bay will deploy a secondary that has really stepped up this season, as cornerback Charles Woodson just completed arguably his best regular season of his career.  For a 12 year veteran, that is saying something.  This ball hawking unit, with help from a linebacking unit that could be second to none in the league will look to shut down all world receiver Larry Fitzgerald and quarterback Kurt Warner with a variety of blitzes that will look to confuse and stymie the Cardinal attack.  Without Boldin, it will be that much easier.

Verdict: Green Bay’s receivers will provide a more complete package for Aaron Rodgers to utilize, especially if Anquan Boldin does not play.  If he does play, I like the Cardinal receivers to have the advantage. That all being said, I like the Packers to win with or without Arizonas infirmary of injured players.

Outcome: Green Bay- 34-30

Sunday's Free NFL Picks

Not the best of days in the NFL playoffs today. We're giving our kiss of death to the following teams tomorrow:

Patriots -4 over Ravens

Packers -2 over Cardinals

Good luck!

Another Saturday Free NFL Pick

We have our second of two Free NFL Picks today, and just like our earlier pick, we are going with the team who lost the same matchup last week.

Eagles +4 over the Cowboys

Good luck and enjoy the NFL Playoffs!

Saturday Game Edition

Written by: MJK

Jets QB Mark Sanchez vs. the Cincinnati Bengals Defense

New York used a convincing 37-0 victory over these Bengals less than a week ago to catapult them into one of the final two AFC wild card spots. The Bengals, having the #4 seed already locked up, rested running back Cedric Benson and looked horrible while playing most of their starters into the third quarter. Still, I don’t think too much stock can be put into a game where one team had everything to play for and the other team had nothing.

Sure, it’s a bit cliché to call out the rookie quarterback in his first career playoff game while playing on the road. But it’s the matchup that will decide this game, and not the Darrelle Revis Chad Ochocinco matchup on the other side. Both of these teams rely on a strong defense and power running attack, but Mark Sanchez is going to have to hope for a very simple and smart game plan from his coaching staff if he wants to be successful against a very underrated and physical Cincinnati defense.

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New York's game plan will rely heavily on the run game as it always does, but there have been spots throughout the season where head coach Rex Ryan starts trusting Sanchez a little too much and has allowed him to start taking shots downfield. Not usually a recipe for success. Ryan will again have to hope the run game is able to pound the Bengals defense in an attempt to keep them honest and let Sanchez dink and dunk his way down the field. If the running game is not successful, it could be a very long day for Sanchez. If he is efficient enough to complete about 65% of his passes then the Jets will be in much better position to win this game. Asking that from a young quarterback who 20 INT’s during the regular season might be a bit too much to ask.

Cincinnati will come at Sanchez with a balanced attack that will be a certain blend of casual pressure with intent of stopping the run. They do not enforce as much of a blitz heavy scheme as New York does, but they will still come at Sanchez with a good amount of pressure. Cornerbacks Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph provide enough stability on the outside that the Bengals will be allowed to focus on stopping the run early and often. I would not be surprised if Braylon Edwards got loose on a long TD pass or two if Hall or Joseph don’t bring their A game.

The Verdict: Sanchez final line- 11-23-179 yards-1 touchdown-2 interceptions. Bengals D will return one Jets turnover to the house.

Outcome: Bengals- 20-13

Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles- Passing Attack

This game will be the second rematch of week 17 opponents and should prove much more exciting. Both of these teams have a stable of running backs that play integral roles in keeping drives moving. They both also love pushing the ball down field while taking out huge chunks of yardage via the deep pass.

The emergence of Dallas wide receiver Miles Austin has been a saving grace for Tony Romo and the rest of the offense. Dallas gave up a lot to acquire receiver Roy Williams from Detroit last season and signed him to a huge contract in the hopes that he would be able to supplant the released Terrell Owens as the teams #1 receiver. While he has shown signs of life in spots this season, Williams has inconsistent hands and whats more, does not have the 100% trust of Romo in big spots. Austin has given the Cowboys a deep threat down the field that must be respected. More importantly, he has become a much more complete receiver as the season has gone on as his short and intermediate route running is much improved. If tight end Jason Witten can keep the linebackers honest by staying tight in routes while forcing the front seven to respect the pass over the middle, Austin should be able to get a few looks deep.

Phladelphia has utilized running back Brian Westbrook so well the past few seasons but with Westbrook slowing down with injuries for most of this season, he has become a shadow of the offensive staple he once was. This has led to a much heavier passing attack that has been anchored by the explosive play making abilities of second year receiver Desean Jackson. The Cowboys have been able to keep Jackson in check in two previous meetings this season, but he is a player that is not to be over looked in any situation. Brent Celek has become Donovan McNabbs favorite target underneath and has provided a safety blanket for McNabb that has seemed to fill a void that was left behind by the catching abilities of Westbrook. Jeremy Maclin has been a nice surprise in his rookie season and possess’ quick feet and explosive burst that give the Eagles a dangerous combination of speed on the outside. Still, Jackson has been the most consistent producer of offense for the Eagles this season and I think it will be tough to keep him from having a big game three times in a row.

The Verdict: Romo- 21-34 280 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions; Austin- 4 catches- 90 yards- 1 touchdown; Witten- 9 catches- 100 yards- 1 touchdown; McNabb- 24-39 305 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception; Jackson- 5 catches-110 yards; Celek- 6 catches- 85 yards- 2 touchdowns

Outcome: Philly 27-21

Roll Tide!

After a big cover, we usually rub it in with a post about our dead-on pick. In 2010, our resolution was to let our picks do the talking. Well, most of the talking.

We had our first pick of 2010 earlier this week with the BCS National Championship Game. Alabama took care of Texas on Thursday, covering the -4 1/2 point spread and giving us a perfect 1-0 record this decade.

Although we are done with college football picks for the year, stay tuned to Stock Lemon for plenty of playoff football action, including our earlier pick today!

First of Many Free NFL Playoff Picks

Our first pick is in... and not a minute too soon. We realize the game starts in less than half hour, and the rest of the picks will be in much sooner, but for now, here is our first pick.

Bengals -3 over the Jets

The public/part-time bettors love that whoopin the Jets gave to the Bengals, and so do we, because it means more action on the Jets. The Bengals are clearly the better team, and Mark Sanchez has not developed into a playoff-ready quarterback.

Good luck!

Free BCS Championship Pick

And now, for our first pick of the 2010 betting season!

We'll have plenty of NFL playoff coverage this weekend (including picks in every game), but first, we'll end the NCAA Football season with our Free BCS Championship Pick.

Alabama -4 1/2 over Texas

Roll Tide tonight! We like Mark Ingram's Tide to beat Colt McCoy's Longhorns, just like Ingram edged McCoy for the Heisman.

Good luck!

The NFL Playoffs Are Here! Super Bowl Soon!

Here at Stock Lemon, we love the Super Bowl. We love Super Bowl prop bets, we love Super Bowl coin tosses, we love Super Bowl National Anthems. We just love the Super Bowl. Check out some of our previous Super Bowl work here.

But first, teams have to get there, and that's what the NFL playoffs are for. And, hey, we love the playoffs. The NFL Playoff Brackets are here, and we are excited to get started this coming weekend. Doc's Sports has you covered with the NFL Playoff Schedule, and we'll have you covered with Free NFL Picks throughout the playoffs and, of course, the Super Bowl.

Be a part of Stock Lemon 2010 this NFL playoff season, and you'll be glad that you were.