AFC PLAYOFFS (DIVISIONAL ROUND)

Baltimore vs Pittsburgh

Even though this powerhouse matchup falls in the playoffs, this game seems a little pre-mature. With the cast of characters and history between these two teams, this game was built more for a championship game or SuperBowl then a divisional game. But it is what it is.

How can I pick a team to win when they are spitting images of each other. When these two collide, throw out all stats, winning streaks and numbers out the door. In a rivalry game, anything can happen. This game is more of Maximus (Gladiator) vs Leonitus (300) or Rambo vs. Commando.

But in my ultimate vision, I see Baltimore coming out of this game. I'm rooting for Blitzburgh (I love the coach and I rock w Big Ben), but in the bigger picture of things, I see Baltimore vs NY Jets in the championship game. Too much symmetry: Baltimore deflated the Jets in week 1, and its the return of former Ravens def coordinator Rex Ryan.

RAVENS 23 Steelers17

NY Jets vs NE Pats

Thanks to Rex Ryan and Co., the Jets game is the marquee matchup of the weekend for the second week in a row. First of all, anyone who knows me knows how much I love the Univ of Michigan and all of its legendary players. In most cases (96% of the time) I'm rocking with Tom Brady. But this matchup has too much of a backstory and underlined theme.

And we know what it is: Ryan vs Billichick. Ryan vs the Pats. Brady vs the Jets D. Call me superstitious but I think the signs and symmetry favor Gang Green. Why? In the crazy mind of Dice, it all started in pre-season, when the Jets were featured on HBO's Hard Knocks. Yeah true most of the teams who are featured on that show don't bode well, but the Jets Hard Knocks was a completely different animal. Viewers were witness to the Rex Ryan formula and swag. Plus , I'm not overly sold on three featured skills players on the Patriots who are under six feet ( danny moorehead, deign branch, and wes welker).

Yes Brady has won three rings before with blue-collar, no name offensive teams before; but he never went against Ryan in the playoffs. (*Billichick this, Billichick that….bla bla bla....the Pats blew the Jets 45-3 last matchup? bla bla bla)

JETS 29 Pats 20