Robalini's Week 20 NFL Picks

Here's my results for Week 19
W-L-T record: 1-3
Regular season record: 72-64
Playoff record: 4-4
Total record: 76-68

San Francisco 49ers - Atlanta Falcons

The Graduate Factor:
The Falcons should feel lucky for barely escaping with a win last week against the Seahawks, which isn't a good outlook in the playoffs.  The luck should not continue.  Jim Harbaugh took a huge gamble by making Colin Kaepernick the starting QB over Alex Smith mid-season, and I was obviously dubious of the move.  But last week, the gamble paid off big time, with Kaepernick having a superstar performance in his playoff debut.  Against the Falcons, who have big trouble against running QBs, his success should continue, and the 49ers defense looks as solid as ever.  Expect them to take the trip to the Super Bowl they barely missed last year.

San Francisco 49ers (-3 1/2) over Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens - New England Patriots

The Graduate Factor:
In theory, the Ravens should be exhausted after playing a six quarter game in Mile High Stadium last week (though thankfully, it was an early Saturday game and this one is a late Sunday game, giving them maximum rest.)  The problem with this theory is Ray Lewis, even with one arm, is the equivalence of a shot of bull testosterone.  He's playing on fire, as is the entire defense, which may also lose Ed Reed after this season as well to retirement.  If there's one team that can beat the Pats in January in New England, it's the Ravens.  Gamblers pretty much agree: when I placed my bet Monday, the Ravens were getting 9 1/2 points, and now it's down to 7 1/2.  Will they be able to stop Tom Brady's sixth trip to the Super Bowl?  Maybe not, but it should be a lot closer than the spread would predict.

Baltimore Ravens (+9 1/2) over New England Patriots

All bets are placed at Station Casinos:

http://www.stationcasinos.com

To check Las Vegas odds, The Konformist recommends VegasInsider.com:

http://www.vegasinsider.com