Welcome back to The Sports Rundown, this week we will preview the NFL wildcard weekend and make our picks.  B-Ray is unfortunately under the weather this week so sitting in will be DK.

Washington vs. Tampa Bay

DK: Tampa had a great start this season, but struggled midway, due to quarterbacking issues.  Chris Simms is a great young quaterback, and look for him to make plays.  The Redskins, have played  well in a tough overall NFC east.  With the Giants and Cowboys both in a dead-lock battle for the division.  Though not having gone to the playoffs in several years, i like Washington in a minor upset in this wildcard toss up.

Saint: Washington has had a great run to end the season and is on a roll coming into this game.  However the Bucs don't stop here.  Washington is to inconsistent and could have a hard time with the Tampa defense.  Chris Simms isn't a great QB yet, but he is more than capable of helping the Bucs do all they need to.  No replay of the great game earlier in the season.  The wheels are gonna fall off the skins bus.  Give this one to Tampa Bay.

DK: Bucs Defense will be a challenge for them, but i expect washington will throw some things at them to get them off their guard.

Saint:  I don't see the Redskins offense being dynamic enough to put up enough points to beat the number one defense in the league.  Portis can't do it all and the Tampa D-Ends should disrupt the passing game enough so it never finds it flow.

DK: Portis won't have a career day, i see him having around 105 yards and 2 touchdowns mostly from close range.

Saint: I don't see that being enough for the win, but I guess we'll see come game time.

DK: if they can shut Moss down i think it might spell trouble for the Skins.  However I'm still going with the Skins. Washington 24 Tampa 17

Saint: Tampa's defense will stifle the passing game and hold Portis in check. Tampa Bay 31 Washington 17.

Carolina at New York

DK: Carolina has been dying for this since last season.  after finishing strong, after a bad start, they were probably the most dangerous teams not to make the playoffs.   This year, they want to show exactly why they are dangerous. Motivation will be huge in this game for them.  New York, had a good year as well,  behind young gun Eli Manning, but lets not get him confused with his brother.  Despite the Maning name, he isn't tested in the playoff waters yet, and its a whole new ball game come January.  Look for Eli to have a shaky start, but i think he'll finish strong.  but it won't be enough, the Giants defense will have to really keep them in this game, or its going to be a long offseason.

Saint: Picking a winner here is gonna give me fits.  On one side of the ball you have a Carolina team that seems to have a constant idenity crisis.  You never know which team is going to show up.  On the other side you have a second year QB making his first playoff start.  If this game were in Carolina it would be a no-brainer.  However at home I'll take the Giants.  Look for Tiki, Tiki and more Tiki.  This guy has been on fire.  I can't give the Panthers any props from the way they finished out last season.  Last season is over and this team is too up and down for me to confidently pick them.  Eli should make some mistakes but he's quickly showing that he's a 4th quarter QB and in the playoff's that's everything.

DK: I do think this will be close, and if Eli should struggle, Tiki will be his saving grace.  He really caught fire in the latter part of this season.

Saint: That's why you have to go with the Giants here.  Carolina is a one trick pony by the name of Steve Smith.  The Giants corners will have their hands full all game.  But I see the Giants ground game as the real difference, they are going to be able to hold onto the ball much longer, wear down the Panthers defense and keep Smith and the Carolina offense off the field.

DK: you know, i hate to sound like i didn't do my homework, but you might have just swayed my already slightly in the middle decision.  that and i realized, i can only name 2 players on Panthers offense.

Saint: I'll give you one more name, deshaun foster.

DK: .....

Saint: he's their running back

DK: ah lol. New York, squeezes on out, by yes Feely 23-20

Saint: Not sure this one will be close, I didn't even get into the giants D-Line but New York 24 - Carolina 14

Jacksonville vs New England

DK: I like Jacksonville, they've played a pretty tight game all year, they've given the colts a run for their money in some close match ups.  Dispite Leftwhich being injuried, the back up Garrard has picked up the peices nicely, and continued on stride toward greatness.  New England, got of too a rocky start, and struggled early, and a crushing loss to the Colts showed how vaulnerable they are this year as opposed to others, Esp, finishing the season off with a loss at home to Miamai.  But, they still are the Reigning two time champs. And they'll come to play in this.  But expect the jaguars defense to be a big handful for them,  and make it a miserable day for the Patriots.  I don't expect New England to Three peat, but they will walk away from this one.

Saint: Although I can't say I've seen too much of the Jags this year, I can't find a reason to go against a team that has won 3 out of the last 4 super bowls.  The Jags maybe 12-4 and are screaming about a lack of respect and that no one is picking them to win this game.  Well add me in to that mix.  The Jags are good, real good, from what I have seen, but Leftwich hasn't played in 2 months and there is no team playing better right now than the Pats.  Oh yeah and they too are playing the disrespect card.  Both these teams make it sound like they're playing in the Holiday Bowl not the NFL playoffs. Memo to the Pats: You stunk it up to start the season, expect people to not respect you as much as when you guys were 15-1.but anyway, New England seems back to form and it's darn near impossible to bet against brady in the playoffs...

DK: I agree, Brady will make the plays where they need them tomorrow, i expect 2:1 TD to INT, possibley a 2:2 you never know, but its gonna be a defensive game

Saint: It will be interesting to see how Leftwich plays, he should be a bit rusty to start.  The team has continued along with Garrard, it's hard to say that Leftwich sitting is the best for the Jags, but he could kill the chemistry that has been built in his abscence.

DK: one thing is for certin though, if he is healthy, he can take a beating.  he did it in college and he did it most of his NFL career.  David Carr is the only guy who takes a worse pounding from the defense.

Saint: He definately is tough, but I am more worried about how his return will effect the team.

DK: i think if he plays poorly, don;t be surprised to see Garred back in.  Pats 17 Jags 13

Saint: The Pats feeling disrespected trumps the Jags feelings of disrespect.  Pats 21 Jags 7

Pittsburgh vs Cincy

DK: This i think is going to be the one to watch, Pittsburgh has struggled this season, compared to last, but mostly at the hands of Maddox and other back ups in Big Bens abscense.  Pitt is the playoff veteren, and this is the Bus' last rounds.  Expect a super bowl intensity from the steelers. On the other side, we have a surprsingly high powered offense, who finally has found its grove after many years, Chad Johnson, leads a strong core of receivers, and rudi will be pounding it up the middle, as well as Palmer at the helm, making some plays.  Its their first play off game in 14 years, and its at home, that building is going to be going nuts for 60 minutes of football. 

Saint: This definately is the must watch game of the afternoon.  The Steelers aren't what they were last year, but they still are a damn good football team.  The Bengals finally have made it over the hump.  This is going to be a close game.  It's hard to say who has the edge.  Both teams won a head to head game against each other this year.  I hate to go with a road team.  My head says the Bengals, but i have a gut instinct that the Steelers will be the team advancing. 

DK: in quite the opposite, my head tells me Steelers, but my heart is pulling for the Bengals.

Saint: I'd love to say the Bengals, team with the better record, more talent offensively and a damn good defense that cause really force the turnovers.  However, my heart does not say Steelers as much as it says "The Bengals are gonna fall flat on their faces". 

DK: it is as you said though, the must watch game.  I am not sure which i'd rather want to see, the Bengals and the Colts in a shoot out again for the title, or another Brady vs Manning

Saint: yeah, it should be a classic, my only hesitation is I can help feeling like I'll be let down if I throw my hopes behind the Bengals.

DK: eeeeeeheeh, Bengals 34 Steelers 28

Saint: you feel the way i do about this one, eeeeeeh, I'll say Bengals 34 Steelers 31
man I hate feeling like i made a bad pick

DK: its a tough pick

Well thanks to everyone, This has been The Saint and DK.

Bowl Predictions:

Fiesta Bowl:

B-Ray: Ohio State, i think it's going to be a close game, but notre dame is still a young team and showed it struggles to win the close games lost in OT to Michigan State and blew a late lead against USC when the games on the line, they still haven't found the way to get the win and i just think ohio state is the better team ohio states only losses were one possession games to the #2 and #3 team

Saint: Notre Dame, I think Ohio State has the better team as well, however, don't count out the luck of the irish, although unlucky against USC and Michigan State, they will be pumped up to show the nation they belong there in their first BCS game.

B-Ray: all in all, it should be an exceptional game...two very talented teams and two coaches who know how to win the big game

Saint : and my dad told me one thing, never bet against gods team

B-Ray: since when is notre dame god's team?

Saint: Do you know any other school that has such statues around campus as touchdown jesus and go for 2 moses

B-Ray: no, haha

Sugar Bowl:

B-Ray: Georgia because the Big East is absolutely pathetic anyone who wins the SEC is a dominant team, winning the big east is not an accomlishment at all the sugar bowl is the biggest mismatch of the bcs

Saint: I'm gonna go with Georgia also, I think WVU will not make it interesting though.  They aren't just fighting for their pride they are also fighting for a conference considered to be the weakest major conference in the land.

B-Ray : I personally think it's a joke that the Big East gets an automatic bid the MAC winner may be more qualified than the big east winner.

Saint: The Big East itself may be the a joke, you can blame Miami, BC and VT for that, but just because the conference is putrid, WVU still is a capable team.  Just ask USC and Texas about playing poor conference opponents.

Orange Bowl:

B-Ray:  I'm taking Florida State in this one.  Even though they've lost a few games to subpar opponents, they are a young team with a true freshman quarterback.  However, their D and special teams is as good as any, and in the big games, namely Miami and VT, they have showed up and pulled off big wins.  It's a game lead by two legendary coaches, so both teams will definately be prepared.  However, florida state is more excited about the game.  Penn State feels they should be playing a much higher ranked opponent, and therefore the players are a little down.  You have a team that's excited and won big games during the season against a team feeling cheated.  The emotions of florida state will lead them to victory.

Saint: I'll have to go with Penn State on this one.  They are just too strong a team for Florida State to handle.  Why? Defense, a true freshman at QB in the national spotlight against that defense, forgetta-bout-it.  Penn State will get over the fact FSU isn't a stronger team after about the first series or so.  They've had a great season and don't want it to be tarnished by a bad loss to FSU.  Penn State has more to prove than FSU who is just happy to be there.

B-Ray: Bobby Bowden is never just happy to be there.  He's a winner and will have his team fired up for every big game, and he knows how to win bowl games.

Saint: Bobby Bowden should be happy to just be there, his team didn't deserve to be there with how their season went.  But it doesn't matter if Bowden is happy or not to be there, his team is and they should be.  They got lucky when it seemed that all hope was gone after those 3 losses in a row, they are completely overmatched on every side of the ball in this game.

B-Ray: they were completely overmatched against VT and won.

Saint: Well, even the sun shines on a dog's butt somedays.

B-Ray: florida is the sunshine state and the games in miami.

Saint: It's a night game.

Rose Bowl:

B-Ray: USC all the way Oklahoma was hyped last year as much as texas was this year, and look what happened. Texas beat no one but Ohio State, and they beat Ohio State early when ohio state didnt' have a starting qb yet. USC, also in a weak conference, won a few more impressive games.  Texas will not stop Reggie Bush.  The game will not be close.  Penn State, Ohio State, and Notre dame would have been better opponents for USC.

Saint:  As much as this pains me to say it, Texas will win this game.  I think the teams are a wash in the talent department, with a slight edge going to USC.  However, I'm a big fan of the motivational factor.  Texas felt like they've been snubbed from big games the past few years and they've undoubtedly seen those pieces on espn where they've said USC would beat almost all of the greatest teams in college football history, it's been down right disrespectful to Texas.  The other reason is I think USC has been in too many close games, they've looked beatable several times this season, Notre Dame, Oregon and Fresno State all got their shots in.  Texas is much better than those programs.  Look for the Trojans to go down in flames.

B-Ray: However, the experience of hte close games may play in USC's favor if the game is on the line in the 4th quarter.  USC knows then can come back in teh 4th quarter to win.

Saint:  Good point, I just don't see this one being close, look for Texas to come out of the gate guns blazing and never look back, come the 4th quarter USC will be a demoralized and broken team.

B-Ray: we will see in 2 short days

If there were an 8 team playoff who would win it all?  For this we will be taking the 8 BCS teams and putting them in a mock playoff. (short answers)

B-Ray:
First round:USC over FSU, Teaxas over West VA, Georgia over Penn State, Ohio State over Notre Dame
Semi-finals: Georgia over USC and Texas over Ohio State
Championship: Georgia over Texas

Georgia is too physical for any of them and anyone who wins the SEC is a legitimate contender.

Saint:
First Round: USC over FSU, Texas over WVU, Georgia over Penn State and Ohio State over Notre Dame.
Semi-finals: Ohio State over USC and Texas over Georgia
Championship: Ohio State over Texas

Ohio State is playing the best football in the country right now hands down.