GAME INFO:
Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers

Game Date/Time: Sat, Jan 3, 2009 8:00 pm EST

Location: Qualcomm Stadium, California
TV: NBC

THE TEAMS AGAINST THE SPREAD (ATS)
The Colts are 9-7 ATS overall, 4-4 ATS away, 1-1 ATS as the underdog and 0-0 as an away underdog in 2008

The Chargers are 11-5 ATS overall, 7-1 ATS at home, 8-3 ATS as the favorite and 6-1 as home favorite this season

THE LINE
The Colts are favorite by 1 point (but that spread can be different based on individual casino and betting parlor lines)
The Over/Under is 51 points

THE PREVIEW
The Colts are 9-1 in there in last 10 games and Peyton Manning is considered by many experts to be in the front running for MVP. The Chargers are a mere 5-5 over their last 10 games but beat up the Denver Broncos last week by a score of 52-21 tp knock the Broncos out of the playoffs that ended Mike Shanahan’s coaching career in Denver.
In a matchup earlier in week 12, the Colts beat the Chargers in San Diego by a score of 23-20

THE PREDICTION
Indianapolis Colts 35 San Diego Chargers 28
Indianapolis is a very dangerous team. Peyton Manning is completely healthy and they have won their last 9 in a row. One big statistic is the fact that over the last three years the Colts are 4-1 this season and 10-3 in the last three seasons when the spread is +3 to -3. The Chargers are 1-3 this year when the spread is +3 to -3.
Peyton Manning will have time to throw the ball against a sackless defense. And even Phillip Rivers won’t be able to match the points put up by the Colts.

Take Peyton Manning and the Colts in a high scoring affair.

NOTE: thenflthisweek.com has a record of 9-1-1 in their last ATS picks of the regular season.

Here is it. The last Sunday NFL game in the 2008 regular season. The Denver Broncos play the San Diego Chargers for the AFC West Championship.  John Madden and Al Michaels will be in the booth for the game.

GAME INFO
Date: Sunday, Dec 28, 2008
Kickoff:  8:15 PM ET
Teams: Denver Broncos vs San Diego Chargers
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego California
TV: NBC

THE LINE (subject to change)
The Chargers are favorite by 8 points (-7).  The Under/Over is 49

THE MATCHUP
The winner is the champion of the AFC West. The loser goes home.
Denver is 8-7 overall and 4-3 on the road. They are 3-2 in the AFC West and 5-6 in the AFC
San Diego is 7-8 overall and 4-3 at home. They are 4-1 in the AFC West and 6-5 in the AFC
AGAINST THE SPREAD (ATS)
The Broncos are 5-10 overall ATS. They are 4-3 ATS away, 4-2 ATS underdog and 3-2 ATS as an away underdog.

The Chargers are 6-9 overall ATS.  They are 3-4 ATS at home, 4-8 ATS as the favorite and 3-4 ATS as home favorite

PREVIEW
Philip Rivers is on a serious roll and he is averaging 270 yards with 2.2 TDs vs just 0.5 interceptions for a simulation passer rating of 114. With Jay Cutler mustering just an 82 rating the Chargers are heavy 84 percent favorites. The Broncos lost 2 more RBs to injury and Tatum Bell and recently signed Cory Boyd are averaging well under 4 ypc. The Broncos have relied solely on the passing offense to win games this year. To pull off the upset they not only need a huge 3 TD performance from Jay Cutler, they also need the defense to sack Rivers twice and have at least 2 Chargers turnovers. In these simulations the Broncos pull even with an average simulation score of 30-30.
 
PREDICTION (ATS)
San Diego Chargers 35   Denver Broncos 14
Phillip Rivers will lead the Chargers into the Post season.  The Denver Broncos will not be able to overcome 2 more injuries to their running backs. Expect a high scoring affair - at least for the Chargers.