Championship Sunday

Short and sweet, I've been in and out of more threads this past week than ever and I've been on Covers since 2003.

The Bucs are playing their 3rd road game in a row. It's going to be below freezing, yes, it matters even if just a little. Rodgers has been the best player on the planet. Good teams that get blown out the previous meeting (same season) tend to bounce back and usually in a big way (see Bucs last week). The Packers are the better team IMO. Anything else, see "Keymasters" write-up, everything I would have said and then some.

PACK -3, -120

Luv what the Bills have done, luv Josh Allen. The Bills ain't going away anytime soon, believe that. Winning the Superbowl is in the cards for the Bills, if not this year, perhaps next year. But I love Mahomes and the players around him a little more. They're like an All Star team, at least on offense. Like last year, their defense is a little underrated, they make the plays that they have to, i.e., Sorensons hit at the goal line. I know CLE fans wanted targeting but that hit caused the fumble that ended up being the difference in the game. Targeting is in place for safety, not to prevent fumbles. Chris Jones is the best defensive player on either side, I don't think he gets enough credit, mostly because of all the great players on offense. And home field, might be limited fans, but they're a raucous bunch. Bills fans, your Superbowl is coming, to steal a line from "Gladiator," "but not yet."

Chiefs -3, -120

Gl  

I think these are the correct plays. Many will be kicking themselves afterwards for not seeing the “obvious.” Good luck, buddy. 

@mrusso

 Goddamn this KC part is the most accurate and intelligent post I’ve seen on this matchup in the entire forum. Has nothing to do with being a Kc backer. Russo simply put it out there as it is in reality...
Allen and Bills will be battling for SBowls, if not this year then for sure in the future.  Just not yet their time... Gonna have to knock out PMII or rush 30 plus times for 200 yards to win this game.  Wish Bills mafia the best, can’t wait for this game 

@mrusso

Potential matchup, KC -2 vs GB in the Super Bowl who do you like?  

I know you asked mrusso but I have the Chiefs in that game only because Andy Reid is a better coach and the two QBs and defenses are about even. Reid and his experience tilts it towards KC IMO. 

Green Bay very well could be the better team, but they don’t matchup with Tampa well at all. 

BOL  mrusso much respect either way mah man

GL mrusso, love your take  

Why do you say that? 

@begginerboy

I give Reid edge over Lafleur from experience perspective. But Aaron Rogers is better than Patrick Mahomes, at least in this season, in my opinion.    

Love the plays Russo, Btw its funny you mention your recent posting spree, I've noticed it as well and its been great! Ive always noticed your posts since i first joined back in 08 09 and I would think to myself this guy should post more haha. You’re  definitely one of covers elite 

@Europa

 I don't like to think too far ahead, let's see what happens tomorrow first

Enjoyed reading your write-ups mrusso...

I don't understand where all of this Green Bay Packer love is coming from...GB will have to show me, because I don't believe it. 

The Packers are flawed IMO on run defense and Tampa can flat out run the ball. Fournette in big games has risen to the challenge and will do so again IMO. If he gets 4.5 yards (Packs season average on D) per carry then GB will be in big trouble. 

Good chance that Tampa will shutdown the Packers' run and if so, it will all be on jimmy jams' shoulders. I want to see this game and if the Packers win, I will be the first to congratulate you and all of the Packers' faithful...

I am the doubting Thomas. Yeah, they are on the road for a third time and in a bad spot supposedly blah, blah, blah (I get it) but they are playing a team that has a soft cotton candy run D that will be exposed IMO. 

In any event, BOL 

@lancer89074

 Thx for chiming in Lancer. The Bucs were the 4th worst rushing team in the league, 1519 yds, 4.1 ypc with 2 good backs Jones and Fournette. Why is that? Big boys being inconsistent doing their job. Packers were 8th best in the league rushing, 2118 yds, 4.8 ypc.  The biggest weak link in both defenses is the Bucs secondary. If Rodgers has any time at all, and I think he will, he'll pick them apart, I've seen it all year. This secondary has had major breakdowns in coverage, I've seen all the Bucs games and any Bucs fan will tell you that's their biggest concern. In any event, good luck with your plays!

I agree with you bol Mrusso 

Well, I've been all over the place as most guys in here have been this week.  But I've landed on exactly what you have picked for tomorrow.  The only thing I did was buy GB down to 2.5 @ 130.

Hope we can prevail, if not........we will make it up in the super bowl.

Thanks for all your contribution leading up to tomorrow.

Tampa in week 5 intercepted Rodgers twice... one was a pick 6. In that game he was also sacked 5x and the Packers ran for only 94 yards that day and passed for less than 170 yards. The Bucs' secondary didn't have any problem with the golden boy that day did they? 

Tampa conversely ran for 158 yards and after the first quarter, it was a real beatdown. So psychologically they know they can beat this team. The pressure is all on the Packers as they are the #1 seed and the expectations for them are sky high. 

I have seen games though where Tampa's secondary has been shredded but if Tampa can run on GB and stop the Packer run which is entirely likely then they can keep Rodgers on ice on the sideline. 

@Cooler999

 Good luck to us. While I don't think game 1 will be a blowout, I think the Packers will win by at least a TD. Bucs won't score more than 20 points, won't be nearly enough. KC and Buffalo, I believe, will be the more competitive game, just hoping Mahomes gets through the game unscathed. I'm fully thinking game 2 is going to be a truly exciting game. Can't wait!

mrusso, forgot to add that you mention that when good teams get blown out they bounce back...see I don't buy that...we need only look at the Packers last year...they were blasted by the 49ers in the regular season and then were destroyed in the playoffs by the same. The 49ers ran it down their throat and that is what Tampa will do also. 
Anyway, sweep your board...

I’m hoping opposite. Last year NFC was a dud of a game. I think this one should be better. On the other side, I’m hoping for KC to run away with it. 

@lancer89074

 You're right doesn't always happen. That being said the Packers were not nearly as good as their record, BOTH games were in SF, and lastly, the Niners were really good, clearly the class of the NFC. This Packers team is much better than last year's team.

@lancer89074

 It wasn’t really the Bucs secondary. It was the blitzing that held the Packers down. I’ll give credit to Dean, he made a great play, the other pick was tipped. I’ve watched the all-22 and the Packers had open receivers all over. 

@begginerboy

 The Bucs game I just have a bad feeling about. Tampa Bay is my home and other than Miami, I cheer for TB. So should TB win, yes, I'll lose some money but my city, which has been hard hit by Covid, will have something to feel good about, and that's no disrespect to the Lightning, who I luv, and the Rays, also my fav' baseball team who came up a hair short. In a way the Bucs game is a win/win, I have alot of friends who are die hard fans but they know how I roll, I'm trying to find me a winner in these big games!