NBA All-Star Voting

Voting for 2016 NBA All-Star ends tomorrow. Vote at vote.nba.com or tweet/FB using hashtag #NBAVote. The players I voted for are below.

NFL Picks: Divisional Playoffs

#5 Chiefs @ #2 Patriots 3:30 PM CT CBS
KC took out my Texans easily last week and continue to be the hottest team in the NFL, riding a stifling defense. They'll have their hands full with a rested Tom Brady, who will also get his top wide receiver back in Julian Edelman. I expect a low scoring game (as New England's defense will shut down the banged up Chiefs' offense), with the Pats advancing to another AFC Championship.

#5 Packers @ #2 Cardinals 7 PM CT NBC
Green Bay's offense returned from its long slumber in throttling the Redskins last weekend to set up this rematch of a Week 16 encounter, which Arizona won 38-8. The Cardinals' D dominated the Green Bay offense that day by forcing turnovers, stifling the running game, and harassing Aaron Rodgers in the pocket all game long. I think this game is a lot closer, but Arizona uses the same formula for success as last time to get the W.

#6 Seahawks @ #1 Panthers 12 PM FOX
The Super Bowl champs survived the bittercold of Minneapolis thanks to the Blair Walsh choke, to set up this awesome matchup with the 15-1 Panthers. Both teams have great defenses, which should limit the running games. So it'll come down to Cam Newton vs. Russell Wilson, two dual threat quarterbacks who are the faces of their teams. Although Greg Olsen may exploit holes in the Seattle secondary, give me the playoff pedigree of the Seahawks in a nail-biter.

#6 Steelers @ #2 Broncos 3:30 PM CBS
Pittsburgh survived the backyard brawl with Cincy last week, but paid the price it lost star WR Antonio Brown to a concussion, as well as banging up QB Ben Roethlisberger. That, coupled with RB DeAngelo Williams still being out does not project well against the NFL's top defense in Denver. I think the Broncos' defense stifles the Steelers, allowing Peyton Manning to knock the rust off and get into another AFC title game.

Last week: 4-0

NFL Picks: Wildcard Weekend

Saturday, January 9 Chiefs 3:35 PM Texans ESPN/ABC

My hometown Texans won an especially lousy AFC South this year to sneak into the playoffs, despite starting 2-5 and losing starting running back Arian Foster early on, behind smashmouth defense led by likely defensive POY JJ Watt. Meanwhile, the Chiefs, who also started out horribly at 1-5, are the hottest team in the NFL with 10 straight wins, behind a dominant defense and mistake-free football from QB Alex Smith. I expect a low-scoring, grind-it-out game, with KC prevailing. I think the Texans missing LT Duane Brown on the offensive line will be their undoing, as they won't be able to protect QB Brian Hoyer.

Steelers 7:15 PM Bengals

CBS

An AFC North showdown between these two rivals, who split the season series and have had some feisty encounters over the last couple of years. Pittsburgh's offense is scary good, even though they lost RB DeAngelo Williams last week, and the Cincy D will have its hands full trying to cover Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and co. Meanwhile, the Bengals will try to snap their long playoff win drought without starting QB Andy Dalton, who is still out with the broken thumb. Sorry, Cincy, just don't see AJ McCarron ending the streak for y'all.

Sunday, January 10

Seahawks 12:05 PM Vikings NBC This game is a rematch of an earlier season encounter between the two teams, in which the Seahawks won big. Although the gametime temperature will be about 3 degrees, I like the same outcome, with the veteran Seahawks taking out the upstart Vikings. I just don't see Teddy Bridgewater making enough plays against Seattle's secondary to pull off the upset. Packers 3:40 PM on FOX Redskins Green Bay limped down the stretch, as their offense has squidded to an awful end of the season. It starts up front as the Pack have no running game and have had trouble protecting Aaron Rodgers. Redskins won a weak NFC East and probably have more momentum going into this game, but I'll go with Rodgers over Kirk Cousins in a squeaker.

NFL Picks: Week 17

Sunday, January 3
NY Jets at Buffalo – 1:00pm ET, CBS
New England at Miami – 1:00pm ET, CBS
New Orleans at Atlanta – 1:00pm ET, FOX
Baltimore at Cincinnati – 1:00pm ET, FOX
Pittsburgh at Cleveland – 1:00pm ET, CBS
Jacksonville at Houston – 1:00pm ET, CBS
Tennessee at Indianapolis – 1:00pm ET, CBS
Washington at Dallas – 1:00pm ET, FOX
Philadelphia at NY Giants – 1:00pm ET, FOX
Detroit at Chicago – 1:00pm ET, FOX
Oakland at Kansas City – 4:25pm ET, FOX
San Diego at Denver – 4:25pm ET, CBS
Seattle at Arizona – 4:25pm ET, FOX
St. Louis at San Francisco – 4:25pm ET, CBS
Tampa Bay at Carolina – 4:25pm ET, FOX
Minnesota at Green Bay – 8:30pm ET, NBC

Merry Christmas 2015!

Merry Christmas to all my readers! Hope you guys enjoy your day with friends and family. After you're done celebrating, dig in with a NBA Christmas Day Quintuple header.

Pelicans @ Heat 12 PM ET on ESPN
Start off the day with emerging superstar Anthony Davis in South Beach to take on D-Wade and the Heat.

Bulls @ Thunder 2:30 PM ET on ABC
Next game features Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, and the Bulls facing Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and the Thunder in OKC.

Cavaliers @ Warriors 5 PM ET on ABC
Must-watch game of the day, as it's a Finals rematch between LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the East leading Cavs and Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the West leading (and 27-1!!!) Warriors. No excuse to not catch this.
Spurs @ Rockets 8 PM ET on ESPN
It's a Texas showdown in H-Town, with Kawhi Leonard and the scorching hot Spurs (25-5) taking on James Harden and the disappointing Rockets.
Clippers @ Lakers 10:30 PM ET on ESPN
Kobe's farewell tour concludes the night, with the Lakers taking on Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the Clippers in the The Battle for LA.

NFL Picks: Week 16

Thursday, December 24
San Diego at Oakland – 8:25pm, NFLN

Saturday, December 26
Washington at Philadelphia – 8:25pm, NFLN

Sunday, December 27
Carolina at Atlanta – 1:00pm, FOX
Pittsburgh at Baltimore – 1:00pm, CBS
Dallas at Buffalo – 1:00pm, FOX
San Francisco at Detroit – 1:00pm, FOX
Cleveland at Kansas City – 1:00pm, CBS
Indianapolis at Miami – 1:00pm, FOX
New England at New York Jets – 1:00pm, CBS
Houston at Tennessee – 1:00pm, CBS
Chicago at Tampa Bay – 1:00pm, FOX
Jacksonville at New Orleans – 4:05pm, CBS
Green Bay at Arizona – 4:25pm, FOX
St. Louis at Seattle – 4:25pm, FOX
New York Giants at Minnesota – 8:30pm, NBC

Monday, December 28
Cincinnati at Denver – 7:30pm, ESPN

NFL Picks: Week 13