Bokolis split the conference championships, taking the playoff record to 4-6. Given that I've had no feel for about half of these games and had a few others come out screwy. I would like to find a couple of side bets to attach to the pick so that a winning postseason is on the table. But, without scouring the list of nonsense, all I've got is some hedges.
Take the Rams-Saints as an example. After being sunk by some curious play that made for a miss-able field goal in the divisional round, which put Bokolis on the wrong side of the number, more curiously conservative playcalling by the Saints kept them from stepping on the necks of the Rams when they had them down.
This put them in a position where a horrible call could help bite them in the ass- and where Greg the Leg would kick them in the ass. Funny how, while there was no call for a blow to the head on Brees on his final interception, Brady got that call when he wasn't hit in the head.
But, make no mistake, this was facilitated in no small part by the Saints neutering themselves. Despite the utter inability to run-block, they continuously called running plays that got their running backs swamped. This slowed them down enough for the Rams to hang in long enough to get lucky.
Aside - Bokolis thought those balls used on kicking plays were supposed to be tinkered with so that they don't go as far. That kick by Zuerlein was good from at least 70. I saw Graham Gano kick a 63-yarder to beat the Giants. That muthafucka never came close to kicking a 63-yarder in his life. Something is going on.
Brady actually threw the Chiefs a lifeline by being intercepted in the end zone. When the Chiefs got it together in the second half, they shredded the Pats defense. Ultimately, the Patriots, as ever, knew the way home.
It's also funny that, even while it seemed that, for once, the Patriots were on the short end of the curious calls, they got the two biggest calls of the game. The offsides penalty that extended the final drive of regulation typically doesn't happen because the officials will usually tell a defensive lineman that he is lined up offside. The officials apparently clammed up before that play.
Before that, of course, was the muffed punt by Edelman that was reversed out. Bokolis doesn't think Edelman touched the ball. But, only the Patriots and the Giants get that call reversed.
In any event, Bokolis gets to keep peddling my story about the Chiefs and Jets.
Rams (+2.5) over Patriots - It's almost needless to say but, if you believe in the Rams, you are obliged to do everything possible to find +3. If the line doesn't move that way, you'll have to buy it up. There is no way you can be on 2.5. This is another battle of a seemingly better side against a team that knows the way home.
The Patriots have been able to run the ball. This has kept the pressure off Brady, and no one has gotten to him this postseason. As a result, Brady has made his perfectly useless receivers look like all-stars.
Allegedly, the Rams have the line to both stuff the run and get to Brady to at least knock him on his ass without getting a penalty for hitting him too hard. They also have Gurley.
As for the hedges, Bokolis will also split another play- which, collectively, should come to half of the play on the game- on the Patriots in the first half (-0.5) and the over for the game (56). The reasoning here is that, if the Patriots do take this game, they would have already taken the first half, and they will score enough points to make the over much more likely. While all three of these can win independently of each other (i.e., Pats lead at the half, Rams win the game 31-28), that is not the point.
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