Dave’s Dime
“Because Two Cents Just Isn’t Enough”

THE INTRO

So this is it!

The Super Bowl has finally arrived. One more game, and then a super long off-season until the Raiders return to win somewhere in the neighborhood of 3-5 games. Joy.

I will miss you guys and girls.

Please feel free to keep in touch this offseason! I will be updating my “Dave Reinvention Project 2013” at the beginning of every month (new installment coming shortly!) and will continue rooting on my Kings and making stupid little observations on my Twitter and Facebook pages. You can hit me up there or with an email any time you want to talk sports, life, or anything in between!

Thanks for all of the support year in and year out. Will be making a few modifications to the Dime next year, but it shall return! Like a cockroach, you just can’t kill the damn thing.

Enjoy the big game and all of the drinks, food, and friends that come with it. See you next year!

THE RECORD

Last Week
With the spread: 1 – 0 – 1 (1.000)
Without the spread: 0 – 2 – 0 (.000)
Over/Under: 1 – 1 – 0 (.500)
$Money Picks$: 0 – 0 – 0 (N/A)

Playoffs
With the spread: 7 – 2 – 1 (.778)
Without the spread: 5 – 5 – 0 (.500)
Over/Under: 6 – 4 – 0 (.600)
$Money Picks$: 1 – 0 – 0 (1.000)

Regular Season (Final)
With the spread: 123 – 126 – 7 (.494)
Without the spread: 162 – 93 – 1 (.640)
^Philosophy Picks^: 12 – 21 – 0 (.363)
$Money Picks$: 34 – 33 – 2 (.507)

QUICK RECAP OF LAST WEEK

THE GOOD

#2 San Francisco (-4.0) @ #1 Atlanta (+4.0) OVER 48.5
#4 Baltimore (+8.0) @ #2 New England (-8.0)
#2 San Francisco (-4.0) @ #1 Atlanta (+4.0) TIE

THE BAD

#4 Baltimore (+8.0) @ #2 New England (-8.0) OVER 51.5

THE PICKS

* – Indicates Upset Pick
^ – Indicates Philosophy Pick
$ – Indicates Money Pick

SUNDAY

#2 San Francisco (-4.0) vs. #4 Baltimore (+4.0)
I have written a whole lot of articles on this game over the last two weeks, breaking down just about every angle and going over all of the regular season and postseason statistics that I could get my hands on; and the more I study it, the less of a clue I have of who I think is going to win.

It marks the first time in a long time that I don’t really have a clear rooting interest, and that I’m actually interested in just watching the game because I think it is going to be a great football game, not because I care one way or the other who wins. Considering the team that I have rooted for in 15 of the last 17 Super Bowls has lost (the “Consolazio Curse”), usually going against the team I’m rooting for is as safe as it gets. But this year, while I actually want the 49ers to win (slightly), I’ll be rooting for Baltimore to see if the “curse” works in reverse. Confused? Me too.

Anyway, on the point of the actual game, you have two offenses that are clicking on all cylinders. You have one defense (Baltimore’s) that struggled during the regular season, but has been excellent in the playoffs, yet hasn’t faced an elite running back or mobile quarterback yet like it will against San Francisco. Then you have a defense that was excellent during the regular season but has struggled in its last three games against elite passing attacks (allowing 396 passing yards to Atlanta, 31 points to Green Bay and 34 points to New England, albeit all in wins) which Baltimore certainly has at this point. On top of all of that, you have two brilliant head coaches that have had an extra week to prepare for this game.

This feels very much to me like the kind of matchup that would go six or seven games in a best-of-7 series. I wouldn’t be surprised with a super close game or a blowout from either side. Forced to make a decision, I lean ever so slightly towards Baltimore. You get the feeling that the 49ers are on the rise and that they will be playing in plenty of NFC Championship Games over the next few years. Baltimore isn’t going to fall off the map, but many of the key members of this team (including obviously Ray Lewis) may be getting their last chance at a title right here. Obviously nobody “wants it more” as everybody wants it, but that last-chance mentality in the Ravens locker room could give them the tiniest edge. But in the end, I think it is just going to come down to a few bounces and execution. It should be a heck of a game.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Baltimore
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Baltimore
OVER/UNDER 47.0: Over (31-28 Baltimore)

THE COLLEGE NICKEL

FINAL RECORD: 40 – 37 – 1 (.519)

Good luck! Thanks for reading!

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