The Wild Card Round of the 2012 NFL playoffs continue on Sunday, with two interesting matchups. Both Sunday games feature the team with the better record as the visiting squad. The NFC East-winning New York Giants host the Atlanta Falcons in the early game, followed by a banged up Pittsburgh Steelers team hitting the road to face Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.
If you'll remember from Saturday, I will be picking these games but not conventionally. The pick will be the team with the most former USC Trojans on their roster. That tactic produced a split result on Saturday; let's hope for a better record on Sunday. Here are the games:
Falcons at Giants
Records: Atlanta (10-6), New York (9-7)
Location: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Time: 10 a.m. PST
TV: Fox
The Favorite: The Giants are favored by three points, per Odds Shark
USC Factor: Atlanta has offensive tackler Sam Baker on the active roster; New York only has Terrell Thomas, and he is on injured reserve.
The Pick: Take the Falcons and the points. Too bad the Giants got rid of Steve Smith.
Steelers at Broncos
Records: Pittsburgh (12-4); Denver (8-8)
Location: Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, in downtown Denver
Time: 1:30 p.m. PST
TV: CBS
The Favorite: The Steelers are giving nine points on the road, per Odds Shark
USC Factor: Pittsburgh has AP NFL All-Pro First Team safety Troy Polamalu; Denver has no Trojans on the roster.
The Pick: Take the Steelers, and give all those points.