WCG Picks the NFL Playoffs: Conference Championships

This little exercise in playoff predictions has taught me one thing; We might have the smartest link dump guy in all of SB Nation. Pete Dixon, who you'll find every morning dumping the finest Chicago Bears themed links in The Bears Den, is sitting at a cool 7-1 after 2 rounds of playoff action. Hit the jump to see how we're picking this Sunday's games.

Baltimore Ravens (13-4) @ New England Patriots (14-3) Sunday 2:00pm Central
This game will feature the offensive firepower of the Pats against the defensive tenacity of the Ravens. Strength vs. strength. But New England is too efficient in the passing game to be shut down. Tom Brady will be smart with the ball and work what ever's open. The key to the game will be if the Raven offense can score, and with the New England defense not being what it's been, Baltimore should be able to hang. But not hang enough, N.E. 31 Ravens 24.

New York Giants (11-7) @ San Francisco 49ers (15-3) Sunday 5:30pm Central
Did anyone except Pete expect this NFC Title game? He was the only one of us that picked San Fran, and only 1 of 4 of us went with N.Y. over the Packers. I've never been so happy to be wrong about a prediction. This is a rematch of the week 10, 27 to 20 49er win, but this is a different Giants team that will head to San Fran for the right to go to Indy. The N.Y. pass rush makes up for their less than stellar secondary, so if the Niners can slow down the Giant front four I think they'll find a way to win. The Giants won't be able to run the ball, and with Eli Manning playing so well right now that's probably a good thing. A wise man once said, never bet against a Manning on a roll... This game will come down to the wire, and could go either way, but my pick is the 49ers by a score of 24-21.

WCG EXPERT	Giants at 49ers	Ravens at Patriots	Record
Lester			(4-4)
Dane			(5-3)
Kev			(3-5)
Steven S.			(5-3)
TJ			(4-4)
Sam			(3-5)
Pete			(7-1)
Steve R.			(5-3)
David			(5-3)
Ashley			(3-5)