NFL Divisional Playoffs Bettor's Guide: Broncos should top Chargers this time

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Peyton Manning will have Broncos pointed to AFC Championship game after dispatching of the pesky Chargers on Sunday, according to the News experts.

From the best NFL games to bet this weekend, to the ones you should steer clear of, check out Hank Gola's guide to get you through the weekend a winner. Then check out how the rest of our crew of pigskin experts see this weekend's action as they pick against the spread.

SAINTS at SEAHAWKS Saturday, 4:35 p.m., Ch. 5, Seahawks by 8, 46½

HANK'S HONEYS: OK, so the Saints finally won on the road in Philly last week. That was kid stuff. Their last two trips to the Clink, including one as an overwhelming playoff favorite, have turned into nightmares. In a loss this year, the leather-lunged 12th Man corps so disrupted Drew Brees and his offense that the Saints couldn't function. The Saints will be better. Sean Payton will see to that after poring over the game tapes. But Seattle's physical secondary can take out his receivers. New Orleans' lightweight front is no match for Marshawn Lynch (remember the 'Beast Quake,') and Russell Wilson can defy Rob Ryan's blitzes with his quickness and mobility.

IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Seahawks and the over.

COLTS at PATRIOTS Saturday, 8:15 p.m., Ch. 2, Patriots by 7, 53

HANK'S HONEYS: Andrew Luck left everyone ga-ga last week. He's established himself as the master of the comeback. But there's one problem if the Colts fall behind in this one: Tom Brady isn't going to stop throwing TD passes, either. Brady had a 127.2 passer rating in a 35-point victory over the Colts in 2012. For good reason. The Colts' corners give up slants and crossing routes - Alex Smith carved them up that way last week - and that is where Brady excels. Expect Bill Belichick to take away T.Y. Hilton, leaving Luck to turn to less-potent weapons and a so-so running game. We're not saying the Pats can't lose a home playoff game but not against this soft defense.

IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Patriots and the over.

49ERS at PANTHERS Sunday, 1:05 p.m., Ch. 5, 49ers by 1, 42½

HANK'S HONEYS: The Panthers made the league take notice when they out-muscled the 49ers, 10-9, at Candlestick Park. Expect another bruising battle here. The difference is that the Niners played much better down the stretch than the Panthers. In fact, many feel San Francisco has been playing the best football out of any team right now. Colin Kaepernick, who had an awful game while being chased by the Panthers' aggressive front in the first meeting, has been helped by the return of Michael Crabtree. In their four playoff games together, Crabtree has three 100-yard receiving games with three TDs, and as Santonio Holmes told us, the secondary is the weak link in the Carolina D. It's also Cam Newton's first playoff action. The Niner defense is not a good starting point.

IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Niners and the under.

Baca Juga

CHARGERS at BRONCOS Sunday 4:40 p.m., Ch. 2, Broncos by 9½, 54½

HANK'S HONEYS: Not only did the Chargers hand the Broncos their only home loss this year, they had chances to win the first game in San Diego. We're taking that to mean that this one will be played on the Broncos' terms. If they are to pull the upset, the Chargers have to control time of possession and get a couple of turnovers as they did in Cincinnati. But if the Broncos come out fast and get off to a lead, the Chargers aren't built for picking up chunks of yardage in a hurry, even as good as Philip Rivers has been playing. The San Diego defense has been playing better, but the secondary has areas for Peyton Manning to exploit, and with Wes Welker back in the game plan, Manning can attack every level again.