NFL Championship Weekend – Coming up BIG

The big guns like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees will get all the attention on championship weekend in the NFL, but oftentimes in the playoffs, the winners are decided by which team gets unexpected contributions from the guys you don’t expect.

The NFL betting community is a seasoned, intelligent bunch, but sometimes guys like David Tyree (the Giants miracle catch man in Super Bowl 42) can step up and make big plays, leading to huge upsets.

The x-factors for this year’s AFC and NFC Championships might not make themselves known until game time, but it’s best to be aware of the top candidates before you lay down your bet on the BetUs.com Sportsbook this weekend.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the NFL betting x-factors for this upcoming weekend’s playoff action for each team:

Indianapolis Colts- Austin Collie, WR-

Collie was an afterthought in the 2009 NFL Draft, taken in the fourth round by the Colts. But Indianapolis got Peyton Manning a savvy slot receiver who can find the openings in the zones.

Against an aggressive Jets team that is a solid 7-1/2 point underdog going in, Collie will be a key safety valve for Peyton Manning working out of the slot. Collie is a guy the Jets will have to keep an eye on because Darrell Revis should be able to at least slow down Reggie Wayne.

New York Jets- Braylon Edwards, WR-

Edwards has the raw talent to be one of the best WR’s in the game but lapses in concentration leading to continual cases of the dropsies can often hinder him.
Against the Jets’ aggressive cover-two scheme that flows to the ball relentlessly, the deep ball to Edwards will have to be there for Mark Sanchez and co. to loosen up the defense.

Edwards had a couple of catches for 20 yards or more vs. the Chargers but he has to do even more against the Colts and become the player he was destined to be for them to have a chance to keep pace with Manning and co.

He faces a Colts secondary that is young but wise beyond their years and one that also benefits from a great pass rush.

New Orleans Saints- Jeremy Shockey, TE-

Finally healthy enough to play near his best, Shockey lined up all over the field against the Cardinals in the Saints’ second-round win. Now, he will face a tougher defense in the Vikings as the Saints, a 4 1/2-point NFC Championship game betting favorite, try to protect home field.

The Cardinals lost both Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to injuries in the game against the Saints but the Vikings are so good in the secondary that they’re playing Pro Bowl caliber CB Antoine Winfield at the nickel spot.

Shockey’s size and speed combination can pay big dividends for the Saints’ offense at TE against a tough Vikings pass rush.

Minnesota Vikings- Jared Allen, DE-

Allen started the year as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, so he’s not really a guy under the radar, but he’ll need to come up HUGE if they Vikings have a shot.

Facing the top passing offense in the NFC in the Saints, Allen will need to dial it up another notch in order to make Drew Brees uncomfortable in the pocket for the betting underdog Vikings to have a chance in keeping up with the potent Saints offense on the road.

With Jamaal Brown out at LT, the Vikings will have a better chance of getting a pass rush and Allen could be a big part of that along with Ray Edwards, a speed rusher who should play despite suffering a knee injury (minor) against Arizona.

In just a few minutes you can be betting on the hottest games for this week –  JOIN HERE!