College football conked me on the head so hard this season that I admit being a bit gun shy when it comes to offering predictions. However, my assertion that Alabama would win its rematch with LSU in the BCS National Championship Game has, perhaps, restored my faith in my prognostication ability.

(Tebow)

Plus, we are down to the elite eight in the NFL with Divisional Playoffs on tap for the weekend. So I will soldier on and provide you a closer look.

(Tebow)

With the NFL on center stage – (Tebow) – I suppose I need to follow suit – (Tebow) – and discuss the phenomenon  -- (Tebow) – that is Tim Tebow, but I think we’ve all had enough of that.

(Tebow, Tebow, Tebow)

OK, so let’s look at history, including the very recent.

The four teams that will be hosting games this weekend – San Francisco, New England, Baltimore and Green Bay were a whopping 30-2 in their own stadiums this season. Also, home teams were a perfect 4-0 last week in the wildcard games.

Therefore, it would stand to reason that the safe and logical picks would be home-team sports all the way across the board.

However, there are two major considerations to visit first: 1) We always pick against the spread here, and 2) home teams have not enjoyed a great advantage in this round of the playoffs over the years.

In fact, in the last six rounds of the Divisional Playoffs home teams are a break-even 12-12.

So are there a couple upsets afoot? Could someone – (Tebow) – will his team to an improbable win – (Tebow) – on the road?

Here goes:

NFC Divisional Playoffs: Saints (14-3) at 49ers (13-3)
When: Sat., 4:30 p.m. Eastern (FOX)
Line: New Orleans by 3
Analysis: The Niners earned home field by nipping the lowly Rams in Week 16 and, quite frankly, playing one of the weakest schedules in the NFL. However, the work they have put in to this point can’t be discounted. Coach Jim Harbaugh has them believing by the Bay again. Quarterback Alex Smith finally has put together a breakout season and he has talent around him in powerful running back Frank Gore, wideout Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis. Plus, the defense is stingy and the best in the league against the run. Now the bad news: Drew Brees is coming to town and the Saints may not need to run the ball. Brees set the NFL record with a ridiculous 5,476 passing yards in the regular season and added 46 touchdown passes compared to just 14 interceptions. He followed that up by absolutely shredding Detroit in the first round of the playoffs last week. New Orleans never has won a road game in the postseason including last year’s embarrassment at Seattle. Plus, this team somehow lost at St. Louis midseason. However, nine straight wins have followed – and a rematch with Green Bay beckons.  
Pick: Victory is flapping in the Brees – Saints by 6

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Broncos  (9-8) at Patriots (13-3)
When: Sat., 8 p.m. Eastern (CBS)
Line: New England by 13
Analysis: Tebow. Just kidding. Actually, let’s start with No. 15. His affect on his team has been almost as noteworthy as the mania and hype surrounding him and the kid is not going to lay down just because he’s playing at Gillette Stadium. However, the facts can’t be ignored. He has connected on well below 50 percent of his passing attempts this season and in his two-year pro career and his yards-per attempt figure is below 7. That’s not going to get it done in Foxboro, even against a secondary that is susceptible to giving up big plays. Also, the Broncos lost their last three regular-season games after winning five in a row by a touchdown or less and were very fortunate last week in taking out a beat-up Pittsburgh team. While the effort, defensive opportunism and end-of-game heroics all have been admirable, this is the big-time – at New England. The Pats won by 18 in Denver a few weeks ago and Tom Brady had no difficulties under center. Tebow was able to amass 93 rushing yards in that game but also showed that the ball can be pried from his grip while on the move. Look for New England to come up wih timely takeaways again and gain control of this one.
Pick: A (left) wing and a prayer is not enough – Pats by 17

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Texans (11-6) at Ravens (12-4)
When: Sun., 1 p.m. Eastern (CBS)
Line: Baltimore by 7½
Analysis: All logic says to go with the nasty birds here. After all, they are the much more experienced playoff team and they were 8-0 at home this season including a 29-14 drubbing of Houston in midseason. Also, the Texans, like the Broncos, lost their final three regular-season games to limp into the postseason. However, Houston dominated the second half in the playoff win over Cincinnati and is playing with house money this week. Plus, the key pieces are now healthy with RB Arian Foster and WR Andre Johnson, two of the NFL’s top young playmakers, back at the forefront of the offense. While Baltimore signal caller Joe Flacco has been fine statistically this season, he’s been more prone to key mistakes. Meanwhile, Houston’s T.J. Yates has shown some toughness and resiliency not previously determined. The hunch is that he’ll hold up, even against one of the nastiest defensive units in the league.
Pick: Here’s your upset – Texans by 1

NFC Divisional Playoffs: Gaints (10-7) at Packers (15-1)
When: Sun., 4:30 p.m. Eastern (FOX)
Line: Green Bay by 8
Analysis: We had this very game last year only it was on the other side of the ledger – the infallible NFL kingpin at home, rested and sporting a gaudy record against the feisty team from New York. Only the Jets pulled off the miracle and altered the landscape of the playoffs. Now the G-Men, who have a tendency to climb mountains, can do the same. New York has one of the game’s most underrate passing attacks and put in its best rushing output of the season last week in a 24-2 wipeout of Atlanta. Will we see that Giants team, the same one capable of going into New England and breaking the Patriots’ lengthy home winning streak, or the one that choked at San Francisco and fell apart at Washington and New Orleans? Either way, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks will put up some numbers just as Green Bay’s Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings will make their share of plays downfield. Aaron Rodgers could be a tad rusty but the Giants won’t be able to possess the ball at will with their running game, which means the Packers will get plenty of offensive chances. It’d be tough to go against the champs at home knowing that.
Pick: This could be a classic – Pack by 4