The Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks will contest Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, February 5. It's the first time a No. 6 seed (the Steelers) has reached the title game, and it's the first Super Bowl trip for the Seahawks franchise.

Seattle sits as a small dog in this one, as the line opened at 3 in favor of the Steelers, who are 12-7 ATS this season. The Seahawks are 11-6-1 ATS. The OVER/UNDER opened at 47 points.

In the NFC title game at Qwest Field against the Panthers, the Seahawks as favorites defeated the Carolina Panthers 34-14. The game was a Seattle cover and an OVER play.

Meanwhile, at INVESCO Field at Mile High, the underdog Pittsburgh Steelers were winning their third straight road playoff game, defeating the Denver Broncos 34-17. The game was a Pittsburgh cover and an OVER play.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren knows how to get it done, as he coached the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl title. Steelers coach Bill Cowher hopes to avenge his last Super Bowl appearance and win his first title as a head coach.

Pittsburgh knows that beating the Seahawks depends on stopping the run (and Shaun Alexander). Alexander has carried the ball 40 times and put up 141 yards total in the postseason, with two touchdowns.

The Steelers will largely depend on QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has completed almost 70% of his pass attempts for 999 yards in three playoff games thus far. Also, look for Jerome Bettis to carry the running load for Pittsburgh, as he's notched three touchdowns in the postseason.

Some trends to consider:
Seattle is 3-5-1 ATS in its last 9 games after scoring 31 to 40 points
Seattle is 3-6-0 OU in its last 9 games against Pittsburgh
Seattle is 17-9-0 OU in its last 26 games
Seattle is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 13-2-0 SU in its last 15 games after being .5 to 3 point underdogs
Pittsburgh is 6-1-0 ATS in its last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 6-1-0 ATS in its last 7 games after scoring 31 to 40 points
Pittsburgh is 5-1-0 SU in its last 6 games after scoring 31 to 40 points

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Sporting a 25-18-6 overall record and a 9-9-0 mark within the division, the Oilers aim to knock the Mighty Ducks (6-5-5 in the division) for a loss.

Edmonton gets its chance to win as a road dog after the line opened with them as 130 underdogs. They are 25-18-6, while the Mighty Ducks are 21-16-10. The total opened at 6.

Craig MacTavish's team lost their last game, falling 3-1 to the Calgary Flames as 120 favorites. The 4 goals sent that game under the total of 5.5.

Randy Carlyle's troops were at Los Angeles against the Kings last game and came away with a 3-2 loss, a game that went under 6. Oddsmakers had them as 180 money line underdogs in that one.

Some trends to consider:
Edmonton is 1-4-3 OU in its last 8 games against Anaheim
Edmonton is 1-3-3 OU in its last 7 games away against Anaheim
Edmonton is 1-3-1 OU in its last 5 games
Edmonton is 4-1-0 SU in its last 5 games after scoring 1 to 2 goals
Anaheim is 4-2-0 SU in its last 6 games after scoring 1 to 2 goals
Anaheim is 4-2-0 OU in its last 6 at home
Anaheim is 1-3-3 OU in its last 7 games at home against Edmonton
Anaheim is 1-4-3 OU in its last 8 games against Edmonton

Next up:
Edmonton at Los Angeles, Thursday, January 26
Anaheim at San Jose, Thursday, January 26

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Steelers start as favorites on super bowl XL

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Pittsburgh is a three point favorite two weeks from the big day in Detroit when Super Bowl XL will be decided between the Steelers and Seahawks. Pittsburgh is making its sixth visit to the Super Bowl, with its record standing at 4-1, while this is Seattle's first ever trip to The Show. Both teams put in dominating performances to win their Conference Championships yesterday, Pittsburgh stunning Denver at Mile High, while Seattle swatted Carolina like a bug at Qwest Field. For the next two weeks we'll be building up to the big game in Detroit, with more and more betting options and props for you to enjoy - bet early, bet often, on Super Bowl XL!

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One of the many benefits of poker's infiltration of the online world is the ability to create new ways to play the game that just wouldn't be feasible offline. Some examples include Sit ‘n Go tournaments and micro-limit games. These tables are simply unprofitable to land-based cardrooms because they generate too little revenue for them. Another online poker phenomenon is the shorthanded ring game, which typically seats 6 or less players. These games are quickly taking over full ring games in terms of popularity online.

Players like these tables because of the fast action and less competition. Shorthanded tables see many more hands per hour, and most pots are decided quickly. Since the blinds will be coming around much faster, you simply won't be able to play only your premium cards.

If you play the same starting cards at a shorthanded table as you do at a full table, you'll constantly be in a battle with the forced blinds. If you're playing at a table with 6 players, you'll be on either the big or the small blind 1/3 of the time. You'll need to open up your game, and play much more aggressively. If no one has shown any strength yet and you're in late position, hands I would raise with include any two face cards, any Ace, and any pocket pair. I might even mix it up and throw in the occasional raise with suited connectors. Since you'll be up against fewer opponents, the chances of one of them holding a premium hand are less. However, you should also be prepared to release your hand to big raise, as your opponent can wake up with pocket Aces at any table.

Changing gears and mixing up your game is even more essential at shorthanded tables. Everyone at the table will be watching the same 4 or 5 opponents in every hand, so it is much easier to pick up on each other's playing style and habits. While you can generally play a predictable game and remain unnoticed at a full ring game, your opponent's will be more observant at short tables. You should also try to keep notes and remain observant to maximize your profits. Almost every online poker site's software package has player notes built in, so why not take advantage of them? If you're faced with a tough position on a similar hand in the future, you can refer to your player notes to see if your opponent usually has the nuts, or habitually bluffs off his chips.

An easy way to keep your opponents guessing is by setting up a “stand ard” raise for yourself of 3 or 4 times the big blind (in no-limit play). Whenever you raise preflop, try raising the exact same amount every hand. This keeps your opponents from reading your hands by your betting patterns. Another way to mix it up is by switching off how you play certain hands. For example, you might raise pocket Aces 80% of the time, and just call 20% of the time. From late position in an unraised pot, you might raise 8-9 suited 30% of the time, and throw it away the other 70% of the time.

Finally, I recommend that you increase deceptive plays such as slowplaying big hands. While I am a tight-aggressive player who rarely recommends slowplaying a hand with a potential draw on the board, you'll need to do it more often in a shorthanded game to maximize your profits. Firstly, most pots are small and are decided pre-flop or on the flop at these tables. If you want to build up a pot with what you expect to be the winning hand, you can't scare away the few opponents who are left. You'll have to give them the opportunity to catch up to you. Secondly, since there will be less players involved in each hand, the risk of someone holding the necessary cards to draw out on you decreases.

Shorthanded games are exploding, and you should be prepared to sit down with the resident sharks if you want to try them out. Don't forget to pay attention, open up your starting hand requirements, mix up your play, and play a deceptively-aggressive game. Nothing beats actual playing experience, but following a few simple guidelines will help prepare you for profitable shorthanded play.

NFL Playoff Games are Here -

Some trends to consider:
New England is 4-13-0 ATS in its last 17 games against Denver
New England is 3-9-0 ATS in its last 12 away games against Denver
New England is 3-6-0 OU in its last 9 games
New England is 5-2-0 ATS in its last 7 away games
Denver is 5-0-0 OU in its last 5 games at home against New England
Denver is 7-1-0 OU in its last 8 games against New England
Denver is 5-1-0 SU in its last 6 games after scoring 21 to 30 points
Denver is 9-2-0 ATS in its last 11 games

Pittsburgh takes its 11-5 mark to Cincinnati to tackle the 11-5 Bengals.

The Steelers know Cincinnati will be looking to prove oddsmakers, who made them 2-point home underdogs, made a mistake in this one. Cincinnati is 8-7-1 ATS, while the Steelers are 9-7 ATS. The total opened at 44.

Grabbing the SU win, but failing to cover in their last outing - a 35-21 win against Detroit at home - Pittsburgh looks to do both this week.

The Bengals lost to Kansas City 37-3 as 7-point underdogs. That contest fell UNDER the closing total.

This game is likely to come down to the Bengals' execution on offense. They rank third in the league in scoring and look to sustain their 26.3 PPG average against the Steelers' fourth-rated defensive unit.

Some trends to consider:
Pittsburgh is 1-7-0 OU in its last 8 away
Pittsburgh is 1-4-0 SU in its last 5 games after being more than 14 point favorites
Pittsburgh is 1-4-0 OU in its last 5 games away against Cincinnati
Pittsburgh is 5-2-0 ATS in its last 7 games after being more than 14 point favorites
Cincinnati is 5-2-0 OU in its last 7 games
Cincinnati is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games against Pittsburgh
Cincinnati is 3-4-2 ATS in its last 9 games after being 3.5 to 7 point underdogs
Cincinnati is 5-12-0 OU in its last 17 at home

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Cincinnati looks to use home field advantage to get a Wild Card Weekend victory on Sunday against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh takes its 11-5 mark to Cincinnati to tackle the 11-5 Bengals.

The Steelers know Cincinnati will be looking to prove oddsmakers, who made them 2-point home underdogs, made a mistake in this one. Cincinnati is 8-7-1 ATS, while the Steelers are 9-7 ATS. The total opened at 44.

Grabbing the SU win, but failing to cover in their last outing - a 35-21 win against Detroit at home - Pittsburgh looks to do both this week.

The Bengals lost to Kansas City 37-3 as 7-point underdogs. That contest fell UNDER the closing total.

This game is likely to come down to the Bengals' execution on offense. They rank third in the league in scoring and look to sustain their 26.3 PPG average against the Steelers' fourth-rated defensive unit.

Some trends to consider:
Pittsburgh is 1-7-0 OU in its last 8 away
Pittsburgh is 1-4-0 SU in its last 5 games after being more than 14 point favorites
Pittsburgh is 1-4-0 OU in its last 5 games away against Cincinnati
Pittsburgh is 5-2-0 ATS in its last 7 games after being more than 14 point favorites
Cincinnati is 5-2-0 OU in its last 7 games
Cincinnati is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games against Pittsburgh
Cincinnati is 3-4-2 ATS in its last 9 games after being 3.5 to 7 point underdogs
Cincinnati is 5-12-0 OU in its last 17 at home

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The No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars, the highest-ranked team in action on Wild Card Weekend, will take on the No. 5 Patriots in New England in a Saturday night contest. The No. 7 Washington Redskins travel to Tampa Bay to take on the No. 10 Buccaneers in the early game on Saturday. On Sunday, the No. 12 Carolina Panthers will battle the No. 11 New York Giants at Giants Stadium, and then the No. 9 Cincinnati Bengals will play host to the No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers. The winners of the Wild Card Weekend games will all advance to the Divisional Playoffs next Saturday and Sunday; the losers of this weekend's contests will get unceremoniously deleted from the Power Rankings before the next edition is published.

Here is the Wild Card Weekend edition of the NFL Power Rankings.

01 - Indianapolis Colts 14-2 SU, 9-7 ATS (Last Week 01)

Peyton Manning went only 1-for-2 for 5 yards passing in their regular-season finale. Quarterback controversy in Indy?

02 - Seattle Seahawks 13-3 SU, 9-7 ATS (Last Week 02)

Shaun Alexander scored his 28th touchdown of the season on Sunday, an NFL record, and also won the rushing title.

03 - Denver Broncos 13-3 SU, 11-4-1 ATS (Last Week 03)

Three rushing touchdowns for Tatum Bell in their Week 17 contest, and they also dislocated Drew Brees' shoulder.

04 - Jacksonville Jaguars 12-4 SU, 10-5-1 ATS (Last Week 04)

They might be two games better than the Pats in the standings, but they won't be the favorites in Saturday's game.

05 - New England Patriots 10-6 SU, 8-8 ATS (Last Week 07)

Time to turn on some of that playoff magic, and they'll have homefield advantage in the first round to help them out.

06 - Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 SU, 9-7 ATS (Last Week 08)

Won four games in a row to end the regular season, and opened as road favorites in their matchup with the Bengals.

07 - Washington Redskins 10-6 SU, 10-6 ATS (Last Week 09)

Own the league's longest current winning streak at five games, but opened as underdogs against the Buccaneers.

08 - Chicago Bears 11-5 SU, 9-5-2 ATS (Last Week 05)

Earning a first-round bye is a pretty surprising achievement for the Bears, and they have been great at home (7-1).

09 - Cincinnati Bengals 11-5 SU, 8-7-1 ATS (Last Week 06)

Get stuck with the division-rival Steelers this weekend; will need the offense to pump out points if they want to win.

10 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11-5 SU, 8-8 ATS (Last Week 10)

Won their final two regular season games to take the NFC South title, their first division championship in three years.

11 - New York Giants 11-5 SU, 10-5-1 ATS (Last Week 11)

Manning vs. Manning would be a great Super Bowl story, but the younger Manning's team has a long road ahead.

12 - Carolina Panthers 11-5 SU, 9-7 ATS (Last Week 12)

Trounced the Falcons on the weekend in a postseason tune-up; opened up as road underdogs against the Giants.

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