Hint, hint, the Carolina Panthers are going to win the NFC South

SCOTT JACOBS

Here’s what we know about the upcoming 2010 NFL season, which starts tonight on NBC  (or as Howard Stern used to say when he was on the radio in his movie Private Parts, W–ennnnnnnnnnnnnbeeeC!) Nothing.  We know absolutely, positively nothing. Each season brings something new to the table, each year presents hope to another afterthought in rebuilding mode to climb to relevance and maybe an unlikely championship. And that’s the way we like it.  Because without hope sports would never work.   Hope drives the national obsession that is the National Football League.  Hope brings fans to games in 100 degree heat.  Hope sells jerseys and caps.

But we haven’t even started the damn season yet and already the analysts have narrowed down the list of contenders to about six (the Jets, Colts, Ravens, Chargers, Cowboys, and Packers).   First off, eliminate the Cowboys.  Dallas has won just one playoff game under Wade Phillips and no team has ever played the Super Bowl at home.  This year will be no exception.

Now that I got that out of the way, here’s how I forsee 2010 playing out.  And I’m taking some chances here.  Because what fun is picking all four number 1 seeds to go to the Final Four or all the division winners from last year to repeat?  Answer: none. We’re doing something different this year.  It’s called high low (H, L)  It represents the best a team can be in my estimation in terms of wins, and the worst it can be.  Call it the elusive range.

AFC

East
1. Jets (H: 13, L: 8 )
2. Dolphins* (H: 11, L: 7 )
3. Patriots* (H: 11, L: 8 )
4. Bills (H: 8, L: 3 )

South
1. Colts (H: 12, L: 9 )
2. Texans (H: 10, L: 7 )
3. Titans (H: 9, L: 6 )
4. Jaguars (H: 9, L: 5 )

North
1. Ravens (H: 13, L: 8 )
2. Bengals (H: 10, L: 7 )
3. Steelers (H: 9, L: 6 )
4. Browns (H: 7, L: 4 )

West
1. Chargers (H: 11, L: 8 )
2. Broncos (H: 9, L: 4 )
3. Raiders (H: 9, L: 5 )
4. Chiefs (H: 8, L: 4 )

NFC

East
1. Eagles (H: 11, L: 7 )
2. Cowboys (H: 12, L: 8 )
3. Redskins (H: 9, L: 6 )
4. Giants (H: 10, L: 6 )

South
1. Panthers (H: 12, L: 5 ) –> Reach pick of the year for the NFC
2. Saints* (H: 13, L: 8 )
3. Falcons (H: 11, L: 7 )
4. Buccaneers (H: 7, L: 3 )

North
1. Vikings (H: 12, L: 9 )
2. Packers* (H: 13, L: 8 )
3. Lions (H: 9, L: 5 )
4. Bears (H: 10, L: 5 )

West
1. Cardinals (H: 10, L: 6 )
2. Seahawks (H: 9, L: 6 )
3. 49ers (H: 9, L: 7 )
4. Rams (H: 7, L: 2 )

The Playoffs:
AFC
1. Colts, 2. Ravens, 3. Jets, 4. Chargers, 5. Dolphins, 6. Patriots
* Wild Card: NYJ over NE, MIA over SD)
* Divisional: BAL over NYJ, IND over MIA
* Championship: IND over BAL

NFC
1. Cowboys, 2. Panthers, 3. Vikings, 4. Cardinals, 5. Packers, 6. Saints
* Wild Card: GB over ARZ, MIN over NO
* Divisional: MIN over CAR, GB over DAL
* Championship: MIN over GB

The Super Bowl
MINNESOTA over INDIANAPOLIS
(Call it a weird hunch, but until Brett Favre wins another Super Bowl he won’t ever retire.  Vikes survive loss of Rice, Peterson takes care of his fumble woes and Favre has another solid year.  More balanced attack helps lead Vikings over Manning and Colts, in what easily could have been the Super Bowl matchup last year).

Photo: AP

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