It all comes down to this...

PICKS ARE DUE SATURDAY NIGHT, JAN 31ST, AT 11:59:59 PM. PICKS RECIEVED AFTER THAT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. SEND TO UNIFIEDFUND@YAHOO.COM.

With that, here they are...the lines. Let's get sweaty.

ATS
Steelers (-7)
Cardinals (+7)

OVER/UNDER
46.5 total points

MONEYLINE
Steelers (-250)
Cardinals (+210)

PLAYER PROPS
K. Warner (ARI) o/u 265.5 pass yds
K. Warner (ARI) o/u 37.5 pass attempts
E. James (ARI) o/u 49.5 rush yds

E. James (ARI) 1st carry - o/u 3 yds

L. Fitzgerald (ARI) 1st catch - o/u 12.5 yds
L. Fitzgerald (ARI) o/u 95.5 rec yds
S. Breaston (ARI) o/u 3.5 receptions
T. Hightower (ARI) o/u 20.5 rush yds
B. Roethlisberger (PIT) o/u 219.5 pass yds
B. Roethlisberger (PIT) o/u 17.5 completions
W. Parker (PIT) o/u 79.5 rush yds
H. Ward (PIT) o/u 69.5 rec yds
S. Holmes (PIT) o/u 55.5 rec yds
J. Reed (PIT) o/u 8 total pts

TEAM PROPS ($100 MAX BETS, no parlays)
Coin Toss - Heads or Tails
1st team to punt - Arizona or Pittsburgh
1st play of the game - pass or run

3-TEAM PARLAY OPTION
Payout 7:1. No Moneylines or Team Props allowed.

Championship Weekend Recap

And we have a leader. Blake Hill has a huge week, going 14-9 overall, including a $70 parlay to win a total of $655 on the week.

Shade hits a parlay and goes 2-1 to take second.

6 Parlays came down to the last minute of the Ravens-Steelers game. Overall, Parlays were 2-18.

Also, the over $400 kiss of death continued. The only game that had more than $400 on it was the Eagles -4. We're now 2-12 overall in bets over $400.

Super Bowl is next. See you guys then.

As of 9:12 PM...

Parlays are 0-12.

Cardinals 32, Eagles 25

Parlays are 0-10. 6 of those were Kessler, who finished the week 0-7 and is now tied with Eller with $0.

HOWEVER...there are Parlays that are VERY close...

If Willie Parker goes over 67.5, it will mean big Parlay wins for Hill, Shade, and Mansfield.
If the Ravens cover +6, it will mean a big Parlay hit for Strait.
If McGahee goes UNDER 45.5 rush and receiving yards, Hill will hit a Parlay.

The Cardinals win is big for the leader - who had them on the MONEYLINE and picked up $170. Leaderboard is somewhat updated. (Besides you Blake - I'm not going to add up all of your picks until tonight.)

6:01 Eastern Time...

Parlays are 0-4.

5:44 Eastern Time...

0-3 in Parlays. Craziest game ever.

A TON of money hangs on the next 8 minutes.

4:04 PM Eastern Time...

Mills wins $330 and takes the lead on E. James OVER.

As of 3:47 PM Eastern Time...

We're 0-2 in Parlays. Congratulations Eller and Saunders. Fitzgerald can't be held down.

Championship Weekend Picks

Worthy Competitors,

This week promises to be the sweatiest yet. Rainforest, Swamp, Suana, Desert Sweaty - all rolled up into a hope to get into position for Super Bowl Sunday.

Here are your picks, beginning with your leader:

1. Mansfield - $788.50
$100 on Cardinals MONEYLINE to win $170
$100 Parlay to win $700:
- Warner OVER 259.5 pass yds
- W. Parker OVER 67.5 rush yds
- Eagles-Cards OVER 47 pts

2. Saunders - $780.00
$25 on Cardinals +4
$25 on Eagles-Cards UNDER 47 pts
$25 on E. James UNDER 52.5 rush yds
$25 Parlay to win $175:
- Steelers -6
- W. McGahee OVER 45.5 rush+rec yds
- L. Fitzgerald UNDER 95.5 rec yds

3. Hill - $758.00
$100 on Eagles (-4)
$150 on Steelers (-6)
$100 on Cardinals MONEYLINE to win $170
$50 Ravens MONEYLINE to win $210
$50 on Eagles @ Cardinals UNDER 47 total pts
$50 on Ravens @ Steelers OVER 34 total pts
$10 on over McNabb 257.5 pass yds
$10 on under Westbrook 66.5 rush yds
$10 on over D. Jackson 4 receptions
$10 on over B. Celek & L.J. Smith 42.5 rec yds
$10 on over Fitzgerald 95.5 rec yds
$10 on over Warner 259.5 pass yds
$10 on over E. James 52.5 rush yds
$5 on over Flacco 175.5 pass yds
$10 on under McGahee 45.5 rush+rec yds
$5 on under D. Mason 69.5 rec yds
$5 on under Roethlisberger 202.5 pass yds
$15 on over W. Parker 67.5 rush yds
$10 on over S. Holmes 51.5 rec yds
$10 on under N. Washington 38.5 rec yds
$70 Parlay to win $490:
- Steelers (-6)
- S. Holmes OVER 51.5 yds
- Bal-Pit OVER 34 pts
$50 Parlay to win $350:
- Arizona (+4)
- Westbrook UNDER 66.5 rush yds
- W. Parker OVER 67.5 rush yds
$20 Parlay to win $140:
- McGahee UNDER 45.5 rush+rec
- D. Jackson OVER 4 receptions
- E. James OVER 52.5 rush yds.

4. Mobley - $550.00
$100 on Ravens MONEYLINE to win $210
$100 on Ravens +6
$50 Parlay to win $350:
- D. Jackson OVER 4 receptions
- Eagles-Cards UNDER 47 pts
- E. James OVER 52.5 yds
$50 Parlay to win $350:
- Ravens +6
- Ravens-Steelers OVER 34 pts
- Parker UNDER 67.5 yds

5. Kessler - $550.00
$300 on Eagles -4
$100 Parlay to win $700:
- Over 47 eag/ari
- Eagles -4
- Westbrook over 66.5
$25 Parlay to win $175:
- Parker over 67.5
- N Washington over 38.5
- Westbrook over 66.5
$25 Parlay to win $175:
- Flacco under 175.5
- Mcnabb over 257.5
- Eagles -4
$50 Parlay to win $350:
- Over 47 eag/ari
- Ari +4
- Westbrook over 66.5
$25 Parlay to win $175:
- Eagles -4
- D Mason under 69.5
- Warner over 259.5
$25 Parlay to win $175:
- Warner under 259.5
- Parker over 67.5
- Steelers -6

6. Mills - $530.00
$330 on E. James OVER 52.5 rush yds
$100 on Eagles-Cardinals OVER 47 pts
$100 Parlay to win $700:
- Flacco OVER 175.5 pass yds
- BC + LJ OVER 42.5 rec yds
- McGahee OVER 45.5 rush+rec yds

7. Shade - $510.00
$395 on Steelers MONEYLINE to win $158
$72 Parlay to win $504:
- Cardinals +4
- Eagles-Cards OVER 47 pts
- W. Parker OVER 67.5 rush yds
$43 Parlay to win $301
- Roethlisberger OVER 202.5 pass yds
- Mason UNDER 69.5 rec yds
- S. Holmes OVER 51.5 rec yds

8. Strait - $460.00
$150 on Eagles -4
$85 on Fitzgerald OVER 95.5 rec yds
$100 on D. Mason OVER 69.5 rec yds
$75 Parlay to win $525:
- Warner OVER 259.5 pass yds
- E. James OVER 52.5 rush yds
- Ravens +6
$50 Parlay to win $350:
- McGahee OVER 45.5 rush+rec yds
- Parker UNDER 67.5 rush yds
- Roethlisberger UNDER 202.5 pass yds

9. Furnas - $335.27
$335.27 Parlay to win $2,346.89
- Eagles -4
- Mcnabb OVER 257.5 pass yds
- W. Parker over 67.5 rush yds

10. Eller - $100.00
$100 Parlay to win $700:
- Mason UNDER 69.5 rec yds
- Fitzgerald UNDER 95.5 rec yds
- Eagles-Cards UNDER 47 pts

Conference Playoff Lines (w/Player Props)

Lines below, along with a NEW 3-team Parlay option at the bottom. Get scared.

ATS
Eagles (-4) @ Cardinals
Ravens @ Steelers (-6)

MONEYLINE
Eagles (-200) @ Cardinals (+170)
Ravens (+210) @ Steelers (-250)

OVER/UNDER
Eagles @ Cardinals - 47 total pts
Ravens @ Steelers - 34 total pts

PLAYER PROPS
McNabb (PHI) o/u 257.5 pass yds
Westbrook (PHI) o/u 66.5 rush yds
D. Jackson (PHI) o/u 4 receptions
B. Celek & L.J. Smith (PHI) o/u 42.5 rec yds
Fitzgerald (ARI) o/u 95.5 rec yds
Warner (ARI) o/u 259.5 pass yds
E. James (ARI) o/u 52.5 rush yds
Flacco (BAL) o/u 175.5 pass yds
McGahee (BAL) o/u 45.5 rush+rec yds
D. Mason (BAL) o/u 69.5 rec yds
Roethlisberger (PIT) o/u 202.5 pass yds
W. Parker (PIT) o/u 67.5 rush yds
S. Holmes (PIT) o/u 51.5 rec yds
N. Washington (PIT) o/u 38.5 rec yds

NEW 3-BET PARLAY OPTION
Payout is 7:1. Moneylines are not eligible for parlay bets.
Example for any non-parlayers out there: Say I bet $10 on a parlay including Arizona (+4), S. Holmes OVER 51.5 yds, and Bal-Pit OVER 34 pts. If all 3 bets win, I would win 7 times what I bet ($70). If any of the 3 bets loses, I would lose my original bet ($10).

Picks are due on Sunday by 2 PM - SEND THEM TO UNIFIEDFUND@YAHOO.COM

Craziest week yet

At the beginning of the week, Mobley and Kessler had only their weekly allowance to their name. Now they are tied for 4th. At the end of yesterday, Mansfield was in dead last. Today, he's in first place, with two weeks to go.

Our storylines are basically running parallel to those of the NFL Playoffs - where Arizona's one game away from the Playoffs after falling apart down the last stretch of regular season games...and so is Philadelphia, after tying Cincinnati and getting swept by the lowly Washington Redskins (yes, I said lowly).

The NFL and the Unified Fund: Giving second chances week by week.

Officially, the big loser of the week was me - going 0-4 and losing $650. But Eller probably suffered the biggest blow - losing his whole $560 stack on the Giants. Saunders' strategy of playing it safe, even though he went 0-3, paid off - as he's only a few dollars back from first. Mills and Hill both followed up an unbelievable Saturday with a bad Sunday - both giving back what they made and then some. I would describe Furnas's week but it would take too much time.

It's unfathomable that everyone is bunched so close together after a week in which there were so many huge bets. You had to think that one of the leaders was going to hit and someone was going to open up a lead. Well at least I had to think that. Why else would I have put over half my stack on the defending Super Bowl Champs at home coming off a bye week? I still maintain Coughlin was shaving points.

Next week we'll have 6 more prop bets available since there are only 2 games. Picks will be due on Sunday at 2 pm (1 hour before kickoff). Lines will be out on Wednesday, look for prop bets on Thursday night.

Until then, have a lovely week.

Eagles 23, Giants 11

Daggers for everyone who put big money on the Giants (me included). We're now 2-11 in games with more than $400 bet on one game.

Mansfield with a HUGE win - collecting $433.50 and now he's in perfect position for the last two weeks.

In my humble and non-football knowing opinion, the Giants playcalling was insane. A chance to run the clock down before the end of the half on 1st and 5 from the Eagles 16, and you throw three straight passes - allowing Philly time on the clock to drive down and kick a field goal? Challenging the spot and losing a timeout on that Derrick Ward play with no visual evidence? Down two scores with the game on the line on 4th and 2 and you run it up the middle after being stuffed 2 straight times? Can't figure it out.

Go Steelers.

Saturday Results - MOVING DAY

Okay, there's like a billion things to recap on.

First of all, for you Carolina Panthers fans that believed the sick joke your team played on you all year, your quarterback is still Jake Delhomme.

Second of all, capitalizing on the Anti-Clutch Delhomme's performance were the big movers of the weekend...Mobley and Kessler are both alive and kicking after hitting the Arizona MONEYLINE. (Mobley, please wear your NFC East T-Shirt into work on Monday.) They'll go into next week with $550 each - enough to do some serious damage and stage a worst-to-first finish.

Third of all, although Mobley and Kessler moved the most dollar-wise, perhaps the most impressive performances of the day were from Blake Hill and Collier Mills who went unconcious. Blake went 4-0 including 2 moneyline winners, netting $198 dollars. Collier, who for the past few weeks has made some of the worst picks ever made, came back strong going 2-0 for the day collecting $230.

Fourth of all, Strait learned that betting on Kerry Collins in 2009 yields the same results as those who bet on him 13 years ago. Also, by losing a $400 bet, he makes the Unified Fund overall 2-9 when more than $400 is placed on one game. (That's not good news for anyone who has the Giants tomorrow.)

Fifth of all, Furnas goes 5-5 and makes $4.50 in a record setting 10 pick day. While it may not have been the movement up the leaderboard he was hoping for, I bet it made today's games a lot more interesting to watch. And, the good thing for Furnas is he's got 10 more to root for tomorrow.

Let's hope tomorrow is just as interesting.

Divisional Playoff Picks

This weeks' picks are in order of the current standings - along with quotes from the Unified Fund Media Day:

1. Shade ($1,060) - "Call me Shick Quattro from now on b***es," Shade said to reporters at media day. No one is sure what that means.
$600 on the Giants Moneyline (to win $300)
$20 on A. Toomer OVER 39.5 rec yds
$20 on M. Moore OVER 33.5 rush+rec yds
$10 on P. Rivers UNDER 219.5 pass yds

2. Strait ($810) - Strait threatened to kill a reporter's family and was then forced to leave media day. "I don't know what I said wrong," Strait said later.
$400 on the Titans (-3)
$50 on A. Toomer OVER 39.5 rec yds

3. Saunders ($780) - "Slow and steady wins the race," Stink said at media day, wearing the Maryland Terrapin mascot costume. Stink made it clear that he was going to play conservative and let the rest of the field back up - because according to Stink, "People who don't live in Maryland suck".
$50 on Giants (-4)
$25 on Giants-Eagles total OVER 40 pts
$25 on M. Moore OVER 33.5 rush+rec yds

4. Hill ($700) - Hill was very adamant during his media session about his love for Mike Golic, co-host of Mike-and-Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio. "I love him, and he's the hands-down best commentator on Sports Radio" Blake said. "I seriously love him." Then Blake showed the media a sketch he had drawn of Mike Golic's head on a dragon's body. I won't lie to you. It was weird.
$150 on the Chargers (+6)
$100 on the Chargers Moneyline (Payout $220)
$60 on Ravens Moneyline (Payout $80)
$60 on Giants (-4)
$20 on Cardinals Moneyline (Payout $70)
$30 on C. Johnson (TEN) OVER 68.5 rush yds
$20 on S. Smith (CAR) UNDER 108.5 rec yds
$20 on B. Westbrook (PHI) UNDER 61.5 rush yds
$50 on P. Rivers OVER 219.5 yds pass yds

5. Eller ($560) - "All for one, and one for all," Eller said about going all-in with his pick. To further demonstrate his point, he then started actually singing the words, but substituting "love" in for the word "one", in the style of the Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting's hit song for the 90's movie "Three Musketeers". While the track was never as popular as the Robin Hood: Prince of Theives Bryan Adams song, Eller maintains that it's a better song for the simple fact that "for my money it doesn't get any better than 3 guys sharing one microphone in half-buttoned shirts".
$560 on the Giants (-4)

6. Mills ($500) - "I plan on glazing it up this weekend," Mills said to reporters about his plans to overcome the competition. "I really think I have a good plan to squeeze the jelly into the middle, frost them over with some sprinkles, and cut a hole out of them." He then put 3 donuts in his mouth at the same time.
$200 on Brian Westbrook OVER 61.5 rush yds
$100 on Cardinals (+10)
$100 on Chargers (+6)
$100 on Ravens Moneyline (to win $130)

7. Furnas ($300) - Furnas showed the media a third nipple that he as grown this week due to a surgical error. He also revealed that while at first the new growth was constrictive, after a while it becomes "a part of you." He also disclosed that his new nickname was "Trinipplesaurus Rex".
$15 on a league-record 20 bets:
Ravens (+3)
Cards (+10)
Giants (-4)
Steelers (-6)
Ravens Moneyline
Panthers Moneyline
Giants Moneyline
Steelers Moneyline
Ravens-Titans UNDER 34.5 pts
Cards-Panthers OVER 48.5 pts
Eagles-Giants OVER 40 pts
Chargers-Steelers UNDER 38 pts
Joe Flacco OVER 179.5 pass yds
C. Johnson UNDER 68.5 rush yds
L. Fitzgerald UNDER 94.5 rec yds
S. Smith UNDER 108.5 rec yds
B. Westbrook OVER 61.5 rush yds
A. Toomer OVER 39.5 rec yds
P. Rivers OVER 219.5 pass yds
M. Moore OVER 33.5 rush+rec yds

8. Mansfield ($255) - Manser went all cliche in his presser, saying that he "was happy to have the opportunity to compete at this level" and he was going to "take it one bet at a time and see what happens". Then in a shocking move, he dedicated this week's bet to Constance Pittman, Royal Mason, and Bre McGinnis (no relation to Jeff McGinnis or Phil Ford's wife).
$255 on the Eagles Moneyline (to win $433.50)

9. Mobley ($100) - Mobley showed up to the Media with Kurt Warner gloves on and a can of Campbell's Chunky. He held up a briefcase, and then declared "There are many people in this room who would have been very happy to never see this briefcase again. There are people in this room who think that they can destroy people's property and get away with it." And then he walked off the podium.
$100 on Arizona Moneyline (to win $350)

10. Kessler ($100) - "Today redemption is spelled K-E-S," Kessler explained. He then continued, "-S-L-E-R. Redemption."
$100 on Arizona Moneyline (to win $350)

Divisional Playoff Lines (w/Player Props)

3 weeks to go. Remember all weekend picks are due to unifiedfund@yahoo.com by 4 pm Saturday.

ATS
Ravens @ Titans (-3)
Cardinals @ Panthers (-10)
Eagles @ Giants (-4)
Chargers @ Steelers (-6)

MONEYLINE
Ravens (+130) @ Titans (-150)
Cardinals (+350) @ Panthers (-500)
Eagles (+170) @ Giants (-200)
Chargers (+220) @ Steelers (-260)

OVER/UNDER
Ravens @ Titans - 34.5 total pts
Cardinals @ Panthers - 48.5 total pts
Eagles @ Giants - 40 total pts
Chargers @ Steelers - 38 total pts

PLAYER PROPS
J. Flacco (BAL) - O/U 179.5 passing yds
C. Johnson (TEN) - O/U 68.5 rushing yds
L. Fitzgerald (ARI) - O/U 94.5 receiving yds
S. Smith (CAR) - O/U 108.5 receiving yds
B. Westbrook (PHI) - O/U 61.5 rushing yds
A. Toomer (NYG) - 39.5 receiving yds
P. Rivers (SD) - 219.5 passing yds
M. Moore (PIT) - 33.5 rushing and receiving yds

Wild Card Recap

So, after doing some quick research I found out that as a group, when there is more than $400 bet on a game, the Unified Fund is 2-8. So, that means when we're the most sure, we're basically the most wrong.

There was a lot of wrongness this week - with 8 of us not moving in the right direction.

However, there were some competitors who made some nice moves this weekend - Blake Hill brought in $230 and Tommy Saunders brought in $150 - both moving into serious contention.

Mobley and Kessler took serious hits and will start next week with only their $100 allowance. With 3 weeks to go - their strategy will have to be to take the biggest underdog on the moneyline and try to double up each week.

EVERYONE is still in this, though. Unless someone pulls away in the next 2 weeks, it's all going to come down to the Super Bowl...and the way things are going, there might be a lot of money lost.

Colts lose; $1,310 lost

Okay Charger fans. No more crap about how you haven't got any calls. That 3rd down defensive holding call in overtime was complete garbage. I just finished watching the replay 6 times; no way that call should be made any time...much less in a overtime playoff game. Not saying that the Chargers wouldn't have won - but, Peyton should have gotten the ball back. Let them play Refs.

The Unified Fund Kiss of Death remains in tact - I'll have to go back and get official trend statistics...but it sure seems like the majority of us go big on a popular pick, that team loses. It was the Cowboys last week with over $1,100 bet on them, this week it's the Colts with $1,310 bet on them.

Mills and Hill escape from day 1 with winning totals - $150 and $120 respectively...Mills the only one betting on the Cardinals and Hill the only one to bet on the Chargers.

Wild Card Picks (Updated with Blake's picks)

So Utah finishes 13-0 and trashes Prick Saban in the Sugar Bowl and they've got no shot at the National Title. I will punch the next person that defends the BCS.

Luckily, we have games that actually mean something going on this weekend, and thanks to the Unified Fund, they mean that much more.

Here are this week's picks, in order of the current standings. The COLTS are the popular play of the YEAR...breaking last week's Cowboy bet record with a total of $1,310 bet on them:

1. Shade - $960.00
$80 on the Ravens (-3)
$80 on the Vikings Moneyline (payout $120)

2. Strait - $860.00
$100 on Adrian Peterson OVER 99.5 rush yds
$50 on Donovan McNabb OVER 7.5 rush yds

3. Eller - $860.00
$400 on the Colts (-1)

4. Saunders - $530.00
$100 on the Ravens (-3)
$50 on Larry Fitzgerald OVER 88.5 rec yds

5. Furnas - $420.00
$80 on Colts (-1)
$80 on Falcons (-1.5)
$80 on Michael Turner OVER 99.5 rush yds
$80 on Reggie Wayne OVER 78.5 receiving yds
$80 on Donovan McNabb OVER 7.5 rush yds
$20 on Chargers Moneyline

6. Mills - $415.00
$200 on Cardinals (+1.5)
$100 on Ravens-Dolphins OVER 37.5 total pts
$65 on Adrian Peterson OVER 99.5 rush yds
$50 on Colts (-1)

7. Mansfield - $405.00
$250 on Colts (-1)

8. Kessler - $380.00
$380 on Colts (-1)

9. Hill - $370.00
$150 on the Chargers (+1)
$150 on the Ravens (-3)
$40 on Vikings Moneyline (Payout $60)
$30 on Philip Rivers over 250.5 yds passing

10. Mobley - $150.00
$150 on the Colts (-1)

Pardon the Interruption - Kensucky Edition

I realize that this isn't exactly a forum for posting 'neat' stuff that you find on the internet... BUT i saw this video today and instantly thought of fellow Unified Fund participant Eli Strait.

Please click here to witness someone that i'm sure Eli is related to [as they're both residents of Kentucky].