Nick’s Picks

Sports Editor Nick “The Greek” Prevenas picked against a Green Valley News reader each week on NFL games during the regular season. In the Week 17 finale, Prevenas squared off against Sahuarita Sun reporter Phil Franchine.

Franchine’s system factored in quality of food, along with which city needed the biggest morale boost from its football team, which resulted in a remarkable 10-5 mark. Prevenas’ system of logic and knowledge failed him, since the final week of every NFL season is impossible to pick. Still, he posted an 8-7 record, giving him a phenomenal 153-91 regular-season record.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s edition of “Nick’s Picks.”

Nick’s playoff picks.

In today’s first game, the New York Giants (10-6) head to Tampa Bay (9-7) to take on the surprising Buccaneers (11 a.m., FOX). Jon Gruden’s squad, led by a strong defense and veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia, is efficient, but doesn’t overwhelm teams in any single area.

The Giants have more pure talent, but with a signal caller as erratic as Eli Manning and a defense as superb as Tampa’s vaunted Cover 2, look for the Bucs to secure a spot in the second round.

The pick: Tampa Bay 24, New York 14.

The San Diego Chargers (11-5) host the Tennessee Titans (10-6) in today’s afternoon game (2:30 p.m., FOX). Tennessee employs one of the best coaches in football in Jeff Fisher, and with Albert Haynesworth healthy and holding down the middle of that Titans’ defensive line, this squad won’t back down without a fight.

But San Diego simply has too much firepower, starting with the incomparable LaDanian Tomlinson, to be sent home early. Despite Philip Rivers’ shakiness throughout the regular season, he’s a better quarterback option than a hurting Vince Young or Kerry Collins.

The pick: San Diego 31, Tennessee 17.