There are a few truisms to keep in mind this weekend as we look at how to lay our money down on the over/under in the divisional playoff games.

Truism the first - Peyton Manning sucks in the playoffs. I know he's the best quarterback in the NFL right now, but until he gets a ring on his finger, the monkey on his back is just going to get bigger every season. Saturday, he's going into Baltimore against Steve McNair and the highly-touted Ravens defense. Really, when is the Ravens D not highly-touted? That said, I'm taking the over on this one. Bodog has the line at 42, and I can't help but think that it's going to be 21-21 with about 3 minutes left when Baltimore kicks the go-ahead field goal and stops Peyton & Co. short of the conference championships. Again.

Truism the second - The entire NFC sucks. The Saints are the only NFC team that looks playoff-worthy, and that can all go bottoms-up if the eagles defense gets to Drew Brees a few times. Of course, the Eagles defense hasn't really gotten to anyone all season, so I think Brees is probably going to have a cakewalk. This time I've gotta take the under, because unless the Florida Gators suddenly show up to play, the chances of this game going to more than 49 total points are slim and none, and Slim got in my way at the buffet line and nobody's heard from him since.

Truism the third - There are quarterbacks who win playoff games, and quarterbacks that couldn't win the lottery if you spotted them all six numbers and put five of them in order. Matt Hasselbeck can win this game all on his own if he needs to, and there's always that sweet Alexander boy to make sure he doesn't have to. The Seahawks aren't very good, but they don't have to be to win this one. And you'd better believe I'm taking the over at a measly 37. With Rex Grossman to score 10 for the SeaTurkeys and 14 for Da Bears, it'll make the over by the end of the third.

Truism the fourth - The late playoff game on Sunday will decide the Super Bowl Champion. Yup, that's pretty much it. I'm taking the under because Bill Belichick is going to throw more different packages at Phillip Rivers than he's seen all year, and it's gonna be tough for a rookie QB to beat not only the best coach in the business, but also that unimpressive New England quarterback who just hasn't figured out how to lose yet. If LT breaks loose for 150 yards, it's still not gonna push the score on this one north of 45, so the under at 47 is where my money is.