Pittsburgh (+3) at Denver

KEVIN: After last week's disastrous picks, I've given up on logic and reasoning to make these picks. Instead, I'm just going with my gut. (Note: since my instincts are almost never correct, this is your cue to bet against every pick I make.) I'm taking the Steelers in this one because of their defense and running game. If you can shut down the mighty Colts offense for three quarters, then you can handle Denver. Roethlisberger plays his mistake-free football, and it's enough for Pittsburgh to win a tight one.

STEVE: Although I never thought Denver was that good, more to my ignorance of not seeing many of their games, their victory over the Patriots convinced me otherwise. Jake Plummer is a quarterback capable of doing more than helping his team not lose, but rather he can lead them to victory. Plummer will exploit the Steelers secondary and the combination of Tatum Bell and Mike Anderson will power the Broncos into Super Bowl XL.

Carolina (+3 ??) at Seattle

KEVIN: It's a case of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object as Seattle is 9-0 this season at home and the Panthers are 8-2 on the road. Everything seems to point to the Seahawks 'including an injury to Carolina RB DeShaun Foster'but I'm taking the Panthers anyway. They scored 29 points against the best defense in the NFL last weekend, and Steve Smith appears to be unstoppable. I'm taking Carolina in a 27-22 game.

STEVE: Although this seems like the perfect trap game for the Seahawks, I think they will prevail over the streaking Panthers. I am looking to the Seahawks defensive line to maul and manhandle Nick Goings and force Jake Delhomme to pass the ball into a ball-hawking Seattle secondary. Shaun Alexander will continue his MVP-like season and Joe Jurevicius will haul the ball into the Panthers endzone as the Seahawks make their first ever Super Bowl appearance on the heels of a 31-10 victory.