NFC South Week 14 Predictions: Toddler-Style

When my wife's not home my son and I will often wrestle, watch SportsCenter, and discuss football.

I'm not much for paddy-cake and peek-a-boo, so we do important things like pick football games.

I've never claimed to be very good at picking games. I pay too much attention to the line. I figure if Vegas is picking it one way, then I should too. They know what they're doing, right?

I've decided to put my son to the test. Just how good is he? How much does he listen to me? Better yet, how much is he paying attention to SportsCenter when he's on the floor playing with his blocks?

What better way to determine the boy's football acumen that to let him pick games.

My son's name is Walden. He's 16 months old. On Sundays, he wears a Falcons jersey. It's only washed when the Falcons lose. He prefers the 4 p.m. games to the early games. 1 p.m. is usually nap time, thus he misses the majority of the game.

The way this system works is Dad, that's me, writes the teams on a piece of paper.

Example: "Tampa vs Carolina"

Then I hand my son the crayon and he makes his selection. The selection is determined by how long he lingers and scribbles on one team's name or the other.

Got it? Good, let's begin.

Tampa Bay at Carolina

In a match-up that could go a long way toward determining the division champion, and perhaps a first-round bye, Tampa travels to Carolina for a big show down on Monday night. The home team is favored by three.

This was a tough one for Walden to choose. He actually had to climb onto the coffee table and sit on the page. It took him a few minutes to decide.

I think the closeness of the contest also scared him away, as I had to refocus his attention a few times. But once he made his selection, it was clear he was confident in his decision.

Walden's pick: Tampa Bay

Atlanta at New Orleans

Admittedly, this was a tough one for him to chose. But unlike his dad, he can be impartial and pick with his head, not his heart. The home team is favored by three in this one as well. New Orleans is 5-1 at home and I guess Vegas can't ignore that.

I can and I wondered if Walden would be able to. I placed the page in front of him and he looked up at me with his big brown eyes. I held my breath, not wanting to enter Sunday afternoon knowing my son chose against the family's team. I watched as he began to fiercely mark up the page.

Walden's pick: Atlanta

My son is asleep now, at peace with his picks. I feel good about them too. We await Sunday and Monday's outcomes to see how he did. Who knows? Maybe he's got the gift.

I look forward to the day when I can hear Walden, with ice in his veins and an intrepid look in those brown eyes, proclaim, "Bet the mortgage on this one, Dad. I'm making you money."