Sandman Legend Picks
Sandman Nation, the football season is winding down, but we’ve still got a couple of exciting weeks ahead! Conference Championship Weekend is here, and it rarely disappoints. The Legends are split on their picks for both games, but the lean is toward the Commanders and the Bills. Enjoy the action, and good luck with your bets!
Legend Picks - Conference Championship Weekend
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Sanders | Eric Bierman | Pat Klett | Brandon Lewis | Nate Blackstun | Hakan Yumusaklar | Mike Paston | Ken Wintermote | AJ Flanders | Ryan Harrington | |
| Last Week's Record (ATS) | 1-3-1 | 2-2-1 | 1-3-1 | 2-2-1 | 2-2-1 | 1-3-1 | 1-3-1 | 1-3-1 | 3-1-1 | 0-4-1 |
| Season Record (ATS) | 98-101-4 | 101-98-4 | 103-96-4 | 104-95-4 | 100-99-4 | 100-99-4 | 88-111-4 | 106-93-4 | 105-94-4 | 93-106-4 |
| Commanders at Eagles (-6) | Commanders | Eagles | Commanders | Commanders | Commanders | Commanders | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Commanders |
| Bills at Chiefs (-2) | Bills | Bills | Bills | Chiefs | Bills | Bills | Chiefs | Bills | Chiefs | Chiefs |
College & NFL Season Predictions
| | | | | | | | | |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Sanders | Eric Bierman | Pat Klett | Brandon Lewis | Nate Blackstun | Hakan Yumusaklar | Mike Paston | Ken Wintermote | AJ Flanders | Ryan Harrington | |
| Top 10 to Fall out of Top 25 | Michigan | Notre Dame | Michigan | Oregon | Alabama | Michigan | Michigan | Michigan | Notre Dame | Alabama |
| Outside Top 25 to make Playoffs | Washington | Boise State | North Carolina | SMU | Virginia Tech | Louisville | Iowa State | Louisville | Louisville | Virginia Tech |
| Big 10 Champion | Ohio State | Oregon | Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State | Oregon | Ohio State | Oregon | Ohio State |
| SEC Champion | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Ole Miss | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia |
| Big 12 Champion | Utah | Iowa State | Utah | Kansas | Oklahoma State | Utah | Utah | Utah | Utah | Oklahoma State |
| ACC Champion | Florida State | Miami (FL) | Florida State | SMU | Miami (FL) | Louisville | Florida State | Florida State | Florida State | Florida State |
| AFC East Division Winner | Dolphins | Bills | Dolphins | Bills | Bills | Jets | Dolphins | Dolphins | Bills | Jets |
| AFC North Division Winner | Ravens | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Bengals | Ravens | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Bengals |
| AFC South Division Winner | Texans | Jaguars | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| AFC West Division Winner | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| NFC East Division Winner | Eagles | Cowboys | Eagles | Cowboys | Cowboys | Commanders | Eagles | Eagles | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| NFC North Division Winner | Lions | Lions | Vikings | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Packers |
| NFC South Division Winner | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| NFC West Division Winner | 49ers | Rams | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers |
| Super Bowl Matchup | Chiefs vs 49ers | Bengals vs Cowboys | Ravens vs Eagles | Chiefs vs Cowboys | Chiefs vs Lions | Ravens vs Lions | Chiefs vs Lions | Ravens vs Eagles | Ravens vs 49ers | Jets vs 49ers |
| Super Bowl Winner | Chiefs | Cowboys | Eagles | Chiefs | Chiefs | Ravens | Chiefs | Eagles | Ravens | 49ers |
Overall Reflections from this weeks Legends Picks
Team Most Likely to Fall Out of the Top 10: Half of our Legends expressed doubts about Michigan, the defending national champions, due to their new head coach and an overhauled offense. This uncertainty reflects a broader concern about the Wolverines maintaining their elite status.
Team Most Likely to Crash the Playoffs from Outside the Top 25: The Louisville Cardinals, under Jeff Brohm, are a surprise pick among our Legends. With three votes in their favor, they are seen as a strong contender in the wide-open ACC.
Conference Champions:
- Big 10: The Ohio State Buckeyes have captured the most attention, earning 7 votes. Their dominance in the offseason has fueled optimism about their elite status. The Oregon Ducks, a new addition to the Big 10, received 3 votes.
- SEC: The Georgia Bulldogs are the clear favorites with 9 votes, although Hakan Yumusaklar has shown support for Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss team.
- ACC: Florida State leads with 6 votes, though it’s important to note these picks were made before their unexpected loss to Georgia Tech in Week Zero. Clemson did not receive any votes, marking a notable shift.
- Big 12: The Utah Utes are favored by 6 Legends, indicating strong confidence in their performance in the revamped Big 12. The Oklahoma State Cowboys also received 2 votes.
NFL Predictions
AFC East: The division is divided, with the Dolphins and Bills each receiving 4 votes. The New York Jets also garnered 2 votes, indicating a competitive landscape.
AFC North: The Ravens are favored by 6 Legends, while the Bengals received 4 votes, highlighting a two-team race in this division.
AFC South: Most experts believe in a strong follow-up season for CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans, giving them the majority of votes. Eric Bierman’s pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars adds some variety to the predictions.
AFC West: The Kansas City Chiefs are the unanimous choice, reflecting widespread confidence in their continued dominance in this division.
NFC East: The Cowboys and Eagles rivalry is alive in the picks, with 5 Legends backing Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, while 4 support Jalen Hurts and the Eagles.
NFC North: The Detroit Lions, who were narrowly edged out of a Super Bowl appearance last season, are favored by 8 Legends to defend their NFC North title and make another playoff run.
NFC South: In a clean sweep, all 10 Legends are united in their prediction that the Atlanta Falcons will capture the NFC South title, with the Dirty Birds expected to soar high this season.
NFC West: The San Francisco 49ers, the defending NFC champions, received 9 of the 10 votes, underscoring their anticipated continued success in the division.
Super Bowl Matchups & Champ: The Kansas City Chiefs are a popular pick to repeat as Super Bowl champions, with 4 Legends predicting their victory. The Detroit Lions are forecasted to make it to the Super Bowl by 3 Legends, but none anticipate them winning it this season. Other favored Super Bowl contenders include the Ravens and 49ers.
Stay tuned as we continue to track the accuracy of our Legends’ predictions throughout the season.
