The People's Choice - Charlotte

Watching the New York Jets implode under the weight of their own hubris has been fun for the last couple of days. But fortunately, you, the Internet, have been busy making selections for the People's Pitstop. Here are the drivers who will represent the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team during Saturday night's Chase race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

A List: This week's poll resulted in a tie between Carl Edwards, the current points leader and defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. Thursday evening's qualifying session put Carl Edwards in the 3rd starting spot, six points in front of Johnson and high enough to get the People's Pitstop 3 bonus points.

B List: It's a good thing we have four roster spots for this group of drivers, because we had a four-way tie involving Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski and Juan Pablo Montoya. Martin (13th) and Earnhardt (15th) will start, while Keselowski (26th) and Montoya (32nd) will watch the proceedings from the bench.

C List: Another poll, another tie. We're starting to look like John Belushi in the disciplinary hearing scene of "Animal House." This tie was between the new usual suspects, Regan Smith and Bobby Labonte. And if there could have been a tie in qualifying, these two drivers probably would have done that, too. As it turns out, Smith (21st) is one spot in front of Labonte and gets the start.

Remember that the fantasy football polls are still open and will remain open until Saturday night. The People's Pigskin needs all the help it can get in getting its season back on track. Please vote now.

We'll be back with our weekly NASCAR predictions.

Fearless Predictions - Conference Championships

There's still time to vote on the People's Playoffs roster for this week (and for Super Bowl week, since the rosters will lock on Sunday). While you contemplate your selections, it's time to tell you what will happen Sunday in the NFL conference championship games. Last week's predictions went 3-1, raising the playoff forecast record to a respectable 4-4.
NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears. We'll set aside the question Bill Simmons fielded Friday about whether these two teams have a rivalry. Instead, we'll focus on what both teams bring to the table. Green Bay brings Charles Woodson, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, as well as Clay Matthews Jr., one of the favorites to take that honor this season. Chicago has Jay Cutler, who will be starting the second playoff game of his professional career. (By contrast, Mark Sanchez will be starting his sixth.) They also have Mike Martz, who sometimes still calls games as if he feels the words "blocking" and "tight end" don't belong in the same paragraph. Evidence? Cutler was sacked a league-leading 52 times this season, or 12 more times than runner-up Joe Flacco. When it comes down to it, the people who bring you the People's Pigskin trust Matthews, Woodson and their cohorts more than they trust Cutler and his offensive line. The Packers win a third straight road game and punch their ticket for the Super Bowl.
AFC Championship: New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. There is no question that Mark Sanchez has evolved into a legitimate NFL quarterback. And Rex Ryan is proving that he can back up his big words with big games. But once again, it's a question of who do you trust. Pittsburgh has Ben Roethlisberger, who may have ridden Jerome Bettis' coattails to one Super Bowl ring but more than earned his second with a drive that culminated with one of the most famous catches in postseason history. On the other side of the line of scrimmage, we have Antonio Cromartie (remember him?), who can stand on his head one week and fall flat on his face the next. He stood on his head last week against the New England Patriots. But if the question is which player is more likely to come through again this week, the answer has to be Roethlisberger until someone proves otherwise. The Steelers march on to Arlington and the House That Texas Taxpayers Built.
We'll be back with the poll results.

Fearless Predictions - Week 16

Unlike the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals, the people who bring you the People's Pigskin will be taking Saturday off. Before we get too heavily into the egg nog, though, it's time to tell you what will happen in the first half of the final two-week playoff matchups. Last week's predictions, including those for week 15 and overall results, went 5-5, leaving us with a season record of 51-29 and clinching an overall winning record. (Something the Shanahans can't claim, by the way.)
NINTH PLACE GAME: cowboys romero vs. t-bay cuervonatersXXL. Jack and Juan go down to the wire fighting to avoid last place. Rashard Mendenhall is already in double-digit land and should be joined shortly by Miles Austin and Felix Jones. The Cowboys enter this matchup with an unhealthy Mark Sanchez, and the Cuervonaters will enter the new year with a healthy lead.
SEVENTH PLACE GAME: Team z vs. NFL2K10 RedZone. The Zs got 22 points from Ben Roethlisberger Thursday night, but Philip Rivers should match that with ease. Brandon Marshall is a strong option for the Zs, but Randy Moss has all but disappeared. Reggie Wayne and the Patriots defense/special teams are turning it on at the right time, and the RedZone should prevail this week.
FIFTH PLACE GAME: Chicago VinSethBears vs. Feely Her Up... The Feelys got 20 points Thursday night from Jonathan Stewart and the Steelers defense/special teams. Andre Johnson is listed as questionable for the VinSethBears, and predicting Brandon Jacobs' fantasy output is tricky at best. But if this comes down to a quarterback duel, you should bet on Tom Brady over Joe Flacco. The bet here is for the VinSethBears to win this week.
THIRD PLACE GAME: Hudson Valley Hawks vs. nuckin' futs. These are two strong teams that fell in the semifinals. The Futs have a clear advantage in the running game, especially if Adrian Peterson misses another game. But DeSean Jackson's presence alone would give the Hawks the edge in receiving. This one will still be tight enough to be up in the air on Monday night, but the Futs probably will regret parking Mike Wallace and his 16 points on the bench. The Hawks should win a close one.
CHAMPIONSHIP: People's Pigskin vs. Fighting Amish. The Internet's favorite fantasy football team takes on one of the two teams that beat it during the regular season. (The other was last week's opponent, the Hawks.) Michael Vick has proven lethal in fantasy football, but Peyton Manning and Michael Turner have plenty of motivation to have strong games this week. The Pigskin takes an early lead going into the final weekend.
Have a merry one, and be sure to vote in the lineup polls on the right side of this page. And if you see a certain fat man (this one, not this one), encourage him to vote, too. We'll be back with the results.