NFC

New Orleans at Chicago:  Saints win, 31-21.

When I try to imagine how this game will go, I cannot help but think of how Steve Smith torched the Bears in the playoffs last year.  The Saints have a better passing attack than the Panthers did, so I'm going with New Orleans.  Rex actually won't play terribly, but mediocre football doesn't get your team to the Super Bowl.

AFC

New England at Indianapolis:  Patriots win, 17-14.

Hopefully this will be a great game.  If it is, this could start to approach the Niner-Cowboy rivalry when they seemed to play in the conference title game every year.  The reason I am picking the Pats is two-fold:  First, all the talking heads seem to be picking the Colts and truthiness (knowledge that comes from the gut) is making me lean toward New England.  The other reason I am picking the Pats is that I want Indy to win.  Each round so far I have picked to Colts to lose and they have won, so I'm trying it again.  Just for fun, I think Vinatieri misses a game-tying opportunity.