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Monday, September 9, 2013

I'm going to have to go on hiatus...sorry guys!

As you all know, I am a college student and I currently work for the university, two papers, a television station, a blog and I am part of a fraternity. Between all of those factors, plus homework, watching soccer and being the social social man I am, it has gotten quiet busy. I don't think I'm going to be able to get content out to you as much as I would like to. 
So with a heavy heart, I must take a hiatus from Sports According to Neil. It has been a good run, but life as caught up to me and in some ways I have out grown the blog (for now). I would like to thank you all for the support over the years and would encourage you to look for my stuff on CM-Life.com, themorningsun.com, Thefarmclub.net, MHTV and anywhere else I happen to appear. 
Thanks again and I hope to be back soon! 
~N

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

My quick pick for the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals

After a season that barely even happened, we now find ourselves at least four games away from know who will be the champions of the NHL. There is not much I can say about either of these two teams that everyone doesn’t already know.
The Chicago Blackhawks are the best of the west have their high powered offense which has averaged 2.76 goals per game during the playoffs. They came from three down to beat the Detroit Redwings and became the first team to beat the Los Angeles Kings on their home ice.
Goalie Corey Crawford has not always looked the best, but he has put together some good streaks of net minding. Kane, Sharpe and Hossa have been dangerous for most of the playoffs and seem to be getting in rhythm at just the right time. Their offense can overpower almost any goalie in the NHL right now, but there will be one it can’t. Tuukka Rask.
That’s right, I’m picking the Bruins because of the brick wall that has popped up in front of their goal. Rask only allowed two goals in four games against the number one offense in the league and made it look very easy. Though it is said every year, defense wins championships and that’s what the Bruins have.
Rask will continue his great net minding and will vanquish the Hawks in 6 games with the help of David Krejci who will add to his impressive 21 points in the postseason.


Thanks for reading! 

Saturday, June 1, 2013

The NHL's Tournament of Champions

Last time I talked about the NHL Playoffs, I preached the importance of expecting the unexpected when it comes to May hockey. After all four favored teams reached the Conference Finals, I might have to rephrase that statement.
It doesn't take much research or brain power to remember the four teams left in the playoffs are the winners of the last four Stanley Cups. The Penguin's 2009 trip should stick in the minds of many of my Detroit Red Wings friends, as well as the 2010 run made by the rival Chicago Blackhawks. 2011 and 2012's champions, the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings will also be remembered for their recentness and their incredible goal tending. Now as hockey fans should we start worrying that our beloved league has become top heavy? No we should not.
This is just the normal growth of a league. Teams become great and stay great for a few seasons before that one trade or injury changes the course of the franchise forever. In fact, we should applaud the 'tournament of champions' now placed in front of us. All of these teams have been playing some great hockey all playoffs if not all season. We should be licking our chops for the delectable series that will offer fans of all kinds some good hockey. It's going to a darn good concentration prize for anyone's team who didn't make it this far.

Now time for some picks!

Pittsburgh Penguins - 4 Boston Bruins - 2
Offensively minded teams vs defensively minded teams seems to be the theme of the Conference Finals. The Boston Bruins come in flying underneath the radar after a very impressive season. It seems as if everyone has forgotten how good of a team they are and that they won a Stanley Cup just two years ago. (Wait, I picked against them last week?) Tuukka Rask has been impressive throughout the playoffs and season. The 26-year-old has allowed an average of 2.00 goals per game this season and has showed his mental toughness in many key moments during the playoffs. He is 3-1 in overtime games in the playoffs which is pretty good for a guy who is getting his firs real playoff run as the main man. When you add in the fact Boston has top notch defenders like Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk, it is easy to see any offense will struggle against them.
The Penguins will rely heavily on their offense to beat the Bostonians. I don't know about you, but I don't have much faith in the Penguin's goal keeping, so their best bet is to try to score four goals a game and hope Vokcoun can stop a few shots. During the regular season, the Pens averaged 3.4 goals per game which is best in the NHL. Unfortunately for the teams left, the Penguins have gotten better in the playoffs scoring an average of 4.2 goals per game. The Penguins have also been held below three goals once, and when they score four or more they are 8-1. Those have to be scary numbers for an opponent and that is why I am picking them to win.
With Malkin, Neal, Kunitz and Crosby playing out of their minds, it is nearly impossible to pick against them. Plus, I don't think the Bruins have enough fire power to keep up. They have hit a scoring streak in the playoffs, but I don't think they will be able to maintain it. They also lack in the power play department, where they have converted 14.8 percent of their chances, which is one of the worst percentages in the league. Boston will be able to take advantage of the Penguin's bad net-minding, but they will simply be outgunned in the end.

Chicago Blackhawks - 4 Los Angeles Kings - 1
After Chicago's thrilling seven-gamer with Detroit, they move on to face LA. The Blackhawks have a hot offense just like the Penguins, but they have better goal keeping. This alone makes them favorites for this series and to win the Cup. During the regular season, they scored an average of 3.1 goals per game and allowed an average of 2.00 goals per game. They are really good at killing power plays and only lack in converting power plays. Patrick Kane will be the key player of Chicago because of all he does for the team. He leads the 'Hawks in goals and assists, and may be the reason Chicago is this good. When he is playing well and creating chances for his teammates, the Blackhawks look unstoppable.
The Kings will combat the high flying Chicago offense with their almost mythical goalie, Johnathan Quick. Last season, he was the biggest reason why LA won the Cup and is one of the biggest reasons the Kings are still in contention this year. In the playoffs, Quick has allowed an average of 1.53 goals per game and has three shutouts. In addition to his shutouts, he has the ability come come up in big moments and keep his team in games. All five of the King's losses have been by one goal and five of their wins have come by the same margin. He knows how to handle pressure, which will be vital for this series.
Unfortunately for the Kings, I don't think they can score enough goals to keep up with the Blackhawks. more Importantly, they are 1-6 in away games which won't cut it this deep into the playoffs. Though they are undefeated at home, I think the Blackhawks kill the King's spirit early by winning the first three games then going on to win the series in five.

Thanks for reading!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

5 Reasons Bayern Munich will win the Champions League; Prediction

Speed on the wings.
It's no secret the Bavarians can burn teams on the wings. With world class players like Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, it's hard to find a team they can't over power near the touchline. I just don't see how the likes of Reus and Blasykowski can keep up. Sure, they are good players, but they don't have the experience these two do. Ribery has supplied 4 assists in the Champions League and I believe he will play a huge role in any goals Bayern will get. Robben will a great scoring threat and will once again show why he is such a great compliment to the great Thomas Muller.

They are the in-form team.
Though Dortmund have the in-form man, this whole team has struck great vain of form. You have to go all the way back to March 13 for their most recent loss which was against Arsenal in the Champions League. They have only lost one Bundesliga match all season and they haven't lost to Dortmund yet this year. Also, you have to take their 7-0 thrashing of Barcelona into effect. Even though Messi wasn't close to healthy, Barcelona doesn't lose like that. It takes a very special team to score seven goals over two matches in the Champions League and Bayern did it with ease.

They have had a tougher schedule.
Let's do some simple math. How many 2013 League Champions did Bayern defeat? The answer is three (BATE Borisov, Juventus, Barcelona). How many did Dortmund defeat? Two (Ajax, Shakhtar Donetsk). How many Champions Leaguge titles have BATE Borisov, Juventus, and Barcelona won? Six. And Ajax and Donetsk? Four. I rest my case.

Manuel Neuer.
I feel bad not being able to put this man's work into words. The only analogy that comes to mind is a 12 foot brick wall. Neuer is unstoppable and has had maybe the best season of any goal keeper. He allowed an average of .53 goals per game throughout the Bundesliga. Point five three. Good lord. Plus, in the four games against Dortmund this season he has held them to three goals. After some more simple math, this equates to .75 goals per game which is far less than the 2.38 Dortmund usually average.

They have been here before.
I don't think I can say to much more about this one. They have been in two of the last three finals and have nothing but pain to show for it. They will fight even harder and will do anything to finally raise that cup. There is little doubt in my mind they will let this chance slip away for a third time.

Well folks, that's it. I feel bad not writing more about one of the best team's I've seen in a long time, but I can't even conjure up the words to describe them and to be honest, I won't even waste your time another post on a prediction. This one is already in the bag.
I would have to be completely insane to not pick Bayern Munich to win this. Just look at all the records they broke in Germany and the caliber of their players. They are by far the better team. They have be disrespected this entire season which makes me sick. They were beaten by a team last year that got their one in a million shot to beat them (and that's coming from a Chelsea fan) and ever since no one in the media takes them seriously. I have no doubt they will win the whole shebang this season and many more in the coming years. If they don't win it this time, I will literally eat one of my cleats and post a video for you all to see.
Dortmund will come out nervy and will concede early. They will get back into it with a goal in the second half, but Bayern will bring it in the closing minutes to score two more. That's right boys and girls, I see Bayern winning 3-1 with two goals from Muller. Though the score doesn't reflect it, I believe Bayern will dominate this match and really put Dortmund to shame before stealing all their talent this summer. So until next time, Mia san mia!

Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

5 Reasons Borussia Dortmund will win the Champions League

1. They have the in-form player.
Robert Lewandowski is one of the hottest players in the Champions League and world right now. Just look at his personal 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid. The man knows how to score no matter where the defense pushes him. He leads Dortmund with 10 goals in 12 appearances in the Champions League and is a handful for even the most experienced back fours. In Bayern can't contain him, it could be a long night in Wembley.

2. They only have one loss in the Champions League this year.
Right up until their ultra-conservative, "don't-mess-this-thing-up" second leg against Real Madrid, Dortmund hadn't suffered a loss in the Champions League. This is quite amazing once you look at the fact they played Real Madrid three times, and came out of a group that featured Amsterdam Ajax and Manchester City. Though is wasn't always pretty, men in yellow always seemed to find a way through for some sort of result.

3. They have come through in the clutch.
Remember that stunning 3-2 victory over Malaga in the Quarter Finals? That's what I call playing in the clutch when your back is against the wall. The pressure they faced then will come in handy if they need a goal in the closing minutes of Saturday's match. Plus when all the lights got turned on them in their tie with Real Madrid, they came out strong with a ton of goals which could be very crucial in their match against their rivals.

4. The Klopp Show
Manager Jurgen Klopp has gotten four pieces of silverware in his five year reign at Dortmund. He knows how to get the best out of his players and is very sound tactically. I believe he his a better manager Jupp Heynckes at the moment and will have nearly kicked himself to death over his teams performances against Bayern this year. That being said, I'm sure he's done nothing but study what has gone wrong and right against Bayern this season and will come out with one heck of a match plan.

5. Ignorance is bliss?
This team hasn't had the feeling of losing a European Final which could calm their nerves before the match. Bayern, who lost in thrilling fashion against Chelsea last year and were unconvincing against Inter in 2010, could have a small seed of doubt in the back of their heads as they line up on the pitch. They could become a little timid not wanting to throw away another chance at European glory. This small seed of doubt could be all Dortmund need to take over the match and win the title.

By the looks of it, Dortmund should be able to win this, but wait, I haven't even talked about Bayern yet! Not so fast, come back tomorrow to hear all the reasons why Bayern Munich will be European Champions. Until then, Echte Liebe!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

NHL Conference Semifinals

The NHL Playoffs, were the seeds are made up and home ice doesn't matter. This is how I've treated the NHL's second season for many years and this year continued to show why it is a good mantra to use when watching these games.
Five out of the eight lower seeds won in the last round, which means the Conference Finals could feature all six and seven seeds. Could is the key word in that phrase. 
Despite the lower seeds having their way with the league's "elites", the two best teams in the league navigated their way into the second round. Since the beginning of the season I thought both the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins would make it to the Stanley Cup, and so far that prediction is looking pretty good. Though the Penguins had an issue with the Isles, they showed some moments of brilliance  Now that Thomas Vokoun is in net, I expect the Penguins to get back on track. So who will be fighting for the conference crowns next round? Let's take a look. 

East 

Pittsburgh Penguins - 4 Senators - 2
I did a good job talking up the unpredictability of the NHL Playoffs, but the Penguins will take care of business. The Penguins haven't lost against this Ottawa team this season which is something the Senators will have on their mind. This series will get very interesting because it pits one of the highest scoring offenses in the league against one of the best defensive teams in the league. The Senators allowed an average of 2.1 goals per game in the regular season and have a penalty kill percentage of 88. To many other teams, these stats could spell trouble, for the Penguins, it presents a challenge. The Pens averaged 3.4 goals per game in the regular season and have a power play percentage of 24.7. Though defense wins championships most of the time, I think the Pens have too many offensive weapons and will pepper Craig Anderson to escape the series in 6 games. 

Boston Bruins - 3 New York Rangers - 4 
These two rivals haven't met in the playoffs since 1973 and when they meet this year, sparks will fly. This is going to be a great series between two teams that have been grinding out results in the playoffs. Both teams went seven games in the first round and I fully expect them to go the distance in this round. Both teams have stud goal keepers which will keep these games close all the way until the final whistle. Boston's Tuukka Rask allows an average of two goals per game, while New York's Henrik Lundqvist is allowing a fraction more with a 2.05 GAA. This series will be scrappy and close, but I think the Ranger's 5-0 blasting of the Capitals gives them huge emotional boost. Lundqvist looks like he's heating up with two straight shutouts, which is another good reason to go with the Blueshirts.  

West 

Chicago Blackhawks - 4 Detroit Red Wings - 3 
This is the series I am looking forward to the most. Playoff rivalries almost always exceed any meeting in the regular season. With regular season meetings between these two already at playoff levels, the excitement may just blow the roofs off both venues. The Red Wings have the momentum after winning a whole bunch of overtime games in their series against the Ducks and their game seven beat down. I find it really hard to pick against the Wings, but the Blackhawks have the rest and haven't lost to the Wings yet. Plus the Blackhawks are the best team in the league. They allow an average of 2 goals per game and score an average of 3.1. That is what I call dominance. They will struggle with the Wings, but ultimately they will be too much for the boys from Detroit. 

San Jose Sharks - 2 Los Angeles Kings - 4 
The battle for California will be yet another entertaining rivalry series. The Kings will be looking to continue their defense of their title and what better way to gear up for the conference finals than beating your rival? The Sharks may have the better set of overall statistics, but their inefficiency on the offensive end of the ice and playoff history both scare me. Many hockey fans know how bad the Sharks are when May comes around and it's hard to win a title when you are scoring an average of 2.4 goals per game. The Kings are heating up, and I believe Jonathan Quick will get back on his game and take over this series. 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

NBA Playoffs: Conference Semifinals

Due to some college finals preparation, I was not able to post anything about the opening round of the NBA playoffs. Do not fret though, I have been watching games and taking all the information I can so I can make some educated picks.
So far, it has been a very interesting year for the playoffs. Most of the favorites powered through their first round match ups while many of the closer seeded series proved to be very close. I have to say that the Warrior's dispatchment of the Denver Nuggets was the highlight of the first round. This team has surprised a lot of people and I would love to see them continue to advance as far as they can. Another big moment in the first round was the Knicks near collapse. I think this series showed some of the weaknesses this team has going forward. It will be interesting to see how they can cope with the Pacers.
So what surprises lurk for us in the next round? Let's take a look.

The San Antonio Spurs vs The Golden State Warriors- As much as I would like to see the Warriors continue to be successful  it will be very hard for them to move forward against the Spurs. Known as the Quiet Dynasty, the Spurs possess the defensive talents to take them to the promised land once again. Tony Parker will lead the Spurs on the offensive end and will be aided by the return of Bois Diaw. Steph Curry will continue to be explosive, but will only manage a couple of good games.  The one thing that will really hurt the Warriors is their inability to beat the Spurs. The last time they won in San Antonio was in 1997 and to be able to win playoff series, you have to win at home. I see the Spurs jumping out to a 2-0 lead and winning in 5 games.

The Oklahoma City Thunder vs The Memphis Grizzlies- I think the Thunder could be in some trouble in this series. It seems like year after year, the Griz meander through the regular season, just to turn it up come playoff time. The Grizzlies' core of Randolph, Conley and Gasol will shine down low as the Thunder's fading Ibaka starts to crack. This will not be enough to beat this Thunder team though. Durant will put this team on his back, which should be good enough for a few wins. In the end, the Griz will make the Thunder nervous, but Durant will pull the series out for the Thunder in game seven.

The Miami Heat vs the Chicago Bulls- Let's be honest. Does anyone see the Heat losing this? Lebron is on another level right now and the Heat have all the supporting cast. The Bulls are without Rose which means they still don't have that feared attack they had last year. The Bulls might be able to snatch one game at home, but I see the Heat sweeping the series.

The New York Knicks vs The Indiana Pacers- I think the Knicks are going to have some major issues with the Pacers. This Indiana team place with such a togetherness and it's really hard to beat them at home. With Hibbert, Hill, West and George all averaging double figures in scoring, they are a really hard team to beat when they are on a role. Their issue is that they struggle on the road. The Knicks have a different issue. They are a very talented team, but I don't think they believe they can win it all. This shows as they were trying to close out the Celtics. It almost seemed as if they didn't believe they were good enough to close out the series. The other issue is they rely on Carmelo Anthony too much. If he can stop taking so many low percentage shots and find the open man, the Knicks could be deadly. I believe someone will rise for the Knicks and lead them past the Pacers. The home team will win every game in this series as it goes the distance with the Knicks coming out on top.

Thanks for reading!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

The Unlikely Final Four

If you are an average American, it is inevitable that your bracket is totally busted right now. If it looked like mine, you would be pulling for Louisville to win it all. I cannot say I saw Syracuse, Michigan, or Wichita State making it this far, but I can say I have liked it.
This year's tournament has been outstanding. I haven't seen parody like this in all my years of watching the dance. I have lived in an era were all four 1 seeds made it to the Final Four and where many Cinderellas don't make it past the Sweet 16. There have been a few years of craziness such as the Butler, George Mason and VCU years, but never anything like this. The fact that we have a nine and two four seeds really makes me happy. It shows that college basketball, unlike it's football counterpart, will and is not dominated by one conference or team. It also shows that anything can happen once you make it to the postseason.  i
So what now? We have to the the mystique of this situation fade away and get down to the dirty facts. Honestly, I feel this is Louisville's championship to lose. They are the most complete team and have been the most consistent all year. I find it hard to believe that they will lose tonight. The Wichita State Shockers will come out with a lot of energy and will use there big men like they did against Ohio State. The problem is that Big East teams are built for tournaments. Coaches know they have to make their teams deep and strong if they are going to make it through a rigorous Big East schedule and grueling tourney. That is what will show tonight when Louisville plays Wichita. It will be close in the opening half, but Silva and the rest of the  Louisville team will show their superiority late and win 68-60.
On the other side, I believe the Syracuse zone is playing as great as it ever has. Coach Boeheim has his team ready for any offense that comes the Orange's way. Michigan's Trey Burke will not make it easy though. He has been coming alive as of late and the rest of his team is really helping him out. I'm just not sure if the Wolverines are ready for what is going to happen tonight. It will be close and I see it coming down to a final shot by the Orange that allows them to move on the the Championship 49-48.
So on the year of the Big East's swan song, the conference will go out with two teams playing for it all. How fitting!

Monday, April 1, 2013

Champions League Quarter Finals: Leg One

It's April, which signifies the end of March Madness. In Europe, an elite eight still have plenty of madness to endure. The last round saw a hand full of incredible games, some epic match ups and even a few blowouts. Real Madrid's controversial win over Manchester United was only overshadowed by the beating Borussia Dortmund laid on Shakhtar Donetsk and the massive comeback by Barcelona.
Overall, the first round had a little bit of it all and I'm certain all the best teams won. Let's review who made it through:

Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Galatasaray
Juventus
Malaga
Paris Saint Germain
Real Madrid

Not too many shockers there, but on March 15th the quarter final draw was made. I felt that there was a good chance we could see all the best teams matched up against each other, but something else happened. Almost all the good teams were drawn with the weaker ones which sets up the possibility for some interesting match ups for the semi finals, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Here's what the quarter final draw gave us:

Barcelona vs Paris Saint Germain

Bayern  Munich vs Juventus

Real Madrid vs Galatasaray

Borussia Dortmund vs Malaga

Right away, the Bayren - Juve tie stands out. It is the one match up featuring two teams that could really win the whole thing. This tie will be a tough one to watch. Both teams play with a style that isn't always the most visually appealing and can be very methodical. If there is tie that could end with a 0-0 draw and penalties, it would be this one. Both teams play great defense and have senior players that can handle pressure. I have to say Bayern have a better attack and are in better form. They just whipped Hamburg 9-2 this weekend and I think that attacking form will continue going into Tuesday. I think Munich will win the first leg 2-1 after a strong performance. Juve will be toothless for most of the match, but will snag a late away goal.
The next standout match is Barcelona - PSG. This is interesting because of the story lines with PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He used to play for Barca, but had a fall out with the club and blamed midfielder Lionel Messi for it. Now the Swed will to Camp Nou to face his old team. Besides that, I think this will be a pretty boring tie. Barcelona may have had their issues earlier this year, but they are back now. I see a 2-0 for the Spanish side which will put this tie out of reach long before it really begins.
Real Madrid and Galatasaray is another interesting tie. Real Madrid faced the biggest test in the first round and even though they had some help, they were able to do it. This allows me to believe that they will be prepared for what Galatasaray can throw at them. Madrid will over take the Turkish side early in this tie because of their home field advantage. They will take an early 1-0 lead, but Galatasaray will use Champions League legend Didier Drogba to pull level shortly after halftime. By this time, Real Madrid will wake up find two late goals from Cristiano Ronoldo to take the easy 3-1 win going into Turkey.
The last tie of the quarter finals is Borussia Dortmund vs Malaga. These will be the most lopsided matches of the round. Dortmund is a favorite to win it all and I think they will show it early. They just have too much star power and I think Malaga is the weakest team left. It has been a good run for the Spanish side, but their Champions League dreams will die when they lose 2-0 at home to Dortmund.

Thanks for reading!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

March Madness 2013

     Ahhh! It's that time of year again. Spring is on it's way, the weather starts to let up a bit and the smell of freshly printed brackets looms in the air. Yep, it's definitely March Madness. Unfortunately, due to my work load right now, I couldn't give you some massive bracket picking blowout like I did last year, but I can supply you with my first round picks right now as well as some links to my 9 brackets I made on ESPN's website. Yes, I know I have a problem.  From my realistic thoughts, to my coin flip shenanigans you will be able to view both on the blog later today.
     Speaking of coin flips, I did one where I flipped every game of the tournament in hopes of proving this year would finally be the year where flipping a coin would be better than actually picking. If there is a year that a coin flip could win a bracket pool, it would be this year. There isn't one team I feel comfortable saying is the favorite, so madness will inevitably ensue. With that, I invite you to enjoy these first round picks and Happy March Madness!

Upset picks are bold and italicized 

Mid-West first round winners:

Louisville
Missouri
Oregon 
St. Louis
St. Mary's
Michigan State
Creighton
Duke

West first round winners:

Gonzaga
Wichita State
Ole Miss 
Kansas State
Belmont
New Mexico
Notre Dame
Ohio State

South first round winners:

Kansas
Villanova
VCU
Michigan
Minnesota 
Florida
San Diego State
Georgetown

East first round winners:

Indiana
NC State
California 
Syracuse
Butler
Marquette
Illinois
Miami





Friday, March 1, 2013

My 2013 MLS Preview

It's official, we've completed the 'March to Soccer'. Spring is just around the corner, all the new jerseys have been unveiled and most importantly, MLS training camps are over. A lot has changed in the league since the 2012 campaign. MLS figure head David Beckham left for PSG, Landon Donovan took some time off and there were a whole bunch of moves. That being said, all the changes have made this season one of the more open ones in recent memory. I think every club has a chance of making it to the postseason and I'm confident the US Open Cup landscape will change a fair amount. With MLS games starting tomorrow, let's take a look at my five bold predictions and how I think the league will finish this season.

Neil Rosan's five bold MLS predictions

5. The West will be totally wide open - Let's face it. Nearly every team that made the playoffs in the West last season lost a huge chunk of their team in the off season. LA lost Beckham, Salt Lake lost huge components and Seattle lost Montero. This undoubtedly opens the door for teams like Dallas and Portland to make some noise this season. Don't be surprised if Salt Lake or Seattle miss the playoffs this year because of what they lost.

4. Toronto FC will not finish last in the East - That's right, I said it. TFC had a terrible start last year and  they went on to loss 21 matches in total. I credit some of that to losing Captain Torsten Frings at the start of the year. Frings is no longer with the team, but I have a feeling with the amount of youth this team has they will come out of the gate stronger and have fewer injuries. That combined with how bad the Revolution are, I think they will finish a good 5 points above the Revs.

3. Caleb Porter will look really good at Portland - Portland didn't have a great season, but now that they have head coach Caleb Porter, I think they will improve tremendously. He has made a lot of good looking off season moves. Valencia will prove to be the biggest move, but defender Mikael Silvestre will also play a key role as a new signing. I think Porter will bring a good coaching style to the Timbers and they will defend the Cascadia Cup while they make it a race for the fifth playoff spot out West.

2. There will be two new teams in the US Open Cup Final - Sporting Kansas City and Seattle squared off for this piece of silverware this past year, but I don't think either will make it back. Though the US Open Cup has been an after thought for some time now, I feel that the new found popularity in the league will put more stress on a club winning a trophy. Since winning a league is so hard, more teams will focus their efforts on this competition which means less repeats in my book. Does this open the door for the Redbulls to finally win something? I won't go that far.

1. Houston will make it to a third straight MLS Cup... and win - I wasn't going to make a prediction about a Champion, but I guess it kind of came out anyway. This club, coached by Dominic Kinnear, have been almost unstoppable in the playoffs and I think that continues this year. I also think after two years of finishing runner up, the Dynamo are going to come out with a new fire and want to show the league they have what it takes. They may not have the best record when all is said and done, but this team gets dangerous in the Fall and everyone should watch out.


How the MLS will finish:

East

1. Sporting Kansas City - They lost Kei Kamara, but they still got the players to lead this conference. It will be close, but Sporting will pull it out in the end.

2. Houston Dynamo - These guys will continue on their form and get hot late. They will have a better start than last year and will be near the top all year.

3. Chicago Fire - After the addition of Fernandez last year, they became a much better team. I also think Nyarko comes into fruition this year which makes this team very different.

4. New York Red Bulls - They will be cursed by streaks once again. At times they will look like the best team in the league, but under perform a few games later. They will once again to enough to stay in the playoff race.

5. Columbus Crew- The Crew will do just enough to get into the playoffs. Striker Federico Higuain and Goalie Andy Gruenebaum will take this team to the next level and could continue to rise next year.
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PLAYOFFS
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6. DC United - For some reason, I don't have a lot of faith in this team. I know they came close to going to MLS Cup last year, but I think the teams around them have gotten better.

7. Philadelphia Union - This is kind of a risk pxutting this club this high, but I think the coaching staff will get it together and this team will have a bit of success.

8. Montreal Impact - After a stellar Inaugural season, Montreal will have a slump in the second. They will compete, but won't be good enough to finish games.

9. Toronto FC - Like I said before, the youth will lead this team to a better season than last year's.

10. New England Revolution - I don't like a single thing about this team.Maybe that dislike is bleeding over, but I don't think they have what it takes to do a lot this season.

West

1. San Jose Eathquakes - This team lost the least in the off season  Chris Wondoloski will continue his scoring run as the rest of his teammates replicate a season close to last year's.

2. Seattle Sounders - This team lost some players, but I think they gained what they needed in the off season. It won't be a strong second place finish, but it will happen.

3. Los Angeles Galaxy - They will have trouble finding their bearings at the beginning of the season, but it will come together down the stretch.

4. Vancouver Whitecaps - They made it to the playoffs last year and I think they will do enough this year. They had a lot of good talent show up and I think the likes of Jay Demerit lead the team to glory.

5. FC Dallas- Brek Shea may be gone, but this team is sticking around. Players like David Ferreira and Kenny Cooper will put this team in the playoffs.
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PLAYOFFS
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6. Portland Timbers - They will come close with Caleb Porter, but this team still isn't ready. Just give the Timbers a year and they will be ready to be a club that makes it to the playoffs annually.

7.  Real Salt Lake - I know this is a little harsh, but this team lost so much and the rest of the conference is is getting better. By the looks of it, Salt Lake won't be the same for a while.

8. Colorado Rapids - Not much going for the Rapids this year. I feel like they will be in the race early, but they won't be able to score enough goals to stay in it.

9. Chivas USA - Do I even have to explain myself? This club is a mess!

Thanks for reading!



Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Champions League Round of 16: Part two


After a week that saw Celtic downed in Scotland and Real Madrid battle Manchester United to a 1-1 draw, the Champions League round of sixteen still has much to offer in it's second week.
Though there may not be a match up with the same weight or interest as the Real-United tie, there are still some juicy pairings. 
Tuesday pits the bipolar Arsenal against the Bundesliga leading Bayern Munich and Spanish Club Malaga against Porto from Portugal. 
Arsenal Bayern is the match of the day as it sees two very poplar clubs fighting it out and has many great story lines. One of those story lines is the one of Lucas Podolski. Podolski had a long history with Bayern and came to Arsenal in  the off season. His return to Germany is only overshadowed by Ronaldo's return to Manchester. 
Another big story line will be the one of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Pressure has been mounting on the man that has been the brains for over a decade at the historic London club. After this past week's FA Cup loss to Blackburn many are calling for his head. A big win against Bayern could fix that. 
The Porto-Malaga tie should be an interesting one as well. The Portugal-Sapin rivalry is always interesting and both clubs have a huge opportunity to get to the next round. 
As for Wednesday, the matches are just a little more interesting. First, there is the classic matchup of AC Milan and Barcelona. The two have formed a 'rivalry' in the Champions League because of their frequent meetings. 
Barcelona has seen the upper hand of many of the most recent meetings, but Milan's new found form could change that. It will be a sight to see Balotelli and Messi on the same field. I'm a huge fan of both players and I'm eager to see what they can do for their respective sides.
The other Wednesday game features the Turkish club Galatasaray and the German club Schalke 04. Both can be considered dark horses for the semi-finals  and I'm sure many clubs see them as a huge threat. 
Schalke has the German tenacity and fight to get through and players like Klaas Jan Huntelaar will surely supply some spark. 
Galatasaray loaded up on star power during the transfer window. Signings like Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba will be eager to show their worth to the club. 
With all that said, here are my picks. 
Arsenal vs Bayern - The German side will be too much from start to finish. Arsenal will create a few goals, but ultimately they will be out maned and lose 6-2 on aggregate. 
Porto vs Malaga - Porto look to be back in shape for a deep run. They will take an early lead and keep it to the end. I got Porto 3-1 on aggregate. 
Barcelona vs AC Milan - Milan will make it interesting early, but Messi and the passing offense of Barcelona will be too much. Barca win 5-2 on aggregate. 
Galatasaray vs Schalke 04 - The Germans take care of business at home, but the start power will show it's worth for the Turkish. Gala win 3-2 on aggregate. 

Monday, February 11, 2013

UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Part One

To a commoner, February is a month filled with love and gifts for many people. For soccer fans, February marks the return of the Champions League. Since December's match draw, millions have been drooling over eight of the best soccer games you will see all year.
The first two days of the knock out round are filled with match ups that are sure to thrill any sports fan. On Tuesday, the hard nosed Scottish club Celtic takes on the high flying Italian club Juventus and the big spending French club Paris St. Germain takes on the forgotten Spanish club Valencia. Wednesday is the big day because Manchester United and Real Madrid face off in an epic pairing while Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine takes on the upstart Borussia Dortmund from Germany. As many of you may know, these matches will take place over two legs (a home and home series if you will) with the winner being determined by the aggregate score.
On the eve of these huge games, I will give you my predictions of both legs and who will be moving on to the quarter finals.

Celtic vs Juventus 
This is an interesting match up between two teams dominating at the domestic league level. Celtic fought through a group that included Barcelona and had success against them in Scotland. The Bhoys are currently leading the Scottish Premier League by 18 points. They play a tough style of soccer and get some scrappy goals at times. They will rely heavily on striker Gary Hooper for goals. He has scored 13 times in the SPL and usually comes up big for the Hoops. Juventus got through a group that included Chelsea  the reigning European Champions. Juve currently leads Serie A by 5 points. They use a more spread out style on play than Celtic and have many scoring options.
In the end, I think these two legs will come down to the Celtic defense. They allow an average of 1.33 goals per game, but only allow .67 at home. If they can stand up and play their physical style against Juve, I think they will grind out the win. They will take the lead early in the legs and take a 2-0 lead going to Italy because of their great home crowd. In the second leg, they will fall behind 0-2 early, but score an aggregate winning goal in the final 15 minutes.

Celtic 3-2 (agg.)

PSG vs Valencia 
PSG did a lot of big spending in the off season and January transfer window. They brought in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva and everything has turned around from there. After a rough start in Ligue 1, the mega spenders find themselves up 6 points and on a hot streak. The only issue for the club from Paris is that they live and die by Ibrahimovic. He has scored 21 goals in Ligue one this year and is their only frighting attacker. Valencia is not the same team that earned the Champions League spot last year. They are in 5th place in La Liga and are 9 points behind third place. They allow more goals than they have scored and have a hard time scoring on the road. This spells death in the two leg system.
I think PSG earns a 2-1 win in Spain and demolishes Valenica in France 4-0. As a side note, Ibrahimovic will score 4 of PSG's goals.

PSG 6-1 (agg.)

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Borussia Dortmund 
Donetsk is not well known even by soccer fans. Though they have been one of the top Ukrainian clubs for most of the 21st century, the Ukrainian Premier League is not respected as well as others. They are currently dominating the UPL and have won 4 out of their last 5 matches. To be honest, I don't know much about them. I do know they made things hard on Chelsea, so this team has what it takes. Borussia Dortmund won back to back Bundesliga titles and are currently sitting in second place. They are a young team with a lot of promise. Striker Robert Lewandowski will be the man to watch. He has 14 goals in the Bundesliga and has created chances for others.
I think Donetsk will gave Dortmund some issues and that these games will be closer than many fans would like to see. Donetsk will earn a 2-2 tie in Ukraine, but Dortmund will take a 2-1 win at home and win in the aggregate.

Borussia Dortmund 4-3 (agg.)

Manchester United vs Real Madrid  
If you get the chance to watch one Champions League match, make sure it's this one. Two historic clubs clashing in the early rounds makes for one huge match. Manchester United, winners of three Champions Leagues, come in with a mighty league in the English Premier League. They are one place to set one of the highest point totals in EPL history, but have been letting in a surprising number of goals. Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez are all guys to watch out for. Rooney and RVP both have double digit goal totals in the EPL and Chicharito isn't far behind. Real Madrid, winners of nine Champions Leagues, come in having a down year. they are essentially out of the La Liga race and are in third place. They play a spread out style of soccer and have plenty of dynamic players. United will have to watch out for Cristiano Ronaldo, who transferred from Manchester in 2009. His quick feet and dazzling footwork will really test the shaky Red Devil defense. United will also have to watch out for Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema. These two supply most of Madrid's assists and are vital in the passing game.
When the smoke clears after this battle, I think Real Madrid will come out on top. United's defense will get torched by the Madrid attack and they won't be able to keep up. I see Real Madrid winning 4-2 at home before going to England and winning 3-2.

Real Madrid 7-4 (agg.)

Thanks for reading!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Superbowl XLVII: Ray and the Rookie

The high holy day of American sports is almost here. Super Sunday is a day unlike any other and this year we have a match up unlike any other. For some reason, I'm really falling in love with this game. Maybe it's something about how both teams came up just short last year and now they are getting their chance to win it all.
Maybe it's the history of both teams. The San Francisco 49ers have had so much success in the past, but have stumbled for most of my life time. To see them reach the big game once again brings back shades of all the great players embedded in their past. The Baltimore Ravens have had a strong tradition of a great defense, but never seemed to have the offense to make it. I can't count the times I've seen this team get picks to make it to the Superbowl, just to tall short because they don't have any offense. 
Maybe it's the fact that the coaches are brothers and I can't help but think of the awkward family reunions for years to come. Though all of those are great reasons to get excited for this game, there is a different reason for my excitement: Ray vs the Rookie. 
I am so excited to see Ray Lewis and his Ravens defense take on Colin Kaepernick and his 49ers offense. They are the best two stories of the NFL playoffs and they are meeting in a way no one one could have imagined. Kaepernick is following in the footsteps of Tom Brady by making it to the Superbowl as a rookie. Lewis will be playing in the final game of his NFL career and will be looking to go out like John Elway and Jerome Bettis. Only one of these stories will have a happy ending. Now that's what you call drama. 

Superbowl XLVII: The Baltimore Ravens vs The San Francisco 49ers
From an offensive and defensive standpoint, the 49ers have a huge advantage. Despite their 23rd ranking passing attack, the boys from SF have a running game that averages 155.7 points per game. They also have the most dynamic QB playing in the game right now. Kaepernick  is on fire and will make a huge impact early and often. The Raven's defense can't just focus on him. TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore are two other players that will need to be covered. They have been making big plays all year. The 49er defense is outstanding as well. They are good at stopping the pass and run though they have been beat up by two great offenses in the Playoffs. 
Baltimore will really have their work cut out for them. The Raven offense is not as dynamic as the 49ers and I'm not sure if they can keep up scoring wise. They haven't been able to score over 40 points in the playoffs, but their defense has really kept them in games. Lewis has been an emotional leader and you would be crazy to doubt that this team could rise to the occasion and  really put a beat down on the 49ers. I think Joe Flacco will need to be nearly perfect to win this game and RB Ray Rice will need to find space in the running game. 
With all of this taken into consideration, it's hard to pick a winner. I want to pick the 49ers because I think they are the better team. At the same time, I can't pick against the Ravens just because of the leadership of Ray Lewis. I know he will have his guys ready for this game and that is a powerful weapon. So with that, I say the Ravens beat the 49ers 31-28 in the first overtime game in Superbowl history.

Thanks for reading!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Conference Championship Sunday

Only two games remain before Superbowl XLVII and there are a lot of familiar faces in the Conference Championships. The Ravens and Patriots will renew their constant playoff clashes in a rematch of last year's AFC title game and the 49ers will try to avoid a repeat performance of last year's muffed punt fiasco against the Falcons in the NFC title game. All in all, these are a pair of really good games. The NFC we have some high flying offenses, while the AFC will be another Pats Ravens match up we will remember for a long time. So let's see who's going to the Superbowl!

The Baltimore Ravens vs The New England Patriots
The Ravens have fought for two great wins in the playoffs. The problem is if last week was a 'miracle', as proclaimed by the Raven's radio broadcasters, a win the week could just be a direct act from some higher power. The Raven's are going to need to get Ray Rice going in this game. As we saw last week, if he can find some space, it opens up the passing game. The Patriots have the 9th best rushing defense in the league, so the Ravens might have some issues moving the ball. As for the rest of the offense, the other man to watch is WR Anquan Boldin. Everyone in the media is talking about WR Torrey Smith and his ability to go deep. That's great and all, but Boldin is the guy that opens the defense up for Smith. He attracts defenders because of his play making ability shown through out his long NFL career. The other thing that could happen would be that the new emphasis on Smith could open up Bolden. Either way, Boldin will play a huge role today. The Raven's defense, known for it's tenacity, could be the weakness for the Ravens. Though Ray Lewis is playing like he's from another planet right now, Tom Brady knows how to work a defense into a tail spin.
Speaking of Tom Brady, he's having another banner year. He has thrown for nearly 5,000 and has led this offense to 5 games with 40 or more points. The Pats are also blessed with options on offense with Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Stevan Riddley. We all know what the Patriot offense can do and will do today, the major question is what the defense will do. The Pats have a stout run defense, but the pass defense is terrible. Ranking 29th in the league, the Patriots allow an average of 271.4 yards per game though the air. That should give Joe Flacco and his receiving corps plenty of opportunities.
So who wins? It's going to be close. Both defenses have major flaws and I think the teams will go back and forth for a while. I just can't pick against the Patriots. I have New England in the Superbowl again after they win 34-31.

The San Francisco 49ers vs The Atlanta Falcons 
Matt Ryan finally won a playoff game. As a reward, he gets to play against one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the game. Fun for us, not for him. The Falcon's passing game is insane  Matt Ryan has one heck of an arm and has receivers like Julio Jones and Roddy White to throw to. There is no doubt that the Falcon offense that averages 281.8 passing yards per game will show up. The problems will be the defense and the running game. Micheal Turner has had a pretty good year. The problem is that the offense is averaging less than 90 rushing yards per game. Some of this can be attributed to all the passing they do, but it still isn't a great sign if they want to have a chance. The defense has let in huge amounts of yardage to a lot of teams and have been burned a couple times by mobile QBs. That isn't a good sign for a defense taking on Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick is the 49ers reason for success. His abilities to run, pass, and extend plays are a deadly combination. Kaeprnick has also gotten some help from veteran running back Frank Gore. With over 1,000 yards, Gore has been a great security blanket for his young quarterback and a driving force in the middle of the field. Just like the Falcons, the 49ers have an array of talent in the receiving game. Vernon Davis and Micheal Crabtree are just a few of the names that will be called a lot when Kaepernick is throwing the ball. The 49er defense is also really good. They don't give up a ton of yards through the air or ground.
I think the 49ers are going to win this game because they have more experience and more play makers on both sides of the ball. The 49er win 38-29.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round

With a fresh slate of classes and CM-Life taking over, today's post is a little short and a little late. Last week's Wildcard Weekend didn't disappoint. All three games proved to be pretty interesting and all the games went the way I picked them. Whoo hoo. This week, it gets a little harder for the teams that tasted victory last week. The Packers head west to take on a 49er team that beat them 30-22 in week one and Baltimore and Denver clash in Peyton's first playoff game as a Bronco. Sunday gives us a battle of the NFC's best and hottest teams in the Atlanta-Seattle game and another blowout rematch in the Texans-Patriots game. Who has a spot in the Conference Championships? Let's find out.

The Baltimore Ravens vs The Denver Broncos 
Who would have thought Denver would have been here a year ago. Of course, when a team adds Peyton Manning to the roster, almost anything can happen. Manning has lead the Broncos by passing for 4,659 and 37 touchdowns which is hardly a shocker. The Bronco defense is the real story for Denver. They only allow an average of 199.6 passing yards per game and 91.1 rushing yards per game. This should be enough to hold the Ravens mediocre offense in check. The Ravens will need RB Ray Rice and QB Joe Flacco to have career days if they want to win. Joe Flacco was able to do this when these two teams face in week 15 by throwiing for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Now the Ravens need Ray Rice need to show up this time.   The once stellar Ravens defense looks like it could be torn up by Manning again this season and I think they will.
According to the NFL on FOX, Manning is 0-3 in playoff games when the temp is below 40 degrees. The forecast calls for a kick off temperature of 19 degrees. Though that is an interesting stat, the Broncos are 7-1 at home and are on an eleven game winning streak. I have the Broncos winning 35-17.

The Green Bay Packers vs The San Francisco 49ers
The outcome of this game falls squarely on the Packer's defense. They need to stop the run for another week. The Packers did a hell of a job containing Adrian Peterson last week and they will need to do the same to Frank Gore this week. It will be a tough task since the 49ers average 155.7 rushing yards per game. San Fran QB Colin Kaepernick will be a great weapon for the 49ers because the Packer's have yet to face him and won't be able to handle his dual threat capability. When all is said and done, the 49ers will slow down Aaron Rodgers and tear up the Packers defense to win 33-20.

The Seattle Seahawks vs The Atlanta Falcons
This will be the first meeting of the season for these two teams which makes for interesting playoff games. The Seahawks will have to use RB Marshawn Lynch to attack a Falcon's defense that allows an average of 123.2 rushing yards per game. Russel Wilson will also help with his ability to make plays on the ground and extend his passing plays. Falcons QB Matt Ryan will have to face a defense that allows an average of 203.1 passing yards per game. The Falcons are also at a disadvantage because they lack in the running game.
I think the Seahawks defense will slow down the one dimensional Atlanta offense and Marshawn Lynch will run rampant on the other side of the ball. I got the Seahawks winning 27-19.

The Houston Texans vs The New England Patriots
This match up doesn't look good for the Houston Texans. Ever since New England their  blasted them 42-14  back in December, I haven't been able to see this team getting to the Superbowl. New England has Tom Brady and the rest of that exciting offense and a defense that can stop the run. That spells danger if you're the Texans. The Texan's one hope is in the passing game. Tight End Owen Daniels is a mismatch and could cause some issues for the Patriot defense.
In the end, I don't have enough faith in the Houston defense. Tom Brady carves them up for a second time this season and leads the Pats to a 29-10 victory.

Thanks for reading!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Max's BCS National Championship Pick

Watch this video to see who Max picked to win!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gei3pFgu8rI

After a rough start, Max hopes to improve on his 1-3 record this year!

Thanks for watching! 

The National Championship: Notre Dame vs Alabama

Well this is it. Months of football, tailgates, fight songs, mascots and anticipation have led to this: The National Championship. On one side you have the up start Irish who have used their defense to get to this game. On the other side you have Alabama, the reigning National Champions who have a defense that can match Notre Dame's and a supreme rushing attack.
Way back at the start of the season, I had Notre Dame going 8-4 with losses to MSU, Michigan, Oklahoma and USC. I couldn't have been more wrong. They have shut down all of the teams on their schedule with their defense. They allow an average of 10.3 points per game and allowed a season high 26 in a triple overtime game against Pitt. Manti Te'o is the star of this defense and should receive a lot of credit for how he rallies this team. My issue with the Irish is their lack of an offense. Yes, I know they went undefeated, but the Irish offense was woeful in many performances. If it wasn't for blowouts against a weak Navy side and a lack luster Miami, their offensive stats would be laughable. Just look at Everett Golson's stats against Michigan, which had one of the better defenses they faced. 3-8 for 30 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 19.0. I expect a similar night for him against the Tide tonight. The only hope the Irish have are their run game which averages 202.5 yards per game.
At the start of the season, I saw Alabama losing one game and just missing out on the National Championship game. if the infamous K-State and Oregon weekend didn't happen, I would be looking really good, but enough of that. Alabama has one heck of a defense. They allowed an average of 10.7 points per game while thriving in the tough SEC. Unlike the Irish, the Tide have an offense that scores an average of 38.5 points per game and averages 224.6 yards per game on the ground. RBs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon will have issues at first, but will start to find running lanes behind their powerful line. QB A.J. McCarron will put the Tide well ahead of the Irish with his ability to extend plays and make the necessary throws.
When the wistle blows on this one, I see a game that looks very similar to last year's. The Alabama defense will pin the Irish back in their own territory for most of the game which will allow the Tide's run game to take care of business. I see the Tide winning their second National Championship 26-10.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

NFL Wildcard Weekend

After 17 weeks of regular season football, the playoffs finally begin with some great wildcard games. There's a little bit of a story line to satisfy every football fan this weekend. The Green Bay Minnesota game features two division rivals clashing for the third time, the Cincinnati Houston game promises playoff success for two franchises that haven't had much, the Indianapolis Baltimore game is rich in iconic football history, and the Seattle Washington game features a dream pairing of rookie quarterbacks that have turned their franchises around. What a weekend we have ahead of us.

The Cincinnati Bengals vs The Houston Texans
Houston seemed to have it made just a few weeks ago. It looked like they would have a bye week and maybe even home field advantage. Now they have to put their season on the line one week earlier than expected. I think the latest run for the Texans should wake them up a bit for this game. If Houston want to win, they need to exploit their superiority on both sides of the run game. RB Arian Foster should prove to be a valuable weapon on the offensive side of the ball. Foster should be able to make a sometimes shaky Bengal's run defense look bad with his play making ability. He's rushed for seven 100 yard games this season  and can really beat up an offensive line. The Houston defense, with J.J. Watt, have stopped a lot of good rushing attacks this season. They give up an average of 97.5 rushing yards per game which is seventh best in the league. If the Bengals want to win, their defense must give them a chance. When the Bengals allow more than 20 points in a game, they are 2-5. When they hold a team to under 20 points, they are 8-1. The Bengal's offense has a lot of play makers, but they struggle moving the football consistently as well as scoring. If the defense can hold Foster and Andre Johnson back, I think Andy Dalton can get the job done for the Bengals.
The problem is that I don't have enough faith in the Bengal defense. I see Foster running his way to the 34-20 win.

The Minnesota Vikings vs The Green Bay Packers
One could say that we saw a preview of this game last week, but they would be missing the fact Green Bay was missing Randall Cobb and Charles Woodson. The interesting aspect of this game is that we got a good runner vs a bad run defense and a good passer against a bad passing defense. Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the game right now. He tore up Green Bay's 17th ranked rush defense last week and he will do it again this week. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers also had a great week against the Vikings last week. His 365 yards and four touchdowns against the 24th ranked pass defense should be replicated again this week. In the end, one of these two teams is going to have to step up and stop the other team's strength or find a different way to win by improving on their weaknesses.
Last week's game came down to a field goal, so the best way to pick this game might be through a coin toss. I'll just bank on the home field advantage for the Packers. I have Green Bay winning 37-35.

The Indianapolis Colts vs The Baltimore Ravens 
The NFL history is so rich in this one. I love when these two play just for that. Baltimore comes in with a pretty good offense and a defense that has been giving up a lot of yards, but still grinding against teams and getting wins. I think it will be interesting to see how this squad plays knowing that if they lose Ray Lewis' career in the NFL is over. It will also be interesting to see how they play Andrew Luck. I think RB Ray Rice is the key to the game for the Ravens. In the past few weeks he has struggled and the Ravens have lost. Now he gets a chance to make a big difference against the 29th ranked rush defense. If he can beat the Colts on the ground, I think it will give Joe Flacco some confidence which will make Baltimore a complete team. For the Colts to win, they need QB Andrew Luck to play one of the best games of his young career and have one of the best defensive performances of the year. Luck has taken a lot of pressure against good teams with good defenses. If he can escape a few sacks and take care of the ball, I think he can lead his team to victory. I just don't think the offensive line is up for the challenge.
I think the Raven's defense will be too much for the Colts offense which leads to a 24-19 victory for Baltimore.

The Seattle Seahawks vs The Washington Redskins 
This is the game of the weekend. Rookie QBs Russel Wilson and Robert Griffin III are going to put on a show on Sunday Night. They key to this game is which team can limit the damage the other QB is going to do. Both QBs are dual threat and have great running backs to back them up. They can both make plays and both don't seem to fear a thing on the football field. Besides the QBs, both teams rank in the top five in the running game and have less than stellar passing offenses in terms of yards per game. The one thing that separates these two teams is their passing defenses. Seattle allows an average of 203.1 passing yards per game which puts them sixth in the league. Washington allows an average of 281.9 passing yards per game. I think that's what pushes this game in favor of the Seahawks. I think Seattle wins via Russel Wilson's arm 29-25.

Thanks for reading!

Friday, January 4, 2013

Bowl Season comes to a close

After a few great weeks of bowls and some decent picks, we have made it to the final stretch. Only three games separate us from the National Championship. Due to getting ready to head back to school and the other things the end of the holidays bring these picks will be short!
 Enjoy!


The Cotton Bowl - Texas A&M VS Oklahoma
Texas A&M has QB Johnny Manziel who won the Heisman earlier in the season. His 43 total touchdowns and 3,419 yards through the air are pretty amazing. Only two teams with very stout defenses have stopped him. With linebacker pressure, Oklahoma can beat him, but I don't think the Sooners will be able to apply the pressure. Oklahoma has weapons on the offensive side of the ball as well. QB Landry Jones as well as RB Damien Williams and WR Kenny Stills are all poised to have a big night. It will be a tough task for the Aggie defense to stop all three of them. In the end, I see this game as one that is nearly impossible to predict. Both teams have a lot of play makers on the offensive side of the ball and have solid defenses. The tipping point for me is Johnny Manziel. He's had a heck of a year and he's the Heisman winner. That's why the Aggies get my vote in this one. I think A&M will win 38-36.

Quick Picks!

BBVA Compass Bowl - Pittsburgh 28 Ole Miss-19
Player to watch: Pitt QB Tino Sunseri - He is a guy that can really throw the ball (3,103 yards 19TDs) and knows how to take care of the ball (2 interceptions). He is a senior leader and I think he leads the Panthers to victory.
Reason Pitt wins: They have the better defense. They will shut Ole Miss down and will pick apart the Rebel defense.

GoDaddy.com Bowl - Kent State 25 Arkansas State 38
Player to watch: Kent State RB Dri Archer - This guy can run the ball and catch the ball out of the backfield which makes him very dangerous. He averages 9 yards and rush and 15.6 yards per catch. With close to 2,000 yards of total offense, he is the best player on the field.
Reason Arkansas State wins: The Red Wolves have a great offense that is very even across the board. They have a great defense as well and will be able to contain Archer. Though this team is 9-3, all of their losses came to teams who went to bowl games and two losses came to teams who won 10 games this season. They are an under-rated team and I think they will show everyone what they are made of Sunday.

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

BCS Predictions: Sugar and Fiesta

After a hard nosed Rose Bowl and lack luster Orange Bowl, the BCS now turns to the Sugar and Fiesta Bowls. The Sugar Bowl features one of the SEC's elite and a Big East school trying to prove that they belong. The Fiesta features two of the nation's best offenses as the dual in the desert. Needless to say, there are a couple of good games heading our way.

The Sugar Bowl - Louisville VS Florida 
Nothing spells disaster like Big East vs SEC during football season. The Big East always seems like a joke to everyone around the country and after their self destruction during conference re-alignment, the conference may never be respected. That being said, this Louisville team could change that tonight. Ranked as the 21st team in the nation, the Cardinals smashed through the regular season to a 10-2 record and were led by QB Teddy Bridgewater. He will be one of the best athletes on the field tonight and will threaten the Florida defense with his arm. Bridgewater threw for 3,452 yards this season with 25 touchdowns. He is a very actuate passer who completed 69% of his throws this year and only gave up 7 picks. Bridewater is also a mobile quarterback. He doesn't run down field a lot, but he can extend the play in the backfield by making people miss. The Louisville running game is ranked 100th in the nation in yards gained, but they gain the yards in key spots and score touchdowns. Jeremy Wright leads the rushing attack after an injury to Senorise Perry. Wright has 740 yards this season with 9 touchdowns. He will be the key to this game. If he can get some gains against this tough Florida defense, he opens up the playbook and allows Bridgewater to shine. Florida comes in as the favorites. The Gators' 11-1 record in the SEC is very impressive and they should give most of the credit to their defense. Florida's defense is ranked 3rd nationally in points allowed. Allowing 12.9 points per game will give even the most sluggish of offenses a chance to win. On the offensive side of the ball, the Gators have a solid running game led by RB Mike Gillislee. His 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns lead the Gators and should be added to tonight. The other offensive weapon the Gators have is QB Jeff Driskel. He isn't such a great passer, but has the ability to run. With only 1,471 yards through the air, he makes up for it with his 404 yards on the ground.
I see this game coming down to Louisville's ability to handle the Florida defense. The Cardinal's offensive line has allowed 23 sacks on Bridgewater which is not a good sign. I see this game going much like the Gator's 2010 stomping of Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. It wont be as high scoring, but Florida will dominate just the same. I see the Gators winning 31-10 with Louisville's 10 coming late.

The Fiesta Bowl - Kansas State VS Oregon 
This is one of the games I have been looking forward to the most. These are two of the best offenses in the nation and we were very close to seeing them in the National Championship. If there was a third place game for college football this year, this would be it. Kansas State has scored an average of 40.7 points per game this season. All of the credit for the offense goes to QB Colin Klein. He has 3,380 yards of total offense and 37 total touchdowns. He gets a lot done with his arm, but his legs have led him to more touchdowns. He will be the main contributor to the K-State offense, but if the Wildcats want to win, they are also going to need big performances from RB John Hubert and WR Tyler Lockett. Lockett averages 16.3 yards per catch and will be a thorn in the Oregon defense's side. Hubert, who rushed for 892 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, we be needed to take some of the pressure off of Klein. Oregon comes in with the second best scoring and rushing offense in the nation. Led by RB Kenjon Barner, the Ducks have put an average of 50.8 points per game while rushing for an average of 323.3 yards per game. Barner is the center piece of the rush attack. His powerful, yet graceful running ability allowed him to run for 1,624 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Oregon's other weapons include QB Marcus Mariota, RB/WR De'Anthony Thomas and WR Josh Huff. Thomas has run for 686 yards this season and has caught 41 passes for 385 yards. The scary thing about him is that he averages 7.6 yards per rush and 9.4 yards per catch. K-State's ability to contain him will dictate their chances of winning. The glue that holds this offense together is Mariota. The freshman QB has been exactly what the Ducks needed after Darron Thomas left last year. He completes 69% of his passes, doesn't throw many interceptions and has some ridiculous stats.
As you can see, both offenses are raring to go, but this game will come down to the defenses. Both allow around 22 points per game and are well practiced because they have to face their own offenses. Both cause a good amount of turn overs and both bend with out breaking. So who can I pick? I think KSU's game against Baylor will tell the story. I think the Ducks run all over the K-State defense while Klein struggles just enough to give Oregon the win. The Ducks win a shoot out 40-35.

Thanks for reading!