The World Series

     It's finally here: The Fall Classic. After 6 months of glory and pain, two teams now find themselves on the cusp of glory. The Texas Rangers are no strangers to these parts. A trip to the series last year proved to be too much as they lost to the Giants handy. This year, they flew through the AL West, handled the Rays in the ALDS, and absolutely slugged past the Tigers. As everyone was obsessing over the Red Sox and Yankees, this team endured the talk and showed why they are going to the World Series for the second straight year. On the other side, the Cardinals have been away for a while. Since their 2006 series, the Cards have been a contender every year, but just haven't been able to push past the rest of the National League. This year, they finally put it all together, but just barely. They got into the playoffs with some major help from the Brave's monumental September collapse. Then, they had their backs against the wall as the squeaked by the fantastic Phillies and capped it all off by handing Milwaukee a NLCS loss.
      So what is to come of this? Only one of the best series that we will have seen in many years. This Series has the star power (Pujols, Cruz), hitting power (Both teams average over 4 runs a game!), and of course, pitching power. The keys to this match up will be the hitting. Early run support will be key because both teams have very explosive bats. Home runs should be plentiful with players the Pujols and Cruz who always have the potential to smack one out of the yard. Like many baseball series, it will all come down to the bullpen. Whoever can pitch better will win the series and with the staff the Rangers have, it is hard not to pick them. You heard it folks. I think the Rangers will win in an epic game seven, sealing on of the best series in recent memory.

Thanks for reading and be sure to look out for my Football picks (out tomorrow) and my end of season grades for the rest of Major League Baseball.

Follow me on Twitter @sportsandneil or email me at sportsaccordingtoneil@gmail.com!

Football Picks for This Weekend

     Another exciting weekend of Football is just around the corner. After a great Monday Night game from Detroit, Michigan's sports fans will be looking toward two great in-state rivalries. Outside of Michigan, there are numerous top 25 match ups in college football and big NFL games. There's also this little thing called the ALCS. I'll be looking at what the Tigers should do to win the final two games. So without further ado, to the picks!

20 Baylor @ 21 Texas A&M  - The Aggies have had a very tough start to the season. Their two biggest games, Oklahoma State and Arkansas, have both been let downs. Leading at halftime in both, poor play in the second proved to be fatal. They now have a chance to redeem themselves, but it will not be an easy task. The Baylor Bears and Griffin III look like a Dark horse in the Big12. They have one of the best offenses in the NCAA. The Bears average 47.6 points a game and haven't scored lower than 35 points this season. I expect them to explode on the A&M defense. The only question will be the Baylor defense. If they can control Cyrus Grey and possibly get a few turn overs, I see the Baylor Bears winning a close one to the tune of 42-39.

6 Oklahoma State @ 22 Texas - Oklahoma State should be on upset alert for this game. Texas got crushed last week and would like nothing more than to knock the number six team off their high horse. The problem for the Longhorns is that they are versing the number one offense. The Poke's put up 70 on Kansas and I'm sure they could put up big numbers on almost anyone in the Big12. Weeden is nearing 2000 yards already and I expect a huge day from him. In the end, OSU will just be too much for a pumped up Texas. I expect the Pokes to win 56-28.

17 Arizona St @ 9 Oregon - LaMichael James is in the for something else than putting up huge numbers for once. If you haven't heard, he really messed up his arm in last week's game against California. Now the keys to Chip Kelly's run game are in Kenjon Barner's hands. Everyone has been talking about how the Ducks should be on upset alert and they have the right to. It's scary looking at the ASU defense especially without James, but Barner is just as good as James. He has the speed and size to put the team on his back. Plus the Duck defense plays so good at home. With all that for the Ducks, I still have to give the Sun Devils some love. They have a great defense filled with a bunch of play makers. They will really give Thomas fits when he tries to throw and will probably stop the run at the start. I see a battle in Eugene, but the Ducks will wear down a good ASU team and win 31-28.

11 Michigan @ 23 Michigan State - This is a very intriguing match up. Denard Robinson taking on a tough Spartan defense makes many football fans drool. Michigan must be on alert for this game because this is a very winnable game for the Spartans. The concern for Michigan is that Shoelace has thrown 9 interceptions this year. Luckily, they have won all their games with the interceptions. Robinson can't make those same mistakes this week or it could be curtains for the U of M. Also, it's troubling that Robinson is the leading rusher for the Wolverines. On the other side, MSU has had a cupcake schedule and lost to Notre Dame. Overall, this will be an sightly ugly game, but MSU comes out on top 17-14.

Other picks :

NCAAF

CMU 35 - EMU 14 ~ Radcliff delivers on homecoming and looks towards the rest of the MAC.

NFL

49er's 31 - Lions 41 ~ Tough for the D early, but Megatron kills the 49er secondary late.

Saints 35 - Bucs 28 ~ Drew Brees > Josh Freeman. End of story.

Eagles 10 - Redskins 17 ~ Frustration sets in for the Eagles as nothing goes right.

Texans 17 - Ravens 24 ~ Ravens D is too good for a hurt Houston offense

Opinion

     Last night the Tigers fought back to get to game six in the ALCS against the Rangers. The celebration was great, but it better be brief. The real work starts now because the Tigers haven't done well in Texas. Plus, with the Rangers being one game away from the World Series the crowd will be absolutely pumped. I have a lot faith in the Tiger's starting pitching. Scherzer has been strong all season and will be sure to give the Tigers at least 6 innings so the hot and cold bullpen doesn't have to win the game. It's defiantly the offense that needs to step up to win the next two games. Tigers pitchers haven't much support this series. That coupled with Texas's explosive bats has equaled bad news. I picked the Tigers to win in six and I still see them winning. Cardiac Kitty's II? I think so.

Pick-A-Palooza!

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Watch it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auHNTm1jQzg

Thanks for watching and enjoy all of the great games!

Week 5 College Football Picks!

Well, we are already to week five! We are starting to get into some really big in conference games. Arguably, the biggest game of this week comes out of the Big Ten. So let's take a look!

#8Nebraska @ #7Wisconsin - Two hard nosed football teams clash in Madison. This could easily be a preview of the Big Ten Championship. With great running games on both sides, it could be a great shootout for the ages. Look for Wisconsin to come up big on defense and take care of Martinez, the Nebraska QB. After the dust settles, I see the boys from Wisconsin winning 36-31.

SMU @ #20TCU - A nice little Texas match-up here. TCU has been having a very shaky year. They haven't really had a game where the other team hasn't given them a scare. This will continue for the Horned Frogs as SMU gives them trouble early. Good QB play will save the Frogs in the second half as they win 41-21.

MSU @ OSU - This is another great match-up for the Big Ten. Though it is a bit lack luster due to both teams falling out of the top 25, it will still be an incredibly good game. Cousin's is key to the Spartan's success. He will need to be almost flawless at the Horse Shoe. The Buck's defense will make sure that doesn't happen. They will cause turn overs and possibly a score. The Bucks win 24-21.

#13Clemson @ #11Virginia Tech - Possibly the ACC match-up of the year! The Tigers will be riding high after beating Auburn, but Coach Beamer has his team looking better than ever! I am almost certain that the Hokies from Virginia Tech will win this game. They out match Clemson in speed and they have home field. The Tigers won't make it easy, but the Hokies will win 28-17.

#3 Alabama @ #12 Florida - This is a big road test for the Tide because Florida looks like it's old self and poised for a National Championship! Don't doubt the tide though. They will play good enough to get some quality scores. The Alabama defense will be a bit weak, allowing Brantley to his game will throw the ball with confidence. This game will come down to the wire, but I see the Tide squeaking by Florida for the 24-21 win.

And there you have it! Remember,I  will be tweeting during the CMU game and be sure to look for my NFL picks later today! Thanks for reading!

ALDS Picks

I know there really isn't much to say about picking baseball. Teams get hot and are unbeatable and things are never as they seem. So without further delay, my picks!

Rangers vs. Rays - Experience is huge and the Rangers got it! Rangers in 4.


Detroit vs. New York - Yankees are too old this year and the boys from the D look like they could make it all the way. Tigers in 5

There you go, that's the ALDS as I see it. Stick around for my college football picks later today. I have some more stuff on the way as well. Be sure to watch the twitter page for a tweet-by-tweet of tomorrow's CMU game! Thanks for reading!

College Football Week 4

Here are my picks for a really interesting week in College Football!

#14 Arkansas @ #3 Alabama - This one will be close early, but the Tide are almost unbeatable at home. Alabama by 10

#7 Oklahoma State @ #8 Texas A&M - The big game of the week! State will be a tough opponent. Expect the ball to be flying and the score board to be burning! It will be an even match-up, but the 12th man will once again claim another victim. I have A&M by a field goal.

#11 Florida State @ #21 Clemson - A big road test for the Seminoles following that big home game. Clemson will be pumped at the chance of getting a win that could put them in the top 20. I expect a solid running game from the Tigers and a big win.

#2 LSU @ #16WVU - On the tail end of the Big East destruction, West Virginia will be looking to save face against the Tigers. It seems like it couple be easy at home, but there isn't a single player that can answer the call for the Mountaineers. It will be an easy road win for LSU.

#10 Oregon @ Arizona - Another test for the Ducks. It will be the first big game since the Cowboys classic with LSU. They will have trouble early due to Arizona's passing game, but the Wildcats won't last long. Oregon wins by 16.

Thanks for reading my picks! NFL on the way tomorrow!

Monday Night Football

     In a week where the Lions and Bills both soar to 2-0 records, we have an interesting little game between the Giants and the Rams. Both teams are facing what could be a 0-2 hole early in the season. For the Rams, it seems that the injury bug has caught up with them early and it could cost them greatly. On the other hand you have the Giants. A once glorious Super Bowl team that has now fallen off the face of the Earth.
     Naturally in football, the first thing we look at is the Quarterback. Both in this case have a lot to prove. Sam Bradford is still trying to show that he is a Quarterback of the future. He needs to do better than a near playoff birth in the worst division in football. Eli Manning still needs to prove that he is an elite Quarterback. Sure, he has a ring, but just because of that would you put him in front of Dan Marino? Of course not. Though this game doesn't really appeal at first, I still plays a key role in the development of these two teams this season and their Quarterbacks.
      Tonight I expect a hard fought game. Neither offense will be too spectacular, but the Giant's offense will out shine the Ram's. Without Steven Jackson, the Ram's offense will have to ride on Bradford's hurt arm. This gives the Giant's defense all it needs to make plenty of stops and allowing them to cruse to the 28-10 win.

So that's a wrap folks! NFL Division predictions will be on their way soon! Thanks for reading!