Wrap up of Divisional Playoffs

While i was watching the Divisional Playoffs this weekend i had a couple thoughts. One was i am god awful, i mean really bad at picking games this postseason, i wasn't great during the regular season but i was a little better than 1-7 (1-3 Wild Card, 0-4 Divisional). Another thing i noticed was how lopsided every game but one was. It started Saturday with the Saints 45-14 thrashing of the Arizona Cardinals, the Cards gave up 90 points in two games this postseason they might need to address the defense in the off season. The night cap was the Ravens traveling to Indianapolis to face Manning and the Colts, a team they had lost to 7 straight times, well make it 8. The score was only 20-3 but it might as well been 40-8. Sunday started but it was more the same, it was touted the best game of the weekend but it was another blowout, Vikings 34, Cowboys 3. The thing about that game was with the game well in hand and the Vikings up 24, Minnesota went for it on 4th and 3 and Favre threw his 4th TD to make it 34-3. With good reason there were a couple Cowboys upset at the Vikings, there was no reason to throw that TD pass the Vikings had proven through the entire game that they were the better team, it more looks like Favre's ego had to be stroked. Favre had never had a 4 TD pass game in the postseason, and it seemed like he didn't care how he got it. So after 3 blowouts many were expecting the Charger-Jet game to be more of the same. People laughed when Rex Ryan said the Jets should be favored in every game, well he looked like he was right. The Jets suffocating defense was tremendous in stopping the Chargers and Nate Kaeding's 3 misses didn't help either. So in the NFC its the meeting everyone expected weeks ago, and the AFC Title will be contested between two old rivals in the Jets and Colts. Hopefully it will be more exciting than last weekend.

NFL Playoffs Predictions--Divisional Round

Well its a good thing i don't predict games for a living because i wouldn't make much money. In the 4 wild card games i only won 1, and it was the one i was least confident about it. So as the divisional gets underway lets see if i cant do a little better this week.

AFC Divisional Round Games
# 6 Baltimore Ravens vs. # 1 Indianapolis Colts
The Ravens maybe pulled off the shocker of the wild card weekend, not the fact that they won but how they did it, a 33-14 beat down of the Patriots. Manning and the Colts haven't had an important game in about a month, which usually spells disaster for the Colts, since 1999 when the Colts have had a first round bye they are 0-3, if the Colts start slow the Ravens could do it again.
PREDICTION: RAVENS 27, COLTS 23

# 5 New York Jets vs. # 2 San Diego Chargers
The Jets are the hardest team to figure out of the final 8 that are left. The last couple games for the Jets have not been difficult and you really don't know how good they are. The Chargers however could maybe be the hottest team in football right now, and the sexy pick to win the Super Bowl, there has been a lot of talk about how good Revis is but the Chargers have more weapons than a lot of teams, don't think this will be close at all.
PREDICTION: CHARGERS 34, JETS 17

NFC Divisional Round Games
# 4 Arizona Cardinals vs. # 1 New Orleans Saints
The Cardinals were a part of maybe the most entertaining game in postseason history, beating the Packers 51-45. Kurt Warner continued his tremendous play in the playoffs. The Saints have entered the playoffs playing their worst football of the season. After starting 13-0, the Saints lost 3 in a row to end the season, including a home loss to lowly Tampa. I don't care how good of a season you have had losing 3 in a row is not a good thing.
PREDICTION: CARDINALS 38, SAINTS 24

# 3 Dallas Cowboys vs. # 2 Minnesota Vikings
Dallas entered the playoffs with its last win in postseason play being 1996, Romo and the Cowboys finally got that monkey off their back and have quickly become the favorite in the NFC. Minnesota like the Saints have had recent troubles after a great start to the season, another problem has been Adrian Peterson's fumbling problems, if they continue the Vikings run wont be long. I wonder who will be in charge of the offense Favre of Childress?
PREDICTION: COWBOYS 28, VIKINGS 24

This to me will be one of the best divisional playoff rounds in recent memory hopefully my 1-3 record will get better, but i wouldnt bet on it.

Baseball Writers=Jackasses

Now let me start by saying that this does not include all sports writers but a large majority of them. When the baseball hall of fame class of 2010 was announced only 1 guy will be inducted, Andre Dawson. I don't want to take anything away from Andre Dawson but if he was not a Hall of famer 5 years ago what makes him a Hall of famer today? Is it the simple fact that the writers felt we waited long enough, or did some believe nobody else deserved to be voted in. One huge, glaring mistake the voters made this year was Roberto Alomar not getting in. Alomar received 73.7 percent of the vote, you need 75 percent to get in. For those who don't remember let me remind you how great Alomar was, his career batting average .300, over 2700 hits, 210 home runs, 12 time All Star, 10 time gold glove winner and 2 time world champion. Alomar is one of the top 5 second basemen of all time yet the writers didn't think so. Some of these writers have the dumbest reasons for keeping guys out of the hall, stuff like because the guy was a jerk. If Alomar was a jerk is that really a good reason not to vote for him, no. The infamous spitting incident though despicable in every way a career should not be defined by one mistake which he later apologized for. Also it was said that 5 ballots were turned in completely blank, whoever those writers were their voting privileges should be taken away, if they don't want to take this process seriously then they don't get to do it anymore. We leave the fate of some of baseballs greats by a bunch of nerds who have probably never played a sport in their life but they can determine who a hall of famer is, yea that works. Bottom line is until they find a new way to do this we will continue to have legends like Alomar left out because of some stuck up sports writer who has his own agenda, like i said in the title jackasses.

NFL Playoff Predictions--Wild Card Edition

So after all the scratching and clawing we have come to the NFL Playoffs, some of these teams are been playing their best football other have stumbled into the postseason. Lets not waste anymore time here are my picks for the Wild Card Round.

First up the NFC Wild Card Playoff Games.
# 5 Green Bay Packers vs. # 4 Arizona Cardinals
Now in Week 17 the Packers manhandled the Cardinals in Arizona, but i wouldn't read to much into it Kurt Warner only threw 6 passes and it looked more like Arizona just wanting to get into the postseason healthy. With that being said I still like Green Bay in this one. Arizona is just 4-4 at home this season and Green Bay may be one the hottest teams in the NFL. It should be closer but the result will be the same.
PREDICTION: PACKERS 27, CARDINALS 21

# 6 Philadelphia Eagles vs. # 3 Dallas Cowboys
In another Week 17 rematch the Eagles travel back to where the Cowboys just beat them 24-0, but this time the Eagles had something to play for in Week 17, with a win the Eagles would've been the # 2 seed in the NFC. Every time i want to jump on the Cowboys bandwagon i just say to myself no playoff wins since 1996. So part of me says until they do it i wont believe it. Then you look at the Eagles, very playoff experienced team i don't see this being another Dallas blowout.
PREDICTION: EAGLES 24, COWBOYS 21

Now for the AFC Wild Card Predictions
# 5 New York Jets vs. # 4 Cincinnati Bengals
The third rematch of Week 17 pits Cincy and New York and the Jets are coming off a 37-0 beat down of the Bengals, but again looks can be deceiving i don't think the Bengals were really into the game and instead of Cincy traveling to New York the Jets will travel to Cincinnati. Also add in the rookie Quarterback factor, we all saw Joe Flacco as a rookie win 2 playoff games a year ago, but the 09 Jets are not as good as the 08 Ravens were.
PREDICTION: BENGALS 20, JETS 13

# 6 Baltimore Ravens vs. # 3 New England Patriots
Both teams come into this game banged up but none more important than the one to Wes Welker who tore is ACL and MCL there are also reports that Tom Brady has a couple cracked ribs and broken finger. This is yet another rematch of a week 4 thriller that saw New England edge the Ravens 27-21. Ray Rice is the key to the Ravens success if he continues to run the ball well the Ravens will get deep into the Playoffs.
PREDICTION: RAVENS 24, PATRIOTS 20

So there they are going out on a limb a little with the Ravens game but a banged up Tom Brady and no Wes Welker will be huge in that game. Ill be back after the Wild Card Round to give you me Division Round Predictions.

Best of 2009

Well here we are another year coming to a close and it time to look back at the year that was and give my top 10 sports moments of 2009.


10
June 24, 2009
US Mens Soccer defeats Spain
Now let me start by saying that i really don't watch soccer or to be honest even like at all period but anytime the United States performs well in anything i always take pride in it. And not only was this a win over a damn good team Spain was the number one team in the world when the US beat them.


9
July 11, 2009
Brock Lesnar defeats Frank Mir at UFC 100
It amazes me how popular and how quickly this sport has become so popular and UFC 100 was the pinnacle of it. Brock Lesnar is a beast plain and simple and his destruction of Frank Mir was fun to watch as sick as that may sound, hopefully for Brock and the UFC the heavyweight Champ can get healthy fast.


8
May 2-13, 2009
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Playoff Series
Another sport i don't watch a lot of until this series happened that featured arguably the two best players in the NHL, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The best game of the series was Game 2 in which both Crosby and Ovechkin netted hat tricks, the eventual winner Penguins would win the Stanley Cup.


7
March 12, 2009
Syracuse and UConns Epic 6 Overtime Game in Big East Tournament
I watched this game at my house and i couldn't turn away as big shot after big shot was made it was riveting television. I had no rooting interest in the game but it to me was the best basketball game of 2009 pro and college combined, and even though it was 6 OTs you almost didn't want the game to end.


6
July 23, 2009
Mark Buehrle is Perfect....Again.
One of the hardest things to do in the game of baseball if your a pitcher is throw a perfect game. Well Mark Buehrle has now done it twice in his career and both have been against two of the best hitting teams in all of baseball, he Rangers and the Rays, and oh yea Buehrle owes a huge thank you to DeWayne Wise for this perfect game.

5

November 7, 2009

Navy beats Notre Dame

This is a personal favorite of mine not only do i loathe Notre Dame but i am also a Navy Football Season Ticket Holder, Navy had to suffer 43 straight losses to the Fighting Irish so to beat the Irish 2 of the last 3 seasons and send their season down the toilet couldn't ask for anything better than that.


4

June 30, 2009

Orioles beat Red Sox after 9-1 deficit

It was the largest comeback in Orioles history trailing the Red Sox 9-1 in the 7th Inning, the Orioles scored 5 in the 7th and 5 in the 8th to beat Boston 11-10. It was a season of plenty of lows but this was the highest of highs for a team that looks to be heading in the right direction.

3
2009 College Football Season
TCU & Boise Create BCS Chaos
This season was yet another reason we desperately need a playoff system in FBS College Football, TCU and Boise have had tremendous undefeated runs and because their conferences don't measure up they don't get a shot at the title, also putting them against each other in the Fiesta Bowl is stupid.

These next 2 are hard for me to say are the best but you cant deny them.

2
October 28-November 4 2009
The Yankees back on Top
As a die hard Orioles fan it pains me to see the Yankees on top again but the way they did was extremely memorable. A-Rod had a tremendous postseason run (finally) and it looks as though the money spent on Sabathia, Burnett and Teixeira was money well spent, hopefully don't wont do it again in 2010.

1
February 1, 2009
Steelers beat Cardinals in Super Bowl
Again being from Baltimore this one hurt, especially since the Ravens were so close losing to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game. But this game was maybe the best Super Bowl ever and Santonio Holmes made a catch that will be remembered for a long time, but just like the Yankees here is hoping they don't do it again for a long time.

MLB POSTSEASON

To me there is no better time than Playoff baseball and after last nights fantastic Tiebreaker game between the Twins and the Tigers i just hope that's a preview of things to come now on to the predictions for the Division Series.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees
First of all you have to applaud the effort by the Twins, they were trailing the Tigers by 3 with 4 games left. They are the most exciting team in the American League, but the Yankees are the best team in baseball and the Twins used so much energy just to get to this point. I love the Twins but the Yanks are to good.
Yankees in 4

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels
These two teams have really gotten to know each other pretty well the last couple postseasons. The Red Sox have been on the winning side every time, but for some reason this year i think it will be different. The Angels have gone through so much this year they are my sentimental favorite it wont be easy but the Halos finally get past Boston.
Angels in 5

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies start their quest to repeat but with one glaring problem, Brad Lidge. Last year Lidge was perfect never blowing a save, this year he has blown 11. The Rockies under Jim Tracy have been the best team in Baseball since Tracy took over the team in May. The back end of the bullpen will kill the Phillies in this series.
Rockies in 4

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
For most of the season the Dodgers were the best team in baseball, but the month of September wasn't their best the Dodger picked the worst time top be playing their worst baseball. The Cards bring in MVP candidate Albert Pujols and Cy Young candidate Adam Wainwright. Should be a good series just don't like the way the Dodgers are playing right now.
Cardinals in 5

MY League Championship Series Match Ups:
New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels

Colorado Rockies vs. St. Louis Cardinals

NFL WEEK 4 Predictions

So Week 3 was my best week to date with a 13-3 mark. Lets keep the good karma going.


WEEK 1---10-6
WEEK 2---10-6
WEEK 3---13-3
SEASON TO DATE---33-15 (.687)

Lions (1-2) @ Bears (2-1); MY PICK: BEARS
The Lions finally got a win in a long time and Jay Cutler has rebounded since the bad Week 1 performance, now the Lions can start another losing streak.

Bengals (2-1) @ Browns (0-3); MY PICK: BENGALS
Cincinnati has turned their season around after week one's debacle and the Browns are going nowhere fast.

Seahawks (1-2) @ Colts (3-0); MY PICK: COLTS
Seattle is a totally different team without Matt Hasselbeck and Manning is making any early case for another MVP.

Giants (3-0) @ Chiefs (0-3); MY PICK: GIANTS
A battle of 2 teams heading in two opposite directions, this could get ugly real fast.

Buccaneers (0-3) @ Redskins (1-2); MY PICK: REDSKINS
Do the cities of Tampa and Washington even want to watch this game, my guess is no but if i have to pick its the Skins.

Titans (0-3) @ Jaguars (1-2); MY PICK: TITANS
Hard to have a must win game this early in the season but for Tennessee if they want any chance of being in the postseason they cant go 0-4.

Raiders (1-2) @ Texans (1-2); MY PICK: TEXANS
I can't figure out this Texans team some weeks they look good others bad, the Raiders should help making this week a good one.

Ravens (3-0) @ Patriots (2-1); MY PICK: RAVENS
This is the game of the week, the Ravens right now are just the better team Joe Flacco is the key for the Ravens.

Jets (3-0) @ Saints (3-0); MY PICK: SAINTS
This will be the toughest challenge for the Jets to date the Saints struggled at Buffalo but this game is at home i like the Saints here.

Bills (1-2) @ Dolphins (0-3); MY PICK: BILLS
Another game in which both teams need a big win, I don't know if i wouldve picked the Dolphins if Pennington was healthy, and hes not.

Cowboys (2-1) @ Broncos (3-0); MY PICK: COWBOYS
This will be the biggest game for the Broncos maybe Romo plays better away from Texas Stadium.

Rams (0-3) @ 49ers (2-1); MY PICK: 49ERS
Even without Frank Gore this game should be an easy one for San Fran, and if it wasnt for a miracle throw by Favre the Niners could be 3-0.

Chargers (2-1) @ Steelers (1-2); MY PICK: STEELERS
San Diego has never won a regular season game at Pittsburgh, I know Pittsburgh is good but they can't afford to not win this game.

Packers (2-1) @ Vikings (3-0); MY PICK: PACKERS
This game is all about Favre playing his former team but the Packers spoil his first chance to beat his old team and Aaron Rodgers outplays number 4.

TEAMS WITH A WEEK 4 BYE: Falcons, Eagles, Cardinals and Panthers