If Gambling Were Legal...

Week 6 NFL Picks

2015-10-15T00:03:00.001-04:00

We're back with the Twitter Picks, 140 Characters or less. Last week +22 Units, this week will likely be a bloodbath. Without further ado....

Thursday Night Football

Which mascot would in in a fight?

FALCONS @ NO (+3)

Pick: What are you gonna do... Pray a falcon to death? Take a falcon over a Saint any day.

Bet Rating: **

Season Record: 9-4-1 (starting week 5)

Units: +40 (includes Parlays and Teasers)

Bye Week: Oakland, Dallas, St. Louis, Tampa Bay

Daily Fantasy Sports - The Offensive Lineman for Gambling

2015-10-09T14:03:00.002-04:00

Make no mistake about it, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is popular and it's here to stay. Even with recent allegations of "insider trading" and an overall lack of regulation of the industry, this doesn't change the simple fact that America is yearning for something greater - the legalization of Sports Gambling.

It’s been well reported, and often complained about, that DraftKings and FanDuel were two of the largest companies spending on Television Ads this year. Nomura reported that the two companies spent $150 million in the third quarter alone. If you think the Advertising and Marketing for both companies has been overkill and wreckless, I disagree, wholeheartedly. Just before the start of the NFL season, DraftKings was reportedly running one ad every 90 seconds, this wasn't done by mistake. The fact that every person knows who these companies are is a testament to the fact that we need to look at the bigger picture. DraftKings and FanDuel have created a rivalry and competition that we'll be following and talking about for years to come because their product is so easy to identify with, Sports. They have positioned themselves to profit off of the excitement in Sports, it’s kind of brilliant.

Currently, DFS operates under the legal loophole that it is a 'game of skill' and therefore people with the skill will win with a greater success rate than those without this 'skill'. Keeping the bigger picture in mind, while I do think DFS is some form of gambling – I think that it’s good for the industry overall because the general population is embracing the conversation. DFS is essentially doing all of the blocking and tackling for the Gambling Industry as a whole. So how do DraftKings and FanDuel guarantee that they get a piece of the billion dollar pie once all of the regulations and legislation are in place? They adapt.

My prediction is that DraftKings and FanDuel will no longer be a one-trick pony focusing on the 40 million fantasy players. Once gambling is legalized, presumably in the next 3-5 years, I expect that they will be able to pivot their companies into the largest online providers of access to gambling on sports. They already have an avid customer base and have created a reliable product that is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Implementing access to an online sportsbook would be easy for them to do since they already have a 3 year head start on traditional brick and mortar casinos / sportsbooks.

Next they negotiate deals to establish themselves in arenas. Yep, that’s already started to happen. This year, DraftKings, FanDuel, DraftOps, and Yahoo will have Fantasy lounges in 17 NBA/NHL/NFL/MLB arenas that include Madison Square Garden (Knicks/Rangers), AT&T Stadium (Cowboys), Wrigley Field (Cubs), Verizon Center (Wizards, Capitals), Barclays Center (Nets, Islanders), and the Staples Center (Lakers, Clippers, and Kings) just to name a few. These lounges are currently for the daily fantasy player to come in, place their lineups for the night, and hang out while enjoying the live excitement of the sporting event. This is great because now fans are engaged, they are purchasing food and beverages, staying in their seats longer – and if they win it will create memories. Conversations will begin to shift from “do you remember when Steph Curry hit that three at the buzzer to give the Warriors the win?” to “do you remember when Steph Curry hit that three at the buzzer to win me $20 in my fantasy pool?” So when you take it a step further, isn’t a fantasy sports lounge essentially the same thing as a sportsbook that takes bets?

Daily Fantasy companies have essentially started to establish casinos right in the stadium and it’s not generating buzz because it’s just for fantasy purposes, for now. Soon, I could see this being the main reason that I decide to go to the stadium on a night in which the unwatchable Philadelphia 76ers are playing. Not to watch the 76ers, but primarily to place my legal sports bets. It would be an added bonus if the 76ers game was of any interest.

To further prove the sentiment that this is only a matter of when, not if – NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver penned an Op-Ed in the New York Times back in November 2014 stating that there is an estimated “$400 billion illegally wagered on sports each year” and “Gambling has increasingly become a popular and accepted form of entertainment in the United States”. So why not embrace this? I’m sure the NBA has looked at the models overseas in Europe and Australia to research the best ways to incorporate gambling while maintaining the integrity of the game. But what’s so apparent and tough to ignore is that this industry will bring in real money in for the government. In 2012-13, the United Kingdom government generated £1.7bn in tax revenue.

...If only gambling were legal.

Week 5 NFL Picks - In 140 Characters or Less

2015-10-09T09:30:00.002-04:00

Sanjs Twitter picks:

let me tell you who you should take in the most generic 140 characters or less.

*****= 5 units

* = 1 unit

I'm a professional so listen to everything I say... or don't and save yourself from an awful Monday morning. It's my birthday this weekend, so what could possibly go wrong?

Spreads from Covers.com

IND @ HOU (-2.5)

Sanj Says: Take Indy, I already watched the game.

Bet Rating:*****

CLE @ BALT (-6.5)

Sanj Says: Take Cleveland with the points. Cleveland will leave it all out on the field.

Bet rating: **

STL @ GB (-9)

Sanj Says: Packers. Look for a fully focused 60 minutes from Rodgers.

Bet Rating: ***

NO @ PHILLY (-5.5)

Sanj Says: New Orleans. Must-win game.

Bet Rating: Just don't

BUFFALO @ TENN (+2.5)

Sanj Says: Take Buffalo. Welcome to the NFL, Mariota.

Bet Rating: ****

CHI @ KC (-9)

Sanj Says: Chicago. Cutler and Co. will find a way to move the chains.

Bet Rating: *

SEA @ CIN (-3)

Sanj Says: Bengals. This game will be won in the trenches.

Bet Rating:**

JAX @ TB (-3)

Sanj Says: Take Tampa, Look for TB to establish the run and get back to their brand of football from the early 2000's in which no coaching staff or current players still remain.

Bet Rating:****

WASHINGTON @ ATL (-7.5)

Sanj Says: ATL. Move the sticks and win the turnover battle.

Bet Rating: *

ARIZONA @ DET (+2.5)

Sanj Says: Arizona. Tremendous Upside.

Bet Rating: ***

DEN @ OAK (+4.5)

Sanj Says: Broncos, Peyton has that look in his eye.

Bet Rating: ***

NE @ DAL (+8.5)

Sanj Says: Patriots, get out a loan to place this bet.

Bet Rating: *****

SF @ NYG (-7)

Sanj Says: NYG, Fast paced offense with guys playing 110%.

Bet Rating: *

PIT @ SD (-3)

Sanj Says: Steelers, on any given Sunday.

Bet Rating: **

Season Record: 1-0

Units: +5

Back for More... The Columbia University Edition

2015-10-08T15:59:00.000-04:00

More than anything I've always wanted to use this space to project my thoughts and ideas into the ever adapting and changing industry that is Sports. Recently I was lucky enough to get accepted to Columbia University's M.Sc in Sports Management. Seems like a program that was molded specifically for me... and so far it has been. The one quibble is that I've enrolled at another university for no major athletics program, although I've been told to watch out for the Lions Basketball program - more on that to follow later in the year (potentially). I've been enamored meeting everyone in my program so far and hearing about the many unique backgrounds that have led this current class to where they are currently. However, while we all have a shared passion for sports, it's apparent to me I think one thing sets me aside from everyone else (save one other nutjob) in the program is my passion to fantasy sports and the gambling aspect of sports.

A lot of what this program has forced me to do already is identify where in the industry I want to be. Thinking back to when I first started putting my thoughts to keyboard on this blogspace, a lot of the passion that I had around sports was focused on Fantasy Sports and Gambling. It's fascinating to see 4 years later the general acceptance and awareness take the form of 2 multi-billion dollar companies that you may have heard of, FanDuel and DraftKings. I knew I was onto something back in 2011 writing this blog about fantasy sports and legalizing gambling. Now, more than ever there is a call to do so and I for one could not be more excited about it. It's the type of legislation that congress will need to address and there's already been public support for it from NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver.

The other aspect that's been neat about this program in the short time, is that it's also reinforced what I'm not as interested in. I inherently never cared as much for the marketing or the revenue generation for brands, sponsorships, and partners. Therefore, I hope to continue to use this space to write about topics that interest me - whether it's the growing concern about the Daily Fantasy Sports Industry, Making outlandish predictions that either myself or my brother (contributing) suggest, or anything else in sports that tickle my pickle. I'll blog it.

For now, welcome back - happy to have you along for the ride.

BPL Week 3

2013-08-30T23:13:00.000-04:00

Saturday August 31, 2013
7:45am NBCSN

Manchester City 4 Hull City 0
Last week is what makes the premier league top to bottom the most exciting and competitive league in the world. While the quality of the teams at the very top of their respective leagues may seem stronger across Europe, you won't get results like you did in Cardiff last week as they pulled off the shock upset of Manchester City. You might not see games like that all the time, but the competitiveness of the games between the top teams and the rest of the field is higher in this league than any other. Credit to parody aside, Manchester City will most certainly make amends this week against a Hull City squad that earned a hard fought first win last week. Being drawn with trophy rich Bayern Munich for the Champions league group stage in the near future should provide City extra motivation to quickly redirect their ship, comfortable win.

10am NBC Premier League Extra Time
Newcastle 1 Fulham 1
With their sought after central midfielder's price deemed too high for prospective suitors Newcastle will welcome Yohan Cabaye back into the team this week in hopes of kickstarting a sluggish beginning to the season. Newcastle must look at this as another vital opportunity to earn three points against a team they will feel that they are better than. A loss last week will have seen Fulham lose some of the good feeling after their opening road win but a point in this fixture and they would be happy.

10am NBC Premier League Extra Time
West Ham United 2 Stoke City 1
An excellent start to the season for West Ham United has seen a revitalized Joe Cole lead an exciting brand of attacking soccer and good feeling back around the London side. Stoke got their first three points of the season last week but I see them falling short on the road to the Hammers

10am NBC Premier League Extra Time
Norwich City 2 Southampton 0
Dropped points for Norwich in this fixture means an early start to their battle for relegation. Anybody who has seen them play at home can notice how the Canaries home fans are able to lift the energy of the squad to a level that they wouldn't normally reach. They do not always convert this energy into goals but I believe they do tomorrow against a Southampton squad who have been exposed defensively at time this year. Although Southampton have been able to weather some lackluster defensive performances and grind out some decent results I see the Canaries grinding out a tough first win of the season.

10am NBCSN
Cardiff City 1 Everton 1
The only better feeling the Cardiff fans have experienced than last week's victory against the free-spending giants of Manchester city was gaining promotion into the premier league. As huge and exciting a win as you'll see, they earned the same three points they would have gotten had they beat any other side. So they must stay the course and focus on building on that victory, because staying up is their main focus this year and early season form can go a long way in dictating whether that is a real possibility. Everton's start to the season has been relatively ambivalent, although they are notorious slow starters and won't be too stressed having yet to taste defeat. Cardiff builds on last week and gets a home point.

10am NBC Premier League Extra Time
Crystal Palace 2 Sunderland 3
Take my goalfest predictions with a grain of salt as I haven't been close to correct both times I've surmised it might happen. So consider this a shot in the dark, I don't actually know if these two teams can put together a game like this so more than likely my prediction will turn out wrong again. Sunderland's late flurry in the Capital One Cup midweek will have them arguing otherwise as a Jozy Altidore goal saw them come from behind late and then pour it on in a very odd ending to a game. Two games two losses for Crystal Palace leaves them second from bottom already and Sunderland will look to pour on the misery for the newcomers, Sunderland in a goalfest! (or not).

Sunday September 1st, 2013
830am NBCSN
Liverpool 1 Manchester United 1
A fantastic set of Sunday games kicks off with another mammoth matchup. Although Liverpool haven't been near where they've needed to be the last few years this game rightly generates a large amount of buzz do to the storied history of the two clubs. Manchester United has just recently overtaken Liverpool's record of premier league titles which has admittedly come during the biggest drought of the latter clubs existence. A good solid start from Liverpool this season has been nice to see as the league is always in much better shape when they are fighting for one of the top spots. Although Luis Suarez (I had to mention him) is not yet cleared to make his return, knowing that he will be a squad member for the foreseeable future brings some much welcomed stability to a volatile situation. Manchester United also has some positive news on the transfer front as it looks like Wayne Rooney will be staying after his well-received man of the match performance in a 0-0 draw with Chelsea last week. I have a strong feeling that this game will be much more engaging then last weeks giant fixture, but I still see a draw.

830am NBC Premier League Extra Time
West Brom 2 Swansea 1
With both teams struggling to start the season they will both see this game as an opportunity to get three rather than just a point. Swansea have admittedly had a beginning to the season that no one would have asked for fixture wise but you have to play who they put in front of you and they have been soundly beaten on both occasions. West Brom wins this one.

11am NBCSN
Arsenal 2 Tottenham 2
Never a dull game between these two teams as arguably the fiercest rivalry in the league kicks off for yet another episode early in the season. Far be it from me to correctly predict these types of games as they usually involve huge momentum swings, goals, and cards. Arsenal have rebounded from their opening week loss to qualify for Champions League and get back into a good offensive flow. However the news that Lukas Podolski will be out for a while furthers the need for Arsene Wenger to sign somebody, as the gunners are in desperate need for healthy bodies to provide insurance to a linguine thin squad. Meanwhile their London neighbors have been spending more than they have in the clubs history in an attempt to replace Gareth Bale. That should further the animosity between the two teams along with the fact that Spurs feel like they have been the better club over the last few years. Definitely a must watch for pure entertainment value, don't be surprised if you see some fireworks in this one. Let's go.

Last week (6-5)
Season (13-8)

BPL Week 2

2013-08-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

Wednesday August 21, 2013

Live on NBCSP 3pm et

Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 0

Coming off the shock result of the weekend over Arsenal, Christian Benteke and Aston Villa will be looking to fully erase the memory of the 8-0 drubbing they took at Stamford Bridge last year. Although, claiming another scalp of a top team might be difficult given Chelsea's revitalized attitude which was on full display as two early goals allowed them to cruise in their opener against an outclassed Hull City. Aston Villa may look to adapt to a different style of play than in their match against Arsenal as Chelsea present a more ruthless style of attacking play in the final third. Another comfortable win for the Blues will allow them to supplement the good feeling generated by their fantastic opening day performance and newly returned manager.

Saturday Aug 24th, 2013

745am NBCSN

Fulham 1 Arsenal 1

Although a much needed win midweek in the champions league playoff first leg has at least put some of the criticism on hold, Arsenal still face the reality of having a quick turnaround with an injury hit squad to tricky Craven Cottage. With the Luis Suarez saga now over (for them), gunner fans must now hold out hope that the latest transfer rumors involving Karim Benzema have more than a little bit of merit, as the desperation for signing a big name player grows exponentially by the day. Fulham will be in good spirits having secured an away win at Sunderland in their first match of the season, and will be looking to capitalize on the gunners short rest. A rough start to the premier league season could continue for Arsenal.

10am NBC Premier League Extra Time

Everton 2 West Brom 1

Whether or not Manchester United's pursuit of Everton's Marouane Fellani and Leighton Banes is successful will go a long way in determining the latter's place in the table. After managing an opening away draw at Carrow Road last week, young phenom Ross Barkley and Everton will look to give the home fans enough of a show to take their mind off two of their best players possibly being sold. A very disappointing West Brom will be looking to bounce back and bring some of the exciting attacking flair that saw them surprise last season. Everton pull this out at home behind another superb performance from Ross Barkley, who after a few years being loaned out, is looking like he will realize his potential.

10am NBC Premier League Extra Time

Hull City 2 Norwich City 2

Despite being overmatched against a strong Chelsea squad, Hull by no means embarrassed themselves in their return to the premier league in week one. Making their home debut in front of a good crowd against a side more their equal should produce quite an entertaining affair. Norwich earned a very strong away point against Everton and will be looking to sneak out a possible three points this time. For teams who will be fighting to stay up this year, these are the games that prove to be the most telling in terms of survival, and not coincidentally, very fun to watch.

10am NBC Premier League Extra Time

Newcastle 2 West Ham 1

A truly poor display against Manchester City was not the way Newcastle fans hoped their season would begin. A surprise bid from Arsenal for Yohan Cabaye being turned down, they should be able to refocus to get a positive result in their home opener at St. James's Park. West Ham enjoyed a fantastic opener as they produced plenty of chances and were able to get 3 points against Cardiff City. This should be a much stiffer test and while they looked good last week it will take a much more disciplined effort to get a result against a talented and angry Newcastle side playing at home.

10am NBCSN

Southampton 1 Sunderland 1

A full solid 90 minutes for American Jozy Altidore on his debut for Sunderland wasn't enough as they fell to Fulham at home last week. They were more dangerous going forward than statistics would indicate and will be hoping to turn some of that misfortune into quality goalscoring chances this week against a surprising Southampton side. Going away to West Brom and getting all three points was worthy of applause, and building on successes with a nice string of games will go a long way in creating a foundation to stay afloat in this league.

10am NBC Sports Live Extra

Stoke City 2 Crystal Palace 1

After being thoroughly outplayed by Liverpool and still be flattered by only a one goal scoreline should be ammunition enough for Stoke to put forth a better effort in their home opener. They have a top goalkeeper in the league in Begovic and would be wise not to let games like he had last week go by without at least salvaging a point. Crystal Palace acquitted themselves fairly well against Tottenham even if the scoreline wasn't a good indicator of Spurs' dominance. Traveling to stoke is an interesting chance to get points but I don't see them having enough this week.

1230pm NBC

Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 2

No rest for the weary as Aston Villa continue the gauntlet at home to Liverpool. If we're going to be honest they were unlucky not to squeeze a point out of Chelsea after a few missed opportunities and an unfortunate referee miscue. So they enter their first home match of the season with a sense of confidence I'm sure many of their fans wouldn't even have thought possible given the fixture list at the beginning of the season. Liverpool fans can now take solitude that Luis Suarez won't be sold to another english team, but with the impending approach of Real Madrid the soap opera may yet endure another twist. Their mix of youth and experience produced an excellent showing against a tricky opponent in week one and I think they have enough repeat this week against a tired Aston Villa.

Sunday Aug 25th, 2013

11am NBC Sports Live Extra

Cardiff City 1 Manchester City 3

A tough matchup on their home premier league debut for Cardiff should be a tasty one for fans and one many of the players will be relishing. Manchester City's firepower should prove to be too much for Cardiff even with the raucous crowd that will no doubt lift the players spirits. Keep an eye on this one as an early goal from Cardiff could have them feeling like they could sneak something out of this game.

11am NBCSN

Tottenham 3 Swansea 1

Spurs look to have finally parted with now the most expensive player in the history of the sport. The figures for Gareth Bale aren't finalized but it is almost a certainty that he will hold that title. Although no player is worth the rumored price tag Tottenham and their fans will certainly miss the brilliance they have been privileged to witness over the past few seasons. With a debut goal from new striker Roberto Soldado in week one Tottenham were able to reap the benefits of an otherwise sluggish performance. Always an entertaining watch their midweek Europa league qualifier should give them confidence as they were able to run up the score. Swansea were certainly given the toughest task of week one against the champions Manchester United. Having gotten that game out of the way might seem like a relief if they were not facing another team who has as much talent as the Spurs. Certainly a candidate for most entertaining game of the week, there should be some goals in this one.

Monday August 26, 2013

3pm NBCSN

Manchester United 1 Chelsea 1

This is the type of matche where the hype and intrigue are seemingly never ending, and new story lines are created up until kickoff. You can't have an incredibly meaningful game this early in the season, but this is about as close as you're going to get. If nothing else this match provides us with the opportunity to watch two of the three unabashed title contenders go head to head at one of the world's most iconic stadiums. With their talisman Van Persie quickly approaching the best goalscoring form of his career, a healthy defensive center back pairing, and an exciting young midfield, the red devils would be hard pressed not to believe they should come out of this game with three points. However they are facing a squad that has bolstered their midfield and who's manager has brought in a renewed sense of arrogance that been evidenced by the players performance. Although much of the time these kind of games never produce the quality one would hope for, enjoy the speed of the game and the level of competition amongst many players that truly have a profound dislike for one another, the gem of the young season. enjoy.

Last Week's record (7-3)

This Week's Record (1-0)

BPL Week 1 Preview

2013-08-16T22:59:00.001-04:00

I've long wanted to have this site turn into a mini-Grantland with just a bunch of buddies that tend to know more about sports / pop culture than the average Joe. Well this week with the start of the Barclays Premier League (BPL) a part of that dream came true. I was lucky enough to have a good friend, Asante Brooks agree to give his take on what the expect for the BPL games week to week. Hopefully for as much of the season as possible. Without further ado here's week 1.

Ambition and optimism ride high at the start of any professional sports season. It is the proverbial blank slate, the time of year where hope springs eternal for all teams. However, unlike American sports, in which most every team starts the year with visions of the playoffs, whereupon anything is possible (more or less), the model of European soccer allows and almost dictates that all participating teams have some perspective. The tiers that separate contenders from the middle men, and the middle men from those fighting to stave off relegation goes much deeper than just than being given a moniker, it means dollars. The cost of being relegated from the BPL is valued at around 40 million dollars, which for small market teams who depend on revenue to keep them afloat, can be devastating. Then there are the European spots, usually the top 6 depending on the league, which mean an influx of revenue for the club, and a chance to ply their trade across Europe. Now with all these housekeeping items out of the way, let's make some picks for week 1:

Saturday Aug 17, 2013

Liverpool 2 vs. Stoke 1

Notoriously a difficult team to play against, not necessarily because of their quality, Stoke City's stubbornness and physicality are their best assets. Not to mention they boast the highest contingent of American players in any of the top European leagues, makes them a little easier to root for. Fortunately for Liverpool (and Arsenal) fans the Luis Suarez saga has an end in sight, as the close of the transfer window is fast approaching. With his suspension for bitegate having 6 more games to go, the reds will be forced to rely on a young core along with their legendary captain Steven Gerrard to keep them afloat until the situation is resolved. Stoke presents a unique set of difficulties, but Liverpool should be buoyed by the home fans at Anfield.

Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 1

With seemingly another summer gone without major signings, and their last trophy of any kind coming via the 2005 FA cup, Arsenal fans have the right to be edgy, angry, and easily annoyed at management. Even with a thin squad entering the Emirates on opening day, Arsenal should have enough firepower to roll through an Aston Villa squad that might be near the bottom half of the table this year. For those who like to kick the gunners when they're down, google "things that have happened to arsenal since they last won a trophy," as usual, some more clever then others.

Norwich 1 Everton 1

Losing their longtime steady manager to Manchester United could be a bit of a blow to Everton, but in the newly appointed Roberto Martinez they have someone who managed to both win the FA cup and get relegated in the same season last year, which I'm fairly certain has never happened in the history of the competition. Notoriously slow starters, I like Everton to eek out a draw on the road at Norwich, who did well to stay up in the league after being newly promoted last term,

Sunderland 1 Fulham 0

In the midst of the best stretch of his international career, Jozy Altidore makes his return voyage to the premier league after his failed stint with Hull City. Might be tough sledding for both clubs this term as managerial and player changes may make it difficult to generate consistency.

West Brom 3 Southampton 2

Always goals to be had both ways at the Hawthornes, and this match should be no different. West Brom was the surprise team in the early months last season, only to tail off towards the end. Southampton managed to avoid relegation relatively comfortably last season after being promoted. I like the Baggies in a goalfest.

West Ham 2 Cardiff 1

The Hammers finished respectably last year after starting very slow and being in relegation talk. Their opponents, fresh off promotion, add to the Welsh join Swansea as the Welsh representatives. Everybody enjoys the cinderella starting the year off right, and they have a good opportunity to get a point here, I smell a heartbreaking late winner for the hammers.

Swansea 1 Man U 4

Beginning their first season without Sir Alex Ferguson in charge in literally decades, United has quietly made some additions to strengthen their attacking play. With rising english stars like Phil Jones and Tom Cleverly, combined with the class of Robin Van Persie and (possibly) Wayne Rooney, United should cruise against Swansea who to their credit enjoy testing their playing style against the big teams instead of sinking into a defensive shell.

Sunday August 18, 2013

Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 2

With their $100 million man nursing an "injury" Spurs enter this season in an odd position. Unquestionably the best player in the league last season, Gareth Bale's status as a Tottenham player dictates the level of expectation for the club this season, don't be surprised to see an uneasy start from Spurs until that situation is resolved. I see them struggling a bit with the home energy of newly promoted Crystal Palace, but their talent winning out in the end, tight game.

Chelsea 3 Hull City 0

The blues enter this season as one of the odds on favorites to win the title, their squad depth and manager are two of their biggest assets. With the mix of a young group of players combined with some of the veterans, chelsea are well poised to make a significant challenge both domestically and abroad after someone of a disappointing campaign last year.

Monday August 19, 2013

Man City 2 Newcastle 1

Free spending Manchester City have done exactly the same thing they have the last few summers, added talent and depth to a seemingly never-ending squad. However the question remains whether or not newly appointed Manuel Pelligrini can juggle the egos and consistently put out the best 11, which, even if you were playing Fifa, would be hard to find with this group of players. Newcastle endured an extremely difficult season last term and will be looking to bounce back with a strong contingent of young french players looking break through and provide consistency and structure to the storied club.

Enjoy the ride

NCAA BCS Championship Game

2013-01-03T09:17:00.000-05:00

Notre Dame vs. Alabama (-10.5), Monday January 7th, 8:30 ET
I've seen a direct correlation in my gambling profits (or losses) this year from last year. When I used to spend the time every weekend capping NFL, college football or college basketball games I saw something that I haven't seen very much of this year: Wins. There's simply something to be said to doing research, putting your thoughts down on a white piece of digital paper and publishing your predictions. While I've had fun doing the predictions, they became too time consuming, and quickly became an after thought. Well - there's one reason I've decided to write about the National Championship game and that reason is $$. The more that I invest myself into the story lines leading up to the game, the more knowledgeable I feel about the outcome. At least that's what I'll continue to tell myself. So without further ado, here's some analysis on how the BCS Championship game could go...

Admittedly I've watched a LOT less College Football this year than in years past. A couple of reasons for that: I didn't go to a University with a football program (fuck was I thinking?) and Pranna Brunch in NY. Nothing else matters to me on Saturdays. Although there was that one Saturday I witnessed the Razorbacks of Arkansas have their balls handed to them on a silver platter by the powerhouse that is the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. That was fun. Apart from the abysmal Arkansas season, my understanding of what's been going on this year is that the SEC has been the dominant conference for the 7th or 8th straight season. Just checked the rankings, looks like they have 6 of the top 10 teams in football and 7 of the top 13 teams. Wait, What?! So now that we understand the SEC is in a league of their own this game shouldn't even be close right? While Alabama vs. Georgia for the SEC Championship had all the makings of an instant classic there was one thing that stuck out to me. This Alabama defense is NOT the same defense that held LSU to 0 points in the Championship last season. Georgia showed in that second half that there are vulnerabilities in that secondary. In what was a wildly entertaining game, I felt more like time had run out on Georgia than it did Bama shutting the clamps on Georgia's offense. RB T.J. Yeldon and Eddie Lacy have been nothing short of phenomenal this year - so the true test in the BCS Championship will be Alabama's running game (224 yds/gm, 20th ranked) vs. Notre Dame's stout running D (A nation-best 2 TD's against, and 92 yds/game - 4th best in the country).
There was a lot of talk once Notre Dame clinched whether or not the Fighting Irish are deserving to be in this game given some of their shaky wins (Stanford in OT) and Pitt (3 OTs). They haven't exactly looked like the dominant team that their 12-0 record suggests - but there's something to be said about winning every game on your schedule. Part of the reason I chose to write about this game is because I picked up the Newspaper and read an article that reminded me what I loved about Sports. For Irish WR TJ Jones, this is more than just a game. TJ's father, Andre, was a member of the 1988 Notre Dame National Championship team. 25 years later, TJ will try to emulate his father's success, only his father will not be here to watch his son. Andre Jones passed away last year at the young age of 42 years. Faced with many challenges and TJ being forced to grow up at a very young age - four younger siblings - Football served as a great way for Jones to channel his emotions and play a game that he loves. The support of his team, coaches, and past alumni offer a great foundation for TJ. It's stories like these and men like TJ that show us the impact that sports can have on our lives.
When it comes to the game, Notre Dame will rely on their QB Everett Golson to make the big plays. Golson in his win over USC reminded me a little of the heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M - who handed Alabama their only loss of the season. Golson gives the Fighting Irish a QB who can make plays with his feet which should keep Alabama's defense honest. The Irish also have one of the best overall athletes in College Football in RB/WR Theo Riddick. This kid can flat out ball (from the one game I watched against USC). Then there's their First-Team All American LB Manti Te'o who finished second in the Heisman voting this year. Overall, I feel like the Fighting Irish getting 10+ points is a steal. They have the talent, the motivation, and the strength of a team bonded together in only a way a champion team can. It won't be easy, but I see the Irish pulling this out, 24-23 en route to the BCS Championship.

Season Record: 0-0, lol

2012 NFL Week 9 Predictions

2012-11-03T23:30:00.001-04:00

I'm sitting at home on a Saturday night watching college football for the first time all season. Have I been missing out or is this just a special weekend with LSU/Alabama, USC/Oregon, and that PITT/ND gem? Either way - I feel all types of ready to make picks for the NFL season after watching the minor leagues all day today...

Thursday November 1, 2012
Kansas City at San Diego (-9) - This is somewhat of a hot streak for me hitting two straight Thursday Night games.

Sunday November 4, 2012
Denver (-3.5) at Cincinnati - I legitimately think the Broncos are a Super Bowl contender with how well Peyton has been playing. That means back the Bengals this week.
Baltimore (-3.5) at Cleveland - The Ravens have had two weeks to prepare for the Browns after a 30-point drudging against the Texans. Repeat, the Ravens have had two weeks to prepare for the Browns.
Arizona at Green Bay (-12.5) - The Packers should get back on track offensively after a herky-jerky game against the Jags last week. The Cards couldn't be heading in the wrong direction any faster - at least its almost college basketball season?
Chicago (-3.5) at Tennessee - The Bears as pointed out by one of my go-to guys for football Bill Barnwell are a legit contender in the NFC. I don't see them losing to the Titans.
Miami (-1.5) at Indianapolis - Full disclosure, I bet a handsome amount against the Dolphins after watching Hard Knocks and the preseason. It's usually not a good idea to do that. I hope the Colts can pull this win out. Do it for Chuck!
Carolina (Best Pick) at Washington (-3.5) - Feeling the Panthers now that they've gotten rid of their GM and have started to play more conventionally. I like Superman to get the best of RG3 is this matchup of the "Scrambling" QB.
Detroit (-3.5) at Jacksonville - I've seen reports that Calvin Johnson hasn't practiced all week. Lucky for him, he probably won't need to try this weekend.
Buffalo at Houston (-11.5) - I understand the Texans are good, and the Bills D is horrendous, but I still like CJ Spiller getting 10+ pts. As long as Fitzpatrick doesn't eff up every possesion.
Tampa Bay at Oakland (Pick) - Josh Freeman has actually been pretty good lately. Quietly this Bucs team has put together a solid season good enough for 2nd in the division.
Minnesota at Seattle (-5) - Both teams are coming off losses. One of them will be on a losing streak after this game.
Pittsburgh at NY Giants (-3) - Really have no idea about this next three games. When in doubt take the road dogs.
Dallas at Atlanta (-4) - Romo and Garrett have to figure out how to win a late game situation eventually, right?

Monday November 5, 2012
Philadelphia at New Orleans (-3) - Andy Reid and Mike Vick should be packing an extra bag in case they lose this game.

For some reason I like the road teams a lot this week. Maybe it's because there were a lot of homes destroyed this week. Too soon? Yeah probably too soon. Stay Safe out there.

Last Week: 8-6

Best Picks: 5-3

Season Record: 61-55-2

2012 NFL Week 8 Predictions

2012-10-28T10:42:00.000-04:00

Week 8 Picks...the calm before the storm.

Tampa Bay at Minnesota (-6) - FINALLY won a Thursday night game!!
Carolina at Chicago (-7.5) - Carolina is going to try to run a conventional offense. Too bad for them the Bears have an exceptional defense.
San Diego (-2.5) at Cleveland - Norv Turner should have an extra bag packed because if he loses this one after a bye week against a 1-win team he shouldn't even think about getting on a plane headed back to San Diego. Not sure why I'm not rooting for this?
Seattle at Detroit (-2) - Dear Matthew Stafford, Stop sucking and start throwing the ball to Calvin Johnson. He's really really good.
Jacksonville at Green Bay (-12) - I have Rashad Jennings and Jonathan Stewart going for me this week in fantasy. Never thought I would type that sentence.
Indianapolis at Tennessee (-3.5) - Just feels like the type of game that everyone bets on the Colts. Should the Titans be laying more than a FG? Probably not. But my gut says Chris Johnson is back.
New England (-7) at St. Louis - A home game for the Rams in London. My Guess is Gronk fucked Pippa Middleton last night - should have extra energy for this one.
Miami at NY Jets (-2.5) - I had a dream last night that the Dolphins traded for Joe Flacco. Don't ask me why. I just know that I woke up this morning thankful that they are still trolling out Ryan Tannehill (who has actually been serviceable) and a bunch of nobody's catching passes. Feel like the Jets should be able to win this snoozefest, 7-3.
Atlanta at Philadelphia (-2.5) - Oh so a 6-0 team coming off a bye faces a 3-3 team at home (also coming off a bye) and the home team is laying 2.5? Not sure what's at play here but if 50% of bettors like the Eagles here, I'll gladly take that extra 2.5 since I believe the Falcons are the better team.
Washington at Pittsburgh (-4.5) Best Pick - RG3 has been really good this year. Quietly the Steelers have started to remember that the 2012 NFL Season has started. I think they lay it on the rook today, and then receive a few phone calls from the Commish's office after the game.
Oakland at Kansas City (-2) - The Chiefs are starting Brady Quinn and the Raiders are starting Carson Palmer. Don't watch this game.
NY Giants (-2) at Dallas - Revenge game, SChevenge Game. There's no question the G-Men have been one of the better teams so far this season and Eli Manning is a viable MVP Candidate with what he's done - but there's something about me that keeps coming back to the Star and Tony Romo. I guess I'll never learn my lesson.
New Orleans at Denver (-6) - Peyton Manning plays against the Saints for the first time since Terry Porter intercepted him in the 2009 Super Bowl. The good news for Manning is that Terry Porter is now on his team.
San Francisco (-6.5) at Arizona - Remember when the Seahawks improbably covered because Harbaugh chose to decline the safety? Yeah, I don't think this one will even be close.

Yo but for real - stay safe. A hurricane is coming thru and her vagina is Sandy - could be bad.

Last Week: 5-7-1
Best Picks: 4-3
Season Record: 53-49-2

2012 Week 7 NFL Predictions

2012-10-21T11:56:00.001-04:00

Great start with that Thursday Night Dud - now bringing my TNF record to 1-6 for the year. Also the Under in these games is 6-1. Makes sense since NO ONE in their right mind wants to play a game 3 days after a Sunday game. I still love the idea of football on Thursday Nights - but I'll be damned if these games haven't blown chunks. Speaking of blowing chunks - here are the picks for the week:

Thursday October 18th
Seattle at San Francisco (-8) - Fucking Harbaugh

Sunday October 21st
Tennessee at Buffalo (-3) - Spillah Spills takes over for the Bills - please don't fuck this up Chan.
Cleveland (Best Pick) at Indianapolis (-2.5) - A Matchup of two Rookie QBs - always go with the more experienced guy.
Washington at NY Giants (-5.5) - RG3 - he's undeniably good. Feeling a let down for the G-Men.
New Orleans (-1.5) at Tampa Bay - Like what Schiano has done - not sure the return of Jonnie Vilma makes the Saints any good.
Dallas (-2.5) at Carolina - If the Cowboys lose today - just pack up the bags.
Baltimore at Houston (-7) - Foster might rush for 350 yards today.
Green Bay (-5) at St. Louis - Usually love the home dogs - but Rodgers had that fire in his eyes last night. I saw it. Not betting against him.
Arizona at Minnesota (-7) - John Skelton returns as QB - good for the Cardinals.
NY Jets at New England (-11.5) - New England 52 New York Jets 0.
Jacksonville at Oakland (-4) - Don't like the Raiders giving more than a FG to any team in the league.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati (Pick) - Winner of this game is in the drivers seat of the AFC North - sorry Baltimore.

Monday October 22nd
Detroit at Chicago (-7) - Hate taking the Bears - but its gotta be done.

No Falcons this week - not sure why I'm watching football.

Last Week: 8-6
Season Record: 48-42-1
Best Picks: 4-2

2012 NFL Week 6 Predictions

2012-10-14T10:35:00.000-04:00

The NFL these past two weekends has been immensely more fun to watch - plus now with the real refs back I feel like things are coming back to normalcy. Thru 5 Weeks I've learned that the Falcons Passing Game is terrific. The Panthers passing game is the opposite. There's also no clear cut upper echelon of great teams this year as we've had in years past. Sure the Texans and Falcons boast 5-0 records - but would anyone be terribly surprised if they didn't end up with No. 1 seed in their respective conferences? The Texans look like a well balanced team but with a season ending injury to their All Pro LB Brian Cushing and the fact that they haven't really played anyone 'good' I wouldn't be so quick to pencil them in for top spot in the AFC. But arguably the most important thing I've learned is week to week nothing in the NFL matters - gotta look at each matchup and throw everything from weeks prior out the proverbial window. Here's how things should play out for week 6.

Thursday October 11th, 8:20 ET - NFL Network

Pittsburgh (-5.5) at Tennessee

Sunday October 14th

Oakland at Atlanta (-8)

Cincinnati (-1) at Cleveland

St. Louis at Miami (-3.5)

Indianapolis at NY Jets (-3)

Detroit at Philadelphia (-4.5)

Dallas at Baltimore (-3.5) - BP

Kansas City at Tampa Bay (-3.5)

New England (-3.5) at Seattle

Buffalo at Arizona (-4.5)

NY Giants at San Francisco (-4.5)

Minnesota at Washington (-1.5)

Green Bay at Houston (-3.5)

Monday October 14th

Denver at San Diego (-2)

Stay Warm.

Last Week: 8-6
Season: 40-36-1

Best Picks: 3-2

2012 NFL Week 5 Predictions

2012-10-04T13:54:00.000-04:00

Holy schnikes, 4-11??? Yup - after re-reading my post last week, I'm not sure why anyone would have said you know what?! This guy has a grasp on what's going on - let's get on board. Just utterly horrendous last week on the picks - but I vow to come back strong this week seeing as we're one week removed from the worst week in NFL history. I'm still staying true to my detachment process and only making picks - am I less informed? Yep. Do I still enjoy the games as much? Sure do. Here's how the games should play out this week.

Thursday October 4th, 8:20 ET - NFL Network

Arizona (-1.5) at St. Louis

Sunday October 7th

Miami at Cincinnati (-3)

Green Bay (-7) at Indianapolis

Baltimore (-6) at Kansas City

Tennessee at Minnesota (-5.5)

Atlanta (-3) at Washington

Cleveland at NY Giants (-8.5)

Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (-3)

Seattle at Carolina (-3)

Chicago (-6) at Jacksonville

Denver at New England (-6.5)

Buffalo at San Francisco (-10)

San Diego at New Orleans (-3.5)

Monday October 8th, 8:30 ET - ESPN

Houston (-8) at NY Jets

Thanksokaybye.

Last Week: 4-11
Season: 32-30-1

Best Picks: 2-2

2012 NFL Week 4 - There is a greater being

2012-09-27T18:20:00.001-04:00

I went through an emotional roller coaster this week. Never in my life did I think I could feel the way I felt about the NFL on Monday Night around 12:24 am. I reacted emotionally and did things like vow to not watch the games until they fixed their problems. I went so far as to leave a voicemail for Roger Goodell. I was morally deflated that my football had gotten to the level that it did after "Water-Tate". Now that the refs are back am I happy? Sure. No longer will inadequate refs be responsible for split second decisions that have the ability to determine outcomes on the game that I've come to love so much. But something about me changed this week. I realized that I'm way too attached to these games. It's borderline unhealthy. So this week - things will change. I'll start my process of detachment by only making picks. No writing, no researching, no knowing every little tidbit about the games or the story lines. At the end of the day - its entertainment and so I should treat it as such - not a job or a class. Plus it will allow me to spend more time on things like pranna brunch and cock pushups. Without further ado the picks for this week...

Thursday September 27th, 8:20 ET - NFL Network
Cleveland at Baltimore (-13)

Sunday September 30th
Carolina at Atlanta (-7)
New England (-4) at Buffalo
Minnesota at Detroit (-7)
San Diego at Kansas City (-1)
Seattle (-2.5) at St. Louis
San Francisco (-4) at NY Jets
Tennessee at Houston (-12.5)
Miami at Arizona (-6) - Best Pick
Cincinnati at Jacksonville (-2.5)
Oakland at Denver (-6.5)
New Orleans at Green Bay (-7)
Washington at Tampa Bay (-2.5)
NY Giants at Philadelphia (-2.5)

Monday October 1st, 8:30 ET - ESPN
Chicago at Dallas (-4)

Thanks, bye.

This Week: 0-0
Season: 28-19-1

Best Picks: 2-1

2012 NFL Week 3 Predictions

2012-09-20T12:08:00.004-04:00

Through 2 weeks of the season - we know even less than what we know when the season started, except for the fact that these replacement refs need to be replaced as soon as possible. The Patriots and Ravens square off this week to avoid going 1-2, the Packers will be in a dogfight against the Seahawks to avoid going 1-2, the Giants are battered on offense and will need to beat the Panthers to avoid going 1-2, and I'll need to beat Shalin in fantasy football to avoid going 1-2. Football as we know it, simply doesn't make sense.

Thursday September 20th - 8:20 ET, NFL Network
NY Giants (-1) vs. Carolina

The line on this game has shifted significantly in Carolina's favor after the announcement that the G-men will be without 4 of their key players on offense (Bradshaw, Nicks, Hixon, and Diehl). I already put in my bet at the above line so I'll stick with it for gambling purposes. It's pretty well known that Eli Manning doesn't show up for the first three quarters of football games and will then attempt to pull some sort of Houdini-like escape in the fourth similar to his feat last week against the Bucs. I don't see that happening this week. If the Panthers can get their run game going with Newton and their platoon of RBs, they are a dangerous team regardless of the competition. Given that the Giants will be on the road for the first time this year - I like my chances with the Panthers to get off to a surprising 2-1 start, while the Giants will have to do with they do best and play catch up from 1-2. I'll roll with the Panthers at home tonight.

Sunday, September 23rd - 1PM Kickoffs
St. Louis at Chicago (-7)
Here's a matchup that I'll be looking to seek revenge against the player in the NFL that I detest the most. Is this a good way to gamble? Never. Do I care? Nope. I just can't continue to back Smokin' Jay Cutler. He's time and time again proven his douchebaggery on and off the field and quite frankly it's no way to lead a team. The injury to RB Matt Forte also gives the Rams and advantage here, but they'll be waiting until the start of the game to announce their own RBs fortunes (Steven Jackson). Regardless, I like the stingy Rams to continue their strong 2012 campaign. I'll grab the Rams and the points here.

Buffalo (-2.5) at Cleveland
It's true, C.J. Spiller has given the Buffalo Bills hope for the rest of this season. Spilla Spills as I like to affectionately refer to him as, has led the NFL in rushing through two weeks with his 292 yards to date. Through the first two weeks, he's averaged an amazing 10.1 yards / carry, a feat which hasn't been accomplished since a former Cleveland Brown, Jim Brown, accomplished in 1963 (11.3 yards / carry). The Bills will need to win this game to remain atop the AFC East and because losing to the Browns almost negates anything else you do as a team all season. Seriously, good teams win these games. Let's see what the Bills are made of.

Tampa Bay at Dallas (-7)
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from disappointing week 2 outcomes. The Bucs dropped a heartbreaker to the Giants after leading by 18 points, and the Cowboys seemingly forgot they were scheduled to play a football game in Seattle. The Boys return back home this week for the first time in 2012. I expect Romo and Co. to find some comfort and put up a big day against a weak Bucs secondary. Ride the Cowboys to get back on track this week.

Sunday, Septmber 23rd (4 ET Kickoffs)

Philadelphia (-4) at Arizona - Best Pick

The Eagles have a +2 margin of victory on the year. That's what you call winning by the skin on your bone. Or something like that. The point is, they've won, and they continue to find ways. Sure the Cardinals Defense looked really good against the Pats last week, but their offense shouldn't impose any fear into the Eagles today. I like the Eagles to cover their first game of the season with an easy road victory in Arizona.

Atlanta at San Diego (-3)
Could very well be the best game of the early games on Sunday. Two 2-0 teams square off in what should be a battle of cock-measuring. The Falcons have looked impressive going to a no-huddle offense led by Matty Ice spreading the ball all over the place. The Chargers have put up 30 ppg and will get back their lead RB Ryan Mathews. I don't expect to see much defense in this one - but I trust the attack of the Falcons a notch more than the Chargers. I'll continue to ride on the Falcons bandwagon.

Houston (-1.5) at Denver
Is it the year of the Texan? With the Texans (NFL) and Rangers (MLB) looking to make runs for their respective championships this very well could be the year that Texas teams get long awaited championships. The Texans are the only team in the past 3 years to start 2-0, however they've never started 3-0. Going into Mile High Stadium will be no easy task against a stout Broncos Defense. However, Peyton Manning hasn't quite looked like he's on the same page with his Receivers just yet. He struggled to make the right reads last week against the Falcons on MNF which led to an abysmal start (3 INTs in the first quarter). I look for the Texans to continue to disrupt Manning's rhythm and will take them on the road to start 3-0.

Sunday, September 23d (8:20 ET)
New England at Baltimore (-3)
Just like everyone envisioned it - The two AFC Championship game contenders battling to avoid a 1-2 start to the season. The Patriots will be without half of their monster TE duo this week with the injury to Aaron Hernandez. The last time they started a football game without their star TE, the Pats lost to the Bills and Brady threw 4 INTs. The Ravens have looked good in both games this year, but the offense stalled late and the defense was unable to fend of the Eagles last week on the road. It was just reported the WR Torrey Smith lost his brother late last night in a Motorcycle accident, so the tight-nit Ravens will be playing with heavy hearts. For the game, I just can't see the Pats with a losing record. In fact they've gone 145 straight games without a losing record. I look for the Pats to continue that streak, and get another W against the Ravens.

Monday, September 24th (8:30 ET)
Green Bay (-3) at Seattle
I'm absolutely torn on this game. The Packers are coming off a 15-1 season and play against a Rookie QB on Monday Night Football, yet they only lay 3 points? I know that Russell Wilson has only been asked to manage the game for the Seahawks - but he's still a pretty special player. And if you didn't like him before - try not to like him after watching this clip. Goosebumps for all of us short guys out there. I just can't root against my favorite rookie QB on prime time. I doubt I'll wager on this game, but if I did - I'd have to side with the ~~Seahawks~~ Packers (changing pick prior to kickoff). The Packers are 0-4 on MNF away from Lambeau - so we have that going for us, right? - disregard previous paragraph, too many upsets this week to get too cute and hope for another one on MNF. Take the Pack.

Best of the Rest - quick hits for the rest of the games:

NY Jets (-2.5) at Miami - I really really don't think the dolphins could put together a two game win streak. Sanchez better hope so or the whispers for Tebow will turn into belligerent screaming. Take the Jets.

San Francisco (-7) at Minnesota - Looks too good to be true, right? It's probably not, take the Vikings.

Kansas City at New Orleans (-8) - The Chiefs are the perfect recipe to get your season started (see Falcons, Bills).

Cincinnati at Washington (-3.5) - RGIII bounces back at home against the Bengals

Detroit (-3.5) at Tennessee - Chris Johnson has been the worst, but I look for the Titans to hold their ground today. Take them plus the points at home.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis (-3) - Won't be watching this game. You shouldn't either. Take the Jags for no good reason.

Pittsburgh (-4) at Oakland - Average Gambler: The Steelers on the road, against a weak Raiders team? Sounds like money to me. I'll ride the Raiders, because I'm probably a subpar gambler.

Enjoy the games this week!

This Week: 0-1
Season: 19-13-1
Best Picks: 2-0

NFL 2012 Week 2 Predictions (Centennial Edition)

2012-09-13T10:35:00.002-04:00

I think I've finally recovered from the consumption of all that football this past weekend. Always has been and always be one of my favorite weekends of the year, also doesn't hurt to go 11-5 to kick things off. But now that it's over that means we're simply one week smarter headed into week 2 where in the 100th post on the site we will undoubtedly go 16 for 16 this week.

Thursday September 13th, 8:20 ET - NFL Network
Chicago vs. Green Bay (-6)
Well look what we have here! Football on a Thursday in Week 2 for the first time ever! I love it - more football during the week gives me less time to pay attention to things that actually matter (Political Conventions, Economic News, issues in Libya, etc.). This is already looking like a must-win game for the Packers in Week 2 if they have any hopes of keeping their No. 1 seed in the NFC in tact. QB Aaron Rodgers has been telling media all week long that they are not panicked, but after a pretty sub-par performance against the 49ers, this Packers team needs a win to avoid going 0-2. I just did some fact checking and only 22% of teams that start 0-2 go on to make the playoffs. There's no question that the Packers are a gifted offensive team, but if their defense continues to get torched - who knows what will happen. The Bears on the other hand looked like a very formidable team last week - I know they played the 2-14 Colts, so I tell myself not to get too excited about them - but it's hard to deny the talent they have on both sides of the ball. Brandon Marshall has already reaped the rewards of reuniting with Jay Cutler, and Alshon Jeffrey looks to be a viable second WR option. I like this game to have a lot of points - and think that the Bears will be able to match the Packers on offense. I'll take the Bears to keep this close in Lambeau.

I've highlighted below the games for the weekend that I would wager on you know... if gambling were legal and all. The rest of the picks are below:

Sunday September 16th, (1:00 ET Kickoffs)
Kansas City vs. Buffalo (-3)
Yep, the Bills reverted back to form last week by getting their asses handed to them by the Jets. No Fred Jackson this week and DT Marcell Dareus coping with the loss of his brother - I can only imagine that the Bills would be prime for another demoralizing defeat, but something tells me to continue to hold out faith and not write this team off after week 1. The Chiefs come into this game at full strength after suffering some brutal injuries (Jamaal Charles & Eric Berry) and having to cope with cheaters (Tamba Hali - suspended for 1 game). After the Bills annihilated the Chiefs last year 41-7, there will be no excuses from KC. I still think this Bills can keep their season in tact, so I'll back them again.

New Orleans (-2.5) vs. Carolina
I honestly don't know how to feel about this Saints team. Did I think they would be far worse than their 2011 campaign? Absolutely. Did I think that they would drop their home opener to the Redskins snapping an 8 game winning streak? Absolutely not. That brings us to week 2 where they will pack up and play Carolina on the road. The Panthers don't exactly instill the confidence I was looking for after a terrific rookie campaign from Cam Newton on only 10 yards rushing against the Bucs last week. I'd expect this game to be a high scoring affair, one in which the Saints should be able to dictate. If I were a betting man, my money would be on the Saints to avoid going 0-2. Take New Orleans to bounce back against the Panthers.

Tampa Bay vs. NY Giants (-7.5) - Best Pick
The big story here is the return of two former Rutgers personnel to the lovely state of New Jersey - Greg Schiano (Head Coach from 2001 - 2011) and Eric LeGrand (former DT for the Scarlet Knights who was paralyzed during a game in 2010.) With all of the positive vibes in the air, I look for the Bucs to continue to build momentum on their week 1 win - but fear not Giants fans, the last time the G-Men went 0-2, they went on to win the Superbowl in 2007. History always repeats itself, right? Take the Bucs plus the points here.

Baltimore vs. Philadelphia (-2.5)
A lot of people will look at this line and say, WTF!?! This makes no sense, the Ravens looked impeccable in week 1 against the Bengals and are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Meanwhile, the Eagles offense looked like they just met each other before kickoff last week in Cleveland and barely survived a win against a Brandon Weeden lead team. HOW ARE THE EAGLES FAVORED? Well, I'll tell you what. Andy Reid does not allow his team to put up very many back to back duds on the offensive side of the ball. The Eagles defense is also no joke as they've gone back to blitzing and pressuring WRs at the line making it hard for QB's to find open passing lanes. Surely this will be a competitive game - I just see the Eagles rallying at home to start the season off at 2-0 vs. the AFC North.

Oakland (-2.5) vs. Miami
If you were watching the Texans - Dolphins last weekend, you were watching a 3-3 game with two minutes left in the first half. If you stepped out of the room to go make a bowl of Fruity Pebbles, you would have come back at the Half and seen the score 24-3 Texans. Yes, the Dolphins are 21 points in less than 2 minutes bad. They're just waiting to self implode in every game - and until I see otherwise I will continue to go straight to the bank by betting against them. Take the Raiders to fly cross country after a late Monday Night Football game and win on the road in an early Sunday football game. Sounds like strong logic, right? Who cares, its the Dolphins.

Sunday September 16th, (4:25 ET Kickoff)
NY Jets vs. Pittsburgh (-6)
No Darrelle Revis looks to be the report out of Pittsburgh in this one. That's most certainly a game changer since he tends to live on an island by himself. With no Revis, I would expect the Steelers to continue to throw the ball (40 pass attempts vs. 26 rushing attempts last week in Denver). This means big days for Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace. On the defensive side of the ball - the Steelers get back their 2008 defensive player of the year James Harrison. All signs point to a win for the Steelers and for the Jets to suffer their first defeat. Let's go against Tebow again, and ride the Steelers.

Sunday Septhember 16th (8:20 ET Kickoff)
Detroit vs. San Francisco (-7)
Are people really looking forward to the post-game handshake from Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz? This game should have all of the fireworks you'll need as an impressive Lions offense will be up against a great challenge in San Francisco on Sunday Night. The Niners looked awfully impressive against the Packers - most notably K David Akers who banged home three 40+ yard field goals, capped off by a record-tying 63 yarder that careened of the crossbar and in. Pretty impressive stuff. I like this one to be a close, hard-nosed, old school game, likely coming down to a field goal either way. Take the Lions to cover here.

Monday, September 17th (8:30 ET Kickoff)
Denver vs. Atlanta (-3)
Peyton Manning was absolutely brilliant last week in his home-opener. Matt Ryan looked like a viable MVP candidate in his season opener. Both of these teams could be primed for big seasons, so kudos to the schedule-makers for giving us this gem to cap off week 2. At the end of the day Matt Ryan has won 26 of his 30 contests in the Peach state, so I'll roll with the Falcons to stay hot and win by at least a TD.

Quick Hits for the rest of the picks in Bold:
Cleveland vs. Cincinnati (-7) - It's Brandon Weeden!!! - thank you very much.
Minnesota (-1.5) vs. Indianapolis - Luck feeds off the Cardinal win over USC to get the Colts their first W of the year.
Houston (-7.5) vs. Jacksonville - Houston is good, Jacksonville is not.
Arizona vs. New England (-14) - NE should be your survivor pick, but I think the Cards keep this within in two touchdowns (last meeting in 2008: NE 47, ARI 7). See what I mean?
Washington (-3) vs. St. Louis - RGIII will succumb to the Rams defense that was able to keep Stafford and the Lions in check for 59 mins, 50 seconds last week.
Tennessee vs. San Diego (-6) - I wouldn't get anywhere near this game, let's just take the points and move on.
Dallas (-3.5) vs. Seattle - Tony Romo gets revenge from that playoff loss in 2009.

Enjoy week 2 of the NFL season!

This Week: 0-1 - eff you Jay Cutler!
Season: 11-6
Best Pick: 1-0

2012 NFL Week 1 Predictions

2012-09-05T12:29:00.003-04:00

Can you smell that??? FOooooOOOTballl is BACK!!!! Honestly not sure how anyone accomplishes anything this week - IF I were running a presidential campaign, my first order of business would be to give everyone a week off from work, school, and any other secondary activities. How's that for government policy? As we did last year, I'll make predictions every week for each game against the spread and at the end of the year hope to have more W's than L's. All lines are courtesy of 5dimes. Without further ado, the week 1 Picks...

Wednesday, September 5th (8:30 ET Kickoff)
Dallas vs. New York Giants (-4)
This will be the fourth that the teams faceoff to kickoff the NFL season, the Cowboys have won all 3 previous matchups (1986, 1995, 2007). In ALL three of those years, either the Giants or the Cowboys have won the Superbowl. Basically what I'm saying is - bet the Cowboys for the game - then the Giants / Cowboys to win the SB. Sorry Eagles fans, looks like it'll be another year of misery.

Sunday, September 9th (1:00 ET Kickoffs)
Indianapolis vs. Chicago (-10.5)
Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler have shown great chemistry before during their stretch in Denver together. Then Cutler got traded to the Bears and is best known for sitting out a playoff game in which he was seemingly okay. And Marshall is best known for his rap sheet off the field, most recently being stabbed by his girlfriend. Sounds like the Bears are in for a winning season. All of that being said, I still like the Bears to handle to Colts in their home opener. I'll take the Bears to beat up on what should be a subpar Colts team.

Philadelphia (-9) vs. Cleveland
The "Dog Pound" in Cleveland is usually a pretty tough place to play no matter how bad the Browns have been. Good news for the Eagles in this game - CB Joe Haden, One of the Browns 3 good players, has just been suspended for the first four games of the 2012 campaign. That means Michael Vick and Lesean McCoy are primed for big days against an already weak Browns squad. I like the Eagles to win this one - and any time Vick is surrounded by dogs - you gotta think he'll kill it. I'm just kidding - we're too old for these off-colored jokes. Take the Eagles to cruise in week 1.

New England (-7) vs. Tennessee
This looks like the type of game that I would include in every possible tease. The Patriots are Super Bowl good. The Titans have 4 WRs heading into Sunday. Shouldn't really be a question who will win this early season match up. While I like RB Chris Johnson to have a nice bounce back year - I don't see the Titans being able to compete with the Pats. I'll roll with New England in this one.

Atlanta (-2.5) vs. Kansas City
Anyone that I've talked to about fantasy football this year knows that I'm googely-eyed (not sure what that means) over the Atlanta Passing game. I've tried my best to grab some combination of Matt Ryan & Julio Jones / Roddy White in my leagues and have made some side bets involving these players for the season. With everything pointing in the right direction for Atlanta - I look for them to get off to a good start. I'm a little weary that Vegas isn't as excited about Atlanta as I am, but week 1 is usually where they are off the most - that's what I'll keep telling myself. Take the Falcons to assault the Chiefs through the air.

Jacksonville vs. Minnesota (-3.5)
There it is... the game that I will absolutely avoid watching at all costs. Thank you Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder for this dud. Take the Jags plus the points.

Washington vs. New Orleans (-10)
The first real test for RGIII should be a good one for him. I don't really trust any rookie QB - but after watching Cam Newton torch the NFL in his first two outings, maybe I'm more likely to give a play-making QB the benefit of the doubt. The Saints come into this game after a dismal offseason (see BountyGate) and can finally focus on playing the game. Drew Brees is as good a Quarterback as the league has to offer - but I have to imagine that this past year has been one of extreme highs (breaking Marino's Record) and lows (contract dispute / madden curse). I look for the Saints to pull back a bit this year and to miss the playoffs. It's not likely the Skins will win this game, but I'll take them to cover the generous spread here.

Buffalo vs. New York Jets (-1.5)
Tebow-Mania will be hitting New York this weekend. We'll finally get to see what the hype of the wildcat in Tony Sparano's offense is all about. Wait, the same Tony Sparano that led the Dolphins to a painfully boring offense? Oh sure, that should go well. The Jets have struggled to score and even made history by becoming the first team since the '79 Falcons to go the first three preseason games without a single TD. Meanwhile, the Bills have been torching opposing defenses all preseason. What's that you say? 59 points in 4 games, and a 0-4 record? No worries from this guy. I like what the Bills did this offseason (Mario Williams / brought back a lot of key offensive pieces) and for the first time in a long-long time feel like they will be relevant in December and January. I'll take the Bills to get off to a good start.

St. Louis vs. Detroit (-9) - Best Pick
Madden Curse or not, Calvin Johnson is an absolute delight to watch. He's the reason why fantasy sports are fun. You get to watch stars emerge from teams that used to be 0-16 and are now legitimate contenders in the NFC. Heading into the season the Lions, I'm not sure the Lions are ready to compete with the lofty expectations they have been given. Their offseason was spent bailing guys out of jail (Suh, Fairley, Berry 2x)- They've also been pretty banged up on the defensive side of the ball heading into this game. I like the Rams who I know very little about to cover the spread in this one. Side note: Shannon Eastin, will make NFL history when she becomes the first female to referee an NFL game. Translation: All bets are off.

Miami vs. Houston (-13.5)
Everyone been watching Hard Knocks? If so, then anyone who has knows why I'm picking against Miami in probably every matchup this year. They're awfully bad to watch as a team - and quite frankly, while he seems like a nice guy, Joe Philbin, has shown little proof that he knows what he's doing. I'm high on the Texans this year and think they have a legitimate shot to contend with the Patriots for the AFC Championship this year. I also have Arian Foster in my big money league, so take that with a grain of vegan. I'll back the Texans and lay the two touchdowns in this one.

Sunday, September 9th (4:25 ET Kickoffs)
San Francisco vs. Green Bay (-5)
This could be a preview of the NFC Championship - but most likely it wont be. How's that for hard hitting analysis? I'm like the Sanjay Gupta of sports analysis. I just tend to agree with some of the 'experts' out there that say that the 49ers will regress this year. No way that they get back to 13 wins with their schedule (Saints, Patriots, Packers, Giants, Bears, Lions, Bills) all tough out of division opponents. Yep, threw the Bills in their to make myself feel better about 2012. While I love the job Jim Harbaugh did with this team last year - I don't think to offense will be enough to contend with the potent Packers in Lambeau. Take the Packers in week 1.

Seattle (-2.5) vs. Arizona
One of the best stories of the preseason has been the emergence of 3rd round rookie QB Russell Wilson winning the starting job over the recently acquired Matt Flynn in Seattle. I've had an affinity for Wilson dating back to his Wolfpack days at N.C. State and thought he was a legitimate Heisman candidate last year until that hail mary loss to Michigan State. Now Wilson will get a chance to show that he can make it in the pros. I like his chances and I like the Seahawks to have a strong year. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are in limbo with their QB situation (John Skelton and Kevin Kolb), but somehow think they can contend for the NFC West. Sorry Cards Fans - I don't see it. Take Seattle to win by a FG in this one.

Carolina (-1) vs. Tampa Bay
To be completely honest, I bet my roommate (a HUGE Panthers fan) that the Bills would have more Wins at the end of the season than the Panthers. In making that friendly wager, I'm hoping that the Bucs will be able to revert back to the bucs of 2010 and not so much the Bucs of 2011 - a team that LOST the LAST 10 games of the season. To Tampa's credit, they added WR Vincent Jackson, RB Doug Martin, and have replaced the vacant head coach position with New Jersey's very own Greg Schiano. I like those moves a lot and with a healthy Josh Freeman, I'm going in on the Bucs bandwagon this year. So for the sake of my season long bet, and a new everything in Tampa, I'll back the Bucs in this one.

Sunday Night Football - 8:20 PM EST Start
Pittsburgh vs. Denver (straight up)
A revenge game for the Steelers who were bounced from the playoffs thanks to a miracle from Tim Tebow. With Tebow, no longer with the Broncos - they'll look to another pretty accomplished QB to take the helm in the Mile High City. Peyton Manning makes his first start since 2010 - honestly this game could go either way (that's why it's a pick em). The Broncos season could go either way. That's what's great about week 1 - I've written about 2,000 words and I still have no idea what's going to happen this year. One of my favorite fantasy plays of the year is on the Steelers - WR Antonio Brown who finished 2011 strong and has looked really really good in the preseason. I'll be rooting for him to get some touches, but ultimately how can you root against the older Manning in his first game back from a nearly career-ending Neck Surgery. I'll take the Broncos to win at home in this toss-up.

Monday Night Football - 7:00 PM EST Start

Cincinnati vs. Baltimore (-7)

Sweet, just when you thought you couldn't handle more there will be 2 Monday Night Football games to satisfy that hunger for Football. In the first of two divisional matchups, the Ravens and Bengals - 2 playoff teams from last year should provide for a solid game. The Bengals will rely on their core duo of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green to carry them again, while the Ravens are primed for another deep playoff run. They just gave Ray Rice, but losing All-Pro DE Terrell Suggs will hurt this already aging defensive unit. I like the Ravens to win the game - but the Bengals to keep this closer than a TD.

Monday Night Football - 10:15 PM EST Start
San Diego vs. Oakland (straight up)
With Ryan Mathews still looking doubtful for week 1 - the Chargers will be relying on RB Ronnie Brown to carry the load. Sounds to me like the Chargers will try to establish the passing game early and often. I doubt I'll be able to stay up for the finale of this game, so I'll just go with the better QB in this one - Phillip Rivers. Take the Chargers on the road - but more importantly don't forget the 4 cups of coffee on Tuesday Morning to help you stay awake.

Enjoy week 1 of the season! Fooootball is back!

Season Record: 0-0-0

Best Picks: 0-0-0

2012 NBA Playoffs

2012-06-12T09:35:00.000-04:00

2012 NBA Championship
Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (-160)
I know, I know - it's been about 2 months since my last post. Apparently this grad school thing turned out to be kind of time consuming. Still no excuse to not write about sports. As most of you know the NBA Finals starts on Tuesday with Lebron James and the Miami Heat going toe-to-toe with Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. A dream final for the NBA and its fans.
This could honestly be the NBA Finals for the next 5 years and I would be completely content. It has the makings of a great rivalry between the undisputed 2 best players in the game today. Enough about that here's what I think you may or may not need to know about each team before placing your 'friendly' wagers on this series...

About El Heat:
Lebron James is the best effing player in the world, and he's playing some of the best basketball I've ever seen. What he did to the Celtics in game 6 will go down as one of the most gut wrenching games I've ever watched. Here's what I mean. After Game 1, I realized that I wasn't coping very well with the stress of this series - so naturally I pulled a Billy Beane and started working out during the games. Running, Lifting, doing cock pushups - whatever I felt was necessary to will the Celtics to a victory. Sounds crazy, I know. After an astonishing Game 2 performance by Rondo, I realized that maybe my strategy had some credence. Games 3, 4, and 5 I was ecstatic to watch the Celtics reel off three wins in a row from the confines of the Drexel University rec center. So naturally, thinking that I had single-handedly changed the outcome of the Boston Celtics season, I took to my favorite treadmill and began observing Game 6. Lebron did anything and everything he wanted going on obscene 12 for 14 from the field while dropping a cool 30 points... in the first half. Mind you this was an elimination game in which the pressure against him could not have been greater. Completely un-phased he never cracked a smile. When the second half started - I thought it would be a prudent idea to kick up the speed to which I was running. Maybe if I ran faster - this would motivate the Celtics to play better, faster, stronger. Nope. Lebron continued his dominance. It got to a point in the third quarter where I found myself keeling over at some of the ridiculous shots that he was hitting. To say he ripped my heart out that night was an understatement. Basically, what I'm trying to say is - Lebron James is the best player on earth. He has the ability to win basketball games by himself. If he can channel that game 6 performance in any form the Heat should have no problem winning their first title in this experiment.

About the Thunder:
No one gave the Thunder a chance against the San Antonio Spurs. Pop, Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker were on a 20 game winning streak and up 2-0 against this young Thunder team. Every NBA pundit wrote the Thunder off saying things along the lines of "their time will come, just not right now." For a core team of Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, and Harden that average 22.5 years in age, it sure seems like they got tired of the criticism that they were too young. Four games later, the Thunder made the Spurs look old and they looked like the exciting, upbeat, lovable team that makes this team so easy to root for. Kevin Durant has to be one of the most likable superstars because of his humble demeanor. Russell Westbrook plays such a reckless style of basketball that he makes dribbling from half court to the 3-point line an adventure. James Harden has become one of my favorite players to watch given his lack of overall athleticism. Reminds me a lot of a young Paul Pierce, crafty, clutch, and irritating for defenders. And Serge Ibaka has come from the war-stricken country of Congo to become one of the most exciting defensive players to watch in a while. As one friend put it, you'd have to be inhuman to root against this team, it's simply not possible. They've gone through 3 Western Conference powerhouses in the Mavs, Lakers, and Spurs and now have face one last juggernaut to complete an already impressive postseason run. They look primed to make Seattle look even worse for giving up on them back in 2008.

Who Will Win?
It's true, before the beginning of the season I placed a handsome wager on the Heat to win the NBA Finals this year, so perhaps my judgment has been swayed. That being said, I truly feel like the Heat will win this series. Do they have the better coach? I don't know. Do they have the better overall team? Probably not. Do they have home court advantage? Nope. But one thing they do have is Lebron James - and as much as I've rejoiced in his recent failures - I'm ready to accept that he's too good and playing too well right now to let anything come between him and that elusive first ring. I'll take the Heat in 5.

MLB 2012 Opening Day

2012-04-04T11:36:00.001-04:00

The first day of summer starts today. I know that the official date for the Northern Hemisphere usually occurs around June 20th or 21st - but with the first pitch of the MLB season taking place tonight - so to does the idea of summer: tailgating, beer, hot dogs, baseball, and cracker jacks. Note: I don't count the two games that took place in Japan between the Mariners and Athletics, mostly because I had no idea they even occurred until after I saw Felix Hernandez's statistics on my fantasy team actually counted. Anyways, with the new season comes a new found hope for every team in baseball. Realistically we know that the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, and Rangers will be contenders... we also know that the Pirates will not finish above .500. Let's kick off the season with some more predictions that may or may not even come close - that's the thing about baseball - as long as you don't suck, you can win on any given night.

MLB Opening Week Picks:
Wednesday April 4th
St. Louis Cardinals (Lohse) vs. Miami Marlins (Johnson, -180), 7:05 PM - ESPN
The opening of a new ballpark in Miami and the reigning World Series Champions to get the baseball season started. Now that's how its done. South Beach and Rings - something Lebron James has been looking for, ZING! The Miami Marlins are a revamped team bringing in top free agents like Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Heath Bell, and Carlos Zambrano while also relying on their home-grown prospects in Giancarlo Stanton, Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison, and their ace Josh Johnson. The Marlins have been heavily criticized in years past for not spending money on players and getting rid of managers (Freddie Gonzalez and Joe Girardi) that have done terrific jobs given the talent on the field. This year - they look to be real contenders. They have the talent on the field, a fiery Manager in Ozzie Guillen, and will finally get the support from fans showing up to their ball games. In 2012, the Marlins will be a fun team to watch and one that I think will have success in making the playoffs. I see them getting off to a strong start by beating the Cardinals in game 1 of 162. I'll take the Marlins in this one.

Thursday April 5th
Boston Red Sox (Lester) vs. Detroit Tigers (Verlander, -145), 1:05 PM - ESPN2
Two teams touted by many to make a deep run in the upcoming season. After last seasons colossal collapse, the Red Sox have brought in Manager Bobby Valentine to shake things up in the clubhouse. I'm not sure he's the right answer, but I do see a turnaround for the Red Sox this season. The Tigers went out a spent big money on their new 1B Prince Fielder. Funny thing about that is they already have an MVP caliber 1B in Miguel Cabrera. I'm all for ramping up the offensive production - but not at that cost. There were other holes on the Tigers like depth in the rotation that are left unfulfilled. For this game - I like the Red Sox to get 2012 started off on the right foot.

Los Angeles Dodgers (Kershaw, -155) vs. San Diego Padres (Volquez), 7:05 PM - MLBN
I honestly can't name five players on the Padres. Can you? The Dodgers on the other hand have been in the news recently after the $2 Billion sale of their franchise to a group of owners that includes Magic Johnson. Something about this new partnership tells me that things are changing in the right direction. Getting rid of the media circus that was Frank McCourt is exactly the right way for the Dodgers organization to start 2012. They also have some pretty legitimate talent with reigning NL MVP in my book Matt Kemp and 2011 CY Young Clayton Kershaw. Not a bad nucleus to build your franchise around. I see the Dodgers getting the W in this one.

Friday April 6th
New York Yankees (Sabathia) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (Shields), 3:10 PM - MLBN
The Rays get it. They put a cheap product out on the field loaded with tons and tons of talent. It's probably the result of sucking for about 15 years and loading up on draft picks - but they've got the best young talent anywhere in baseball. Their 2012 payroll totals up to $41.9 million or just about 20% of the Yankees 2012 payroll. In terms of running an organization that's how its done - minimize costs and maximize returns. That's what I've learned so far during my MBA - future employers where you at??? The Yankees on the other hand are dishing out nearly $200 million in player salaries this year - but somehow they're flying under the radar. Of the 52 ESPN Baseball Experts, only 3 of them picked the Yankees to win the World Series. They probably know something I don't, but I still have faith this year in the Yanks. For this game (no line yet) I'll roll with the Yankees - but I still love the future and outlook for the Rays in 2012.

Other Predictions, just because:
AL East: Yankees
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Angels
AL Wild-Card: Rays
AL Wild-Card: Red Sox

NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Reds
NL West: Giants
NL Wild-Card: Marlins
NL Wild-Card: Dodgers

AL MVP: Evan Longoria, Rays
AL Cy Young: Jon Lester, Red Sox

NL MVP: Jose Reyes, Marlins
NL Cy Young: Cliff Lee, Phillies

World Series Champion: Yankees over Giants - fun fact: The last 6 times Kentucky has won the NCAA Championship, the Yankees have gone to the World Series.

Road to the Final Four: How Sweet It Is..

2012-03-22T09:39:00.000-04:00

You didn't think that I would let the entire madness of March go by without writing a blog on college basketball, did you? The truth is - I've been watching college basketball with one eye half opened the past couple of months rooting desperately for my alma mater, Drexel to not only make the tournament but to make some noise a la VCU or George Mason in years past. It's simply not in my blood to brag - I like to stay humble when things are going well, so writing about them would have felt downright uncomfortable. I also didn't want to ruin the built up momentum...you just don't mess with a good thing. It's like talking about a perfect game in baseball, or mentioning that there's no way your team could lose when they're up by 4 points with the ball and only 13 seconds left...you just don't do it. Or at least I don't.

For the Dragons - things went ~~great~~ phenomenal this season. School record 29 Wins, the nation's second longest win streak (19), some impressive individual accolades, and 2 memorable wins at home during the NIT have given this team a lot to be proud of and a future that is as bright as I can remember. However, after Tuesday Night's loss to UMass at home - I was left with an unusual feeling. What a great run this season has been - but I thought to myself, perhaps the committee got it right in leaving us out? In the midst of blowing a 17 point second half lead, I saw us get out-coached, out-hustled, certainly out-played, out-manned (only 7 guys log significant minutes), and worst off all... out of the invitational tournament. While part of me is saddened that Drexel's lone Senior Samme Givens didn't get a chance to dance - part of me is hopeful that the bittersweet end to this season leaves a foul taste that will motivate the 2012-13 Dragons for bigger and brighter outcomes.

With no games left for the Dragons to play this season - this feels like the perfect time to get involved with the remainder of the College Basketball season - maybe even make some money back on the games that I lost wagering for the Dragons to make the NCAA tourney. Without further ado - here's how I hope the Sweet 16 plays out this weekend:

SWEET 16 PREDICTIONS:
Thursday, March 22nd (East and West Regionals)
#1 Syracuse (3.5) vs. #4 Wisconsin, 7:15 ET - CBS (Boston, MA)
Preview: Syracuse did well to avoid becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed when they snuck by UNC Asheville, 72-65 last Thursday. No Fab Melo means that Wisconsin will have the edge in the paint (insert racial joke about Wisconsin players being overtly White). No but seriously, Syracuse has not looked like the impressive team that has gotten them to the No. 2 overall team in the country. They have the depth to contend for a national championship, but quite frankly I think too many off court distractions (Not going to class, Boeheim calling Charles Barkley an "Idiot", child abuse scandals, etc.) will be their downfall. I'll roll with the Badgers in this one.

Prediction to Cover: Wisconsin, 65-61

#1 Michigan State (-5) vs. #4 Louisville, 7:47 ET - TBS (Phoenix, AZ)
Preview: Louisville coach, Rick Pitino cracks me up. I really can't take Louisville seriously when their coach is having 15 second escapades with hookers and their point guard Peyton Siva has been playing college basketball for 7 straight seasons. I'll roll with Sparty to advance.

Prediction to Cover: Michigan State, 68-59

#2 Ohio State (-7.5) vs. #6 Cincinnati, 9:45 ET - CBS (Boston, MA)

Preview: So its the first time in tournament history that a single state has had 4 different schools represented in the sweet 16. If you couldn't figure out which state it is from the matchup in bold above, I don't know what to tell you. The Bearcats of Cincy have been on a torrid run as of late - playing all types of boring basketball by lulling teams to sleep with great defense and poor shot selection. Honestly, I have no idea how they made a run to the Big East championship and then beat Texas and Florida State in consecutive games. Yancy Gates has been a great turnaround story, but my guess is he and his teammates will have to turn back around to Ohio after this game. Take the Buckeyes.

Prediction to Cover: Ohio State, 74-58

#3 Marquette (-2) vs. #7 Florida, 10:17 ET - TBS (Phoenix, AZ)

Preview:  I should have probably come out with this a little bit earlier, but my sleeper pick for this years final four at the outset of the tournament was the Florida Gators. For those keeping track at home - that's a loud warning to bet Marquette here. I still like the Gators in this matchup - but the Golden Eagles will absolutely be a tougher foe than Virginia and Norfolk State. Senior F Jae Crowder, Big East player of the year, and G Darius Johnson-Odom will be about all Florida can handle - but if the Gators can get key contributions from their 3 point specialist Kenny Boynton (6th in the nation with 106 3's) and significant numbers from their Freshman standout Patric Young I have faith that the Gators can come out victorious again. I'll take Billy Donovan and the Gators to sneak into the elite 8.

Prediction to Cover: Florida, 74-72

Friday, March 23rd
#3 Baylor (-6) vs. #10 Xavier, 7:15 ET - CBS (Atlanta, GA)

Preview:  Xavier cost me a pretty penny with their antics in the A-10 tournament against St. Bonaventure's. Naturally I was rooting for Xavier to keep another out of the tournament and they got spanked. How do they repay me? A spot in the sweet 16 to remind me that I have no idea how sports work. Its only natural that they lose the A10 championship game, then reel off wins against a solid Big East team, Notre Dame (73-63), and everyone's favorite Cinderella team, Lehigh (70-58). Tu Holloway is probably the only guy on the Muskateers that you've heard of - they also have a huge ogre named Kenny Frease who is exceptional at taking up space down low and not much else. It's analysis like this that keeps me wondering why I don't get paid for this.
For me - I'm still too bitter to back Xavier, so I'll roll with Baylor who I'm told has 3 NBA prospects on their team.

Prediction to Cover: Baylor, 73-66

#1 UNC (-10.5) vs. #13 Ohio, 7:47 ET - TBS (St. Louis, MO)

Preview:  I'm not worried about UNC losing this game. I am worried that they'll look sloppy and uncoordinated without their elmer's-glue, PG Kendall Marshall. When you lose a guy that means so much to your team in every facet of the game it's not easy to just 'deal with it' like Coach Roy Williams has said they will. When Syracuse loses a player like Fab Melo they get by because he only specializes in one thing, defending the rim. When UNC loses a guy like Kendall Marshall who runs the half-court offense and fast break better than anyone in college basketball you remove a vital block to UNC's success this year. Like I said, UNC should have no problems with Ohio - but that Elite 8 matchup looming against either NC State or more likely, Kansas, isn't looking like such a safe bet anymore. Take the Heels to win, but the Bobcats to cover.

Prediction to Cover: Ohio, 65-74

#1 Kentucky (-9) vs. #4 Indiana, 9:45 ET - CBS (Atlanta, GA)

Preview:  Kentucky's sole regular season blemish came at the hands of Indiana back in December. The only other blemish for Kentucky this season has been Anthony Davis' uni brow (badddom bum bshh). The Wildcats have 3 of the top 10 prospects in the NBA in their starting lineup which gives them the edge in talent over just about every team in the tournament with the exception of maybe a healthy Tar Heels team. Indiana will have to rely heavily on big man Cody Zeller to give them the game of his life and hope that they can keep this close coming down the stretch for some late game magic. I just don't see it happening. With Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, and Terrance Jones - the Wildcats have way too much firepower to lose twice to Indiana in one season. Take Kentucky in this one and expect a lot of close-ups of Ashley Judd.

Prediction to Cover: Kentucky, 78-62

#2 Kansas (-8) vs. #11 N.C. State, 10:17 ET - TBS (St. Louis, MO)

Preview:  Not a bad way to close out the Sweet 16. The Jayhawks are coming off a 63-60 win against Purdue in a game in which they held the lead for a whopping 45 seconds. The Wolfpack are coming off an impressive victory over a Georgetown team that I thought was prepared to make a deep run. An upset is possible here, but not likely. Kansas gets to rely on their All American PF Thomas Robinson and Senior PG Tyshawn Taylor to pick up the slack for their poor performance against Purdue. Both teams score a lot so I'd expect a high scoring affair, with Kansas setting up a rematch against former coach Roy Williams and UNC in the Elite 8.

Prediction to Cover: N.C. State, 77-82

ELITE 8 PREDICTIONS:

Since I doubt I'll have the time or the foresight to write my predictions for the elite 8 matchups - here are my updated Final Four Teams assuming everything goes to plan above:

South - Kentucky over Baylor
West - Florida over Michigan State
East - Ohio St. over Wisconsin
Midwest - Kansas over UNC

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Season Record: 19-7
Warning: I've wagered a lot of games since my last college basketball post (2/8) and lost a LOT since then.  It's a good thing gambling hasn't been legalized in NJ...yet

Random Thoughts: Searching for the next Jeremy Lin...

2012-03-01T09:42:00.001-05:00

If you've read this blog before - you'll know that I like to make many wild predictions (on sporting events/stories). Part of the fun in writing what you think may or may not happen is that there really are no repercussions - unless of course you're gambling... but since that's not legal, we'll just stick with the premise that all of this is for fun...

Assuming you've had a pulse in the month of February you've probably stumbled upon the name, Jeremy Lin, who has been the talk of every major news network for the past month. He's made the cover of Sports Illustrated two weeks in a row, has amassed the highest selling jersey in the NBA since January 28th, and has given fans of the New York Knicks hope for the first time in a decade. His underdog story has simply been remarkable. I haven't really taken the time to share my thoughts or opinions on Mr. Lin - mostly because I've been going along for the ride, but the one thing I've noticed is that we as Americans have this insatiable thirst for the underdog. We saw glimpses of it with Tebow during the NFL season and the same could be said of the St. Louis Cardinals' improbable MLB Championship run. Heck, many of my own sports icons and favorite teams were shaped because of their success in the "nobody believes in them" role (see Larry Bird, Buffalo Bills History, Paul Pierce, Fab Five, New York Yankees of the mid 90's, and hopefully this years' Drexel Dragons Mens Basketball team).

This is the point in the blog where I come in and give my thoughts on who that next underdog story could be. If you've followed basketball in the city of Philadelphia, you should know the name Zack Rosen. The Senior point guard has been a 4 year standout for the University of Pennsylvania Quakers, all time leader in assists in the programs history, and arguably one of the best players to ever don a UPenn uniform (I'm actually not sure about that, but it feels right). He's been the leader since the first day he stepped on the court having started in 110 out of the 112 games that he has logged in his collegiate career. Not bad for a kid that according to Scout.com was overlooked by schools such as Stony Brook, St. Francis (N.Y.), Rutgers, and Iowa St - how's that for a list of powerhouse basketball progams?

This is where the similarities to Lin begin. They've both been overlooked based on appearance alone - I'm not usually one to quip about size but PG's at the next level usually come in around 6'3" and 200 lbs. Rosen measures in at a whopping 6'1" (real life 5'11") and 170 lbs. Also akin to Lin (that rhymes) - they both logged four full years of college at two of the best institutions our country has to offer, Harvard (Lin) and UPenn (Rosen) - their intelligence won't be questioned. Basketball-wise Rosen is extremely fundamental in his ability to handle the ball, well-versed in the pick and roll (same system that Lin has found success in with Mike D'Antoni), and has improved his shooting each year in college from 35% as a freshman to an impressive 45.8% this year. Quite frankly, the list of accolades for both players goes on and on and on and yet every scout across the country continues to overlook them - in fact, Rosen doesn't rank in ESPN's Chad Ford's top 100 NBA prospects - 136th to be exact, 27th ranked PG - with his only "negative" being lacks elite level athleticism. Sound like someone you know?

But arguably the biggest similarity between the two is their minority backgrounds. It would be foolish to think that Jeremy Lin's popularity has nothing to do with the fact that he's an Asian-American with a humbling background story. Rosen, who has been raised as a devout believer in Judaism would definitely appeal to a growing Jewish population in the U.S (estimated 2.1% or 6.6 million of the entire U.S. population). Only 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun who is referred to by many as the "Hebrew Hammer" or as I like to call him "Passover the roids" (get it!? Passover... Jewish Holiday...yeah? okay let's keep this moving) comes to mind when thinking about current Jewish Athletes. With a quick Wikipedia search I've found that only Jordan Farmar and Omri Casspi identify themselves as Jewish players in the NBA.

A good friend of mine played for and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010. When I told him that I was interested in writing this blog he immediately agreed with this sentiment and jumped at the opportunity to help out. I asked for some insight on his views of Zack and he had this gem to offer:

The first true test of my friendship with Zack came in a game against, coincidently, Jeremy Lin and the Harvard Crimson. Unlike Z, I didn’t clock in 34mins per game throughout my career at Penn and thus when I saw the hardwood, I literally got hard wood (get it?). After hitting a baseline 12 footer (in Jeremy Lin’s face might I add), my swag was at an all time high. Following a time out called by Coach Allen, I sprinted to the baseline to fulfill my duties as the in-bounder. Juiced from my recent 12 footer (don’t forget on Jeremy Lin...ahh you won’t forget!), I grabbed the ball from the ref, turned, and gave the crispest chest pass of my life…right to an un-anticipating Zack, who turned and received the ball square in his forehead. No full court press, no defensive pressure, just a turnover by me off of my point guards dome and out of bounds. Luckily for me, I think about 98% of the fans weren’t paying attention, the tv cameras missed it (though I could have been on Sportscenter’s Not Top 10…that would have scored with the ladies, right?), and my coach wasn’t looking at the backcourt at the time. Instead of yelling at me and turning to the coach to get this scrub out of the game, Zack embraced me (in a completely heterosexual way), and told Coach Allen to keep me in the lineup.

If that isn’t the sign of good character, I don’t know what is. On a serious note though, Zack is by far the most hardworking athlete that I have encountered in my career. When I watch Jeremy Lin, I see similarities in the way he and Zack play. Both are fantastic off the pick and roll, being able to attack the big man before the guard is able to recover. Lin is more athletic than Zack, there is no question about that, but I will argue that Zack is a better shooter and passer than Lin. Additionally, Zack is a true point guard who is used to having the ball 80% of the time (probably more like 90% for the Quakers). People have to keep in mind that Lin wasn’t a PG at Harvard and got most of his numbers playing off the ball, which makes what he is doing for the Knicks that much more impressive. The one thing holding Zack back will be his build and athleticism, but as we have seen in players like JJ Barea and Steve Nash, that can be overcome. Will he get his opportunity? I don’t know, but I can tell you this; Z has never run from a challenge.

I'll close in saying that the opportunity for the "Rosen-sation" is there - all Rosen needs is a shot. Having admired Rosen's game for the last 4 years - I'll be enthusiastically rooting that, like Lin, he gets his chance to shine at the next level.

Road to the Final Four (Week After the Superbowl)

2012-02-08T14:39:00.001-05:00

What better way to shake-off the hangover of the NFL Season with an absolutely loaded Wednesday Night in college hoops? Honestly, I can't think of one. These three gems should definitely get us back into the swing of the college hoops season - especially with my beloved Dragons of Drexel (19-5, 11 wins in a row and 17 of the last 18) playing as well as they have been...Year of the Dragon, right!?

Wednesday, February 8th
No. 10 Kansas @ No. 6 Baylor (-2), 7 ET - ESPN 2
These two top 10 teams square off in a Big 12 showdown. Both teams tout 8-2 conference records and trail Missouri by half a game - meaning the winner of this game will get a share of the Big 12. This game isn't nearly as big a rivalry as the other games on the slate tonight, mostly because Baylor has sucked. Kansas is 16-2 against the Bears since 1996 including an 18 point walloping earlier this year in Lawrence. The real reason to watch this game is so that come April's NBA Draft you will be accustomed to names like Jayhawks star Thomas Robinson, PF (No. 4 prospect according to ESPN's Chad Ford) and Baylor's duo of Perry Jones III, PF (No. 6 prospect), and Quincy Miller, F (No. 14 prospect). While this has definitely been a one-sided rivalry this Baylor team is no joke. They're 11-1 at home and definitely have the talent to contend with this Kansas team. I look for the Bears to avenge their earlier loss to Kansas behind a menacing front court of Jones, Miller, and Quincy Acy. Take the Bears at home and lay the points.

No. 11 Georgetown @ No. 2 Syracuse (-9), 7 ET - ESPN
With conferences realigning in college sports - this will be one of the last times these two storied programs meet as conference foes. In arguably the most famous rivalry the Big East has to offer the Hoyas and Orange will not disappoint tonight. The Orange have won 18 straight at the Carrier Dome and have not lost since last year when they dropped a 64-56 decision to Georgetown. The Hoyas have a couple streaks of their own going - 4 straight victories over top-20 teams and 2 straight games holding opponents under 45 points (UConn and South Florida). Holding the Orange to anywhere near 45 points would be a huge accomplishment considering they average a Big East best 78.1 ppg. Syracuse's lone loss this year came on the road without their starting center Fab Melo. Yes, that's his real name. With Melo back in the lineup and the ridiculous amount of depth that the Orange have - 10 players average at least 13 minutes/game - I could see this one getting out of control. The Orange will attempt to smother the Georgetown guards who have been prone to turning the ball over and lack a true point guard. Syracuse also leads the Big East in turnover margin and steals so I would expect a lot of fast breaks and highlight reel jams from the Orange. The only hope the Hoyas will have is if they can somehow slow the tempo of this game down to a pace slower than Adriana Lima waving this checkered Flag back and forth - it would be a thing of beauty but I think the Orange will have the advantage overall. I'll take Syracuse and lay the points in what could be the last time these two meet as Big East opponents.

No. 9 Duke @ No. 5 UNC (-6.5), 9 ET - ESPN
If you follow this blog as your sole outlet for sports, well I'm sorry. But for any fan that doesn't quite understand how big this rivalry is, here's a good 89 second clip that sums it up:

I saw this game on the slate of games earlier this week and literally cancelled my Wednesday Night plans before I even had any. This might explain my inability to capture a girls heart, but screw it - this rivalry is what college hoops is all about. Duke is coming off a tough OT loss to Miami on Sunday, you might not have heard about it since there was another big game that took place on Sunday. The Blue Devils have won 4 of the past 5 against the Tar Heels and 8 of the past 13 in Chapel Hill. This year is different though. UNC is clearly more talented than the Blue Devils. They're a legitimate National Title contender. They have my favorite player, Kendall Marshall. Should be an easy pick for the Tar Heels right? Nope. Not in this match up. Duke hasn't lost in back-to-back games since 2008 which probably means that Coach K gives a mean pre-game speech after a loss (14-0 since 2008). Duke will need to do a much better job controlling the glass than they did against the Hurricanes (18 offensive rebounds). With Zeller, Henson, and Barnes patrolling the paint for UNC that will be no easy task for Duke. Control the boards and play physical. Can't be that hard, right? I like Coach K and the Blue Devils to hang around to make this game closer than the 6.5 points.

Season Record: 18-5

SUPERBOWL Forty Six (Patriots / Giants)

2012-02-03T12:34:00.002-05:00

This season has been memorable on so many levels for me. Some teams provided us laughter (see Philadelphia Eagles), some teams unexpectedly turned their organizations around for the future (see 49ers and Lions), some teams flirted with perfection (Packers), and Drew Brees broke one of Football's most historic records, passing yards in a season, on the same day that he delivered me a Fantasy Football Championship. But most of all I'll remember the 2011-2012 season as my first as a blogger - so there's that. Now on to my final analysis of the season as well as a wild prediction (well its actually pretty consistent with what I've been doing)...

New England Patriots (-3) vs. New York Giants, 6:30 ET - NBC (Indianapolis, IN)
The rematch of Superbowl 42. New England was 18-0 looking to go for perfection against a Giants team that just got 'hot' at the right moment. We all know what happened then. The Patriots, 12.5 point favorites, ended up losing by a field goal after that improbable David Tyree catch set up a game winning TD pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress.

That was then - this is now. The Patriots have won 10 games in a row - but somehow the Giants are the hotter football team? Seems to me like we have two freight trains headed right at each other - with the Giants train (peppered with band wagoners) being a little more healthy. I haven't really paid much attention to the Super Bowl coverage this week but about the only big story has been Rob Gronkowski's left ankle - and Cris Carter (ESPN Analyst, former WR for the Vikings) chickening out at an ESPN team building event.

When the Pats have the ball - they have Tom Brady calling the shots. He didn't look so hot against the Ravens in the AFC Conference Championship game. However, he did have an incredible one yard TD run that hasn't gotten enough credit. This guy has been playing football for 12 years and still plays the game like he's a rookie trying to make the team. Not a lot of seasoned veterans are diving head first at the goal line into the vaunted Ravens D, let alone first ballot hall of famers. That's the type of grittiness Brady brings to the table. I've always been a P. Manning over Brady guy - but with plays like this and another Super Bowl under his belt - how can we not call Brady the best of all time? That's of course if Peyton's younger brother has something to say about that.

The Giants have been awesome these past 5 weeks. I've come up with every excuse in the book to go against them the last 4. Romo won't lose this game with the Division on the line, Falcons are the perfect opponent to take out the Giants, Packers were 15-1 - way too good for the Giants, and finally the Niners are the team of destiny. No matter how I've stacked it against the Giants they've always responded in different ways. The thing about them is they can beat you any way. They're like chameleons (kind of queer) in their ability to change how they play the game. High scoring affair against the Packers? How's 37 points sound? Tough, gritty game against the Niners? How does a 10 minute edge in Time of Possession sound? No matter what dog fight they've gotten into - they've found a way to get out of it time and time again. That's why they are so easy to root for. They keep expectations extremely low - and then surprise the shit out of you when you least expect it.

That's just the thing. Expectations have completely shifted. Even though the Patriots are favored by 3 points in this game - every big wig expert has gotten on the air and talked about how surprising it is to see that the Giants aren't at least favored in this game. The Expectations have definitely been raised for the Giants - they're no longer the friendly underdog - now the spotlight is on them and quite frankly, I just see Eli Manning getting owned.

Prediction: New England 31, New York 24 - there you have it folks - its been a fun year for football - hopefully we end the year on some positive notes - and by notes I mean Benjamins.

Last Week: 1-1

Playoff Record: 6-4

Season Record: 130-126-10

Australian Open - Mens Final

2012-01-28T12:33:00.000-05:00

Novak Djokovic (-155) vs. Rafael Nadal - Sunday, 3AM ET - ESPN2
I'll keep this one short and sweet. Novak Djokovic does not have a single ounce of quit in his body. That should be very evident after the classic 5 sets with Andy Murray. He also absolutely dominated Nadal last year going 6 for 6 in championship matches against the Spaniard. Rafa looks so helpless against this guy. I'll roll with Djokovic in 4 sets. Basically I just need something to root for in order to keep me up - may or may not have a gambling problem.

Things You May or May Not Be Thinking... (1/22)

2012-01-26T00:49:00.000-05:00

"Is there anything you would've Cundiff-erently with your gameplan?" -what every reporter should ask harbaugh