World Series Prediction

"Oh wow Romo! It really was Cardinals in 6 AND Rangers in 6 just like you said it would be! You really are a genius! Boy, someone in need of a sports writer/broadcaster/analyst/blogger/reporter/coffee bitch should hire you!" says the collective reader.

Last year, I wrote a combination post on the NBA preview and the World Series.  This year, I get to dedicate my entire post around this time to the latter, thanks to NBA disagreements.  

 

Just like last year, here it is, in pictures.

Game 1:

Game 2:

Game 3:

Game 4:

Game 5:
















Game 6:

Game 7:

Oh wow. Those were some..whew...those were some awesome pictures weren't they??
But seriously, when there's no football on, college or pro, or if there's no marquee hockey game, or if you're all caught up on Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, and How To Make It In America... this should be a series worth watching.


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NFL Handicapper Week 5

Eagles at Bills (+2.5) 

I am all for the Bills being good this year.

Also, if you want to be crowned a world champion, the easiest way to do so is to beat a Philadelphia sports team in the playoffs.  Seriously.  This formula has worked for now the Yankees, SF Giants, Packers, Penguins, Blackhawks, and Bruins.  In the spirit of that, and the fact that the baseball playoffs are pretty wide open, and the fact that both the Brewers and Tigers have looked very beatable this postseason, I’m also going with Cardinals in 6, Rangers in 6, and then Cardinals in 7.

Pick: Bills (and to win)

Bengals at Jaguars (-2.5)

Andy Dalton versus Blaine Gabbert.  From those names two years ago I would have guessed that this would be a first round tennis match for the right to play Rafael Nadal. Actually, come to think of it, those are two great tennis names.  I’m not even sure why I’m sticking with this but it just sounds right to me.

Pick: Bengals (and to win)

Titans at Steelers (-7.5)

Chris Johnson has done almost nothing so far this year.  He does not figure to do much again this week against the Steelers defense.  Also, the Steelers offensive line problems are so bad that Ben Roethlisberger has more protection with coeds than he does in the pocket.  Yeah, take that, Ben.

Pick: Titans

Raiders at Texans (-6.5)

Al Davis passed away yesterday.  (moment of silence).  I guess that means Hue Jackson’s job is just a little bit safer than it was the day before.

Pick: Raiders

Cardinals at Vikings (-2.5)

I like the Vikings to finally win. 

Also, props to the Arizona Diamondbacks for having a great season, and showing some life in the series against the Brewers.  I miss when my baseball team had little pressure on them to win, and am secretly jealous that while our seasons ended up with the same result, their fans can feel good about it, while I am stuck thinking that I just saw the last hurrah of the Phillies’ playoff runs. 

Pick: Vikings

Saints at Panthers (+5.5)

I love picking the Panthers with points.  Cam Newton might not be winning many games, but he is winning games against the spread, and that’s really all that matters, right?

Pick: Panthers

Seahawks at Giants (-9.5)

The NFC East is quite weak this year.  The Giants have only really looked good in one game so far this year.  Of course, that’s one more than the Seahawks have looked good in, but still.

Pick: Giants

Bucs at 49ers (-1.5)

These two teams are both 3-1.  Are either of them for real? I actually think so, but the Niners have more of a chance to make the playoffs thanks to being in the NFC West.  Also, on Monday night the Rays and Bucs both played at home…I’m not sure how the fans there were able to choose which game to not go to.

Pick: Bucs (and to win)

Jets at Patriots (-9.5)

I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch most of the Jets/Ravens game last Sunday, but I did flip back during a commercial in the Phillies game.  In that short amount of time, I saw Flacco throw an interception, and then on the next play I saw Sanchez throw a pick-6.  So, yeah, I pretty much saw that game in a nutshell.

Pick: Jets

Chargers at Broncos (+4.5)

Sometimes being a sports fan is cruel.  Like, in the span of 7 days, my teams (Broncos and Phillies, for those of you who don’t know) went a combined 1-4 with the lone win coming on pinch-hit Ben Francisco home run.  But sometimes you just have to believe things will go your way even though you have no evidence for it whatsoever, thus the way I’m picking this game.

Pick: Broncos (and to win)

Packers at Falcons (+5.5)

The Falcons need this game, especially after what happened to them last year in the playoffs to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.  Also, a friend of mind posted a fine blog piece on Tom Brady versus Aaron Rodgers and their potential to break 50 passing touchdowns this year.  I thought it was good, but I would add that I think Drew Brees has a better shot than either of them because (a.) he doesn’t have to face the Jets twice a year, (b.) he is only 2 behind Rodgers and 3 behind Brady, (c.) he plays all his home games in a dome whereas Brady and Rodgers will have to play December home games in the cold, and (d.) nobody throws more often than the Saints…in fact their running game consists of Mark Ingram up the middle, and screen passes to Darren Sproles.

Pick: Falcons

Bears at Lions (-5.5)

Hello Mr. Cutler, meet Mr. Suh.

Pick: Lions

Last Week:

Spread: 6-10

Straight Up: 10-6

Overall:

Spread: 33-31

Straight Up: 42-24

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NFL Handicapper Week 4

Bills at Bengals (+3.5)

Last week the Bills won against the mighty Patriots whom they haven’t beaten since the Red Sox’s shortcomings weren’t hilarious.

Pick: Bills

Panthers at Bears (-6.5)

Cam Newton won his first NFL game last week, but surprisingly didn’t have one of his best statistical games.  Jay Cutler on the other hand knows all about winning despite poor stat lines.

Pick: Panthers (Bears win)

Titans at Browns (-1.5)

Holy crap, one of these teams is going to be 3-1?  It seemed like only weeks ago these teams were either losing to the Bengals at home or losing to the Luke McCown-led Jaguars…oh wait, that was just weeks ago.

Pick: Browns

Lions at Cowboys (-3.5)

The Cowboys botched more snaps last week than a person without thumbs.  That joke sounds offensive, but just imagine someone without thumbs trying to snap.  Comedic genius if you ask me.

Pick: Cowboys

Vikings at Chiefs (+1.5)

This is an early showdown of teams that should just tank for Andrew Luck.  So look for the Vikings to do the opposite of their last 3 games and fall behind early and then comeback to win.

Pick: Vikings

Redskins at Rams (PK)

To say the Rams haven’t looked quite as good as many have thought would be to say that some thought the Rams would look good this year.  But the good news is that if they win this game, they only need to win about 3 more to wrap up the NFC West.

Pick: Redskins

Saints at Jaguars (+7.5)

So Blaine Gabbert took a safety in his first NFL possession, and then had to deal with monsoon-like conditions the rest of the game.  So since a player’s first game in the NFL is what we should all expect from him going forward, expect a lot of safeties and bad weather.

Pick: Saints

49ers at Eagles (-6.5)

Oh dear, the dream team is 1-2.  And also, the team I predicted to finish 5-11 is 2-1.  Both of these teams better get it together.

Pick: Eagles

Steelers at Texans (-3.5)

These just don’t feel like the same Steelers that last year made it to the Super Bowl.  These also don’t seem like the same Texans that, well, never make the playoffs.

Pick: Steelers (Texans win)

Sun 4:05 PM

Falcons at Seahawks (+4.5)

One of my cool upsets that I picked correctly last week was the Seahawks to win over the Cardinals. This week, I like the Falcons to beat the Seahawks.  Come to me for all your bird-on-bird matchup questions.

Pick: Falcons

Giants at Cardinals (+1.5)

The Giants went into Philly and handled their business.  Now they head into Arizona to take on the former Philly QB.  And then later in the year they may or may not play the Vikings and beat up McNabb too for the trifecta.

Pick: Giants

Sun 4:15 PM

Broncos at Packers (-13.5)

Did you know that the Broncos have lost their two games by a total of 6 points? Did you know that that is really all I have to hang my hat on?

Pick: Broncos (Packers win)

Patriots at Raiders (+4.5)

Tom Brady threw as many interceptions in last week’s game as he did all last regular season.  Meanwhile, Hue Jackson looks like he might be a fully capable head coach, so don’t expect to see him come back next season.

Pick: Patriots

Dolphins at Chargers (-8.5)

I still have Tony Sparano in the “who will get fired first” poll… although Norv Turner is still coaching the Chargers, so I guess there is no such thing as guarantees.

Pick: Dolphins (Chargers win)

Sun 8:15 PM

Jets at Ravens (-3.5)

Rex Ryan returns to his former place of employment.  Derrick Mason returns to his former place of employment.  Bart Scott returns to his former place of employment. Jim Leonard returns to his … ah screw it, you get the picture.

Pick: Jets (and to win)

Mon 8:30 PM

Colts at Buccaneers (-9.5)

Remember that Monday night game a few years back where the Colts were down a bagillion points to the Bucs and came back in the fourth quarter and won it on a field goal that Mike Vanderjagt hit off of the post and in? Yeah, that won’t happen this time.

Pick: Bucs

Last week

Spread: 11-5

Straight Up: 14-2

Season

Spread: 26-22

Straight Up: 32-16

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Baseball Playoff Preview

September 28, 2011. The last day of the regular season in baseball.  The day that 30 teams play their 162 and final game of the season.  It usually does not mean much except for maybe one or two teams, sometimes none at all.  But this year, there was more.  This year, on that day, it was the craziest end of the regular season I can remember.

Simply put, days like this past Wednesday are why I watch sports.  Four games, where four teams needed the win to stay in the playoff hunt, force a tie-breaking game #163, or pack their bags and book tee times.  Two teams looking to put the exclamation point on an incredible last-month comeback, and two teams looking to hold off epic collapses.  

I don’t need to remind you what happened (especially to you, Boston and Atlanta fans).  And I couldn’t, really.  The outcomes speak for themselves.  No collection of words can fully capture the madness that was two extra-inning affairs, one bottom-of-the-ninth rally, and the millions of sports fans flipping back and forth between all three games (would have been four…thanks Cardinals for not getting the memo and just straight up dominating…in fairness though, you were playing the Astros) to see who was in, and whose season had just ended.

It was September Madness.  I can only hope that October will now be just as fun.

First round predictions:

RAYS vs RANGERS

I just can’t really see the Rays winning this series. Although I couldn’t see them getting in to the playoffs, so why not prove me wrong again?  I think it’s very evenly matched as the Rays hitting is underrated, but you can’t ignore Texas’ .900+ collective OPS in the month of September (that’s like having a 1-9 team of Albert Pujols, courtesy of Jayson Stark).  It could go 5, but what are the odds that the same series does that two years in a row…?

RANGERS in 4

TIGERS vs YANKEES

The Tigers have also been hot in September, particularly offensively.  But Verlander has been hot all season, and should be a shoe-in for the Cy Young.  The Yankees meanwhile clinched the hardest division in baseball and did so basically on the strength of their hitting.  If this were the Twins, I wouldn’t even bother thinking twice about it, but something about the Tigers is telling me that we may be in for an early Bronx exit.  Overall I still believe the Yankees lineup is still too good from top to bottom, and if they take game one against Verlander, I do not see a way the Tigers come back from that.

YANKEES in 5

                                                                                                                                                      

DIAMONDBACKS vs BREWERS

The Diamondbacks are a great story.  No one predicted them to win that division (not even me, despite them being my sleeper team).  Their come-from-behind game on Tuesday (the day before all the ridiculousness) was something that you had to see to believe.  But the Brewers, unlike most of the teams in the NL West, can hit.  Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are both MVP candidates and always have come up with clutch hits when their team needs it most.  Throw in the fact that the cervaceros have three aces compared to the DBacks one, and you have a Cinderella that is about to see both hands on the 12.

BREWERS in 3

CARDINALS vs PHILLIES

The Cardinals remind me of the 2007 Rockies.  For Phillies fans, that is not good news.  The Cardinals are crazy hot right now, barely got in the playoffs, only have one good starter but for some reason, everyone has crazy numbers against Philadelphia.  This team would no doubt in my mind also sweep the 2007 Phillies.  But here’s the thing.  The 2011 Phillies are not the 2007 Phillies.  This year, if you didn’t know, the Phillies have not one ace, but four.  The series will be hard fought, and it definitely will not be easy, and I can already prepare for the offense to score 3 runs or fewer in every game… But I just can’t objectively think that other than the game where Carpenter is pitching, can you really give the edge in a single game to the Cardinals?  I don’t have too much confidence in this, but I’m going with:

PHILLIES in 5

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NFL Handicapper Week 3

Sunday 1:00 PM

Patriots at Bills (+8.5)

The Patriots have beaten the Bills 15 straight times.  15. Straight. Times.

Pick: Patriots

49ers at Bengals (-2.5)

Andy Dalton has been impressive so far this season, but the Bengals managed to lose a game to the Denver Broncos, which after week one I was unsure would ever happen this year.  Meanwhile, bravo 49ers for allowing the most maligned quarterback from week one come back and beat you while playing with a punctured lung.  Legends aren’t born unless someone allows them to be born.

Pick: 49ers (and to win)

Dolphins at Browns (-2.5)

The Miami Dolphins have another Monday Night game coming up soon, which will make it their second so far this season.  With the Bills showing signs of actually being formidable this year, I ask the following question. Toss up: Number of Dolphins Monday Night games, or number of wins Tony Sporano leads the Dolphins to?

Pick: Browns

Lions at Vikings (+3.5)

The Lions just straight up dominated the Chiefs last week.  The Lions have two “ehh, winnable” road games, then three straight home games, then a game in Denver and then the bye week.  The Lions could quite possibly be 6-2 or even 7-1 going into Chicago in week 10.

Pick: Lions

Texans at Saints (-3.5)

Ah two fun-to-watch offenses in this game.  Sit back, relax, and watch the fantasy points pile up. 

Pick: Saints

Giants at Eagles (-7.5)

Neither of these teams has looked as good as their fans would have hoped so far, and Mike Vick got banged up in his last game against the Falcons.  The Giants lost wide receiver Domenick Hixon last week, so I’m guessing all 3 Pro Bowl corners now cover Hakeem Nicks?

Pick: Giants (Eagles win)

Jaguars at Panthers (-3.5)

The Cam Newton love fest continued last week (read here), and now it is looking like the Blaine Gabbert era is ready to begin as well.  In mildly depressing news, Gabbert is a full year and one day younger than me.

Pick: Panthers

Sunday 4:05 PM

Chiefs at Chargers (-14.5)

Well it is pretty obvious that the Chiefs are not having the same luck they had last year.  If it makes them feel better, they are on pace to obtain better Luck..if you know what I mean… anybody?  (and no, I don’t think they draft Luck if they do get the #1 pick)

Pick: Chargers

Jets at Raiders (+3.5)

Apparently the Raiders are pissed because last time, Mark Sanchez “got a goddamn snack” a little too early in the form of a hot dog.  The man who is most pissed however is former Raider JaMarcus Russell, not because he felt it was disrespectful, but because he would have done that way more often when he was playing if he would have known it were possible.

Pick: Raiders (and to win)

Ravens at Rams (+3.5)

I miss being an intern at the Baltimore sports station.  The turn of callers from such an ultra high one week to such a low the next would be such an energy rush for me if I still were there.  Week 1 call: “just hand us the trophy now.” Week 2: “We are going 1-15, this team is atrocious.” <3

Pick: Ravens

Sunday 4:15 PM

Falcons at Bucs (-1.5)

This is a big game because in this competitive division, being up a game on one of the three possible playoff teams is so important.  It’s like, Josh Freeman-poise big combined with Matt Ryan-potential big. So big.

Pick: Falcons (and to win)

Packers at Bears (+3.5)

After seeing the Bears offensive line woes in week two, I can’t believe the Bears were able to win in week one so effortlessly.  It’s like Rich holding a lacrosse stick and still managing to be funny, really not sure how it worked, but it did.

Pick: Packers

Cardinals at Seahawks (+3.5)

Does anyone have any faith in any team to win the NFC West? No? Ok good, me neither.

Pick: Seahawks (and to win)

Steelers at Colts (+10.5)

How is NBC even promoting/pumping this game up? This Sunday Night… The AFC Champion Steelers face a team that only has one less win than them…. BE THERE!

Pick: Steelers

Monday 8:30 PM

Redskins at Cowboys (-6.5)

Tony Romo, one week after committing the choke of all chokes, unleashes the comeback of all comebacks.  This week, he does the unthinkable… hand Rex Grossman his first loss!

Pick: Redskins (Cowboys win)