2014-2015 NFL Predictions

AFC East

1) Patriots 10-6 (2)

2) Dolphins 9-7

3) Jets 7-9

4) Bills 4-12

AFC North

1) Ravens 10-6 (3)

2) Steelers 9-7 (6)

3) Bengals 9-7

4) Browns 4-12

AFC South

1) Colts 9-7 (4)

2) Texans 7-9

3) Jaguars 5-11

4) Titans 3-13

AFC West

1) Broncos 12-4 (1)

2) Chargers 10-6 (5)

3) Chiefs 6-10

4) Raiders 5-11

NFC East 

1) Giants 10-6 (3)

2) Redskins 9-7

3) Eagles 8-8

4) Cowboys 6-10

NFC North

1) Bears 10-6 (4)

2) Packers 10-6

3) Lions 9-7

4) Vikings 6-10

NFC South

1) Saints 11-5 (1)

2) Falcons 10-6 (6)

3) Buccaneers 8-8

4) Panthers 5-11

NFC West

1) 49ers 11-5 (2)

2) Seahawks 11-5 (5)

3) Cardinals 9-7

4) Rams 6-10

 

Playoffs

Wild Card

Colts over Chargers

Steelers over Ravens

Seahawks over Bears

Falcons over Giants

Divisional

Steelers over Patriots

Broncos over Colts

Saints over Seahawks

49ers over Falcons

Conference

Broncos over Steelers

Saints over 49ers

 

Super Bowl

Broncos over Saints 38-35

 

Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs

Here’s today’s fantasy football rankings for running backs.

Lesean McCoy is our #1 pick.

1) LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia: High octane offense will see McCoy to another productive year.
2) Adrian Peterson, Minnesota: Will be more active in passing game, and we know he can run.
3) Matt Forte, Chicago: Very productive with lots of touches, Forte is underrated.
4) Jamaal Charles, Kansas City: He’s a beast, but defenses can focus in on him, I expect a drop off.
5) Marshawn Lynch, Seattle: Lockout over, he’ll be good for another 1,000 yard year.
6) Montee Ball, Denver: With Moreno gone, Ball will rack up yardage in Denver’s O.
7) Eddie Lacy, Green Bay: Don’t get too high on him, we’ll see if he can improve after his rookie year.
8) Doug Martin, Tampa Bay: Martin is back and apart of a solid offense.
9) Alfred Morris, Washington: If RG3 bounces back, Morris’ stock should be this high.
10) Demarco Murray, Dallas: If he can play 16 games, he’s going to be dangerous.
11) Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati: He’ll get even more touches than last year, and he was really good last year.
12) Le’veon Bell, Pittsburgh: The Steelers are really high on him and they should be.
13) Arian Foster, Houston: He may never return to his pre-2014 status, but a second round pick will be well spent on Foster.
14) Andre Ellington, Arizona: Similar to Bernard, Mendenhall won’t pound the goal line, but he’ll score some and rack up yards.
15) Pierre Thomas, New Orleans: Most underrated player in Fantasy Football.
16) Reggie Bush, Detroit: Needs to stay healthy, but Detroit’s offense is perfect for him.
17) Ray Rice, Baltimore: I believe Rice will bounce back, he could be a huge sleeper.
18) Rashad Jennings, NY Giants: Whether or not he can be a feature back remains to be seen.
19) CJ Spiller, Buffalo: I’m not buying Spiller as an every down back.
20) Frank Gore, San Francisco: He’s been so reliable, but he is aging and in a crowded backfield.
21) Ryan Matthews, San Diego: He could be a lot better than this, but I’m staying away.
22) Joique Bell, Detroit: He’s the goal line back and worth a flex spot on a team.
23) Darren Sproles, Philadelphia: Sproles + Chip Kelly = Fantasy Points.
24) Bishop Sankey, Tennessee: He’s a wild card, but he should get the majority of carries.
25) Shane Vereen, New England: He’s never played more than 13 games, and Ridley is waiting.
26) Trent Richardson, Indianapolis: He has to be better than last year, right?
27) Maurice Jones-Drew, Oakland: He’s getting older, but he’s still going to be the starter.
28) Chris Johnson, NY Jets: Could be a serious sleeper after a change in scenery.
29) Toby Gerhart, Jacksonville: Big back, can he handle 250 touches?
30) Danny Woodhead, San Diego: He’ll get touches because of his versatility.
31) Zac Stacy, St Louis
32) Ben Tate, Cleveland
33) Knowshon Moreno, Miami
34) Fred Jackson, Buffalo
35) Steven Jackson, Atlanta
36) Andre Brown, Houston
37) Tre Mason, St Louis
38) Stevan Ridley, New England
39) DeAngelo Williams, Carolina
40) LeGarrette Blount, Pittsburgh
41) Khiry Robinson, New Orleans
42) Mark Ingram, New Orleans
43) KaDeem Carey, Chicago
44) Jeremy Hill, Cleveland
45) Shonne Greene, Tennessee
46) Devonta Freeman, Atlanta
47) Andre Williams, NY Giants
48) Roy Helu, Washington
49) Bernard Pierce, Baltimore
50) Darren McFadden, Oakland
51) Lamar Miller, Miami
52) CJ Anderson, Denver
53) James Starks, Green Bay
54) Charles Sims, Tampa Bay
55) Chris Ivory, NY Jets
56) Jonathan Dwyer, Arizona
57) Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
58) Carlos Hyde, San Francisco
59) Ronnie Brown, San Diego
60) Terrance West, Cleveland

Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks

A look through our rankings at each position starts with the Quarterbacks. Check back every day for a post on other positions now through August 5th when we will have our analyzed Mock Draft.

2014’s best fantasy QB, Drew Brees.

1) Drew Brees, New Orleans: Consistently puts up huge numbers, 4 5,000 yard seasons.
2) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay: Sold year was derailed by injury, he’ll bounce back.
3) Peyton Manning, Denver: He’ll be great, but not like last year, he’s being overrated.
4) Matthew Stafford, Detroit: More weapons, another solid year coming for Stafford.
5) Andrew Luck, Indianapolis: He’s only getting better and an underrated runner.
6) Robert Griffin, Washington: New coach and healthy, expect a huge bounce back year.
7) Matt Ryan, Atlanta: Forget last year, Atlanta’s offense will be dangerous.
8) Tom Brady, New England: Doesn’t have the weapons that the top 7 does, but he’s Brady.
9) Philip Rivers, San Diego: Rivers played great last year, expect more of the same.
10) Nick Foles, Philadelphia: He was unbelievable for a stretch, can he do it all year?
11) Tony Romo, Dallas: Romo still has weapons; he’s a great backup QB/ 12 team starter.
12) Jay Cutler, Chicago: Chicago was the 2nd highest scoring team last year.
13) Cam Newton, Carolina: Lack of weapons, tough division, I’d stay away.
14) Andy Dalton, Cincinnati: Lacks playoff success, but he racks up fantasy points.
15) Russell Wilson, Seattle: Every team will be gunning for him, how will he handle it?
16) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh: He’s consistent, snatch him up late as a backup.
17) Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco: He turned in some duds last year, that’s no good in fantasy.
18) Eli Manning, NYG: He’ll be better after a horrible year, but not quite starter worthy.
19) Sam Bradford, St. Louis: He was sneaky good before he got hurt, watch St. Louis offense early for a possible pick up.
20) Carson Palmer, Arizona: Expect improvement as ARZ offense is better than last year.
21) McCown, Tampa Bay: Sleeper alert. Great offense in Tampa, especially if McCown plays like last year.
22) Joe Flacco, Baltimore: There’s better, more consistent options out there.
23) Ryan Fitzpatrick, Houston: He’ll be better than expected under O’Brien’s tutelage.
24) Alex Smith, Kansas City: I expect the KC of the second half to be the KC of 2014.
25) Matt Schaub, Oakland: Not fantasy relevant, unless Oakland surprises early.
26) Ryan Tannehill, Miami: Maybe he takes the next step, but I’m not buying in yet.
27) Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota: I LOVE Bridgewater. If he starts, move him up your board.
28) EJ Manuel, Buffalo: Lots of weapons, can he lead the young team?
29) Jake Locker, Tennessee: Now is the time for Locker but for now, stay away.
30) Chad Henne, Jacksonville: He’s temporarily the starter, could be a spot starter in deep leagues.

Check back for RB’s tomorrow.

A Guess at Who Will End Up in the Meadowlands

AFC

Wild Card
3 Bengals over 6 Chargers
Phillip Rivers had a career year and got the Chargers in, but Andy Dalton will get a signature win behind his playmakers and a solid defense.

4 Colts over 5 Chiefs
Andrew Luck and his offense are playing their best at the right time, while the Chiefs have stumbled their way into the playoffs. Luck > Smith.

Division
1 Broncos over 4 Colts
No offense will be able to match the Broncos’, and I don’t think the Colts’ D will be able to stop the Broncos again, especially in Denver.

3 Bengals over 2 Patriots
New England’s offense doesn’t have the weapons it did the last couple of years, expect a battle but Cincinnati will take a step in the right direction.

Conference
1 Broncos over 3 Bengals
Peyton’s on a mission for another ring, and the Bengals won’t be able to stop him.

NFC

Wild Card
6 Saints over 3 Eagles
This will be a close game and the Eagles could pull it out in the cold, but Drew Brees and and Sean Payton won’t falter just because of the cold and they’re the better team.

4 Packers over 5 49ers
The 49ers have been inconsistent this year offensively, I expect some struggles for Colin K and Frank Gore has not been the same over the past weeks. The emergence of Eddie Lacy will be the key for the Packers in the negative temperatures.

Division
1 Seahawks over 6 Saints
Remember the MNF game in Seattle a couple of weeks ago? The Saints won’t let that happen again, but with an extra week to prepare and rest, Seattle will start a new winning streak at home.

4 Packers over 2 Panthers
With Aaron Rodgers Green Bay is probably the number 2 seed, don’t be surprised if they’re the better team and put the Carolina secondary to a test.

Conference
1 Seahawks over 4 Packers
The most complete team in the NFC will win this game; with a scary D, strong RB, and emerging star behind center, Seattle will reach the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl
1 Denver over 1 Seattle 31-24
Peyton will get his second ring! One of the best offenses EVER will not be stopped in their attempt to win a championship. Don’t worry Russell Wilson, you’ll get a ring or two, it’s just not your time yet.

Blake Bortles and A Day of Hockey 1/1/14

Blake Bortles led his team to a huge upset in the Fiesta Bowl tonight. Blake Bortles had 4 total TD, had a career high in rushing yards, and finally received national attention.

Blake Bortles is not a top 10 pick.

Bortles looked like the operator of a crafty and talented offense. He made some great throws and reads when running the football, but he did not look like a franchise QB. Bortles threw 2 INT and 2 of his TD’s were screen passes to Rannell Hall, where Hall deserved most of the credit. Many plays were designed roll outs where Bortles didn’t have to make much of a read on the defense. He overthrew a number of receivers and rarely looked like a solid pocket passer.

I believe Bortles could be a project and become a quality NFL QB, he has the physical skills and is talented enough. But a top 10 pick is excessive, Bortles isn’t ready to start in the NFL and may never be a star.

On a day filled with marquee bowl games, hockey still managed to find a place in the national spotlight. The Winter Classic broke attendance records and finished with an exciting shoot out. Even more importantly, the US Men’s team for the Sochi Olympics was announced. This tournament turned many on to the game of hockey 4 years ago and could further that this year. Mixing an already exciting game with patriotism is a recipe for success and will give sports’ fans some excitement right after the Super Bowl. Tune in to the US games and you will not be disappointed, and maybe you’ll find that hockey deserves some more of your attention even after the Olympics are over.

2013 NFL Updated Predictions

 

NFC East

1)      Cowboys 5-5

2)      Eagles 5-5

3)      NY Giants 3-6

4)      Redskins 3-6

 

Cowboys: Heading into their bye week, the Cowboys have to figure out how to start playing with consistency down the stretch. Dallas has not played well on defense this season and that doesn’t bode well for the rest of their season, especially with the Eagles playing so well and breathing down the Cowboys back. Prediction: 8-8

 

Eagles: Philadelphia has come on strong and played terrific over the last two weeks, and are now probably the favorites to win the East, especially with the division being so week this season. Prediction: 9-7

 

Giants: The Giants have had to play a tough schedule but are starting to turn it around and have won three in a row. They will have to play almost flawlessly to make the playoffs but they aren’t out of it because they’re only 1 ½ games out. Prediction: 8-8

 

Redskins: Losing to Minnesota was a back breaker for the Redskins and they just haven’t played on the same level as last season and play both Kansas City and San Francisco down the stretch. The Redskins are just about out of it. Prediction: 5-11

 

NFC North

1)      Lions 6-3

2)      Bears 5-4

3)      Packers 5-4

4)      Vikings 2-7

 

Lions: Detroit has bounced back nicely this season and leads the division after a close win against Chicago in Week 10. Green Bay and Chicago won’t go away though and it will be a three way battle for the NFC North. Prediction: 10-6

 

Bears: Jay Cutler has had issues with injuries this season and the Bears narrowly lost in Week 10, expect a battle next week against the Ravens. That game will go a long way in deciding the fate of the Bear’s season and a Week 17 matchup with the Packers could have major implications. Prediction: 8-8

 

Packers: The return of Aaron Rodgers is still uncertain and the Packers are in the middle of a division race with Scott Tolzien leading the way. Matt Flynn might be back with the Packers with Seneca Wallace out and could make life easier for Green Bay, especially with a huge Thanksgiving matchup with Detroit looming. Prediction: 10-6

 

Vikings: Thursday’s win over the Vikings was impressive, but Minnesota will face a tough schedule over the rest of the season and has to figure something out at QB for the future. Prediction: 3-13

 

NFC South

1)      Saints 7-2

2)      Panthers 6-3

3)      Falcons 2-7

4)      Bucs 1-8

 

Saints: New Orleans just needed Sean Payton back to return to the form we have all gotten used to over the last 5 years. The Saints seem to be in a good position heading for the playoffs but still have to play Seattle, San Francisco, and Carolina (x2). We’ll see if the Saints are Super Bowl contenders down the stretch, but they certainly looked the part against Dallas in Week 10. Prediction: 12-4

 

Panthers: A huge win over San Francisco on Sunday put Carolina in a good position to battle for a playoff spot. Their defense is one of the best in the NFL this season and is the reason Carolina is so much better this season, but the Panthers still have work left to do and faces a tough schedule. Prediction: 9-7

 

Falcons:  Many were expecting the Falcons to be standing where the Panthers are right now, but injuries and ineffectiveness has made 2013 a lost season for Matt Ryan and the Falcons. There is a lot of talent on this roster though; an improved defense and new season will make this a totally different team in 2014. Prediction: 4-12

 

Bucs: Tampa Bay is talented and has been in a number of close games this season despite their record. A new coach and a high draft pick could make this team relevant in 2014, whether or not that pick is a QB will be a huge decision for Tampa and have major implications on the next 5-10 years for this franchise. Prediction: 2-14

NFC West

1)      Seahawks 9-1

2)      49ers 6-3

3)      Cardinals 5-4

4)      Rams 4-6

 

Seahawks: Remember when Seattle won this division at 7-9? Those days are long gone and the Seahawks are atop one of the best divisions in football with a strong running game and ball hawking defense. Seattle is a serious Super Bowl contender. Prediction: 13-3

 

49ers: Kaepernick hasn’t progressed as nicely as the 49ers would have hoped and it has caused the 49ers to take a step back from their Super Bowl run last season. However, they still have a strong defense and solid running game and will compete for the NFC Wild Card spots. Prediction: 11-5

 

Cardinals: Probably the most underrated team in the NFL right now, Arizona has played well and is not out of it by any means in the NFC. Arizona still has a somewhat tough schedule left though and doesn’t have the offense to make a playoff run down the stretch. Prediction: 8-8

 

Rams: Riding a three game losing streak into Indianapolis, the Rams were underdogs on Sunday but came out playing well and dominated against the Colts. That shows how good this team could be in a year or two and provides a base to finish off the season strong. Prediction: 6-10

 

AFC East

1)      Patriots 7-2

2)      NY Jets 5-4

3)      Dolphins 4-6

4)      Bills 3-7

 

Patriots: The media has given New England a hard time about their performance this season, but the Pats are 7-2 and scored 55 points last week. The running game has been much better this season and Tom Brady seems to finally be gaining his rhythm with Gronkowski and the rest of the receiving core. These are still the Patriots and don’t count them out. Prediction: 12-4

 

NY Jets: The Jets are relevant this year with the best rush defense in football and a solid rushing game. But New York has also been wildly inconsistent and doesn’t have the talent on offense to comeback on the Patriots for the East or get to the playoffs. But the Jets are on the rise. Prediction: 10-6

 

Dolphins: The bullying scandal seems to be a detriment to this team and its success, but Miami was on a four game losing streak before that incident. Miami has serious issues on the field with their offensive line and is a few players away on defense from a complete unit. Prediction: 5-11

 

Bills: Buffalo could have easily been 5-3 at one point this season, but injuries and a couple of close loses has left them at 3-7. If EJ Manuel can continue to progress, the Bills will have an explosive offense with CJ Spiller, Fred Jackson, Robert Woods, and Stevie Johnson. Prediction: 6-10

 

AFC North

1)      Bengals 6-4

2)      Browns 4-5

3)      Ravens 4-5

4)      Steelers 3-6

 

Bengals: Back to back OT loses has been tough, but the Bengals are still in a good position with a big matchup against the Browns forthcoming. Dalton to Green has led the Bengals to the top of this division along with a solid defense, a complete team like the Bengals could do some damage in January. Prediction: 11-5

 

Browns: Cleveland doesn’t have a franchise QB and they no longer have a top RB, although Trent Richardson is having serious issues, but the Browns do have a surprisingly strong defense which has left them in 2^nd place in the North. Prediction: 7-9

 

Ravens: There seems to be a championship hangover in Baltimore and the Ravens will have to fight to make the playoffs. Ray Rice and Joe Flacco have both had disappointing seasons and the defense is still good but not the same without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Prediction: 8-8

 

Steelers: An aging defense and inconsistent offense has produces a subpar season in Steel City. Rebuilding the defense and finding playmakers for Big Ben needs to be the focus this offense if Pittsburgh wants to compete with Roethlisberger at the helm. Prediction: 7-9

 

AFC South

1)      Colts 6-3

2)      Titans 4-5

3)      Texans 2-7

4)      Jaguars 1-8

 

Colts: The Colts didn’t look good at all at home against St. Louis, but expect a strong bounce back performance for Andrew Luck and Indianapolis. The Colts look good to be division winners, but can’t keep playing like they did in Week 10. Prediction: 11-5

 

Titans: It’s been a rough patch for Tennessee and a stretch against the Colts (x2) and the Broncos in the next 4 weeks will be tough, especially after a loss to the lowly Jaguars. Jake Locker played well before getting injured and CJ2K has looked terrific at points this season. Prediction: 6-10

 

Texans: 2013 has been a complete mess in Houston, but Case Keenum has looked very good and this is a talented team that could see a huge turnaround in 2014. Figuring out the future at QB will be very important for the rest of this season and the offseason, don’t be surprised if Houston battles for the AFC South in 2014. Prediction: 6-10

 

Jaguars: The worst team in the NFL really doesn’t have much going for them, their offense doesn’t do much at all and their defense has given up 32 points a game. Teddy Bridgewater will likely end up in Jacksonville and be the key piece in the rebuilding process. Prediction: 2-14

 

AFC West

1)      Chiefs 9-0

2)      Broncos 8-1

3)      Chargers 4-5

4)      Raiders 3-6

 

Chiefs: Kansas City has had an incredible turnaround this season led by Andy Reid and Alex Smith, but they face their toughest test in Week 11 against Denver. Losing twice to Denver will put Kansas City into the 5 seed, a lot different than a first round bye so these two games in the following weeks will be huge. Prediction: 13-3

 

Broncos: It seems likely that one of these teams will be the 1 seed and the other will be the 5 seed, which could result in another matchup in the divisional round. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, Peyton Manning has to stay healthy and play well against the best scoring defense in the NFL on Sunday Night. Prediction: 14-2

 

Chargers: Inconsistency may have the Cowboys winning their division, but it isn’t working so well for San Diego in this division. Don’t count out the Chargers for the last Wild Card spot though. Prediction: 8-8

 

Raiders:  Terrelle Pryor has been exciting but it hasn’t translated into victories in Oakland. Oakland has yet to win on the road, and has only one home game left against a team with less than one lost. Oakland is on the right track but needs to continue the process to be relevant again. Prediction: 4-12

 

NFL Playoffs

NFC

1)      Seahawks

2)      Saints

3)      Lions

4)      Eagles

5)      49ers

6)      Packers

 

AFC

1)      Broncos

2)      Patriots

3)      Colts

4)      Bengals

5)      Chiefs

6)      Jets

 

Wild Card Round

Packers over Lions

49ers over Eagles

Colts over Jets

Chiefs over Bengals

 

Divisional Round

Seahawks over Packers

Saints over 49ers

Colts over Patriots

Broncos over Chiefs

 

Conference Championship

Saints over Seahawks

Broncos over Colts

 

Super Bowl

Broncos over Saints 34-28

2013-2014 NBA Predictions

 

Eastern Conference

1)      Heat

2)      Pacers

3)      Nets

4)      Bulls

5)      Knicks

6)      Raptors

7)      Pistons

8)      Hawks

9)      Bucks

10)   Wizards

11)   Cavs

12)   Celtics

13)   Bobcats

14)   Magic

15)   76ers

 

Western Conference

1)      Rockets

2)      Clippers

3)      Thunder

4)      Spurs

5)      Lakers

6)      Warriors

7)      Grizzlies

8)      Mavericks

9)      Timberwolves

10)   Nuggets

11)   Trail Blazers

12)   Pelicans

13)   Jazz

14)   Kings

15)   Suns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playoffs

EC Quarterfinals

Heat over Hawks

Pacers over Pistons

Nets over Raptors

Bulls over Knicks

 

EC Semifinals

Nets over Pacers

Heat over Bulls

 

EC Finals

Nets over Heat

 

WC Quarterfinals

Rockets over Mavericks

Clippers over Grizzlies

Thunder over Warriors

Lakers over Spurs

 

WC Semifinals

Lakers over Rockets

Thunder over Clippers

 

WC Finals

Thunder over Lakers

 

NBA Finals

Thunder over Heat

Breaking Down the Eastern Conference’s Top 10 Teams

The NBA regular season is rapidly approaching and another intriguing season is upon us. The Heat are, well, the Heat. But coming up behind them are the Bulls with their floor general back and the Pacers, who were a game away from the NBA Finals last year. Oh by the way, don’t forget about the Nets with new coach Jason Kidd and who knows if the Knicks will decide to play defense this season. Here’s a look at each team’s prospects for the upcoming season.

 

Miami Heat:

If repeating was hard for the Heat, doing it again will be even harder. Dwyane Wade is another year older, Mike Miller is gone and replaced by two question marks (Greg Oden and Michael Beasley), and the Eastern Conference is that much better. But as long as they have LeBron James and are the defending champs, they’re still the favorite.

Best Case Scenario: Oden and Beasley work out, Wade gets rest and is still a star, and James gets even better and leads Heat to three-peat.

Worst Case Scenario: Bench let’s Heat down and Miami loses to Indiana or Chicago in Eastern Conference Semifinals.

 

Indiana Pacers:

Indiana is the real deal. If you don’t believe me, you clearly didn’t watch the playoffs last year. Now, with a much improved bench (Luis Scola, CJ Watson) expect a battle with Chicago for the Central Division.

Best Case Scenario: The unit gels and the bench provides quality minutes, leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals.

Worst Case Scenario: Injuries and inconsistency plaque the Pacers season and they step backwards after last year.

 

Chicago Bulls:

Finally Derrick Rose is back and the Bulls are once again championship contenders. A team built around their defense and can still score thanks to a play making PG, Chicago is back.

Best Case Scenario: Rose lives up to all those ‘Return’ commercials and leads Chicago to a championship.

Worst Case Scenario: Derrick Rose isn’t the same and the supporting cast loses a step, rather then going forward.

 

Brooklyn Nets:

I believe this is the 4th and final team capable of winning the East this season. There’s so much talent in Brooklyn and if this team can come together, they might be the team to beat in the playoffs.

Best Case Scenario: Defense is stronger with Garnett and starters all get comfortable with roles and opportunities.

Worst Case Scenario: Just like last year, the pieces just don’t go and Jason Kidd can’t handle being a coach this soon.

 

New York Knicks:

This is a team that can be  very good, but not great because of their lack of quality defense. Injuries and a lack of defensive options in the front court will cause too many problems for the Knicks to truly contend.

Best Case Scenario: Newcomer Andrea Bargnani and Amare mesh to form a tandem up front and Melo scores way to deep playoff run.

Worst Case Scenario: Melo wins scoring crown and the Knicks become so one dimensional they let Melo walk out the door next summer.

 

Atlanta Hawks: 

The Hawks always seem to be around, but never good enough to challenge for the East and that’s exactly where they are this year. Al Horford and Paul Millsap will be a good duo up front, but the Hawks lack a true play maker, especially with Lou Williams out.

Best Case Scenario: The Hawks are last year’s Pacers with a solid starting group and surprise in the playoffs.

Worst Case Scenario: Atlanta just gets into the playoffs and can’t compete with top half of conference.

 

Washington Wizards:

John Wall and Bradley Beal are forming a very good dynamic up top and have Otto Porter in the mix this season. Nene and Marcin Gortat are both solid down in the post, the Wizards are slowly putting something together in the nation’s capital.

Best Case Scenario: The Wizards make the playoffs and get a 5/6 spot, gaining experience and preparing to become contenders in the future.

Worst Case Scenario: Wall struggles more then he should and Wizards remain irrelevant.

 

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Kyrie Irving is a true star and a new coach and talent around him could mean a playoff spot for Cleveland for the first time since Lebron left. This team will be fun to watch, just give Mike Brown time (unlike the Lakers).

Best Case Scenario: Young core (Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, and Kyrie Irving) combine with solid front court to form a team with a lot of potential beyond 2013-2014.

Worst Case Scenario: Bynum is a bust, Waiters doesn’t score enough and Cav’s just have to pray Lebron returns.

 

Detroit Pistons:

Detroit is a team that is flying under the radar but they do have some very intriguing pieces. Brandon Jennings is a solid PG, Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe are formidable and Josh Smith provides athleticism and scoring ability that could return the Pistons to the playoffs.

Best Case Scenario: Jennings and Smith score and the Pistons get production down low for playoff berth.

Worst Case Scenario: Smith takes way too many shots, Jennings can’t be true PG, and Drummond doesn’t progress.

 

Toronto Raptors:

Demar Derozan and Rudy Gay can both score and Jonas Valanciunas was exciting as a rookie, but how good is Toronto’s bench and can the keep it together for 82 games? This is a team that could be a lot better then last season or just barely better, it all depends on the front court and Kyle Lowry.

Best Case Scenario: End of last season carries over and Toronto returns to playoffs behind Gay and strong starting core.

Worst Case Scenario: Amir Johnson and Valanciunas can’t hold up front court and Toronto misses playoffs for 6th straight year.

 

For the 4th time in 6 years the Tampa Bay Rays are in the playoffs after beating Texas and Cleveland in must-win games. That includes 2011, when Tampa came back from a 9 game deficit in September to beat out the Red Sox for the AL Wild Card. Boston is in the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and certainly hasn’t forgotten the past couple of years. After their 2011 collapse, they had a disastrous 2012 season under Bobby V and seemed to enter the rebuilding stage. That phase lasted just one off-season as the Red Sox came out firing under John Farrell this season and the additions of Shane Victorino, Koji Uehara, Mike Napoli, and Jake Peavy contributed to an AL East title in 2013 and home field advantage in the playoffs. The stage is set for another battle between these AL East rivals.

 

Schedule

Game 1: Friday, 3:00 @ Boston

Game 2: Saturday, 5:30 @ Boston

Game 3: Monday, TBD @ Tampa

Game 4: Tuesday, TBD @ Tampa

Game 5: Thursday, TBD @ Boston

 

Red Sox Pitching

Boston’s Game 1 Starter: Jon Lester

Game 1 Starter: Jon Lester

Game 2 Starter: John Lackey

Game 3 Starter: Clay Buchholz

Game 4 Starter: Jake Peavy

Boston’s rotation seems to be coming together at the right time, Buchholz came back in September and has pitched well while Lackey and Lester have been consistent all year. The addition of Jake Peavy at the trade deadline gave Boston a perennial rotation and added an all important strong 4th starter. Koji Uehara has been unbelievable since taking over as Boston’s closer and solidified the back end of the bullpen, something Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan couldn’t do.

 

Rays Pitching 

 

Tampa’s Ace and Potential Game 5 Starter

Game 1 Starter: Matt Moore

Game 2 Starter: David Price

Game 3 Starter: Alex Cobb

Game 4 Starter: Jeremy Hellickson/Chris Archer

Game 5 Starter: David Price

Much like Boston’s rotation, Tampa Bay’s staff has fallen into place at the perfect time. We’ve seen this week how David Price and Alex Cobb are pitching, but Tampa is much deeper than that. Matt Moore won his 17th game on Sunday and Chris Archer might come in 2nd to teammate Wil Myers in the Rookie of the Year voting. Tampa’s bullpen wasn’t as good this season as it was in 2012 but Joel Peralta, Alex Torres, Jake McGee, and Fernando Rodney have gotten big outs down the stretch.

Rotation Advantage:  Tampa. They have 3 high level, proven winners while Lackey and Peavy will need to step up to that level for Boston.

Bullpen Advantage: Boston. The Red Sox probably have the best bullpen in the playoffs.

 

Red Sox Lineup

Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia

OF- Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Nava, Shane Victorino, Johnny Gomes. 3B- Will Middlebrooks. SS- Stephen Drew, Xander Bogearts. 2B- Dustin Pedroia. 1B- Mike Napoli. C- Jarrod Saltalamacchia. DH- David Ortiz.

The familiar faces at Fenway and the off-season additions have meshed well this year to form one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. Ortiz, Pedroia, and Ellsbury have played well in the middle of the order and contributions from all over the place have been a huge reason for Boston’s 97 win season. Up and down the scorecard the Red Sox can hit and that’s scary for any team, especially in a best of 5 game series.

Rays Lineup

Tampa’s Offensive Catalysts: Wil Myers and Evan Longoria

OF- Matt Joyce, Desmond Jennings, Wil Myers, David DeJesus. 3B- Evan Longoria. SS- Yunel Escobar. 2B- Ben Zobrist. 1B- James Loney. C- Jose Lobaton, Jose Molina. DH- Delmon Young, Luke Scott. UTL- Sean Rodriguez.

The firepower in Tampa’s lineup isn’t quite the same as Boston’s but don’t overlook Tampa. This is a team that won 91 games and has some very good hitters. Wil Myers and Evan Longoria will be in the middle of the order and look to drive in runs, but guys like Ben Zobrist, James Loney, and Desmond Jennings have been overlooked this season and are a big reason for Tampa’s success. The additions of David DeJesus and Delmon Young provide a deeper bench and more consistency at the bottom of the lineup.

Lineup Advantage: Boston. Boston has the better lineup, but can Tampa have enough offense to support their staff is the biggest question of this series.

Prediction: Tampa in 5. Tampa has 3 high caliber pitchers and a hot/cold offense that seems to be hot at the right time.

2013 NFL Projected Standings

2013 NFL Predictions

AFC East

1)      Patriots 12-4 (1)

2)      Dolphins 7-9

3)      Bills 5-11

4)      Jets 3-13

AFC North

1)      Bengals 10-6 (3)

2)      Ravens 9-7

3)      Steelers 9-7

4)      Browns 7-9

AFC South

1)      Colts 10-6 (4)

2)      Texans 10-6 (5)

3)      Titans 7-9

4)      Jaguars 4-12

AFC West

1)      Broncos 12-4 (2)

2)      Chiefs 9-7 (6)

3)      Raiders 7-9

4)      Chargers 5-11

NFC East

1)      Redskins 10-6 (4)

2)      Eagles 10-6 (6)

3)      Giants 9-7

4)      Cowboys 7-9

NFC North

1)      Packers 11-5 (3)

2)      Bears 9-7

3)      Vikings 7-9

4)      Lions 6-10

NFC South

1)      Falcons 11-5 (2)

2)      Saints 10-6 (5)

3)      Bucs 9-7

4)      Panthers 5-11

 

NFC West

1)      49ers 11-5 (1)

2)      Seahawks 10-6

3)      Cardinals 6-10

4)      Rams 4-12

Wild Card Round

Colts over Texans

Bengals over Chiefs

Saints over Redskins

Eagles over Packers

Divisional Round

Broncos over Bengals

Patriots over Colts

49ers over Eagles

Falcons over Saints

Championship Weekend

Patriots over Broncos

Falcons over 49ers

Super Bowl

Patriots over Falcons 30-24