Opinion: April is the busiest month of the year in sports

So much is going on in the world of sports in April. Every major college/professional league has SOMETHING going on. Here is a breakdown of each...

AAF: Was entering Month 3 until Operations were shut down

College Baseball/Softball: Seasons enter Month 3

College Basketball: NCAA Mens and Womens Final Four

College Football: Spring Games

Golf: The Masters

MLB: Season Starts

MLS: Season enters Month 2

NASCAR: Season enters Month 3

NBA: Playoffs Start

NBA G-League: Playoffs Continue

NFL: NFL Draft

NHL: Playoffs Start

WNBA: WNBA Draft

WWE: WrestleMania

The Final Four is HERE! Auburn vs Virginia and Michigan St vs Texas Tech Preview and Predictions

April is here, which means that the Final Four is here as well. 4 teams are left: 1 redemption wonder, 1 giant defeater, 1 defensive mastermind, and 1 hard-nosed sleeper. In order, those teams are Virginia, Michigan St, Texas Tech, Auburn. A-U-B-U-R-N? Yes, the team that is making its first Final Four appearance in school history (Texas Tech too). The team that Charles Barkley is from. Yes, THAT team. The team that has run over blue bloods in impressive fashion. Kansas in the Round of 32, North Carolina in the Sweet 16, and Kentucky in the Elite Eight. Its March Madness people. 3/4 #1 seeds are done. 3/4 #2 seeds are done 3/4 #3 seeds are done, 4/4 #4 seeds are done. 3/4 #5 seeds are done. Even the most casual basketball fan is interested in March Madness. Zero perfect brackets are left, but records were made this year. The last perfect bracket got through 49 games before being busted in the 50th. There weren't many Cinderellas, but Auburn is close enough. 4 teams. 1 Champion. It's time for the Final Four...

Final Four Game 1: #1 Virginia vs #5 Auburn 6:09pm ET

Last Game (Virginia): Wow, did Virginia get lucky or what vs Purdue. With mere seconds left in the game, Virginia chucked the ball the length of the court and was able to get the 2 to sink to tie the game at 70 to send the game into overtime. Then, Virginia prevailed in the end, winning 80-75 over Purdue. Edwards put up 42 for Purdue, but it still wasn't enough. Kyle Guy led the way for Virginia with 25 points while Ty Jerome had 24. 

Last Game (Auburn): This team just keeps finding ways to take down blue bloods. After trailing for much of the end of the 1st half and beginning of the 2nd, Auburn was able to take the lead late in the game vs Kentucky and hold on to their lead. This game also went into overtime tied at 60. Auburn was able to find a way to win after scoring 17 points in OT, 77-70. 

Prediction: Sorry Charles, but Auburn's tournament journey will most likely end here. Virginia is going to come out on fire in this game, and it will be up to them to match Virginia's speed. Virginia is still looking to forget about last year's embarrassing loss to UMBC in the Round of 64. Getting to the championship game will continue to ease the pain for Virginia. Auburn will need stellar games from Bryce Brown and Jared Harper to be able to pull off the victory. They have a great chance, but this game will be their hardest test yet. Final Score: Virginia 78, Auburn 73

Final Four Game 2: #2 Michigan State vs #3 Texas Tech 8:49pm ET

Last Game (Michigan St): I have to say, even with all the love Duke is getting because of Zion Williamson, Michigan St's win over Duke was the most refreshing game in the tournament thus far. I think Zion is a great player, but eventually one gets tired of the love he gets. Let him get into the NBA and realize how much different it is from college. Michigan State ended up winning this game, 68-67, off of a remarkable game from Cassius Winston. Winston had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the game.

Last Game (Texas Tech): Texas Tech's defense is insane. They held Gonzaga to under 70 points on the game and limited Tillie to only 3. Gonzaga's offense could not get going at all. Texas Tech had 7 different players score in the game, compared to Gonzaga's 5. They ended up winning the game, 75-69, in what was one of the best defensive performances in the whole tournament against arguably the best offensive team we've seen in the past couple years or so. 

Prediction: This game is going to be very tight. Michigan St and Texas Tech have both gone through some really outstanding teams to get to the Final Four. Both teams have fantastic coaches and a list of talented players. The outcome of this game will most likely be determined by who breaks first. Michigan St has Cassius Winston while Texas Tech has Jarrett Culver. I think that in the end, Michigan St will be able to generate that extra firepower that Texas Tech will not have. This will lead to a big Michigan St run that will help them put the game away in the end. Final Score: Michigan St 73, Texas Tech 66

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/final-four-2019-schedule-tipoff-times-betting-lines/

2019 NBA Postseason Preview: Locked Teams/Teams Competing/Teams Elimminated

The 2019 NBA Postseason is ALMOST here!! With just a handful of games left to play, multiple teams are still vying for a spot in the playoffs. Some teams have already been eliminated, while others have already secured their spot. Here are what the team's postseason destinations look like thus far...

Congratulations, your in the playoffs!

Eastern Conference

Milwaukee Bucks- Current Record: 57-19

Toronto Raptors- Current Record: 53-23

Philadelphia 76ers- Current Record: 48-27

Indiana Pacers- Current Record: 45-30

Boston Celtics- Current Record: 44-31

Western Conference

Golden State Warriors- Current Record: 51-23

Denver Nuggets- Current Record: 50-24

Portland Trail Blazers- Current Record: 47-27

Houston Rockets- Current Record: 48-28

Utah Jazz- Current Record: 45-30

Los Angeles Clippers- Current Record: 45-31

You still have a chance at the playoffs.

Eastern Conference

Detroit Pistons- Current Record: 38-37

Brooklyn Nets- Current Record: 38-38

Miami Heat- Current Record: 37-38

Orlando Magic- Current Record: 37-39

Charlotte Hornets- Current Record: 35-39

Sorry, you've been elimminated.

Eastern Conference

Washington Wizards

Atlanta Hawks

Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

New York Knicks

Western Conference

Minnesota Timberwolves

Los Angeles Lakers

New Orleans Pelicans

Memphis Grizzles

Dallas Mavericks

Phoenix Suns

https://247sports.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/ContentGallery/2019-NBA-playoff-predictions-based-off-ESPN-win-total-projections-120434803/

2019 NHL Postseason Preview: Locked Teams/Teams Competing/Teams Elimminated

The 2019 NHL Postseason is ALMOST here!! With just a handful of games left to play, multiple teams are still vying for a spot in the playoffs. Some teams have already been eliminated, while others have already secured their spot. Here are what the team's postseason destinations look like thus far...

Congratulations, your in the playoffs!

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Tampa Bay Lightning- Current Record: 59-14-4 (122 points)

Boston Bruins- Current Record: 47-21-9 (103 points)

Western Conference

Central

Winnipeg Jets- Current Record: 45-27-4 (94 points)

Nashville Predators- Current Record: 43-28-6 (92 points)

Pacific

Calgary Flames- Current Record: 47-23-7 (101 points)

San Jose Sharks- Current Record: 43-24-9 (95 points)

You still have a chance at the playoffs.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Toronto Maple Leafs- Current Record: 45-25-7 (97 points)

Montreal Canadiens- Current Record: 41-28-8 (90 points)

Metropolitan

Washington Capitals- Current Record: 45-24-8 (98 points)

Pittsburgh Penguins- Current Record: 42-24-11 (95 points)

New York Islanders- Current Record: 44-26-7 (95 points)

Carolina Hurricanes- Current Record: 42-27-7 (91 points)

Columbus Blue Jackets- Current Record: 42-30-4 (88 points)

Philadelphia Flyers- Current Record: 37-32-8 (82 points)

Western Conference

Central

St. Louis Blues- Current Record: 41-27-8 (90 points)

Dallas Stars- Current Record: 40-31-6 (86 points)

Colorado Avalanche- Current Record: 35-29-13 (83 points)

Minnesota Wild- Current Record: 35-33-9 (79 points)

Chicago Blackhawks- Current Record: 33-33-10 (76 points)

Pacific

Vegas Golden Knights- Current Record: 42-29-6 (90 points)

Arizona Coyotes- Current Record: 37-33-7 (81 points)

Edmonton Oilers- Current Record: 34-34-8 (76 points)

Vancouver Canucks- Current Record: 32-35-10 (74 points)

Sorry, you've been elimminated.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Florida Panthers

Buffalo Sabres

Detriot Red Wings

Ottawa Senators

Metropolitan

New York Rangers

New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

Central

None

Pacific

Anaheim Ducks

Los Angeles Kings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp-y37kBTEI

2019 MLB Season Preview: Projected standings of EACH MLB team

The MLB season is almost here!! Opening day is this Thursday, March 26, and players are excited to get back into the season grind. Here are my projected standings of EACH MLB team...

American League

East

1. Boston Red Sox: 105-57

2. New York Yankees: 98-64

3.Tampa Bay Rays: 87-75

4. Toronto Blue Jays: 66-96

5. Baltimore Orioles: 55-107

Central

1. Cleveland Indians: 94-68

2. Minnesota Twins: 83-79

3. Chicago White Sox: 71-91

4. Kansas City Royals: 68-94

5. Detriot Tigers: 64-98

West

1. Houston Astros: 99-63

2. Oakland Athletics: 86-76

3. Los Angeles Angels: 83-79

4. Seattle Mariners: 75-87

5. Texas Rangers: 70-92

National League

East

1. Washington Nationals: 90-72

2. Philadelphia Phillies: 89-73

3. Atlanta Braves: 84-78

4. New York Mets:79-83

5. Miami Marlins: 63-99

Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers: 86-76

2. St. Louis Cardinals: 85-77

3. Chicago Cubs: 82-80

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: 81-81

5. Cincinnati Reds:76-86

West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers: 93-69

2. Colorado Rockies: 79-83

3. Arizona Diamondbacks: 77-85

4. San Diego Padres: 74-88

5. San Francisco Giants: 71-91

http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/481943532019/_MLB_Opening_Day/2019/Primary_Logo

The Sweet 16 field is set in the 2019 NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament!! (Friday's Games)

After an otherwise boring Round of 32, only one team not seeded in the top five made it to the sweet 16. One perfect bracket remains 48 games in, crushing the previous record of 39 games. The most exciting game of the Round of 32 was definitely UCF vs Duke, with Duke prevailing by a point in the end. The breakdown of the conferences in the Sweet 16 goes as follows: AAC: 1, ACC: 4, Big 10: 3  Big 12: 1 SEC: 5 PAC-12: 1 WCC: 1 Here are the matchups and my prediction to win.

Friday's Games

East Region Game 1: #2 Michigan St vs #3 LSU 7:09pm ET

Last Game (Michigan St): After struggling in the opening round vs Bradley, Michigan State came out dominant against Minnesota, winning the game 70-50. Tillman and Winston lead the team with 14 and 13 points apiece, while Henry picked up 9 boards.

Last Game (LSU): In a last second buzzer beater, LSU won a thriller vs Maryland, 69-67. Tremont Waters made the winning layup off of the backboard as he blowed by Maryland defenders.

Prediction: Even without their head coach, LSU has made a solid run in the tourney thus far. That said, Michigan State just looks like the athletically better team. Even through all the injuries they have gone through, Michigan State still won the Big Ten Tournament. LSU will struggle to defend versatile guard Cassius Winston, who is always a threat. Final Score: Michigan St 82, LSU 74

South Region Game 1: #1 North Carolina vs #5 Auburn 7:29pm ET

Last Game (North Carolina): North Carolina absolutely dominated the Washington Huskies in the second round of the NCAA tournament. North Carolina won, 81-59. Luke Maye had yet another double double for the team. 

Last Game (Auburn): Auburn put on a show against Kansas for their fans (and Charles Barkley). Kansas was down double digits for pretty much the whole game, losing at halftime by 25. Kansas was never able to recover from this deficit as Auburn won the game, 89-75. Bryce Brown went 7-11 from the 3 point line.

Prediction: North Carolina continues to look like one of the best teams in the nation. After Oklahoma put up 95 points vs Ole Miss, they were held to only 59 points in round 2, truly an impressive defensive showing from North Carolina. Auburn is going to struggle against the tandem of Luke Maye and Coby White, but the 3s will still go down. Final Score: 84-76

East Region Game 2: #1 Duke vs #4 Virginia Tech 9:39pm ET

Last Game (Duke): Duke won a very tightly contested game against UCF. After a missed free throw, Duke grabbed the ball and layed it in to take the lead. Duke ended up winning the game 77-76 off of 32 points from Zion Williamson.

Last Game (Virginia Tech): Virginia Tech let Liberty hang for most of the first half and some of the second, but pulled away during the rest of the second half. Virginia Tech won 67-58 with 4 players in double figures in the game.

Prediction: These 2 teams met earlier in the season in Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech prevailed off of Zion's absence. This matchup should be different because Zion is back better then ever and this game is being played on a neutral court. Virginia Tech will need a big game from its key players to pull of the upset. Final Score: Duke 73, Virginia Tech 66

South Region Game 2: #2 Kentucky vs #3 Houston 9:59pm ET

Last Game (Kentucky): Kentucky struggled to get much offense going without their star PJ Washington. Wofford was only a couple of made 3s from Fletcher Magee away from winning the game. Kentucky hopes that Wahsington will be back for this game vs Houston, but things are not looking rosy for him. Kentucky won the game over Wofford 62-56.

Last Game (Houston): Houston completely dominated an Ohio State team who couldn't get Kaleb Wesson going down in the paint. The 3s did drop for Ohio State though, something that Houston needs to work on before its matchup vs Kentucky. Also, Houston was in foul trouble for most of the game. Houston ended up winning the game, 74-59.

Prediction: Houston is a very physical team that likes to make teams uncomfortable in the paint. Kentucky relies on its shooters to make plays and pull out the W. This game features 2 completely opposite teams, but should provide a very close end result. Final Score: Houston 69, Kentucky 65

https://thespun.com/college-hoops/how-to-watch-the-auburn-vs-new-mexico-state-ncaa-tournament-game-online

The Sweet 16 field is set in the 2019 NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament!! (Thrusday's Games)

After an otherwise boring Round of 32, only one team not seeded in the top five made it to the sweet 16. One perfect bracket remains 48 games in, crushing the previous record of 39 games. The most exciting game of the Round of 32 was definitely UCF vs Duke, with Duke prevailing by a point in the end. The breakdown of the conferences in the Sweet 16 goes as follows: AAC: 1, ACC: 4, Big 10: 3  Big 12: 1 SEC: 5 PAC-12: 1 WCC: 1 Here are the matchups and my prediction to win.

Thursday's Games

West Region Game 1: #1 Gonzaga vs #4 Florida State 7:09pm ET

Last Game (Gonzaga): Gonzaga beat Baylor 83-71. Brandon Clarke had 36 points and 8 rebounds on the game as he absolutely shredded Baylor in the paint.

Last Game (Florida St): Florida State beat Murray State 90-62. Florida St completely dominated Murray State on the offensive and defensive side on the ball. But, they weren't able to contain Ja Morant at all.

Prediction: I think Florida States defense overwhelms Gonzaga's offense a little too much in this game. Final Score: Florida St 73, Gonzaga 66


South Region Game 1: #2 Tennessee vs #3 Purdue 7:29pm ET

Last Game (Tennessee): Tennessee beat 83-77 in OT. Tennessee had a 21 point lead going into halftime, but turned the ball over a ton and let Iowa slowly crawl back in the game to force OT.

Last Game (Purdue): Purdue beat Villanova 87-61 in an absolute blowout. At one point in the game, Purdue had a 32 point lead. Carsen Edwards went off for 42 points on the game.

Prediction: Purdue is extremely inconsistent if Edwards doesn't play well, but Tennessee can go on a dry spell of its own for awhile. This game will be very close in the end. Final Score: Purdue 80, Tennessee 78

West Region Game 2: #2 Michigan vs #3 Texas Tech 9:39pm ET

Last Game (Michigan): Michigan was easily able to handle a stingy Florida squad. They won by a score of 64-49. Poole lead all scorers with 19 points on the day.

Last Game (Texas Tech): Texas Tech surprisingly shut down Buffalo's offense completely in the game, especially in the second half. Previously, Buffalo had only 3 losses on the year with a record of 31-3. Texas Tech won convincingly, 78-58.

Prediction: Honestly, Michigan just looks like the more complete team here. With blowout wins over defending champs Villanova and UNC, Michigan is definitely ready for this game. But, Texas Tech was the regular season champions in their conference and denied Kansas of yet another title. I expect a low scoring game with Michigan pulling it out in the end. Final Score: Michigan66, Texas Tech 60

South Region Game 2: #1 Virginia vs #12 Oregon 9:57pm ET

Last Game (Oregon): Oregon let UC Irvine get back in the game for a while, but pulled away midway through the second half. Oregon ended up winning the game, 73-54.

Last Game (Virginia): Virginia had no problem dismantling Oklahoma throughout the game. They were held to only 51 points, well below their season average. 63-51 was the final score.

Prediction: If there is a blowout in the Sweet 16, this game would be it. Oregon has made a nice run in the tourney and is on a current 10 game winning streak, one of the longest in the nation. That said, Virginia is just more of a battle-tested team and has better-skilled players then Oregon has. The best way for Oregon to win this game is to get out to an early lead and maintain their lead throughout the whole game. Virginia should have no problem taking care of Oregon in this game. Final Score: Virginia 78, Oregon 65

https://pac-12.com/mens-basketball/event/2019/03/24/uc-irvine-vs-oregon

2019 NCAA Tournament March Madness Bracket

It's time for MARCH MADNESS!! This is the bracket... :)


https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/ncaa-bracket-2019-printable-march-madness-bracket-tournament-seeds-set-on-selection-sunday-show/

2019 Conference Tournament Winners

Here are the winners of this year's conference championships!

America East: Vermont (23-6)

American Athletic: Cincinnati (28-6)

Atlantic 10: St. Louis (23-12)

Atlantic Coast: Duke (29-5)

Atlantic Sun: Liberty (28-6)

Big 12: Iowa St (23-11)

Big East: Villanova (25-9)

Big Sky: Montana (26-8)

Big South: Gardner-Webb (23-11)

Big Ten: Michigan St (23-6)

Big West: UC Irvine (30-5)

Colonial Athletic: Northeastern (23-10)

Conference USA: Old Dominion (26-8)

Horizon: Northern Kentucky (26-8)

Ivy League: Yale (22-7) 

Metro Athletic: Iona (17-15)

Mid-American: Buffalo (31-3)

Mid Eastern:  NC Central (18-15)

Missouri Valley: Bradley (20-14)

Mountain West: Utah State (28-6)

Northeast: Farliegh Dickinson (20-13)

Ohio Valley: Murray State (27-4)

Pac-12: Washington (26-8)

Patriot League: Colgate (24-10)

Southeastern: Auburn (26-9)

Southern: Wofford (29-4)

Southland: Albilene Christian (27-6)

Southwestern Athletic: Prairie View (22-12)

Summit League: North Dakota State (18-15)

Sun Belt: Georgia State (24-9)

West Coast: Saint Mary's (22-11)

Western Athletic: New Mexico State (30-4)

https://247sports.com/college/marquette/Article/Selection-Sunday-130229074/

2019 Conference Tournament Predictions (Alex Arabis)

Projections based on current records...

America East: Vermont (23-6)

American Athletic: Houston (27-2)

Atlantic 10: Davidson (21-8)

Atlantic Coast: Virginia (27-2)

Atlantic Sun: Lipscomb (24-6)

Big 12: Texas Tech (25-5)

Big East: Villanova (22-8)

Big Sky: Montana (22-7)

Big South: Radford (20-10)

Big Ten: Michigan (26-4)

Big West: UC Irvine (25-5)

Colonial Athletic: Northeastern (20-10)

Conference USA: Old Dominion (23-6)

Horizon: Northern Kentucky (23-8)

Ivy League: Yale (19-6) 

Metro Athletic: Quinnipiac (16-13)

Mid-American: Buffalo (26-3)

Mid Eastern: Norfolk State (19-11)

Missouri Valley: Loyola Chicago (19-12)

Mountain West: Utah State (24-6)

Northeast: St Francis PA (16-13)

Ohio Valley: Murray State (25-4)

Pac-12: Washington (23-6)

Patriot League: Colgate (21-10)

Southeastern: Kentucky (25-5)

Southern: Wofford (26-4)

Southland: Sam Houston (20-9)

Southwestern Athletic: Texas Southern (18-11)

Summit League: South Dakota State (24-7)

Sun Belt: Georgia State (21-9)

West Coast: Gonzaga (29-2)

Western Athletic: New Mexico State (26-4)

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/2019-03-03/michigan-maryland-score-wolverines-escape-college-park-impressive

2019 Conference Tournament Predictions (Matthew Zimmerman)

Projections based on current records...

America East: Vermont (23-6)

American Athletic: UCF (22-6)

Atlantic 10: Davidson (21-8)

Atlantic Coast: North Carolina (24-5)

Atlantic Sun: Lipscomb (24-6)

Big 12: Texas Tech (25-5)

Big East: Villanova (22-8)

Big Sky: Montana (22-7)

Big South: Radford (20-10)

Big Ten: Michigan (26-4)

Big West: UC Irvine (25-5)

Colonial Athletic: Northeastern (20-10)

Conference USA: Old Dominion (23-6)

Horizon: Wright State (19-12)

Ivy League: Yale (19-6) 

Metro Athletic: Iona (14-15)

Mid-American: Buffalo (26-3)

Mid Eastern: Norfolk State (19-11)

Missouri Valley: Loyola Chicago (19-12)

Mountain West: Utah State (24-6)

Northeast: St Francis PA (16-13)

Ohio Valley: Murray State (25-4)

Pac-12: Washington (23-6)

Patriot League: Colgate (21-10)

Southeastern: LSU (24-5)

Southern: Wofford (26-4)

Southland: Sam Houston (20-9)

Southwestern Athletic: Texas Southern (18-11)

Summit League: South Dakota State (24-7)

Sun Belt: Georgia State (21-9)

West Coast: Gonzaga (29-2)

Western Athletic: New Mexico State (26-4)

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2018/3/6/17083336/ncaa-tournament-team-profile-lipscomb-bisons-garrison-mathews-rob-marberry-atlantic-sun-eli-pepper

Locks in the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

ACC

Duke, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech

Big 12

Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech

Big East

Marquette, Villanova

Big Ten

Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin

Pac-12

Washington

SEC

Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee

American

Houston, Cincinnati

Others

Buffalo, Gonzaga, Nevada, Wofford

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-mens-basketball/article222095560.html

2019 MLB Offseason Biggest Moves: Machado to Padres, Harper to Phillies

Manny Machado to the San Diego Padres

About a week ago, Manny Machado agreed to a 10 year, 300 million deal with the Padres. The Padres were one of the worst MLB teams last year by record, but Machado wants to change the culture in San Diego. The Padres should be a much better team after this signing as Machado pairs up with Hosmer to make a pretty nice offensive duo. Last year, Machado became a Free Agent after wrapping up the 2018 MLB season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Machado was trying to land a big contract if it meant sacrificing his aspirations with a playoff-caliber team. In 162 games played last season, Machado scored 84 runs off of 188 hits with 37 HR.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2019/02/22/manny-machado-san-diego-padres/2952414002/

Bryce Harper to the Philadelphia Phillies

Yesterday night, Bryce Harper inked a deal of 13 years for 330 million with the Phillies. After waiting well into MLB Spring Training, Harper is the last big player in Free Agency to get a deal done. Bryce decided to part ways with the Washington Nationals after the team ended a relatively average season in 2018 with a record of 82-80. Harper joins a Phillies team who picked up catcher Realmuto from the Marlins this offseason as well. Superstars Arrieta and Hernandez are also currently on the team excited to play with Harper. In 159 games played last season, Harper scored 103 runs off of 137 hits with 34 HR.

https://www.philly.com/phillies/phillies-bryce-harper-meeting-las-vegas-matt-klentak-john-middleton-andy-macphail-20190107.html

All Stats from www.baseball-reference.com

College Basketball's Biggest Rivalry-Duke vs UNC Part 1 Recap

Yesterday night, North Carolina beat Duke 88-72 in a lopsided game. Duke's Zion Williamson was injured in the first minute of the game, and the Blue Devils were never able to get back in the game. North Carolina jumped out to a double digit lead early in the first half and maintained it for the whole game. Luke Maye had 30 points and 15 rebounds as he lead the Tar Heels in both categories. Cameron Johnson had 26 points and 7 rebounds as well. The Tar Heels shot 50.7% from the field but only a whopping 10.0% from the 3 point line. Duke, on the other hand, had a combined 60 points from RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish. Barrett had 33 points and 13 rebounds while Reddish contributed 27 points and pulled in 3 rebounds. Duke shot only 34.7% from the field and 20.5% from the arc. Also, Duke turned the ball over 20 times while North Carolina turned it over 14. The biggest difference in the game was the amount of times North Carolina shared the ball and played unselfishly. Carolina had 20 assists compared to Duke's 9. Some of Carolina's passes were spectacular and left the Duke players confused. Overall, the game was lopsided and completely taken over by North Carolina once Zion left in the first minute. Congratulations to the North Carolina Tar Heels for winning impressively against Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium!!

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/unc-vs-duke-live-score-updates-highlights-from-2019-rivalry-game/q2bmbxfff81n19ly5n942z63u

Stats from cbssports.com

College Basketball's Biggest Rivalry-Duke vs UNC Part 1 Preview and Predictions

Today at 9pm, the college basketball world will be witnessing the biggest rivalry in all of college basletball: UNC vs Duke. These two teams have played each other since 1920 and UNC leads the series 137-111. Duke is currently #1 in the AP Poll with a record of 23-2 while UNC is #9 with a record of 20-5. Duke's star players include freshman sensations Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish and Tre Jones. UNC's star players include verteran Luke Maye and sharpshooter Coby White. The head coach for Duke is Mike Krzyzewski and for UNC is Roy Williams. Both teams are already guaranteed locks in the NCAA tournament, but in this matchup, records don't matter. This game could decide the regular season winner of the ACC as Duke is 11-1 in the conference and UNC is 10-2. This game is one of the most exciting games of the year and should live up to its hype. It will be held at North Carolina, and tickets should be insanely expensive this year. Good luck to Duke and UNC today and may the best basketball team win!

Prediction to win:

Because UNC is playing at home, I think that they will have the slight edge in this game. Both teams are pretty evenly matched, but UNC has the experience in these games that Duke's freshman stars don't. The winner will be decided by who can play better in the final 10 minutes of the game and who can go on a big scoring run late.

Final Score: UNC 68, Duke 63

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/unc-vs-duke-tipoff-time-tv-channel-live-stream-for-2019-rivalry-game/p30bdlfc71b21nnk3fsrg2pa5

NBA All Star Weekend 2019-THE GAME- Team LeBron vs Team Giannis Recap

Tonight, Team LeBron beat Team Giannis 178-164 in a very exciting matchup. The MVP, Kevin Durant, put up 31 points and went 6/9 from the arc to lead Team LeBron's comeback down 20 points in the 3rd quarter. Damian Lillard was also a factor and made 6 threes in the game as well. Klay Thompson had 20 points off the bench and went 6-17 on FGs and threes. Also, Leonard and LeBron each had 19 points on the game with 16 FGs made in total. On Giannis' side, Giannis lead the way in scoring with 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Paul George and Khris Middleton both had 20 points apiece and a combined 12 threes made. Stephen Curry struggled from the 3 point line, only making 4 out of his 17 total attempts. In total, 62 combined threes were made in the game compared to 167 3 point shot attempts. This game was filled with many dunks too including Giannis' slam from Stephs high bounce pass. This dunk was insane and probably the highlight of the night. In the end, Team LeBron came back from a huge deficit in the third quarter to beat Team Giannis 178-164. Congratulations to Team LeBron for winning the 2019 All Star Game!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06VEhzlBp9I

Stats from www.espn.com

NBA All Star Weekend 2019-THE GAME- Team LeBron vs Team Giannis Preview and Predictions

The All Star Game is finally here!! In this matchup, Team LeBron will be facing off against Team Giannis. LeBron and Giannis both pick players back and forth in a draft-like format until their rosters are complete. This game should be another high scoring affair with both teams most likely scoring well over 130 points. Defense is held to a minimum, and there are many highlights plays throughout the game. Last year, Team LeBron got the victory over Team Stephen 148-145 in a close game. This is the final day of this year's All Star weekend after the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday and the Skills Challenge, 3 Point Shootout, and Dunk Contest yesterday. Here are the rosters and my prediction to win...

Team LeBron Roster:

Starters

LeBron James- LA Lakers

James Harden- Houston Rockets

Kyrie Irving- Boston Celtics

Kawhi Leonard- Toronto Raptors

Kevin Durant- Golden State Warriors

Reserves

LaMarcus Aldridge- San Antonio Spurs

Bradley Beal- Washington Wizards

Anthony Davis- New Orleans Pelicans

Damian Lillard- Portland Trail Blazers

Ben Simmons- Philadelphia 76ers

Klay Thompson-Golden State Warriors

Karl-Anthony Towns- Minnesota Timberwolves

Dwyane Wade- Miami Heat

Team Giannis Roster:

Starters:

Giannis Antetokounmpo- Milwaukee Bucks

Stephen Curry- Golden State Warriors

Joel Embiid- Philadelphia 76ers

Paul George- Oklahoma City Thunder

Kemba Walker- Charlotte Hornets

Reserves:

Blake Griffin- Detriot Pistons

Nikola Jokic- Denver Nuggets

Kyle Lowry- Toronto Raptors

Khris Middleton- Milwaukee Bucks

Dirk Nowitzki- Dallas Mavericks

Victor Oladipo- Indiana Pacers INJURED

D'Angelo Russell- Brooklyn Nets

Nikola Vucevic- Orlando Magic

Russell Westbrook- Oklahoma City Thunder

Prediction:

Both of these teams are completely stacked with talent from the starters to the reserves. All of these players deserve to be an All Star because they are leaders on their respective teams. These players serve as role models to the youngsters and they show them the ropes to be a star in the NBA. That said, I think that Team LeBron has a slight advantage over Team Giannis because of the chemistry he has with Kyrie Irving. They played on the Cavs for a couple years together and are a very deadly duo. This game will be a very close one but Team LeBron should pull out the W in the end.

https://www.gamblingsites.net/picks/2019-nba-all-star-game-team-lebron-vs-team-giannis-odds-preview-and-prediction/

NBA All Star Weekend 2019- Skills Challenge, 3 Point and Slam Dunk Winners

Skills Challenge Winner: Jayson Tatum

After beating Conley, Jokic, and Young, Jayson Tatum won the 2019 NBA All Star Skills Challenge. Tatum shot a near half-court shot to beat Young after falling behind early in the championship round. The trickiest part for Tatum was the chest pass, missing at least one in the first two rounds. A very solid win for Tatum who wasn't favored at all to win the challenge, as he had one of the worst odds to win it out of all of the competitors. Congratulations to Jayson Tatum for winning the 2019 NBA All Star Skills Challenge!!

                                 https://www.apnews.com/449bd00ef6524169b493c147a8ba0d79/gallery/media:8a27a45820664882a8c672799c51aa7d

3 Point Shootout Winner: Joe Harris

Harris scored 25 in the first round of the shootout which got him through to the championship round. In the championship round, Harris edged out Curry with 26 points to Curry's 24 points and won the NBA 2019 All Star 3 Point Shootout. Harris was lights out on the money ball rack as he made all of them on the final rack in the championship round. Stephen Curry started out making 9 in a row in the championship round but struggled on the 3rd and 4th racks. Harris beat one of the best 3 point shooters of all time in impressive fashion. Congratulations to Joe Harris for winning the 2019 NBA All Star 3 Point Shootout!!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2019/02/16/nba-all-star-2019-joe-harris-wins-3-point-contest-over-stephen-curry/2895838002/

Slam Dunk Contest Winner: Hamidou Diallo

Diallo put on a show when he dunked tonight. Each dunk captivated the judges and they gave him high scores in the first round. In the championship round, Diallo took down Dennis Smith Jr. with a bounce-slam-down dunk for his first and a mini two-handed windmill over Quavo and won the 2019 NBA All Star Slam Dunk Contest. But, his most impressive dunk of all was his elbow dunk over Shaq for the SUPERMAN! This dunk was by far the best one of the night. Diallo jumped over a 7 foot 1 inch man with the smooth finish. Very very impressive. Congratulations to Hamidou Diallo for winning the 2019 NBA All Star Slam Dunk Contest!!


https://www.apnews.com/449bd00ef6524169b493c147a8ba0d79/gallery/media:c785f82138bf4e72a87fedc53539d198

NBA All-Star Weekend 2019-Slam Dunk Contest Preview and Predictions

Today at 8pm on TNT, the Slam Dunk Contest will be the third of three events played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here are the contestants and my pick to win...

John Collins- Atlanta Hawks

John is averaging 19.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists a game this season

Miles Bridges- Charlotte Hornets

Miles is averaging 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists a game this season

Hamidou Diallo- Oklahoma City Thunder

Hamidou is averaging 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.4 assists a game this season

Dennis Smith Jr.-New York Knicks

Dennis is averaging 13.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists a game this season

Prediction to win:

Collins has been stellar with his dunks this year. He put on a dunk clinic last night in the Rising Skills Challenge and should do it again tonight. The Hawks love the second year kid out of Wake Forest as he should be on the team with Trae Young for many years to come. I think Collins has this win in the big with the 360 dunk and self alley-oop he showcases.

http://www.nba.com/allstar/2019/events/dunk-contest

Stats from https://www.basketball-reference.com

NBA All-Star Weekend 2019-3 Point Shootout Preview and Predictions

Today at 8pm on TNT, the 3 Point Shootout will be the second of three events played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here are the contestants and my pick to win...

Joe Harris- Brooklyn Nets

Joe has a 47.1% 3 point shot average as he's made 132 shots out of 280 taken this season

Devin Booker- Phoenix Suns

Devin has a 32.5% 3 point shot average as he's made 91 shots out of 280 taken this season

Seth Curry- Portland Trail Blazers

Seth has a 46.5% 3 point shot average as he's made 66 shots out of 142 taken this season

Danny Green- Toronto Raptors

Danny has a 42.1% 3 point shot average as he's made 128 shots out of 304 taken this season

Kemba Walker- Charlotte Hornets

Kemba has a 36.2% 3 point shot average as he's made 187 shots out of 517 taken this season

Khris Middleton- Milwaukee Bucks

Khris has a 37.8% 3 point shot average as he's made 122 shots out of 323 taken this season

Stephen Curry- Golden State Warriors

Stephen has a 44.4% 3 point shot average as he's made 236 shots out of 531 taken this season

Damian Lillard- Portland Trail Blazers

Damian has a 37.3% 3 point shot average as he's made 162 shots out of 434 taken this season

Buddy Hield- Sacramento Kings

Buddy has a 44.9% 3 point shot average as he's made 195 shots out of 434 taken this season

Dirk Nowitzki- Dallas Mavericks

Dirk has a 30.9% 3 point shot average as he's made 25 shots out of 81 taken this season

Prediction to win:

In this competition, I think that Stephen Curry will take home the W. Stephen has won it back in 2015 and is probably the favorite to win it again. He is known for his 3 point shooting and is one of the best ever to shoot beyond the arc. His brother, Seth, is also in the competition. But, I expect Stephen Curry to get the job done tonight.

http://www.nba.com/allstar/2019/events/three-point-contest
Stats from https://www.basketball-reference.com

NBA All-Star Weekend 2019-Skills Challenge Preview and Predictions

Today at 8pm on TNT, the Skills Challenge will be the first of three events played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here are the contestants and my pick to win...

Luka Doncic- Dallas Mavericks

Luka is averaging 20.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists a game this season

Trae Young- Atlanta Hawks

Trae is averaging 16.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.6 assists a game this season

Mike Conley- Memphis Grizzlies

Mike is averaging 19.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists a game this season

Nikola Jokic- Denver Nuggets

Nikola is averaging 20.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 7.7 assists a game this season

De'Aaron Fox- Sacramento Kings

De'Aaron is averaging 17.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.2 assists a game this season

Jayson Tatum- Boston Celtics

Jayson is averaging 16.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists a game this season

Kyle Kuzma- LA Lakers

Kyle is averaging 19.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists a game this season

Nikola Vucevic- Orlando Magic

Nikola is averaging 20.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists a game this season

Prediction to win:

Honestly, this competition is completely up for grabs. Any player out of this bunch can win tonight. That said, I think Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics is going to win the Skills Challenge. At 6-8, 208 lbs as a SF, Jayson Tatum has the attributes and speed to take care of his competition.

http://www.nba.com/allstar/2019/events/skills-challenge

Stats from https://www.basketball-reference.com

Bengals (Zac Taylor) and Dolphins (Brian Flores) set to hire new HC

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins are going to hire their new head coaches on Monday. The Cincinnati Bengals will hire Zac Taylor, who was previously the Rams QBs coach and the Miami Dolphins will hire Brian Flores, who was previously the Patriots LBs coach. The Bengals and Dolphins both ended last season with a losing record and decided to get new HCs for a fresh start. Here are the "profiles" of Zac and Brian... Enjoy!

Zac Taylor Profile

Previous: Rams QB Coach

Current: Bengals Head Coach

Age: 35

Born: Norman, Oklahoma

High School: Norman High School

College: University of Nebraska

NFL: Played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a QB. Cut in preseason.

Coaching Career Stint #1: Assistant QBs Coach for the Miami Dolphins. Later promoted to interim Offensive Coordinator. 2012-2015

Coaching Career Stint #2: Offensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats 2016

Coaching Career Stint #3: Assistant WRs Coach for the Los Angeles Rams. 2017

Coaching Career Stint #4: QBs Coach for the Los Angeles Rams 2018

Coaching Career Stint #5: Current Bengals Head Coach. 2019

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/2018/01/10/Los-Angeles-Rams-elevate-Zac-Taylor-to-QB-coach/2581515560549/

Brian Flores Profile

Previous: Patriots LB Coach

Current: Dolphins Head Coach

Age: 37

Born: Brooklyn, New York

High School: Brooklyn (NY) Poly Prep Country Day

College: Boston College

NFL: Injury prevented him from playing.

Coaching Career Stint #1: Patriots Scouting Assistant. 2004-2005

Coaching Career Stint #2: Patriots Pro Scout. 2006-2007

Coaching Career Stint #3: Patriots Speical teams Assistant. 2008-2009

Coaching Career Stint #4: Patriots Assistant Offense and Special teams. 2010

Coaching Career Stint #5: Patriots Defensive Assistant. 2011

Coaching Career Stint #6: Patriots Safeties Coach. 2012-2015

Coaching Career Stint #7: Patriots Linebackers Coach. 2016-2018

Coaching Career Stint #8: Current Dolphins Head Coach. 2019

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/patriots-assistant-brian-flores-and-complex-landscape-black-coaching-candidates

The New England Patriots win the Super Bowl!

Yesterday, the New England Patriots won Super Bowl 53 as they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in a defensive slugfest. No team was able to get into the red zone until early in the 4th quarter. There were only 2 turnovers in the game, one committed by each side. The Rams couldn't get their run game going at all, held to less than 70 yards on the game. Goff and Brady were very uncomfortable in the pocket and both had inconsistent games passing. The outright MVP of the game was Julian Edelman who completed destroyed the Rams secondary. Edelman caught 10 passes for 141 yards on the game. In the end, the Patriots won and Tom Brady won his 6th Super Bowl breaking the tie with Charles Haley who had 5. Rob Gronkowski will most likely retire from the team following the win. Tom Brady is set to continue playing in the NFL. Bill Belichick will also most likely continue coaching. Congratulations to the New England Patriots for winning Super Bowl LIII!! :)

https://www.patspulpit.com/2019/2/3/18209947/new-england-patriots-win-super-bowl-53-beat-los-angeles-rams-tom-brady-julian-edelman

Super Bowl LIII is HERE! Rams vs Patriots Preview and Predictions

After a grueling NFL regular season and playoffs, the Super Bowl is finally HERE! The Rams and Patriots are the last 2 teams standing, and they had to take unique paths to get here...

RAMS PATH TO SUPER BOWL:

Finished the regular season 13-3. Got the #2 seed in the Playoffs

WILD CARD ROUND: Bye

DIVISIONAL ROUND: BEAT the Cowboys 30-22

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: BEAT the Saints 26-23 OT

PATRIOTS PATH TO SUPER BOWL:

Finished the regular season 11-5. Got the #2 seed in the Playoffs

WILD CARD ROUND: Bye

DIVISIONAL ROUND: BEAT the Chargers 41-28

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: BEAT the Chiefs 37-31 OT

DESTINY vs DYNASTY:

This is a battle between a "Destiny" and a "Dynasty". The Rams are a young team with Goff and Gurley leading the offensive charge. They made big moves in the 2018 offseason in order to try and get to the Super Bowl before the younger stars get huge contracts. This is a "Destiny". The Patriots are a veteran team with a 41-year-old Brady as the ringmaster. This is the 3rd straight year that the Patriots have made the Super Bowl. Brady is appearing in his 9th Super Bowl and has won 5 of them. The Patriots are easily the most hated franchise in the NFL with a team that never goes away every single year. This is a "Dynasty".

Patriots PLAYERS AND STATS:

Mini Depth Chart: OFFENSE- Tom Brady QB, Sony Michel RB, James White RB, Julian Edelman WR, Chris Hogan WR, Rob Gronkowski TE, Trent Brown LT, Joe Thuney LG, David Andrews C, Shaq Mason RG, Marcus Cannon RT DEFENSE- Trey Flowers LE, Deatrich Wise Jr. RE, Lawrence Guy DT, Malcom Brown DT, Dont'a Hightower LB, Elandon Roberts LB, Kyle Van Noy LB, Jason McCourty LCB, Stephon Gilmore RCB, Patrick Chung S, Devin McCourty S SPECIAL TEAMS- Ryan Allen P, Stephen Gostkowski K, Julian Edelman PR, Cordarrelle Patterson KR

Stats Leaders: 

Passing- Brady 375-570, 4355 yards, 29 TD, 11 INT

Rushing- Michel 209 ATT, 931 yards, 6 TD

Receiving- White 87 REP, 751 yards, 7 TD Edelman 74 REP, 850 yards, 6 TD

Defense- Van Noy 56 Tackles, Flowers 7.5 Sacks, 3 FF, Harmon 4 INT

Punting- Allen 64 PUNT, 45.1 AVG

Field Goals- Gostkowski 27-32 

Rams PLAYERS AND STATS:

Mini Depth Chart: OFFENSE- Jared Goff QB, Todd Gurley RB, C.J. Anderson RB, Robert Woods WR, Brandin Cooks WR, Tyler Higbee TE, Andrew Whitworth LT, Roger Saffold III LG, John Sullivan C, Austin Blythe RG, Rob Havenstein RT DEFENSE- Michael Brockers DE, Aaron Donald DT, Ndamukong Suh NT, Cory Littleton ILB, Mark Barron ILB, Samson Ebukam OLB, Marcus Peters LCB, Aqib Talib RCB, John Johnson III SS, Lamarcus Joyner FS, Dante Fowler Jr. WILL SPECIAL TEAMS- Johnny Hekker P, Greg Zuerlein K, Jojo Natson PR, KR

Stats Leaders:

Passing- Goff 364-561 4688 yards, 32 TD, 12 INT
Rushing- Gurley 256 ATT, 1251 yards, 17 TD
Receiving- Woods 86 REP, 1219 yards 6 TD Cooks 80 REP, 1204 yards, 5 TD
Defense- Littleton 90 Tackles, Donald 20.5 Sacks, 4 FF, Johnson III 4 INT
Punting- Hekker 43 PUNT, 46.3 AVG
Field Goals- Zuerlein 27-31

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:

RAMS 34 PATRIOTS 27

Even though the Rams are young and still inexperienced in the playoffs, I think that if the Rams can not let Brady and the Patriots get a big early lead, they will have a chance to win the ball game. The difference maker in this game is going to be whether Aaron Donald can get to Brady or not. Donald is a BEAST on the line with 20.5 sacks on the year. He should be able to get to Brady at least a couple of times throughout the game. The Rams defense was able to hold the Saints to only 23 points in 4 quarters which is definitely something to look out for. Also, the Rams defense needs to not let Brady and his dynamic receiving group get 5-6 completions per drive. The Patriots offense completely destroyed the Chiefs secondary on multiple 3rd n Long situations on the game-winning drive in OT. The Rams can not give up too many easy completions. Finally, the Rams need to keep Brady off the field for as long as possible. The Rams offense needs to eat up the clock and score TDs while doing it. The best way to beat Brady is to keep him on the bench and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. The Rams didn't just magically get to the Super Bowl. They had to work for their wins and grew as a team throughout the year. The Rams have the best shot to beat the Patriots and keep Brady's rings on one finger for now. Tonight, we will find out whether the Rams can deliver or not. Good Luck to both teams and may the BEST team WIN!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgheKYcdEJ0

The Clemson Tigers win the 2019 College Football National Championship!! (late)

On Monday, the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16 to win their second title in the past 3 years and 3rd overall. The game was never really close with Tua looking lost on the field and throwing 2 INT in the 1st half alone. Trevor Lawrence loooked stellar on the field going 20/32 for 347 yards with 3 TD and no INT. Trevor Etienne added 2 TD on the ground. Clemson finishes the year going 15-0 for the first time in modern college football history. This is a great year for the Clemson Tigers football program and a fantastic way to send their seniors off on a high note. Congratulations to the Clemson Tigers for winning the 2019 College Football National Championship!! :)

https://www.complex.com/sports/2019/01/national-champions-clemson-tigers-to-visit-donald-trump

The Divisional Round DAY 2! Chargers vs Patriots Preview and Predictions

**Note: Since I did a Saturday game last week I decided to do a Sunday game this week**

After the Chiefs and Rams secured their spots in the AFC/NFC championship game, 2 more teams will be looking to join them. Will it be the Patriots joining the Chiefs? Or perhaps the Chargers? Will it be the Saints joining the Rams? Or perhaps the Eagles? The Chargers play @ the Patriots at 1:05pm on CBS and the Eagles play @ the Saints at 4:40pm on FOX. Today, I will be previewing the Chargers vs Patriots...Enjoy!

Chargers: After beating the Ravens last week, the Chargers head into Foxborough feeling very confident when playing on the road. The Chargers avenged their loss to the Ravens in Week 16 of the NFL Regular Season. They held Lamar Jackson to under 60 yards rushing and the team to under 100. Jackson also threw a pick in the game. Rivers had a decent day last week going 22/32 for 160 yards and no TD or INT. In fact, no one on the team picked up a TD. Badgley made 5/6 FGs om the day to lead the team in scoring. The Chargers defense played well. Per ESPN, they recorded 7 sacks on the day, 2 fumbles recovered, and a INT.  The Chargers should continue this momentum heading into their game vs the Patriots. The Patriots have looked worse than their record shows, as playing in a weak divsion explains half of the wins. The Chargers should have the advantage here, but the Patriots are stellar at home in the playoffs. We'll see who has the edge in the end.

Patriots: After clinching the #2 seed, the Patriots were able to get a bye in the Wildcard round. Having rested an extra week, the Patriots' players might have more energy then the Chargers. That said, the Patriots have not looked great overall as a team this year. Questionable losses and a dysfunctional team leave the Patriots at a 11-5 record heading into this game. Gronkowski has had one of his worst years as a TE, and the Patriots have not been able to soley rely on Tom Brady as they have in years past. Per ESPN, the running game has been a pleasant suprise as they have rushed for 2037 yards on only 478 carries averaging 4.3 yards per rush. Tom Brady has thrown for 4355 yards with 29 TD and 11 INT. Sony Michel rushed for almost 1000 yards on the season in 109 attempts. The Patriots are heading into this game on a slight limp, and we'll see if this prevents them from showing America fully what they are capable of. The Patriots will have to rely on the run game a little more than usual which is not the type of playstyle Bellichick likes to play. If the Patriots can get out to a fast start, they might have an edge in this game.

Prediction: Chargers 23 Patriots 16

I think that with the amount of confidence the Chargers have had on the road recently and with the Offensive/Deffensive firepower they have, the Chargers should be able to win this game. The most crucial part is whether the Patriots can keep the Chargers out of the endzone because the Ravens were almost able to come back last week. If the Chargers can have a lead or keep it close for most of the game, they should be able to win in the end.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/pats-chargers-5-things-know-andor-ignore-week

The Wild Card is HERE! Colts vs Texans Preview and Predictions

Throughout the season the NFL has seen a boatload of overtime games, exciting finishes and last minute struggles to the playoffs. Suprising trades have unfolded, players have ditched their teams and coaches have been dismissed midway through the season. After everything that has happened this NFL season, the playoffs are HERE! 12 teams are left, and 8 of them will battle it out in the Wild Card. Today, we have the Colts @ Texans at 4:35pm on ABC and the Seahawks @ Cowboys at 8:15pm on FOX. I will be previewing the Colts vs Texans...Enjoy!

Colts: The Colts have the potential Comeback Player of the Year Andrew Luck on their team. After starting off 1-5, Luck has rallied his team from a near bottom place finish to the 6th wild card spot and 2nd place in the division. The Colts have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games and are one of the hottest teams in the league. Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines are the lead backs and the Colts star reciever is T.Y. Hilton. TE Eric Ebron has been battling injury but should be good to go for today's game. Jack Doyle, Indianapolis' other TE, is out for the rest of the year. The defense is headlined by LB Darius Leonard and MLB Anthony Walker who are the leading tacklers on the team. CB Kenny Moore, with 3 INT on the team, should be a factor in this game too. The All Pro DE JJ Watt is also a force on the end that will wreck havoc on the Colts offense. Don't forget about DE Jadeveon Clowney too! 

Texans: The Texans have a prolific QB of their own in Deshaun Watson. Following a season ending injury in 2017, Deshaun Watson has made a comeback of his own in 2018. Per the teams website, Watson has completed 345 passes for 4165 yards for 26 TD and 9 INT. Not bad for a QB in his 3rd year in the NFL! The Texans started 0-3 in 2018 but rallied back to finish the season on a 11-2 run and securing the 1st place position in the AFC South. The Texans get home field advantage in their matchup vs the Colts. The Texans recieving crew is highlighted by the Pro-Bowler DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins might be the best WR in the AFC and has really put on a show this year. Demaryius Thomas and Keke Coutee. Will Fuller is currently hurt on the team. The RB unit is led by the duo of Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue. Miller should reach 1000 yards by the end of the season and Blue is right around the 500 yard mark. Watson has hit 551 yards on the season per the team's website. 

Prediction: Colts 27 Texans 20

I think that the Colts will feel more motivated and Andrew Luck will have the better game which will lead to a Colts victory. 

https://betsology.com/2019/01/afc-wild-card-colts-vs-texans/