If you have listened to the latest episode of the Three and Out Podcast then you know already what my prediction is (and if you haven't you need to check it out. Simply put, I'm never picking the Ravens and ain't going to here. I think this season was in essence a changing of the guard with the young QBs and I think the "X-Factor" Colin Kaepernick will be the difference for the Niners as they win their 6th ever Lombardi Trophy.
49ers 24 Ravens 10
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
The Return of the SuperSonics
This is a post I've been wanting to write since July 2008. Word broke late last night that the Maloofs, owners of the Sacramento Kings, sold their majority ownership interest to Chris Hansen and his group. With this sale, it begin the process of the return of the Seattle SuperSonics.
People who know me know my connection to that city. I wrote back in 2008 when Clay Bennett and his group moved the franchise to Oklahoma City and ripped the heart out of the city. The producers of Sonicsgate did a great job of telling the story. And they made sure the mantra was said "No city is safe."
Unfortunately Sacramento is one of those cities. I feel bad for Kings fans. They had bad ownership (like the Sonics had with Starbucks founder Howard Schultz) which led to bad management of the team. However, there are differences this time around. Chris Hansen's intentions were straightforward from the start. He and his group hasn't lied to the city of Sacramento, hasn't tried to make things difficult for the team by trying to get them to tank. They've been upfront, something that Clay Bennett and his group never were.
On the one hand, it's sad that what Clay Bennett and his group did inevitably cost Sacramento their franchise and gives another reason why I don't like that ownership group.
On the other hand, it'll be so great to see the green and gold, to hear Kevin Calabro doing play by play commentary, to see Squatch courtside. The Sonics are coming back, they're not just a regular team:
People who know me know my connection to that city. I wrote back in 2008 when Clay Bennett and his group moved the franchise to Oklahoma City and ripped the heart out of the city. The producers of Sonicsgate did a great job of telling the story. And they made sure the mantra was said "No city is safe."
Unfortunately Sacramento is one of those cities. I feel bad for Kings fans. They had bad ownership (like the Sonics had with Starbucks founder Howard Schultz) which led to bad management of the team. However, there are differences this time around. Chris Hansen's intentions were straightforward from the start. He and his group hasn't lied to the city of Sacramento, hasn't tried to make things difficult for the team by trying to get them to tank. They've been upfront, something that Clay Bennett and his group never were.
On the one hand, it's sad that what Clay Bennett and his group did inevitably cost Sacramento their franchise and gives another reason why I don't like that ownership group.
On the other hand, it'll be so great to see the green and gold, to hear Kevin Calabro doing play by play commentary, to see Squatch courtside. The Sonics are coming back, they're not just a regular team:
Friday, January 18, 2013
2013 Conference Championship Picks
I had a so-so weekend last weekend with my picks going 2-2 and now 5-3 overall. Hopefully, I can pick it up and go undefeated this weekend. Here are my picks (and be sure to check out the latest episode of the Three and Out Podcast to hear more and hear banter on the picks).
The NFC Title game pits San Francisco vs. Atlanta. The top 2 teams in the regular season in the NFC square off in the Georgia Dome. The 49ers have a really tough team and are back in this game for the second year in the row. They have a lot of momentum but I think the Falcons are going to get over the hump and get into the Super Bowl.
Falcons 31 49ers 28
The AFC Title game is a rematch of last season's AFC Title game with Baltimore vs. New England. Simply put, go with Brady at home in the title game.
Patriots 37 Ravens 17
The NFC Title game pits San Francisco vs. Atlanta. The top 2 teams in the regular season in the NFC square off in the Georgia Dome. The 49ers have a really tough team and are back in this game for the second year in the row. They have a lot of momentum but I think the Falcons are going to get over the hump and get into the Super Bowl.
Falcons 31 49ers 28
The AFC Title game is a rematch of last season's AFC Title game with Baltimore vs. New England. Simply put, go with Brady at home in the title game.
Patriots 37 Ravens 17
Friday, January 11, 2013
2013 Divisional Round Weekend Predictions
One week into the playoffs and my postseason picks aren't too bad. I went 3-1 last weekend (which I was hoping to go 4-0 but Baltimore won so that didn't happen) and so it's onto the Divisional Round (for more banter check out the Three and Out Podcast where I discuss more about my picks).
The first game on Saturday is Baltimore vs. Denver. The Ravens are coming off their win against the Colts while the Broncos lie in wait. Out of all the games, this is the easiest game for me to pick. I can't stand the Ravens + I like Peyton Manning = I'm picking the Broncos. And the fact that Denver blasted them only a few weeks ago in Baltimore only adds to my case. I think this will be the least interesting game and I'm okay with that because (hopefully) the Broncos will move on to the title game.
Broncos 31 Ravens 10
The night game on Saturday is Green Bay vs San Francisco. We have another match up against two teams that played in the regular season. In Week 1, the 49ers came into Lambeau Field and beat the Pack. This will be different as it will be in San Francisco and the 49ers QB will be Colin Kaepernick instead of Alex Smith. Out of the 4 games, this one is the hardest for me to pick. Green Bay is playing better and healthy but they still have their weaknesses (O-Line shaky, not much of running game, defense can let teams hang around). The 49ers have more playmakers this year compared to last year but this is Kaepernick's first playoff start. I think this will be a close one but I'm thinking the home team pulls this one out.
49ers 20 Packers 17
The early Sunday game is Seattle vs Atlanta. The Seahawks are coming off their first road playoff victory since 1983 after beating the Redskins. They now have to travel again, this time to Atlanta. Ironically, this is the only matchup this weekend where the teams are meeting for the first time. Atlanta has a lot of pressure on them as the top seed with home field advantage. QB Matt Ryan & HC Mike Smith are winless in the postseason but they do have that explosive offense. Obviously key matchup will be Falcons WRs vs. Seahawks secondary. It will be tough for a 10:00am pacific kickoff (1:00pm Eastern) but I think the Seahawks can pull it out and keep the ball rolling.
Seahawks 24 Falcons 20
The late Sunday game is Houston vs New England. This is another rematch from a regular season game that saw the Pats beat the Texans on a Monday night game in the middle of the season. The Texans are coming off a big win against the Bengals to kind of right the ship from the previous few weeks. They do have a good offense and a good defense. The Pats have their typical high scoring offense. I think this time around the game will be a lot closer, however I still think the Patriots will win the game.
Patriots 27 Texans 24
The first game on Saturday is Baltimore vs. Denver. The Ravens are coming off their win against the Colts while the Broncos lie in wait. Out of all the games, this is the easiest game for me to pick. I can't stand the Ravens + I like Peyton Manning = I'm picking the Broncos. And the fact that Denver blasted them only a few weeks ago in Baltimore only adds to my case. I think this will be the least interesting game and I'm okay with that because (hopefully) the Broncos will move on to the title game.
Broncos 31 Ravens 10
The night game on Saturday is Green Bay vs San Francisco. We have another match up against two teams that played in the regular season. In Week 1, the 49ers came into Lambeau Field and beat the Pack. This will be different as it will be in San Francisco and the 49ers QB will be Colin Kaepernick instead of Alex Smith. Out of the 4 games, this one is the hardest for me to pick. Green Bay is playing better and healthy but they still have their weaknesses (O-Line shaky, not much of running game, defense can let teams hang around). The 49ers have more playmakers this year compared to last year but this is Kaepernick's first playoff start. I think this will be a close one but I'm thinking the home team pulls this one out.
49ers 20 Packers 17
The early Sunday game is Seattle vs Atlanta. The Seahawks are coming off their first road playoff victory since 1983 after beating the Redskins. They now have to travel again, this time to Atlanta. Ironically, this is the only matchup this weekend where the teams are meeting for the first time. Atlanta has a lot of pressure on them as the top seed with home field advantage. QB Matt Ryan & HC Mike Smith are winless in the postseason but they do have that explosive offense. Obviously key matchup will be Falcons WRs vs. Seahawks secondary. It will be tough for a 10:00am pacific kickoff (1:00pm Eastern) but I think the Seahawks can pull it out and keep the ball rolling.
Seahawks 24 Falcons 20
The late Sunday game is Houston vs New England. This is another rematch from a regular season game that saw the Pats beat the Texans on a Monday night game in the middle of the season. The Texans are coming off a big win against the Bengals to kind of right the ship from the previous few weeks. They do have a good offense and a good defense. The Pats have their typical high scoring offense. I think this time around the game will be a lot closer, however I still think the Patriots will win the game.
Patriots 27 Texans 24
Friday, January 4, 2013
2013 Wild Card Weekend Predictions
It's playoff time so it's time for predictions (I also shared them on the Three and Out podcast so feel free to listen to some of the debate on them) for the Wild Card round.
The first game on Saturday is Cincinnati vs Houston. This is a rematch of last year's wild card game. Houston is slumping coming into this game and Cincy is on a roll. The Bengals still have not won a playoff game since 1990...and I don't see it happening here. I think Foster and Schaub will get their act together and will take care of business.
Texans 27 Bengals 17
The night game on Saturday is Minnesota vs Green Bay. This is the rubber match as they have played two games already this season with each team winning at home. Adrian Peterson has pretty much run roughshod over the Packers and honestly I don't think this will be any different. The key will be how second year QB Christian Ponder plays. If he has a good game, the Vikings can win. If not, they won't. I think it'll be a close game but I think the Pack will win in Lambeau
Packers 20 Vikings 17
The early game on Sunday is Indianapolis vs Baltimore. The old franchise from that city (Colts) verses the newer (Ravens). This could potentially be Ray Lewis last game. This is Andrew Luck's first postseason game. The Ravens aren't the Ravens of old. Their defense is older, injured and wore out. Yes Indy is young but I think they're strong enough (#Chuckstrong) to pull this one out.
Colts 24 Ravens 10
The late game on Sunday is Seattle vs Washington. Two dynamic rookie QBs in Russell Wilson & RG3. Seattle hasn't won a playoff road game since 1983. Washington has lost their last 2 postseason appearances, both to Seattle. I think RG3 not being healthy + Seattle's punishing defense is enough for the Seahawks to get the W
Seahawks 31 Redskins 14
The first game on Saturday is Cincinnati vs Houston. This is a rematch of last year's wild card game. Houston is slumping coming into this game and Cincy is on a roll. The Bengals still have not won a playoff game since 1990...and I don't see it happening here. I think Foster and Schaub will get their act together and will take care of business.
Texans 27 Bengals 17
The night game on Saturday is Minnesota vs Green Bay. This is the rubber match as they have played two games already this season with each team winning at home. Adrian Peterson has pretty much run roughshod over the Packers and honestly I don't think this will be any different. The key will be how second year QB Christian Ponder plays. If he has a good game, the Vikings can win. If not, they won't. I think it'll be a close game but I think the Pack will win in Lambeau
Packers 20 Vikings 17
The early game on Sunday is Indianapolis vs Baltimore. The old franchise from that city (Colts) verses the newer (Ravens). This could potentially be Ray Lewis last game. This is Andrew Luck's first postseason game. The Ravens aren't the Ravens of old. Their defense is older, injured and wore out. Yes Indy is young but I think they're strong enough (#Chuckstrong) to pull this one out.
Colts 24 Ravens 10
The late game on Sunday is Seattle vs Washington. Two dynamic rookie QBs in Russell Wilson & RG3. Seattle hasn't won a playoff road game since 1983. Washington has lost their last 2 postseason appearances, both to Seattle. I think RG3 not being healthy + Seattle's punishing defense is enough for the Seahawks to get the W
Seahawks 31 Redskins 14
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Fantasy Football Tuesday: Championship Week 2
(Yes it's Wednesday but yesterday was New Year's Day so hopefully this should get a pass)
This past weekend was the last regular season weekend in the NFL and the last week for fantasy football. It was an interesting year for me in fantasy football. I was in the most leagues that I've ever been in with 8. I made the playoffs in 5 of those leagues. I made the finals in all 5 of those leagues, and I ended up with 2 titles. This past weekend I won the "Bounty Program" Fantasy League (I've won that league in back to back seasons).
So while I would've liked to have won more titles but it's still pretty impressive to have made 5 championship games. It'll give more to shoot for next season.
This past weekend was the last regular season weekend in the NFL and the last week for fantasy football. It was an interesting year for me in fantasy football. I was in the most leagues that I've ever been in with 8. I made the playoffs in 5 of those leagues. I made the finals in all 5 of those leagues, and I ended up with 2 titles. This past weekend I won the "Bounty Program" Fantasy League (I've won that league in back to back seasons).
So while I would've liked to have won more titles but it's still pretty impressive to have made 5 championship games. It'll give more to shoot for next season.
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