Sunday, January 18, 2004

Hi everyone, its Conference Championship Sunday and I'm looking to continue my good luck.

Wild Card weekend I went 3-1 (Broncos suck), Divisional Weekend I went 3-1 (Rams screwed up), and that means I'm 6-2, 75% right!

AFC TITLE GAME-
Patroits over Colts- The New England weather will bog down the Colts high octane offense as the Patroits head to Houston. The Patroits beat the Colts earlier in the season in the RCA Dome and it will be no different. Tom Brady will best the NFL's co-MVPs in two consective weeks.

NFC TITLE GAME-
Eagles over Panthers: For the Eagles the third time's the charm as they beat Carolina in a close game. Even with a very healthy Stephen Davis, the Panthers would have a tough time. I know when they met in the regular season the Panther's John Kasey missed 3 FGs and an extra point, which combined would have given them the win 26-25.
But I think the Eagles want it more and get to Houston.

SUPER BOWL XXXVIII
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patroits: Toss Up
Like Super Bowls XXXII, XXXIV, and XXXVI this one will go down to the final play and the margin of victory is 7 or less. This has all the makings of a great game and we're going to see some great play from Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady. And OT could finally happen in the Super Bowl.

From the beginning of the Playoffs the Eagles and Patroits have been my teams in the game. However, I'm going to need to read a lot of things to finally decide whose coming out on top. But its going to be close.

Well that's it for this week.

Friday, January 09, 2004

Hi everyone, look its a week since my last post and I am putting up another entry!

Okay self congratulations aside, we're less than 24 hours away from the NFL's Division Round of the playoffs and its time for my predictions. Last weekend, I said Titans, Panthers, Packers, and Broncos and I got everyone of them right until the Colts one of my upset teams kicked the Broncos back to Denver and then some. This means the AFC Divisional Playoffs will be different than I had predicted last week, but not by much.

DIVISIONAL ROUND--
Rams over Panthers: Even though I'd like to see the Panthers continue their run, its going to be the running of Marshall Faulk that will be the highlight of this game. The Rams are stinging from their loss to the Lions two weeks ago and are looking for some redemption. Rams when unless Mike Martz doesn't run Faulk, which if he doesn't want to be criticized on Monday he'll do.

Patroits over Titans: Being a Titans fan its hard to not pick my team, however the Patroits are very, very good. Having home field in the playoffs will help the Patroits and it was on this field in Week Five they outlasted the Titans to start their 12-game winning streak. Now the Titans won't make it easy, but unfortunately I have to go with the Patroits.

Colts over Chiefs: Even though KC fans will make arrowhead tough, the Colts are the only team that can outscore the Chiefs and also have a better defense. This one might be a shoot out in the end, but it could also be a comfortable victory for Manning and the rest of the Colts like last week against the Broncos.

Eagles over Packers: Donovan McNabb and the Eagles lucked out on home field and even though they're better on the road, the week off will help them. Brett Favre's magical few weeks will unfortunately come to the end, but he and the Packers will take McNabb & the Eagles into OT.

AFC TITLE GAME-
Patroits over Colts- The New England weather will bog down the Colts high octane offense as the Patroits head to Houston. The Patroits beat the Colts earlier in the season in the RCA Dome and it will be no different. Tom Brady will best the NFL's co-MVPs in two consective weeks.

NFC TITLE GAME-
Eagles over Rams: Philadelphia shows how big home field is when it takes out St. Louis. The Eagles show the third time is the charm by finally winning the NFC Title and making it to Houston.

SUPER BOWL XXXVIII
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patroits: Toss Up
Like Super Bowls XXXII, XXXIV, and XXXVI this one will go down to the final play and the margin of victory 7 or less. This has all the makings of a great game and we're going to see some great play from McNabb and Tom Brady. And OT could finally happen in the Super Bowl.

SCENARIO UPSETERS-
AFC: Last week it was the Indianapolis Colts, this week its still them. They could luck out when play the Patroits to have a mild day in New England.
NFC: Still the Green Bay Packers, Brett Farve is on a roll and the team is following the emotion. If you have a team that believes in itself like the Packers have and goes out to do the job like the Packers have then it doesn't matter where they games are.

I of course reserve the right to redo my predictions after this weekends games based on results or injuries.

Talk to you later.

Saturday, January 03, 2004

Hi again everyone. Its a little after 12 here in Tennessee and with 4 1/2 hours left before the Titans tee it up with the Ravens, I'm going have my predictions for how the NFL Playoffs unfold (this week's version anyways).

WILD CARD ROUND--
Titans over Ravens: With co-MVP Steve McNair fully healthy and back-up Neil O'Donnell on the side lines, the Titans offense should stand up against the Raven's famed D. I expect to see McNair to throw the ball medium and long range passes to spread the defense. The Titan D should have a good game against the Raven's offense. If they are able to limit Jamal Lewis then the Raven's QB has to throw, which gives the Titans turnover opportunity. This game will be decided in the fourth and by less then 7 points.
Panthers over Cowboys: Both these teams are in the playoffs for the first time in years, but as an organization its only Carolina's 3rd playoff game ever. Cowboys won the regular season match-up between these teams 24-20, but that was in Dallas and Carolina hosts now. The Cowboy offense hasn't been doing good on the road and that will allow the Panthers to prevail.
Packers over Seahawks: This is the second rematch from the regular season and again Seattle visits Green Bay. The Seahawks have only won two road games and #3 won't happen today. The Packers will break it open in the 2nd half on their way to the Divisional round.
Broncos over Colts: This the third rematch from the regular season, in fact just two weeks ago when Denver trounced Indianapolis in the RCA Dome. Denver's starters had full practice last week, but didn't play last Sunday while the Colts needed to win last Sunday to win the AFC South and get a home game. The Broncos will win because of the rest their starters got, but the Colts will keep it respectable.

DIVISIONAL ROUND--
Patroits over Broncos: New England is the #1 seed, plays at home, and has a week off. The Broncos could make it interesting, but the Patroits will win.
Titans over Chiefs: Since going 10-0, the Chiefs have not been super since. Even with the rest and home field in the game, the Chiefs D will let them down again. It could be a big day for McNair and his receivers. The Titans win comfortably.
Eagles over Packers: Donovan McNabb and the Eagles lucked out on home field and even though they're better on the road, the week off will help them. Brett Favre's magical few weeks will unfortunately come to the end, but he and the Packers will take McNabb & the Eagles into OT.
Rams over Panthers: St. Louis is smarting for losing to Detroit and giving up home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. Carolina will be coming in for the slaughter. The Rams will trounce the Panthers big.

AFC TITLE GAME-
Patroits over Titans: As much as this Titan fan would like to see Tennessee go to Houston, the Patroits will take care of business at home. This will be a rematch from the regular season in which the Patroits won by 7 over the visiting Titans in a great, close game. This one will be as close if not closer, but the Patroits again win.
NFC TITLE GAME-
Eagles over Rams: Philadelphia shows how big home field is when it takes out St. Louis. The Eagles show the third time is the charm by finally winning the NFC Title and making it to Houston.

SUPER BOWL XXXVIII
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patroits: Toss Up
Like Super Bowls XXXII, XXXIV, and XXXVI this one will go down to the final play and the margin of victory 7 or less. This has all the makings of a great game and we're going to see some great play from McNabb and Tom Brady. And OT could finally happen in the Super Bowl.

SCENARIO UPSETERS-
AFC: Indianapolis Colts, with that offense and better defense things could get mixed up.
NFC: Green Bay, Brett Favre is on a roll and the team is following it could lead them to the Super Bowl.

I of course reserve the right to redo my predictions after this weekends games based on results or injuries.

Talk to you later.

Friday, January 02, 2004

Hi everyone, been a while...okay a long, long time. Well I'm in the mood and in a position to write regularly on my blog. So what I'm going to do first is to do a little 2003 look back at WWE Raw brand.

Raw to say the least finally started to get good in December with good storylines and matches. The Shawn Michaels/Triple-H World Heavyweight Title match sent Raw off on a good note match wise. The renewal of the Bischoff/Austin co-GM feud looks to be hot as basically one of Raw's biggest star is back for 2004.

However there is something tempering my excitement for Raw in 2004 and that's Triple-H. Until September he was the World Heavyweight Champion, then all during Goldberg's reign he was the challenger with Kane added at Armaggedon to show a little imagination for Triple-H winning the gold back. Basically everything that is wrong with Raw is Triple-H because he hogs the World Title division and does let others play. The Goldberg World Title reign is one point. Instead of having Goldberg face Chris Jericho or Kane alone, Triple-H was in one the action. Men who can hold the title if pushed, Rob Van Dam and Booker T along with Jericho and Kane don't get the shots or if they do they don't get the wins. What Triple-H doesn't realize is he can be one of the top players on Raw and not hold the World Title. The Undertaker when he hasn't been in a WWE Title match has been for years in the last to next match of the card. At WrestleManias XII, XIV, XV, & X-7 the last big match before the Main Event/WWE Title match has featured The Undertaker, and at X-7 Triple-H faced the Dead Man.

Another problem is Evolution, Triple-H's version of the Four Horsmen. Unfortunately for Triple-H it doesn't work. A friend of mine says that problem is that the original Four Horsemen were all equals only seperated by the level of title belt they had. Ric Flair was offset by manager JJ Dillion, but Flair in my view was "first among equals." Evolution doesn't revolve around four men with a manager it revolves around Triple-H. In Evolution, Triple-H is The Boss and everyone else including Flair is his lackey. Right now Evolution has all the gold except for the WWE Women's Title. Randy Orton with the IC Title, I don't have a problem with. Orton's a rising star, good in-ring ability, and good mic skills. He has the ability to be a great World Champion. However, Flair & Batista as WWE Tag Team Champions I don't get. Flair adding his name to the titles doesn't hurt them, but if Triple-H as champion along with him I wouldn't mind. Batista has yet to be more than a raging bull in a china shop, they need to develop him more like Orton.

The one thing that Raw has constantly done well over 2003 was the Women's Division. With the exception of the failed Gail Kim championship reign and the sudden stopping of Ivory's push at the same time in summer, the Women's Division has been filled with great athletics and good angles. Everyone woman who held the title, except Kim, had the reputation to hold it and no one asked, "Why does she have the title?" When the WWE realized the Kim experiment hadn't worked they quickly put the title on current champion Molly (Holly) and no one blinked an eye because Molly had heel heat and she had been given a steady stream of matches keep her in mind.

Looking to 2004: I think Triple-H & Shawn Michaels are going to be Raw's WrestleMania XX Main Event for the World Heavyweight Title. Chris Jericho will turn face and have a strong series against Christian. Unfortunately, it looks like Goldberg will be gone and Booker T's health might result in him not renewing his contract and retire. For the Women's Division to remain hot some personas will have to be shifted around. I think the big feud of the upcoming year will be Trish Stratus & Lita, right now both women are faces but the division could keep being hot if one of them turns heel. Right now in my mind it will be Trish, particularly because with Jericho turning face and Trish being pissed off at him it might turn her to the "dark side." Lita's still coming back from her neck injury and could come out of WrestleMania with the Women's Title with big face heat, that added on to Jericho's turn could make Trish jealous and set up a pretty entertaining year.

Well that's all from my end today. Tomorrow I'll be back with my NFL Playoff predictions.