The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New York Rangers on Saturday night by the final score of 4-3.
The main headline of Saturday night was Pittsburgh's captain Sidney Crosby scoring consecutive goals in the last six minutes of the second period. The captain had a backhand tap-in goal into a wide open net with 5:53 left in the first period. Then ,after recieving a perfect pass from Chris Kunitz, Crosby redirected the puck top shelf on Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist while falling to the ice. The goal came with 1:24 left in the second period.
In Pittsburgh, fans are relieved and excited that their team was able to produce a split on the road against the NHL's best team. In New York… they're sweating...
Pittsburgh now has home ice advantage. Splitting in the first two meetings leaves 3 out of the next 5 games to be played in the steel city. Can the Pens take advantage of what they've earned? Game 3 is monday & takes place at Console Energy Center at 7:00 p.m.
Written by Austin Young, in collaboration with Joe Smeltzer.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Final Four Predictions
68 teams were invited to the NCAA tournament this season, and only 4 remain. All four of these teams are very deserving and have worked very hard to get here. The winners of tonight's games will move onto the National Championship that will take place on Monday. Let's get into what I think will happen in tonight's games.
#1 Duke vs. #7 Michigan State
Duke was expected by a lot of people to be here, while the same cannot be said about Sparty. But Tom Izzo and his squad have knocked off giants in Virgina, Oklahoma and Lousiville to get here. The Spartans have solid guard play, led by Denzel Valentine, but I think that Duke will overpower MSU inside, as Jalihl Oakfor is arguably the best big man in the country. As has been the case many times before, Oakfor will propel Duke to victory.
Winner : Duke
#1 Kentucky vs. #1 Wisconsion
This is the matchup that I'm sure a lot of people had taking place in their bracket and I know that this is the game I wanted to see. It will be very close, and is a very hard game to predict. However, I'm going to have to go with Kentucky, do to their toughness and depth. As good as Frank Kaminsky is, he will be seeing 2 big men that are better than any he has faced all year besides Oakafor, in Karl Anthony Towns and Wille-Caully Stien. Kaminsky was not effective against Oakfor, and although I expect Towns and Stien to nerur lose him just enough to win it for UK. The Wildcats have the best defensive team in the land, and Wisconsion will not shoot like they did against Arizoka against them. So, I think 39-0 will become a reality.
Winner: Kentucky
#1 Duke vs. #7 Michigan State
Duke was expected by a lot of people to be here, while the same cannot be said about Sparty. But Tom Izzo and his squad have knocked off giants in Virgina, Oklahoma and Lousiville to get here. The Spartans have solid guard play, led by Denzel Valentine, but I think that Duke will overpower MSU inside, as Jalihl Oakfor is arguably the best big man in the country. As has been the case many times before, Oakfor will propel Duke to victory.
Winner : Duke
#1 Kentucky vs. #1 Wisconsion
This is the matchup that I'm sure a lot of people had taking place in their bracket and I know that this is the game I wanted to see. It will be very close, and is a very hard game to predict. However, I'm going to have to go with Kentucky, do to their toughness and depth. As good as Frank Kaminsky is, he will be seeing 2 big men that are better than any he has faced all year besides Oakafor, in Karl Anthony Towns and Wille-Caully Stien. Kaminsky was not effective against Oakfor, and although I expect Towns and Stien to nerur lose him just enough to win it for UK. The Wildcats have the best defensive team in the land, and Wisconsion will not shoot like they did against Arizoka against them. So, I think 39-0 will become a reality.
Winner: Kentucky
Sunday, March 29, 2015
March Maddness: Predictions for Day 2 of Elite 8
We are now in the Elite 8 stage of March Maddness. Saturday's games were awesome, as Wisconsin and Kentucky moved on to the Final Four. Let's get into what I think will happen today.
2:20
#4 Louisville vs. #7 Michigan State
Neither of these teams were expected to be here, but they are both worthy because they play smart, mistake free basketball. I expect a close game, but Michigan State's defense and guard play will frustrate the Cardinals, as they are a poor shooting team. For this reason, I'm picking Michigan State to move on to the Final Four.
Winner: Michigan State
5:05
#2 Gonzaga vs. #1 Duke
This game as hard to predict, as I think Kyle Wijlter and Gonzaga match up well against Duke because of their size. However, I think that Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook are the best back-court in the country, and that will propel Duke to victory in a very, very close game.
Winner: Duke
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
My thoughts on March Madness: 10 teams who can make it to the Final 4
Hello everybody!It feels good to be writing again. I have not typed a word about College Basketball since the season began, so needless to say I have some catching up to do. As you readers are aware, Selection Sunday has passed and we now know where every team stands as far as seeding goes. I will now write about 10 teams who I think can make it to the Final Four and possibly beyond.
#1 Kentucky
The Wildcats have been the best team in the country since Day 1, as they are by far the deepest team in the country. Ever since they obliterated Kansas on opening night, the country has taken notice that the Cats are a force to be reckoned with. This is arguably the best team John Calipari has ever coached, and certainly has more depth than any team Cal has ever led. UK has the #2 scoring defense in the country, allowing just 52.7 points per game, and they are also 2nd in the country in blocked shots, averaging 7 per game. The Cats have a big and aggressive front court, with Willie Cully-Stien and Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way. In the back-court, the Harrison brothers(Andrew and Aaron) are both playing key roles in the Wildcats' success. Aaron leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game, while Andrew leads the team is assists with 4.1 per game. Also playing a key role in the back-court is Devin Booker, who is right behind Aaron Harrison with 11.1 points per game. Tyler Ulis, Dakari Johnson and Trey Lyle also play their roles well. Everybody knows how good this team is, and it will be interesting to see if they become the first team since the 1972 Indiana Hoosiers to finish the season perfect and win a National Championship. To the surprise of nobody, the Wildcats received the #1 overall seed and will be playing the winner of the first 4 matchup between #16 Hampton/Manhattan(play in game).
#2 Virginia
This is a team that will not excite a lot of people with the way they play, but while ''first to 50'' style games may be boring, winning is not, and this team wins a lot. Guard Malcolm Brodgon leads the team with 13.5 points per game, and Anthony Gill, Mike Toby and Darion Atkins have all contributed in the front-court, with Gill averaging 11.2 points per game. The Cavs are another team that could win the whole thing, even with their loss to UNC in the ACC Semi-Final on Friday night, as Tony Bennett is qualified to be a national championship head coach. Virginia received a 2 seed and will face off against #15 Belmont.
#2 Gonzaga
Every year, the Zags are questioned for their sub-par level of competition, but I truly believe that this is the best team Mark Few has had at least since Adam Morrison left in 2006. Gonzaga is solid on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they rank in the top 15 nationally in both points per game and assists per game, and are 1st in field goal percentage. On defense, they are 24th in the country in points allowed, and rank 4th in rebounding. Only a overtime loss early in the season to #7 Arizona, as well as a 83-80 defeat at the hands of BYU, has kept the Zags from being the 2nd perfect team in the land. Forward Kyle Wiltjer leads the team with 17 points per game, and guards Kevin Pangos and Byron Wesley are both averaging double figures. 7-1 Center Przemek Karnowski is a great complement to Wiltjer in the front court, and he is averaging 10.6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Another big man, Domantas Sabonis, is also playing a key role, averaging 9.7 points and nearly 7 rebounds per game. The Zags have all the pieces they need to make a deep run, all they have to do is play. The Zags have also received a #2 seed and will face off against #15 North Dakota State.
#1 Duke
You do not have to be a big basketball fan, or even a basketball fan at all to know that Coach K is a great coach. K recently became the first coach in Men's D1 Basketball history to win 1,000 games, and he has a group that is capable of bringing him his 5th national championship. Center Jahil Oakfor is projected to be the 1st overall pick in this June's NBA Draft, and he is complimented in the front court by Justice Winslow. Dukes back-court of Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook is one of the best in the land, and Amille Jefferson provides good defense in the front court. Guards Grayson Allen and Matt Jones provide good minutes off the bench. Duke may not have the depth of Kentucky, but the players they use are talented enough to make a run at the title. They received a #1 seed and will be pitted against the winner of the #16 Robert Morris/North Florida game that will take place in Dayton.
#1 Wisconsin
When you have one of the best coaches in the country, as well as a Wooden Award front runner, you have a great chance to go places. Wisconsin has both of those things. Bo Ryan has been in this game for a while, and he is simply one of the best coaches in the business. Frank Kaminsky is a 7-1 Center who is well established as a dominant force in college basketball. He is aided in the front court by San Dekker and Nigel Hays, who are both averaging a little over 12 points per game. Guard Josh Gasser is also contributing to the cause with his stout defense. I love watching Wisconsin play and believe that they deserved to be a #1 seed. They will face off against #16 Coastal Carolina.
#1 Villanova
The Wildcats have maybe the best back-court in the land. Darrun Hilliard and Ryan Arcidiacono both shoot very well and cause headaches for opposing defenses. In the front court, 6-11 Daniel Ochefu has quietly put together a good season, averaging close to 9 points and over 8 rebounds per game. He is complemented by JayVaughn Pinkston, who is averaging close to 10 points per game. Guards Dylan Ennis and Josh Hart are also averaging close to 10 a game, and Kris Jenkins and Phil Booth are both effective off the bench. All in all, the Wildcats are a very good team and much deeper than people give them credit for. As I suspected, the Wildcats snuck in as a #1 and will face off against #16 Lafayette in my hometown of Pittsburgh.
#2 Arizona
Sean Miller's team keeps getting better and better as the season goes on. TJ McConnell is the Point Guard, and he is one of the best in the country at being a floor general. In the front court, Stanley Johnson, who leads the team with almost 14 PPG and Ronde Hollis-Jefferson are both averaging double figures, and Brandon Ashley is a dangerous 2 guard. The Wildcats rolled through the Pac-12, and I think that they have a great chance to get to the Final Four. Sean Miller as never been to one, and he deserves to get there. This team would have been a #1 almost any other year, but I believe that the committee did the right thing by making them a #2. They will face off against #15 Texas Southern.
#2 Kansas
It was almost a given that Rock Chalk would be mentioned in this article. The Jayhawks have more wins against ranked teams than anybody else in the land, and although they did not win the Big 12 Tournament Championship, I still think they are very dangerous. Forward Perry Ellis leads the team in scoring and rebounding, with 13.8 Points and 7 Rebounds per game. Guard Frank Mason isn't far behind Ellis in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game while also leading the team in assists with 4 per night. Wayne Seldon is also a factor in the back-court, averaging nearly 10 Points per game, while fellow guard Kelly Obrue is averaging 9.3 points per night. Cliff Alexander is a factor off the bench, as the 6.8 forward is 2nd on the team in rebounding and leads the Jayhawks with a .566 Field Goal percentage, as the Jayhawks hope to get him back from suspension for a suspicion of NCAA violations. The #2 seeded Jayhawks will face off against #15 New Mexico State in the first round.
#3 Notre Dame
The only 3 seed included in this list, the Fighting Irish would almost surely be at least a #2 any other year. But since the top teams are so talented this season, Mike Brey and is team will have to settle for a #3. Make no mistake about it, the Irish are dangerous. The became the 2015 ACC Tournament champions on Saturday night when they defeated North Carolina. Point Guard Jerian Grant is the backbone of the squad, averaging a team high 16.8 PPG and 6.6 Assists Per Game. Grant is complimented in the back-court by Pat Connaughton, who is contributing 12.8 PPG and leads the team with 7.4 Rebounds Per Game. Demetrius Jackson and Steve Vastura are also vital cogs at the guard position. 6-10 Forward Zach Auguste was a beast in the ACC Title Game, and is averaging 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. V.J. Beachem and Bonzie Colson add depth in the front-court coming off of the bench. The Irish are a sleeper, and they will face off against #14 Northeastern in the 1st round.
Honorable Mentions: UNC, Lousiville, Baylor, Iowa State
#1 Kentucky
The Wildcats have been the best team in the country since Day 1, as they are by far the deepest team in the country. Ever since they obliterated Kansas on opening night, the country has taken notice that the Cats are a force to be reckoned with. This is arguably the best team John Calipari has ever coached, and certainly has more depth than any team Cal has ever led. UK has the #2 scoring defense in the country, allowing just 52.7 points per game, and they are also 2nd in the country in blocked shots, averaging 7 per game. The Cats have a big and aggressive front court, with Willie Cully-Stien and Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way. In the back-court, the Harrison brothers(Andrew and Aaron) are both playing key roles in the Wildcats' success. Aaron leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game, while Andrew leads the team is assists with 4.1 per game. Also playing a key role in the back-court is Devin Booker, who is right behind Aaron Harrison with 11.1 points per game. Tyler Ulis, Dakari Johnson and Trey Lyle also play their roles well. Everybody knows how good this team is, and it will be interesting to see if they become the first team since the 1972 Indiana Hoosiers to finish the season perfect and win a National Championship. To the surprise of nobody, the Wildcats received the #1 overall seed and will be playing the winner of the first 4 matchup between #16 Hampton/Manhattan(play in game).
#2 Virginia
This is a team that will not excite a lot of people with the way they play, but while ''first to 50'' style games may be boring, winning is not, and this team wins a lot. Guard Malcolm Brodgon leads the team with 13.5 points per game, and Anthony Gill, Mike Toby and Darion Atkins have all contributed in the front-court, with Gill averaging 11.2 points per game. The Cavs are another team that could win the whole thing, even with their loss to UNC in the ACC Semi-Final on Friday night, as Tony Bennett is qualified to be a national championship head coach. Virginia received a 2 seed and will face off against #15 Belmont.
#2 Gonzaga
Every year, the Zags are questioned for their sub-par level of competition, but I truly believe that this is the best team Mark Few has had at least since Adam Morrison left in 2006. Gonzaga is solid on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they rank in the top 15 nationally in both points per game and assists per game, and are 1st in field goal percentage. On defense, they are 24th in the country in points allowed, and rank 4th in rebounding. Only a overtime loss early in the season to #7 Arizona, as well as a 83-80 defeat at the hands of BYU, has kept the Zags from being the 2nd perfect team in the land. Forward Kyle Wiltjer leads the team with 17 points per game, and guards Kevin Pangos and Byron Wesley are both averaging double figures. 7-1 Center Przemek Karnowski is a great complement to Wiltjer in the front court, and he is averaging 10.6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Another big man, Domantas Sabonis, is also playing a key role, averaging 9.7 points and nearly 7 rebounds per game. The Zags have all the pieces they need to make a deep run, all they have to do is play. The Zags have also received a #2 seed and will face off against #15 North Dakota State.
#1 Duke
You do not have to be a big basketball fan, or even a basketball fan at all to know that Coach K is a great coach. K recently became the first coach in Men's D1 Basketball history to win 1,000 games, and he has a group that is capable of bringing him his 5th national championship. Center Jahil Oakfor is projected to be the 1st overall pick in this June's NBA Draft, and he is complimented in the front court by Justice Winslow. Dukes back-court of Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook is one of the best in the land, and Amille Jefferson provides good defense in the front court. Guards Grayson Allen and Matt Jones provide good minutes off the bench. Duke may not have the depth of Kentucky, but the players they use are talented enough to make a run at the title. They received a #1 seed and will be pitted against the winner of the #16 Robert Morris/North Florida game that will take place in Dayton.
#1 Wisconsin
When you have one of the best coaches in the country, as well as a Wooden Award front runner, you have a great chance to go places. Wisconsin has both of those things. Bo Ryan has been in this game for a while, and he is simply one of the best coaches in the business. Frank Kaminsky is a 7-1 Center who is well established as a dominant force in college basketball. He is aided in the front court by San Dekker and Nigel Hays, who are both averaging a little over 12 points per game. Guard Josh Gasser is also contributing to the cause with his stout defense. I love watching Wisconsin play and believe that they deserved to be a #1 seed. They will face off against #16 Coastal Carolina.
#1 Villanova
The Wildcats have maybe the best back-court in the land. Darrun Hilliard and Ryan Arcidiacono both shoot very well and cause headaches for opposing defenses. In the front court, 6-11 Daniel Ochefu has quietly put together a good season, averaging close to 9 points and over 8 rebounds per game. He is complemented by JayVaughn Pinkston, who is averaging close to 10 points per game. Guards Dylan Ennis and Josh Hart are also averaging close to 10 a game, and Kris Jenkins and Phil Booth are both effective off the bench. All in all, the Wildcats are a very good team and much deeper than people give them credit for. As I suspected, the Wildcats snuck in as a #1 and will face off against #16 Lafayette in my hometown of Pittsburgh.
#2 Arizona
Sean Miller's team keeps getting better and better as the season goes on. TJ McConnell is the Point Guard, and he is one of the best in the country at being a floor general. In the front court, Stanley Johnson, who leads the team with almost 14 PPG and Ronde Hollis-Jefferson are both averaging double figures, and Brandon Ashley is a dangerous 2 guard. The Wildcats rolled through the Pac-12, and I think that they have a great chance to get to the Final Four. Sean Miller as never been to one, and he deserves to get there. This team would have been a #1 almost any other year, but I believe that the committee did the right thing by making them a #2. They will face off against #15 Texas Southern.
#2 Kansas
It was almost a given that Rock Chalk would be mentioned in this article. The Jayhawks have more wins against ranked teams than anybody else in the land, and although they did not win the Big 12 Tournament Championship, I still think they are very dangerous. Forward Perry Ellis leads the team in scoring and rebounding, with 13.8 Points and 7 Rebounds per game. Guard Frank Mason isn't far behind Ellis in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game while also leading the team in assists with 4 per night. Wayne Seldon is also a factor in the back-court, averaging nearly 10 Points per game, while fellow guard Kelly Obrue is averaging 9.3 points per night. Cliff Alexander is a factor off the bench, as the 6.8 forward is 2nd on the team in rebounding and leads the Jayhawks with a .566 Field Goal percentage, as the Jayhawks hope to get him back from suspension for a suspicion of NCAA violations. The #2 seeded Jayhawks will face off against #15 New Mexico State in the first round.
#3 Notre Dame
The only 3 seed included in this list, the Fighting Irish would almost surely be at least a #2 any other year. But since the top teams are so talented this season, Mike Brey and is team will have to settle for a #3. Make no mistake about it, the Irish are dangerous. The became the 2015 ACC Tournament champions on Saturday night when they defeated North Carolina. Point Guard Jerian Grant is the backbone of the squad, averaging a team high 16.8 PPG and 6.6 Assists Per Game. Grant is complimented in the back-court by Pat Connaughton, who is contributing 12.8 PPG and leads the team with 7.4 Rebounds Per Game. Demetrius Jackson and Steve Vastura are also vital cogs at the guard position. 6-10 Forward Zach Auguste was a beast in the ACC Title Game, and is averaging 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. V.J. Beachem and Bonzie Colson add depth in the front-court coming off of the bench. The Irish are a sleeper, and they will face off against #14 Northeastern in the 1st round.
Honorable Mentions: UNC, Lousiville, Baylor, Iowa State
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Predictions for Conference Tournaments
It's time for Conference Tournaments. Thus is the time when any team can make a name for themselves and get into the big dance no matter how bad their record is. Let's get into my predictions.
ACC
Finals Predictions: #1 UVA vs. #2 Duke
2 teams that will likely get #1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, Duke defeated Virginia in a tight game when the 2 teams met earlier in the season. I expect the results to be different this time around. UVA will be fired up after their loss at Louisville on Saturday, and I see them playing a near perfect game and beating Duke in a close one.
Winner: UVA
Big 12
Finals Prediction: #2 Iowa State over #1 Kansas
PG Monte Morris will be the difference for OSU in this one. The Cyclones don't make many mistakes, and that will be the key to a victory over an overatted Jayhawks team
Pac 12
Finals Prediction: #1 Arizona over #2 Utah
Arizona is a very balanced team who is just as good offensively as on defense. I think the difference in this title game will be TJ McConnell. I believe that the senior PG will come to play and that will be the key to stopping Delon Wright a very tough Utah team.
Big 10
Finals Prediction: Wisconsin over Maryland
The Terps are a pretty small team, although very talented. This will be a huge problem, as 7-1 center Frank Kaminsky could tear them apart. As it has been in many cases, Kaminsky will be the difference, and the Badgers will avenge an earlier loss to Dez Wells and Maryland and pull out a close one.
Winner: Wisconsion
A 10
#1 Davidson over #3 Rhode Island
Davidson is ON FIRE. They can score with just about anybody in the land, averaging over 80 points per contest. Their shooting will be the difference in winning a conference tournament title.
Big East
#1 Villinova over #3 Georgetown
Nova has one of the best backcourts in the land, as Darron Hilliard and Ryan Arcidiacono both shoot very well. The cats also have great depth, and they will handle Georgetown fairly easily in this title game
Winner: Villinova
American
#1 SMU over #3 Cincinnati
Led by Guard Nic More, the Ponds have 4 players scoring in double figures, and they will be playing with a fire after being snubbed from the dance last year. They will use their talent and motivation to win the American Conference Tournament.
Winner: SMU
SEC
Kentucky over Arkansas
We all know how good UK is. 31-0. The Razorbacks simply won't be enough
ACC
Finals Predictions: #1 UVA vs. #2 Duke
2 teams that will likely get #1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, Duke defeated Virginia in a tight game when the 2 teams met earlier in the season. I expect the results to be different this time around. UVA will be fired up after their loss at Louisville on Saturday, and I see them playing a near perfect game and beating Duke in a close one.
Winner: UVA
Big 12
Finals Prediction: #2 Iowa State over #1 Kansas
PG Monte Morris will be the difference for OSU in this one. The Cyclones don't make many mistakes, and that will be the key to a victory over an overatted Jayhawks team
Pac 12
Finals Prediction: #1 Arizona over #2 Utah
Arizona is a very balanced team who is just as good offensively as on defense. I think the difference in this title game will be TJ McConnell. I believe that the senior PG will come to play and that will be the key to stopping Delon Wright a very tough Utah team.
Big 10
Finals Prediction: Wisconsin over Maryland
The Terps are a pretty small team, although very talented. This will be a huge problem, as 7-1 center Frank Kaminsky could tear them apart. As it has been in many cases, Kaminsky will be the difference, and the Badgers will avenge an earlier loss to Dez Wells and Maryland and pull out a close one.
Winner: Wisconsion
A 10
#1 Davidson over #3 Rhode Island
Davidson is ON FIRE. They can score with just about anybody in the land, averaging over 80 points per contest. Their shooting will be the difference in winning a conference tournament title.
Big East
#1 Villinova over #3 Georgetown
Nova has one of the best backcourts in the land, as Darron Hilliard and Ryan Arcidiacono both shoot very well. The cats also have great depth, and they will handle Georgetown fairly easily in this title game
Winner: Villinova
American
#1 SMU over #3 Cincinnati
Led by Guard Nic More, the Ponds have 4 players scoring in double figures, and they will be playing with a fire after being snubbed from the dance last year. They will use their talent and motivation to win the American Conference Tournament.
Winner: SMU
SEC
Kentucky over Arkansas
We all know how good UK is. 31-0. The Razorbacks simply won't be enough
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Superbowl Sunday Breakdown/Prediction
It's here. It is an unofficial holiday to sports fans and other citizens alike. For people who love football and/or silly commercials, this is a day that is very much looked forward to in American Culture, and judging by the title, you already know, it's Superbowl Sunday. It's the Patriots and the Seahawks. Let's get into my breakdown of this game. First, let's get into a recap of each teams season up to this point.
Patriots
The Patriots 2014 journey got off to a very rocky start, as they were beaten in Miami in Week 1 by a score of 33-20. After 2 unconvincing wins over Minnesota and Oakland, the Patriots were completely steamrolled in Kansas City on a Monday night by a score of 41-14. If somebody had told me after week 4 that the Patriots would be playing in this game tonight, I would have laughed it off. But after this game, New England began laughing as they won their next 4. This set up a week 9 showdown with Peyton Manning and the Broncos at home. The Pats proved up to the task, as they smacked Omaha and his crew by a 43-21 margin. Going into their bye week, the Patriots were in a good place at 7-2.
After the bye, the Pats had a marquee Sunday Night match up in Indy against Andrew Luck and the Colts. The Pats again proved up to the task, led by running back Jonas Gray, and came out with a 42-20 win. The next week would be another easy win, this time over the Lions. New England would finally come back to earth in Week 13, as Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were victorious 26-21. New England would bounce back with 3 straight wins before falling to Buffalo in Week 17, a game in which the Pats starters saw limited action in an effort to get them rest for the playoffs.
In the Divisional Playoffs, the Patriots overcame 2 14 point defects to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 35-31. This brought up a rematch with the Colts, this time in New England. The Pats won 45-7, in a game marred by controversy which I will briefly discuss later, and earned their 6th AFC title in the past 14 years.
Seahawks
The Seahawks were fresh off their first ever Superbowl win. Many expect them to suffer a "Superbowl Hangover". The Hawks got of to a good start, pounding Green Bay 36-16 in Week 1. However losses to Dallas, St. Louis and San Diego put them at 3-3. It looked like these people would be proved right. However, the Hawks would reel off 3 in a row, before a loss at KC again instilled doubt. However, the Hawks responded by winning their final 6 games, highlighted by drubbings of San Francisco and Arizona. They finished the regular season at 12-4 and earned the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
In the Divisonal round of the playoffs, the Seahawks handled Carolina 31-17. In the NFC title game, the Seahawks, aided by an onside kick rallied from 12 down in the last 3 minutes to defeat Green Bay 28-22 in Overtime.
So I have covered the long road for both teams to the dance. No I will compare how these 2 match up against each other.
Offense
The Patriots are known for being steady on offensive year after year. Led by Tom Brady, as well as well as TE Rob Gronkowski, WR Julian Edelman and RB
Patriots
The Patriots 2014 journey got off to a very rocky start, as they were beaten in Miami in Week 1 by a score of 33-20. After 2 unconvincing wins over Minnesota and Oakland, the Patriots were completely steamrolled in Kansas City on a Monday night by a score of 41-14. If somebody had told me after week 4 that the Patriots would be playing in this game tonight, I would have laughed it off. But after this game, New England began laughing as they won their next 4. This set up a week 9 showdown with Peyton Manning and the Broncos at home. The Pats proved up to the task, as they smacked Omaha and his crew by a 43-21 margin. Going into their bye week, the Patriots were in a good place at 7-2.
After the bye, the Pats had a marquee Sunday Night match up in Indy against Andrew Luck and the Colts. The Pats again proved up to the task, led by running back Jonas Gray, and came out with a 42-20 win. The next week would be another easy win, this time over the Lions. New England would finally come back to earth in Week 13, as Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were victorious 26-21. New England would bounce back with 3 straight wins before falling to Buffalo in Week 17, a game in which the Pats starters saw limited action in an effort to get them rest for the playoffs.
In the Divisional Playoffs, the Patriots overcame 2 14 point defects to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 35-31. This brought up a rematch with the Colts, this time in New England. The Pats won 45-7, in a game marred by controversy which I will briefly discuss later, and earned their 6th AFC title in the past 14 years.
Seahawks
The Seahawks were fresh off their first ever Superbowl win. Many expect them to suffer a "Superbowl Hangover". The Hawks got of to a good start, pounding Green Bay 36-16 in Week 1. However losses to Dallas, St. Louis and San Diego put them at 3-3. It looked like these people would be proved right. However, the Hawks would reel off 3 in a row, before a loss at KC again instilled doubt. However, the Hawks responded by winning their final 6 games, highlighted by drubbings of San Francisco and Arizona. They finished the regular season at 12-4 and earned the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
In the Divisonal round of the playoffs, the Seahawks handled Carolina 31-17. In the NFC title game, the Seahawks, aided by an onside kick rallied from 12 down in the last 3 minutes to defeat Green Bay 28-22 in Overtime.
So I have covered the long road for both teams to the dance. No I will compare how these 2 match up against each other.
Offense
The Patriots are known for being steady on offensive year after year. Led by Tom Brady, as well as well as TE Rob Gronkowski, WR Julian Edelman and RB
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Football: Championship Week Predictions
Championship Sunday is here. 32 teams started the season with dreams of going to the Superbowl. Only 4 still have a chance to realize those dreams. I will now predict which 2 will remain after today
AFC
Colts(12-6) at Patriots(13-4)
The Colts are somewhat of a cinderella story, as they have knocked off both Cincinnati and Denver en route to the AFC title game not many expected them to be in when the playoff pairings were announced. However, I think midnight will strike for the Colts today. The Patriots have a very strong secondary, and the Colts are not very strong running the ball, even more so now that Trent Richardson had left the team due to a family emergency. This means that Andrew Luck will be forced to beat the Patriots doing a lot of the work, and as good as Luck is, I do not see that happening today.
Winner: Patriots
Packers(13-4) at Seahawks(13-4)
This is the more interesting of the 2 games in my opinion. The Seahawks defense will be tested today as the will be going up against Aaron Rodgers and Jody Nelson. However, Rodgers had a decent but not great performance in the Packers win over Dallas last Sunday, and the Cowboys do not have a strong secondary. Rodgers may still not be 100% from a foot injury suffered in Week 17. Seattle's secondary is the best in the league, and that became apparent Saturday night when they made life a living hell for Cam Newton. The Seahawks offense also has been playing well as of late, as Russell Wilson is as good at managing the clock and keeping the ball out of Rodgers hands.
Winner: Seahawks
AFC
Colts(12-6) at Patriots(13-4)
The Colts are somewhat of a cinderella story, as they have knocked off both Cincinnati and Denver en route to the AFC title game not many expected them to be in when the playoff pairings were announced. However, I think midnight will strike for the Colts today. The Patriots have a very strong secondary, and the Colts are not very strong running the ball, even more so now that Trent Richardson had left the team due to a family emergency. This means that Andrew Luck will be forced to beat the Patriots doing a lot of the work, and as good as Luck is, I do not see that happening today.
Winner: Patriots
Packers(13-4) at Seahawks(13-4)
This is the more interesting of the 2 games in my opinion. The Seahawks defense will be tested today as the will be going up against Aaron Rodgers and Jody Nelson. However, Rodgers had a decent but not great performance in the Packers win over Dallas last Sunday, and the Cowboys do not have a strong secondary. Rodgers may still not be 100% from a foot injury suffered in Week 17. Seattle's secondary is the best in the league, and that became apparent Saturday night when they made life a living hell for Cam Newton. The Seahawks offense also has been playing well as of late, as Russell Wilson is as good at managing the clock and keeping the ball out of Rodgers hands.
Winner: Seahawks
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