NFL Divisional Championship observations

Brett “The Football Prognosticator” Murray was up to his old tricks last weekend posting a stellar three and one mark with his only blemish coming at the hands at the suddenly notorious playoff choking Cincinnati Bengals.  In my fairness when it comes to that game though and I subscribed that the Bengals would have difficulty lining up against Eric Weddle and the pesky Chargers and as it turns out, to say they had difficulty would be a gargantuan understatement.

The divisional round provides us with some electrifying matchups.  For starters, let’s discuss the matchup of the week that re-acquaints one of the classic rivalries of the previous decade in the National Football League, that being the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots. Gone are the days of Tom Brady v Peyton Manning(although we may get that next weekend), but arrived is a budding superstar that had a lot of “Luck” last week when he mounted an improbable comeback against K.C  pitted against the legend himself sir Tom Brady. I’ve been going back and forth on this matchup the last few days. On one hand, the Patriots ability, more specifically Tom Brady’s ability to make gold out of bronze provides a matchup issue for the Colts secondary.  Heck, he could probably turn a practice roster player into a pro bowler the next year, he’s nearly done that before.  Pundants will say that the Colts don’t deserve to be at this point, but sometimes fate and destiny out rules logic. The Colts erased an eighteen point lead in the second half largely in part to T.Y Hilton. After a performance like that, he may just have become the most popular Hilton in North America, but that is sure to be short lived as socialite Paris will soon make a raucous video to re secure her endless fifteen minutes of fame. If Hilton has a pro bowl effort like that again and can help out No. 12, I sincerely believe the Colts win this football game. It’ll be a see-saw affair, with the Colts pulling it out.

Colts 27 Patriots 26

To round out my playoff picks for the week, two of my picks should be no surprise as I have the Panthers and Broncos meeting in the super bowl……..

Carolina 17 San Francisco 14

Denver 36 San Diego 18

New Orleans 21 Seattle 10

Enjoy round two, while most of you will be kicking back watching some quality football, I’ll be spending it on the ice in a big bonspiel.  Whatever it takes to win!

Go Panthers!

I`m back. Go Panthers!

March 31^st,2013. This was the last date my blog was updated. Why the hiatus….? Simply put, loss of passion towards opinionating my thoughts on particular athletic and sport matters. 2014 is a brand new year, and with that comes a positive outlook on life. Like every other patron on earth, it’s quintessential that we have goals in life, one of which for me personally is to get into the business of Sports Marketing or Administration. Another one of my 2014 resolutions/goals is to start to be proactive on living a more active lifestyle. This can mean a multitude of things but for me what it truly means is not only do I want to improve my physical fitness, but take on more active challenges to become a complete and sought after individual by challenging myself to expand my horizons and become a better spoken and written person. I’m hoping that for the one or two readers who will read this, you’ll recognize that as through  the course of these posts an improved writing style will  be evidenced and the subject matters will be interesting and thought provoking in order to increase readership.

This blog was titled ‘Predictably Unpredictable’ for a reason and I don’t intend to change the theme anytime soon. This blog could go anywhere or everywhere.

So what to talk about…….no idea….I’m a boring person…..Good night all!

Totally in jest of course, I’m a super fan of all sports and have a plethora of opinions. Tonight, I wanted to touch on something that will become prominent over the next few weeks, that being the NFL playoffs. Before the year started, I non-boldly predicted that the Denver Broncos would defeat the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl. Some may stipulate that picking the Panthers out of the NFC took courage but nobody should be overly surprised by the fact that Cam Newton would be the NFL MVP if it wasn’t for the 2013 Peyton Manning channeling his inner 2006 Peyton Manning form. The contrast in this matchup would be outstanding as you have the glorified pocket passer in Manning versus the new age run and gun style that Cam Newton possesses. Great matchup potential aside, let`s take a look how I plan to get these two teams to New York.

In the divisional round, quite frankly I think we only have one compelling matchup. This mentioned matchup includes the Cincinnati Bengals against the San Diego Chargers. The Bengals are hot but at the same time notorious playoff disappointments. Can A.J Green finally break out of his shell and be the number one receiver in the AFC that I think he should already be. A.J Green screwed me over in Fantasy Football year, let`s hope that he doesn’t a pull a similar screw job to his Ohio based teammates. From my share of tape that I`ve seen the Bengals in this year, it`s my thought more aggressiveness leads to higher success. Key to success this weekend will be for my boy Marvin Jones to create gaps for Green which will lead to holes for the electrifying but yet under utilized Giovani Bernard. Can anybody explain to me why the veteran Benjarvis Green-Ellis, who`s seemingly slower than ex Saskatchewan Roughrider runningback Wes Cates,receives this may carries. Only true Canadian Football fans will understand that reference. On the other side of the ball, you have the double agent Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers. I hate the Chargers, despise them, but respect them.  The imcompetence of previous general Manager A.J Smith had this team run in the ground for years. Charger fans welcomed new head honcho Tom Telesco with open arms and immediate success has been noticed. I was never really sure QB Rivers played for as his passing inaccuracy went every which way. Why the Chargers have a chance. It`s pretty basic, the Chargers have a chance because their playoffs started one week earlier as they had to beat the Chiefs and then hope that the Ravens and Dolphins were to lose, which they did. That playoff hunger is in overdrive and that`s a scary recipe for the opposition. I recall back to a time when Tom Brady led the Patriots to 2004 super Bowl. Hold that thought, although yes…Brady was the sergeant in this playoff run, it was at the time little known Deion Branch coming up clutch time and time again, That Super Bowl should`ve of been referred to as the Branch v Muhsin Muhammad show. All I can remember are those two trading upper cuts all night and you had the feeling the last receiver to touch the ball was going to have there team hoist the trophy, which happened.  I reminisce on this moment because I think if the Chargers can get by the pesky Bengals, a similar story may be penned about Keenan Allen. What a story, from 76^th overall pick in the most recent draft to being a go-to receiver on a playoff team. If Allen goes off for more then 100 yards, Chargers win, if not the Bengals advance to round two. Bengals 27 Chargers 26

The other three games on tap I don`t expect to be that close with the ``underdog``Saints toppling the playoff inexperienced Philadelphia Eagles. I obviously don’t view the Saints as underdogs as the 2009 champs had a better record to begin with. 49ers in a rout of the Packers. The magic will run out for Green Bay and even with the return of Aaron Rodgers I don’t see this being close. In the last divisional game of the weekend, the Indianapolis Colts take on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have been an enigma the entire year mainly due to the fact that they were the worst team in the 2012 campaign. Jamaal Charles is a top five running back but a lack of mobility from Alex Smith is going to be exploited by former Saskatchewan Roughrider Jerell Freeman and the Colts defence.

New Orleans 32 Philadelphia 16

San Francisco 48 Green Bay 15

Indianapolis 20 Kansas City 10

That’s all for now, I hope you thoroughly enjoyed. Ill be back sometime next week to continue showcasing the path that will lead the Panthers and Broncos to the Super Bowl.

@bretzky26(please follow)

#GoPanthers

NHL Observations: Volume three

So in what seems to be an awfully quick consummation to where we are now in this shortened 2013 NHL season, we have reached the final quarter and it’s time to dissect what I have seen thusfar.

Feeling the Blues?

In an earlier entry, I opinionated that the St.Louis Blues were on a steady incline, instantly becoming serious Western Conference contenders. The young nucleus that the Blues possess with the likes of Alex Pietrangelo, who in my estimation in the early going was a Norris candidate, Jaden Schwartz and the reincarnation of Alex Mogilny , that being Vladimir Tarasensko, have teetered off to a point that it has forced general manager Doug Armstrong to acquire veterans like Jordin Leopold to handle the load that the young kids have dropped in the past month. From cup threats to perhaps being on the outside looking in come early May, what can be done to save this sinking ship? On a completely personal note, because I’m a huge Oilers fan and am hoping that they surpass St.Louis, I hope they don’t. However, the impartial blogger in me says the way to save St.Louis is oddly enough to give MORE of the reigns to the youngens. Kevin Shattenkirk, who was one of the key cogs in the trade that sent away the former first overall pick Erik Johnson to St.Louis, prior to the game on the 28^th of March, went eight games without a point. Aside from the aforementioned Pietrangelo, the backend lacks serious punch. That’s why Shattenkirk’s lack of offence is becoming increasingly paramount because the Blues need goals, that is the ONLY way the Blues will slide their way out of this funk and stay in the playoff race. There’s all of this unprofounded talk that the Blues need more defense, and I suppose the acquisition of Leopold proved the pundants right, but the Blues true weakness is a lack of scoring depth. It’s either trade for a Derek Roy/Ryan Clowe or pray to the gods that the likes of David Perron and Jaden Schwartz start to step up and become contributing factors. 2.79 goals per game just isn’t going to cut it.

 

Detroit’s defense needs an instant “Bouw-flex”

The Calgary Flames have obviously started what could be deemed as a fire-sale. Earlier in the week, the Calgary Flames dealt one of the greatest players of their organization`s history in Jarome Iginla, paving the way for other Flames with some true asset potential to find their way on the trade block. The name I wanted to focus on is that of Jay Bouwmeester. Detroit has been a mess defensively the entire shortened season, and have been getting sub par performances from Ian White and Jakub Kindl. Everyone kind of knew that the loss of Niklas Lidstrom  would be difficult to deal with but no one could`ve possibly envisioned the impact it has had. General Manager Ken Holland is not one to give up on a season and expect him to be a player on Wednesday`s trade deadline. The player that would be available at the right price would be the former Medicine Hat Tiger Bouwmeester. Without knowing what is going through the mind of Jay Feaster, and based on the recent value that he was able to cash in on with the Iginla trade, expect  a fifth rounder back(just jokes), I`d have to venture to say that fair value in return for Jay would be a prospect like Thomas Tatar and a first round pick. Lost in the fact that Bouwmeester is an unproven playoff performer is the fact that he a former 2006 Olympian and still has good years ahead of him. He`s not going to mistake himself with a top two defenceman anymore but he`s an excellent skater and is potent offensively. For a team like Detroit who needs a calm puck mover on the back end, he may be the quintessential piece needed to turn around the Wings season.

 

Vancouver/Buffalo trade re-examined

At the 2011-2012 trade deadline, much was criticized when it came to the trade involving the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres. Heralded junior star Cody Hodgson had reportedly requested a trade and Mike Gillis ended up flipping him to Buffalo in exchange for Zack Kassian. Anyone that knows anything about Hodgson and Kassian know that the two are completely different players. Hodgson is the definition of skill while in comparison Kassian is a hard nosed role player who isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. The trade was criticized at the time because Canuck penchants felt that the biggest block that was in the way of championship success was a lack of goal scoring behind the Sedin twins, which ended up being proof in the pudding due to the fact that they went ice cold in their first round series with the eventual Stanley Cup Champions Los Angeles Kings. Fast forward to the 2013 and Hodgson is on pace for a pro rated thirty goal year and Zack Kassian has been demoted to the America Hockey League. Where I sit, the Canucks were in a no-win position. You had an unhappy player in the lineup who wanted greater opportunity elsewhere so what were you supposed to do? Some would argue acquire multiple high round picks but that would’ve been contradictory to what the Canucks ultimate objective was. They were and they are in a win now mentality, so anything less would have been cheating the fans of the lower mainland who just the year before experienced a trip to a Stanley Cup final. Surely fans in British Columbia haven’t yet forgotten the infamous post game seven riot.  Zack Kassian is a 22 year old kid, so it’s time for fans of the Canuck to take a step back and smell the roses and realize the best of this former Canadian World Junior representative are yet to come.

NHL Picks for March 31,2013

Happy easter all!

Picks for today are the following:

Chicago
Buffalo
Los Angeles
Washington
Anaheim

2013 Major League Baseball Prognostications

2013 Major League Baseball prognostications:

 

In this entry, I will comprehensively (as best as I can) predict how I see the 2013 Major League Baseball campaign playing out. Expectations are sky high for the boys from T.O but this blogger isn’t completely convinced after a winter of examining in greater depth the moves that general manager Alex Anthopoulos was able to accomplish. Are they a greater team then the team that was fielded in the 2012 ball season? No question, but some would argue, including myself that the same holes that plagued Toronto last year still exist.  Sergio Santos as a bonafide closer for a contending club? He’s no Billy Koch to put it mildly.

I will predict the division by division standings while at the same time mapping out how I see the post-season materializing in what I expect will be an unpredictable, exciting summer. I will also hand out some award winner prognostications along with some miscellaneous thoughts along the way.

 

American League:

 

East:

 

1.Tampa Bay Rays

2.New York Yankees(W)

3.Toronto Blue Jays

4.Boston Red Sox

5.Baltimore Orioles

 

Central:

1.Detroit Tigers

2.Chicago White Sox

3.Cleveland Indians

4.Kansas City Royals

5.Minnesota Twins

West:

1.Texas Rangers

2.Los Angeles of Anaheim Angels(W)

3.Oakland Athletics

4.Seattle Mariners

5.Houston Astros

 

National League:

 

East:

1.Atlanta Braves

2.Washington Nationals(W)

3.Philadelphia Phillies

4.New York Mets

5.Miami Marlins

 

Central:

1.Cincinnati Reds

2.Milwaukee Brewers

3.St.Louis Cardinals

4.Pittsburgh Pirates

5.Chicago Cubs

 

West:

1.San Francisco Giants

2.San Diego Padres(W)

3.Los Angeles Dodgers

4.Colorado Rockies

5.Arizona Diamondbacks

 

Playoffs:

Wildcard round:

New York Yankees over the Los Angeles of Anaheim Angels

San Diego Padres over the Washington Nationals

 

Divisional:

Atlanta Braves over the San Diego Padres

San Francisco Giants over the Cincinnati Reds

New York Yankees over the Detroit Tigers

Tampa Bay Rays over the Texas Rangers

 

LCS:

Atlanta Braves over the San Francisco Giants

Tampa Bay Rays over the New York Yankees

 

World Series:

 

Atlanta Braves over the Tampa Bay Rays

 

Awards and Miscellaneous

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera(Detroit) Runner-up:Robinson Cano

NL MVP:Buster Posey(San Francisco) Runner-up:Ryan Braun

AL CY Young:David Price(Tampa Bay) Runner-up:Hiroki Kuroda

NL CY Young:Yovani Gallardo(Milwaukee) Runner-up:Clayton Richard

World Series M.V.P:Jason Heyward-Atlanta

First Coach Fired:Kirk Gibson-Arizona

Manager of the year: Joe Maddon-Tampa Bay

Home Run King: Miguel Cabrera-Detroit

Surprise team-San Diego Padres

Disappointing team-Arizona Diamondbacks

NHL Picks for March 30,2013

After a so-so 2-2 day on friday, here's hoping I have a better day on saturday.

Boston at Philadelphia
New York I at Pittsburgh
Carolina at Winnipeg
Nashville at Colorado
Washington at Buffalo
New York R at Montreal
Toronto at Ottawa
New Jersey at Florida
Los Angeles at Minnesota
Vancouver at Edmonton
Phoeni at San Jose

NHL Picks for March 29,2013

A 6-4 thursday I will take considering I failed in prognosticating what I thought were going to be two massive upsets last night, that being the Jets over the Penguins and the Blue Jackets over my beloved Oilers(upset?)

New Jersey @ Tampa Bay
Anaheim at Chicago
Minnesota at Dallas
Columbus at Calgary