Category: Uncategorized

NFL Playoff Predictions

AFC:

Wild Card Round

2 Buffalo Bills vs 7 Denver Broncos

3 Baltimore Ravens vs 6 Pittsburgh Steelers

4 Houston Texans vs 5 Los Angeles Chargers

Divisional Round

1 Kansas City Chiefs vs 5 Los Angeles Chargers

2 Buffalo Bills vs 3 Baltimore Ravens

Championship Game:

1 Kansas Chiefs vs 2 Buffalo Bills

NFC

Wild Card Round

2 Philadelphia Eagles vs 7 Green Bay Packers

3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs 6 Washington Commanders

4 Los Angeles Rams vs 5 Minnesota Vikings

Divisional Round

1 Detroit Lions vs 4 Los Angeles Rams

2 Philadelphia Eagles vs 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Conference Championship

1 Detroit Lions vs 2 Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl

2 Buffalo Bills vs 1 Detroit Lions

Champion: Detroit Lions

QB Tiers after the Regular Season

Brady Tier: All-time greats in their primes

  • Patrick Mahomes*, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
  • Lamar Jackson*, Baltimore Ravens
  • Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Rivers Tier: Franchise QB who you are happy paying top tier money and building around

  • Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
  • Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
  • Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
  • Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
  • CJ Stroud, Houston Texans

Cousins Tier: Solid player who you are happy to have, but don’t want to pay to dollar for. Unfortunately, you may end up having to pay them top dollar or pretty close

  • Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
  • Russell Wilson*, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
  • Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
  • Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
  • Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
  • Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
  • Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

Fitzmagic Tier: Bridge QB or washed player

  • Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
  • Aaron Rodgers*, New York Jets
  • Any Las Vegas Raiders QB
  • Any Cleveland Browns QB
  • Any New York Giants QB

TBD Tier: Jury is still out

  • Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Trending up)
  • Drake Maye, New England Patriots (Trending up)
  • Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (Trending up)
  • Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (Trending up)
  • JJ McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (Neutral)
  • Michael Penix (Neutral)
  • Bryce Young (Trending Down)
  • Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (Trending down)
  • Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (Trending down)

An asterisk indicates a player who I believe has already clinched a spot in the Hall of Fame.

Benefits of Conference Realignment

I know people have mixed feelings on conference realignment, but I think it’s good for the future of college football. Below are the games we’ve had this year thanks to realignment:

6 Tennessee @ 18 Oklahoma – Week 4

11 USC @ 18 Michigan – Week 4

2 Ohio State @ 3 Oregon – Week 7

4 Penn State @ USC – Week 7

5 Georgia @ 1 Texas – Week 8

1 Oregon @ Michigan – Week 9

Washington @ 6 Penn State – Week 11

Florida @ 5 Texas – Week 11

7 Alabama @ Oklahoma – Week 13

3 Texas @ 20 Texas A&M – Week 14

Oklahoma @ LSU – Week 14

5 Georgia vs 2 Texas – SEC Championship

3 Penn State vs 1 Oregon – Big Ten Championship

17 Clemson vs 8 SMU – ACC Championship

College Football Week 7

South Carolina @ 7 Alabama

Alabama has such a wide range of performance. At their ceiling, they can beat anyone, like when they put up a 28-0 lead on Georgia and beat them. At their floor, they can lose to teams they absolutely should beat, like Vanderbilt. With so many good teams in the SEC, that isn’t the consistency needed to win the conference and win the Natty.

Saturday was the perfect example of their floor where they let a much worse USC team hang around. USC failed on a 2-point conversion to tie the game, despite a wide open receiver their QB simply missed. That should have been the game. Instead, Bama botches the onside kick and gave USC another chance to win the game. If they keep playing this way in the SEC, they won’t make the conference championship.

I also do not see Jalen Milroe as a legitimate NFL prospect. He came into this week as Mel Kiper’s #2 QB which I think is crazy. He is not a consistent enough passer and makes too many poor decisions with the football to be great in the NFL. He is such a good athlete that he may eventually be able to develop into a good NFL QB with the right coach, but it’s a long shot. I think Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers are the clear cut top two prospects and after that there is much more uncertainty.

1 Texas vs 18 Oklahoma

QB Quinn Ewers looked shaky early. He got better as the game went on, but will need to play better if they want to beat Georgia. If he was more settled, this would have been a bigger blow out. There will be noise this week about Arch Manning playing over Ewers. A bad performance against Georgia will only make those voices louder.

Texas’s defense led the way and played great the whole game. They put the offense in position to score so many times. The offense missed many opportunities to put the game away earlier.

Oklahoma’s defense is great, but the offense could not keep up. Their QB should be good once he develops more, but he could not handle Texas’s defense, especially with his top FIVE wide receivers out.

2 Ohio State at 3 Oregon

This game lived up to the hype. Both teams are so even, either could have pulled out the win. I believe these are the two best teams in the Big 10 and they will meet in the championship game, with Ohio State getting revenge.

9 Ole Miss at 13 LSU

Another awesome night game that was overshadowed by the Big 10 showdown mentioned above. LSU saved their SEC title hopes with the win and ended Ole Miss’s chance to make it. The SEC is super close right now and Texas A&M, Texas, and LSU are the only SEC teams without a conference loss.

Positional Tiers

In the NFL, some positions are of the upmost importance and others are not. Below, I broke down different positions into four separate tiers based on how critical they are to team success:

First Tier Positions: All or most of these must be filled with capable players or it’s unlikely your team will have success. The great ones should be paid a premium and held onto as long as possible:

  • Quarterback: The sky is blue, grass is green, QB is the most important position. Even people who aren’t football fans know this is the most important position in football and probably all sports. You get the most glory for winning and the most hate for losing and deservedly so. If you have Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes you can have a dynasty that lasts for 20 years. If you’re the Browns and you’ve had 38 QBs start from 1999-2023, then you’re in trouble.
  • Receivers (TE/WR): I’m going to group all pass catchers into one here which may be controversial. All you have to do is look at Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce, who are the two greatest TE of all time, and were either the main or one of the main weapons on 7 of the past 10 Super Bowl winners. What makes TE so sneakily amazing is they can put up the production of a WR, while also being able to block in the run game, and being paid much less than WRs are. WRs are still immensely important though. Having a guy like Tyreek Hill or Justin Jefferson is an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses.
  • Offensive Tackle: Protecting your quarterback is one of the most important jobs a team has and the person mainly responsible for that tends to be the left tackle. However, a great right tackle is a massive asset too, because star edge rushers can lineup on either side of the ball. With so many great edge rushers in the league now and fewer great tackles this position is even more important.
  • Edge Rusher/Interior Defensive Lineman: I once again group these positions together because while Edge Rushers are typically the guys who put up sacks, great interior defenders like Aaron Donald, Chris Jones, and Justin Madubuike are just as dangerous. These positions are the main weapon against stopping a great QB and offense.

Second Tier: Important positions, but not required to have studs at. It’s okay to let them walk if the price is too high:

  • Cornerback: With so many great receivers in the league today, having great cornerbacks to shut them down is extremely important. However, a solid overall secondary and a good defensive play caller can also help to slow great players down. This is a position one could argue is in the 1st tier, but I’m comfortable having it at the very top of the 2nd tier.
  • Off ball Linebacker: This is by no means a necessity for a team to have great players at this position, but it helps. The impact guys like Fred Warner and Roquan Smith have is huge, but it doesn’t stack up to the positions above it.
  • Interior Offensive Lineman (G/C): Once again, its great to have studs at this position, especially with guys like Chris Jones and Justin Madubuike reeking havoc nowadays. But, a solid bunch is better than a single elite player here.

Third Tier: Positions you should not splurge on.

  • Running Back: With the rare exception of guys like Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry, teams should not spend big at this position. It’s better to have a group of 3 guys who all compliment each other than one star who may get hurt.
  • Safety: This is not a position worth spending a lot of money on as it does not have a major impact like the ones in tiers above do.
  • Kicker: A great luxury, but a solid guy can get the job done. The Ravens have the greatest kicker ever in Justin Tucker, but have done very little recently in the postseason.

Fourth Tier: Really not important. No explanations needed.

  • Return Man
  • Fullback
  • Punter
  • Long Snapper

An American’s Perception of English Soccer

Growing up my whole life, I always thought soccer was such a dumb, boring sport. Going to New England Revolution games and my friends’ high school soccer games never changed my mind on the subject. In addition to that, European soccer always seemed so confusing with a lack of playoffs and all the different competitions these teams played in. Furthermore, I never had a team to root for, which made it even harder to get into.

However, my opinion forever changed in January of 2022, when I got an in depth tour of Stamford Bridge and then went to a Chelsea FC – Tottenham match there later that month. I can honestly admit how wrong I was about soccer, because at that moment I realized, I had never witnessed high level soccer with the best players in the world. Me watching the MLS and concluding soccer was boring is the equivalent of a European going to a UMass football game and deciding football is a boring sport not worth watching.

The atmosphere at pubs around the stadium and during the actual game was like nothing I’d ever experienced. The entire crowd singing the same chants in unison was awesome and the game was super interesting to watch. Easily the most surprising thing was how much more physical English soccer is than I would’ve thought. I never could get why soccer players were always on the ground so much, but getting slid into by a guy going full speed when you’ve played 70 minutes of a soccer match isn’t fun, and it’s obviously going to take you a little bit to get up. Seeing Chelsea win 2-0 was absolutely awesome and I’ve been a Chelsea fan since, even if the last two seasons have been rough.

I know not everyone can get the chance to go to a game in person, but anyone who thinks soccer is boring or soft should give the Premier league a chance. It’s not as entertaining as football or hockey, but it’s defintely worth watching. The games go by much faster than American sports and they tend to play Saturday and Sunday mornings so it doesn’t interfere with watching other sports later in the day.

A word to the wise, pick one of the top 6 teams to follow if you’re going to become a fan. These are Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool. You might feel like a bandwagon, but it makes it a lot easier to get into soccer when the team you’re playing for is actually good. Plenty of us are cursed by being born into fandom of US sports teams that disappoint us and let us down. Don’t hurt yourself anymore by picking a team that will never win the Premier League or even compete.

The next two weeks, I’ll post a quick guide to those six teams and how the Premier League works.

CFB Week 0 Reaction

Couldn’t be happier that CFB is back. Below are some thoughts on the weekend.

13 Notre Dame vs. Navy

Notre Dame messed up by not wearing more Ireland-themed jerseys. Some Kelly green jerseys would’ve absolutely slapped. I did like the Irish Flag on the classic gold helmets though.

I really like Marcus Freeman and think he’ll be very successful at Notre Dame. Seems very energetic and his players absolutely love him.

The economic impact of the game on Dublin was $159 MILLION. That’s crazy and shows how there is nothing else like football on this planet and I love it.

Notre Dame should play in Ireland every year. The atmosphere was incredible.

Jason Garret should not be on TV. He is painfully awkward and brings nothing to the broadcast. I think I’d rather just have silence than listen to him stumble his way through irrelevant points.

6 USC vs. San Jose State

Caleb Williams is still amazing. Zachariah Branch also looks like an electric weapon for the Trojans.

As much as we heard about how USC rebuilt its defense, they still looked pretty bad and just allowed 28 points to San Jose State (I just found out this school existed earlier this week). The offense is going to have to continue to carry the team.

The fact this game was on the PAC-12 network and the only streaming services that have it are Sling and Fubo is exactly why the PAC-12 is dying.

Bonus: Swamp Kings Review

The Urban Meyer Florida Gators needed a documentary and Netflix delivered. I feel like those Gator teams get overlooked a little because they were sandwiched right between the early 2000s USC teams and the Saban Bama Dynasty, but this doc puts into perspective how good these teams were. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it.

Overall

Going to keep track of my game picks and betting picks throughout the year.

Game Picks: 2-0

Betting Picks: 2-2 (Spread: 2-0; O/U: 0-2)

NFL Award Winner Predictions

Continuing with our NFL predictions, we will be predicting NFL award winners and First Team All-Pros for the upcoming season.

MVP: Justin Herbert, QB Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert has been one of the best QBs in the league the past three years and I think this upcoming year will be his best yet. After a year that saw the Chargers deal with many injuries and a disappointing playoff loss, I think Herbert and the rest of the team come back motivated and put up huge numbers offensively. With all the talent Herbert possesses and the great skill players around him, I see him capturing his first MVP.

OPOY: Ja’Marr Chase, WR Cincinnati Bengals

Chase has burst onto the scene his first two years in the NFL and has proved that he is one of the best WRs in the whole league. With an offensive coach and one of the best QBs in the league, Chase will follow his friend Justin Jefferson in winning OPOY in his third year in the league.

DPOY: Micah Parsons, EDGE Dallas Cowboys

After finishing second in DPOY voting the past two years, Parsons will finally capture the award he has come so close to. His versatility and pass rushing skill make him one of the best players in the league and he’ll finally be rewarded with the DPOY.

OROY: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Detroit Lions

I put Gibbs slightly over the Bijan Robinson to win OROY. Both are extremely talented, but I give Gibbs the edge as he will be part of a better offense that is likely to score more than the Falcons, giving Gibbs more opportunities to score touchdowns.

DROY: Christian Gonzalez, CB New England Patriots

Similar to OROY, DROY will be close between Gonzalez and Will Anderson Jr. I think Gonzalez will benefit from being in the perfect situation, with the best defensive coach in the league to make him look good. Anderson will play well, but will likely see double teams as he is already the best defensive player on Houston’s defense.

COY: Doug Pederson, HC Jacksonville Jaguars

After taking over the dumpster fire that Urban “Fraud” Meyer left in Jacksonville, Pederson led the Jags to a playoff birth. This season, I think he helps the Jags capture the two seed in the AFC and win COY as a result.

Offensive All-Pros

QB: Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)

For the same reasons I see Herbert winning MVP, I also see him being First Team All-Pro

RB: Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns)

Chubb has been a standout running back since he entered the league. In the prime of his career and with a great O-line, I see him get the First Team All-Pro nod.

WR: Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Stefon Diggs (Buffalo Bills)

Chase should be here as he is going to win OPOY. Jefferson has had the best first three years out of any WR in NFL history and I see that success continuing. Diggs has been great since he joined the Bills and I see him having another huge year.

TE: Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)

One of the great TE of all time should continue dominating as the main weapon for Patrick Mahomes.

T: Trent Williams (San Francisco 49ers), Lane Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles)

The two First Team All-Pro tackles from last year are still the two best in the league.

G: Zack Martin (Dallas Cowboys), Joel Bitonio (Cleveland Browns)

Martin is the best lineman in football and Bitonio will deserve a spot while helping pave the way for Nick Chubb.

C: Creed Humphrey (Kansas City Chiefs)

Humphrey and Jason Kelce are the cream of the crop at Center. I see Humphrey finally edging Kelce for First Team All-Pro in his third season in the league

Defensive All-Pros

Edge: Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys), Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns)

Parsons will be here after winning DPOY. Garrett has been a stud since he joined the league and his brilliant play will continue in 2023.

DI: Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams), Quinnen Williams (New York Jets)

The potential defensive GOAT, Donald, will bounce back after an injury filled year in 2022. Williams will continue his ascent as one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL for the upstart Jets.

LB: Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers), Shaquille Leonard (Indianapolis Colts), Roquan Smith (Baltimore Ravens)

Warner is the best linebacker in football on one of the best defenses in the league. Leonard will improve his play from last year and help the Colts win more games than most people are expecting. Smith is in the perfect situation and will build off his stellar year last year. 

CB: Jalen Ramsey (Miami Dolphins), Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers)

Ramsey has been the best corner the past six seasons and moving to Vic Fangio’s defense might lead to him having the best year he’s ever had. Jaire Alexander should be healthy this year and step up for a Packers team who will need him to be great.

S: Derwin James (Los Angeles Chargers), Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh Steelers)

When healthy, Derwin James is one of the best defenders in the NFL and should help the Chargers make the Playoffs. The Steelers will continue to benefit from trading for Fitzpatrick, who is primed to get his fourth First Team All-Pro election this year.

Note: All predictions are as of 7/25/2023

Some of the Greatest Unspoken Battles Happen on an Airplane

I was flying recently and the guy to my left and I were having a serious battle over leg room. In my opinion, he was taken up way too much room. I’m not gonna lie, I like to spread out a lot on flights, but I am always in my given space range so as to not affect other people. I would keep spreading my legs a little bit to let the guy know he was in my territory, but to his credit he barely budged. Either he knew what was going down and wasn’t willing to give an inch, or he was wondering why the guy next to him kept trying to play footsie the whole flight. Definitely going to have to file today’s battle as a loss for me, but more importantly, a lesson learned. You learn a lot about the lengths people are willing to go when sitting next to them on an airplane. If you want to thrive in the unspoken battles on airplanes you need a cold-hearted, take no prisoners approach. Sad, but true.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday though, let’s go Pats.