The Wild Card game continued to serve its purpose, as it provided some intense baseball if not dramatic. In the end, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays survived their winner take all games and advanced to the Division Series. When the season began, I picked the LA Angels to win the World Series. Well, the Angels finished below .500 and therefore didn't even qualify for the playoffs. Hopefully my picks are better in the postseason. Here is how I expect the Division Series to play out.
ALDS
Tampa Bay (91-71) vs. Boston (97-65)
Red Sox won season series 12-7
Tampa Bay Season Stats
BA - .257
RPG - 4.32
ERA - 3.74
Boston Season Stats
BA - .277
RPG - 5.27
ERA - 3.79
The Tampa Bay Rays have already staved off two elimination games to get to this point. They beat Texas just to get into the Wild Card, then disposed of my Cleveland Indians to advance to the ALDS. They will meet their AL East rival, Boston Red Sox. Boston had a huge bounce back year after 2012's embarrassment. The Red Sox did it with their bats all season. These two teams have won in completely different ways this year. I like Boston to keep winning.
Prediction - Boston over Tampa Bay 3-2
Detroit (93-69) vs. Oakland (96-66)
A's won season series 4-3
Detroit Season Stats
BA - .283
RPG - 4.91
ERA - 3.61
Oakland Season Stats
BA - .254
RPG - 4.73
ERA - 3.56
The A's proved to have staying power as they surpassed 90 wins again in 2013. I wasn't sure that Oakland could get back into the postseason, but they did it with relative ease. They will face off with detroit in the ALDS for the second consecutive year. The Tigers once again possess the AL's best pitcher and hitter. The only difference from last year is that Maz Scherzer was the league's best pitcher, not Justin Verlander. I've tossed and turned about this pick, but I'm going with the Tigers.
Prediction - Detroit over Oakland 3-2
NLDS
St. Louis (97-65) vs. Pittsburgh (94-68)
Pirates won season series 10-9
St. Louis Season Stats
BA - .269
RPG - 4.83
ERA - 3.42
Pittsburgh Season Stats
BA - .245
RPG - 3.91
ERA - 3.26
The Pirates are back in the postseason for the first time since 1992. They intend to make it worth everyone's wait. The Cardinals are well acquainted with playoff baseball. The Cardinals have won two World Series since 2006. These teams battled throughout the entire season, with the Cardinals eventually winning the NL Central and therefore earning home field for this series. The Pirates won the season series though. I made an adjustment at the All-Star break and said I thought the Cards would win another World Series. I don;t know how I feel about that now, but I do think they end the Pirates dream season.
Prediction - St. Louis over Pittsburgh 3-1
Atlanta (96-66) vs. LA Dodgers (92-70)
Braves won season series 5-2
Atlanta Season Stats
BA - .249
RPG - 4.25
ERA - 3.18
LA Dodgers Season Stats
BA - .264
RPG - 4.00
ERA - 3.25
Atlanta was my preseason pick to represent the NL in the World Series. They played like it for much of the year. The Braves pitching staff was outstanding and they always seem to get some timely hitting. The Dodgers were dead in the water when summer began. But then they went on a run never seen before that completely turned their season around. LA sputtered down the stretch though. Can they find their summer swagger? I don't think they will against this pitching staff.
Prediction - Atlanta over LA Dodgers 3-1
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
NFL - Week 5 Predictions
Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 6-9
Last Week SU: 9-6
Season ATS: 32-31
Season SU: 38-25
It is rare that you have five teams reach the 4-0 mark in a season, but that is what we have in 2013. Denver, Seattle, New Orleans, New England, and Kansas City all remain undefeated. All of them have the chance to move to 5-0 this weekend. I on the other hand, am just barely floating over .500 ATS. Can I make a move this week? Here is how I expect Week 5 to unfold.
*Indicates home team
*Cleveland over Buffalo 20-17
Buff +4.5
Kansas City over *Tennessee 21-19
Tenn +3.5
Baltimore over *Miami 22-21
Bal +3.5
*St. Louis over Jacksonville 26-14
StL -11.5
New England over *Cincinnati 24-17
NE -1.5
Seattle over *Indianapolis 27-24
Sea -2.5
*Green Bay over Detroit 30-28
Det +7.5
New Orleans over *Chicago 31-24
NO -1.5
Philadelphia over *NY Giants 26-24
Phil +2.5
*Arizona over Carolina 20-17
Arz +2.5
Denver over *Dallas 35-19
Den -9.5
*San Francisco over Houston 23-20
Hou +6.5
San Diego over *Oakland 26-14
SD -5.5
*Atlanta over NY Jets 27-17
Atl -9.5
Last Week ATS: 6-9
Last Week SU: 9-6
Season ATS: 32-31
Season SU: 38-25
It is rare that you have five teams reach the 4-0 mark in a season, but that is what we have in 2013. Denver, Seattle, New Orleans, New England, and Kansas City all remain undefeated. All of them have the chance to move to 5-0 this weekend. I on the other hand, am just barely floating over .500 ATS. Can I make a move this week? Here is how I expect Week 5 to unfold.
*Indicates home team
*Cleveland over Buffalo 20-17
Buff +4.5
Kansas City over *Tennessee 21-19
Tenn +3.5
Baltimore over *Miami 22-21
Bal +3.5
*St. Louis over Jacksonville 26-14
StL -11.5
New England over *Cincinnati 24-17
NE -1.5
Seattle over *Indianapolis 27-24
Sea -2.5
*Green Bay over Detroit 30-28
Det +7.5
New Orleans over *Chicago 31-24
NO -1.5
Philadelphia over *NY Giants 26-24
Phil +2.5
*Arizona over Carolina 20-17
Arz +2.5
Denver over *Dallas 35-19
Den -9.5
*San Francisco over Houston 23-20
Hou +6.5
San Diego over *Oakland 26-14
SD -5.5
*Atlanta over NY Jets 27-17
Atl -9.5
NCAA Football - Week 6 Predictions
Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 8-7
Last Week SU: 14-1
Season ATS: 43-49
Season SU: 83-9
Nerds rule is the theme for this week's slate of college football games. The two marquee matchups involve schools that are more well know for their academics than their athletics. #5 Stanford hosts #17 Washington, while #16 and Northwestern hosts #3 Ohio State in a battle of Big Ten unbeatens. Can Stanford and Northwestern's football teams give their school's a repuatation for football? Wins this weekend would go a long way. Here is how I expect Week 6 to play out. (Rankings based on Ringer Poll)
*Indicates home team
*1 Alabama over Georgia State 49-3
GSU +55.5
2 Oregon over *Colorado 51-27
Col +38.5
3 Ohio State over *16 Northwestern 35-24
OSU -5.5
4 Clemson over *Syracuse 42-24
Clem -13.5
*5 Stanford over over 17 Washington 35-20
Stan -7.5
6 Louisville over *Temple 44-17
Temp +34
*7 Florida State over Maryland 34-17
FSU -15.5
8 Georgia over *Tennessee 41-21
UGA -10.5
10 LSU over *Mississippi State 38-23
LSU -9.5
*11 Oklahoma over TCU 31-20
Okla -10.5
12 UCLA over *Utah 41-26
UCLA -5.5
*13 South Carolina over Kentucky 38-20
Ky +21
*14 Miami over Georgia Tech 31-23
Mia -5
*15 Michigan over Minnesota 38-20
Minn +18.5
*18 Florida over Arkansas 31-12
Fla -10.5
*19 Baylor over West Virginia 38-21
WVU +28.5
20 Texas Tech over *Kansas 33-20
Kan +17.5
21 Fresno State over *Idaho 42-20
Ida +26
Notre Dame over 22 Arizona State 28-25
ND +5.5
*23 Oklahoma State over Kansas State 30-23
KSU +14
*24 Nebraska over Illinois 38-21
Neb -9.5
25 Ole Miss over *Auburn 28-26
Aub +2.5
Last Week ATS: 8-7
Last Week SU: 14-1
Season ATS: 43-49
Season SU: 83-9
Nerds rule is the theme for this week's slate of college football games. The two marquee matchups involve schools that are more well know for their academics than their athletics. #5 Stanford hosts #17 Washington, while #16 and Northwestern hosts #3 Ohio State in a battle of Big Ten unbeatens. Can Stanford and Northwestern's football teams give their school's a repuatation for football? Wins this weekend would go a long way. Here is how I expect Week 6 to play out. (Rankings based on Ringer Poll)
*Indicates home team
*1 Alabama over Georgia State 49-3
GSU +55.5
2 Oregon over *Colorado 51-27
Col +38.5
3 Ohio State over *16 Northwestern 35-24
OSU -5.5
4 Clemson over *Syracuse 42-24
Clem -13.5
*5 Stanford over over 17 Washington 35-20
Stan -7.5
6 Louisville over *Temple 44-17
Temp +34
*7 Florida State over Maryland 34-17
FSU -15.5
8 Georgia over *Tennessee 41-21
UGA -10.5
10 LSU over *Mississippi State 38-23
LSU -9.5
*11 Oklahoma over TCU 31-20
Okla -10.5
12 UCLA over *Utah 41-26
UCLA -5.5
*13 South Carolina over Kentucky 38-20
Ky +21
*14 Miami over Georgia Tech 31-23
Mia -5
*15 Michigan over Minnesota 38-20
Minn +18.5
*18 Florida over Arkansas 31-12
Fla -10.5
*19 Baylor over West Virginia 38-21
WVU +28.5
20 Texas Tech over *Kansas 33-20
Kan +17.5
21 Fresno State over *Idaho 42-20
Ida +26
Notre Dame over 22 Arizona State 28-25
ND +5.5
*23 Oklahoma State over Kansas State 30-23
KSU +14
*24 Nebraska over Illinois 38-21
Neb -9.5
25 Ole Miss over *Auburn 28-26
Aub +2.5
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
NFL Power Rankings
Week 5
1. Denver (4-0)
2. Seattle (4-0)
3. New England (4-0)
4. New Orleans (4-0)
5. Kansas City (4-0)
6. Chicago (3-1)
7. Indianapolis (3-1)
8. San Francisco (2-2)
9. Miami (3-1)
10. Cincinnati (2-2)
11. Green Bay (1-2)
12. Detroit (3-1)
13. Tennessee (3-1)
14. Baltimore (2-2)
15. Atlanta (1-3)
16. Houston (2-2)
17. San Diego (2-2)
18. Dallas (2-2)
19. Carolina (1-2)
20. Washington (1-3)
21. Arizona (2-2)
22. NY Jets (2-2)
23. Buffalo (2-2)
24. Cleveland (2-2)
25. St. Louis (1-3)
26. Philadelphia (1-3)
27. Minnesota (1-3)
28. Pittsburgh (0-4)
29. NY Giants (0-4)
30. Tampa Bay (0-4)
31. Oakland (1-3)
32. Jacksonville (0-4)
1. Denver (4-0)
2. Seattle (4-0)
3. New England (4-0)
4. New Orleans (4-0)
5. Kansas City (4-0)
6. Chicago (3-1)
7. Indianapolis (3-1)
8. San Francisco (2-2)
9. Miami (3-1)
10. Cincinnati (2-2)
11. Green Bay (1-2)
12. Detroit (3-1)
13. Tennessee (3-1)
14. Baltimore (2-2)
15. Atlanta (1-3)
16. Houston (2-2)
17. San Diego (2-2)
18. Dallas (2-2)
19. Carolina (1-2)
20. Washington (1-3)
21. Arizona (2-2)
22. NY Jets (2-2)
23. Buffalo (2-2)
24. Cleveland (2-2)
25. St. Louis (1-3)
26. Philadelphia (1-3)
27. Minnesota (1-3)
28. Pittsburgh (0-4)
29. NY Giants (0-4)
30. Tampa Bay (0-4)
31. Oakland (1-3)
32. Jacksonville (0-4)
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