Everything May be perfectly falling into place for the Bolts

On April 3rd when it was announced that Steven Stamkos had a blood clot and would miss significant time I went into a depression. When it was announced I basically wrote off the season in all honesty. I was hoping we'd put up a valiant fight in the playoffs, inevitably succumb to a healthier team, and go get 'em next year. Despite this I am not shocked that the Bolts are where they are today, halfway to a Stanley Cup. Even without Stamkos I knew the Bolts were a better team than Detroit, and they made quick work of them. What I am totally shocked at is the quick work they made of the Islanders. I thought maybe they could scratch and claw to a seven game series win over the Isles, but never in five games with two of the four wins barely needing to crack a sweat. And it is because of that quick work that the stars may be aligning perfectly for a Stanley cup parade this year in Tampa, whether Stamkos comes back or not.

Last year the Bolts needed 20 games to win their first three rounds, and it was pretty clear they simply had absolutely nothing left in the tank as a result by game four against Chicago and lost those final three games with little to no offensive threat. But over the past ten years teams who have made it to the third round in ten games or less (as the Bolts have this year) are 7-1 in the conference finals. Even with that said whoever comes out of the Pittsburgh-Washington series is going to be a clear favorite against the Bolts, even if Stamkos plays. But the added rest will make the series a complete coin flip in my opinion, and I'll take my chances on that coin flip.

So what if the Bolts make to the cup finals again? Well here is where the stars really align. The best team in the West that matches up well against the Bolts is definitely St Louis. But guess what? They are about to play their second straight seven games series. 14 games through 2 rounds? That will definitely come back to haunt them if they play Tampa in the final. Nashville is also about to play their 14th game through two rounds, and in my opinion if the Preds have the good fortune of making it the Bolts will make easy work of them. With both second round western conference series heading to seven games, there is a 100% chance that the Lightning will be way better rested than any team they may face in the finals. Stars aligning indeed.

I'll also take this opportunity to say something I have said a few times, but now is showing itself to be true. I'm not alone in this belief, but I have been saying for quite awhile the Lightning are at worst just as good, but maybe even better, without Steven Stamkos. I got depressed when he was out simply because of fear that maybe I was wrong and we would fold without our leading scorer, but I am happy that I was right about this. Since breaking his leg in 2013 Stamkos simply has not been the same player he was before the injury. The only thing he contributes is scoring goals, and he doesnt even do that as well as he used to. A playmaker who can set up other teammates for goals? hardly. good defense? forget about it. Stamkos is a free agent this summer and to me it is a no brainer to no sign him back. If they do he will hamper the team financially and between Kucherov, Bishop, Palat, Johnson, and Drouin the Bolts will need to get rid of two of them just to keep Stammer. Let Stamkos walk and keep them all. I know which option I'd choose.

Anyway, right now the Bolts rest and await their ECF opponent. After last years grueling first two rounds, rest sure is nice.

Picking Big Ten Bowl Season

Bowl season has been going on for a week now, but the Big Ten begins to dip their toe into the pool of fun starting today. This is the first time in about ten years where the Big Ten has a very positive perception as a conference heading into bowl season and therefore expectations are high. How do I think the conference will fare? Lets find out

Indiana Vs Duke: Pick: Indiana
UCLA Vs Nebraska: Pick: UCLA
Central Michigan Vs Minnesota: Pick: Minnesota
USC Vs Wisconsin: Pick: Wisconsin
Michigan St Vs Alabama: Pick: Michigan St
Northwestern Vs Tennessee: Pick: Northwestern
Michigan Vs Florida: Pick: Michigan
Notre Dame Vs Ohio St: Pick: Ohio St
Stanford Vs Iowa: Pick: Stanford
Penn St Vs Georgia: Pick: Georgia

My overall Big Ten prediction is 7-3, which would be an incredible bowl season, especially if at least two of those seven wins come in the New Years Six Bowls (Michigan St, Ohio St, Iowa.) One more prediction post this year when the National Championship game arrives.

NCAA Week Fourteen Picks

Another fun and wild college football regular season comes to an end this Saturday. It always goes by way too fast, as it is no secret the three months that accompany the college football season is my favorite time of the year. Its hard to believe I have been doing this on this blog now for four seasons. So anyway, lets get to previewing the final weekend. I finished out the Big Ten season in style, going 7-0, and 4-2 outside the Big Ten. I finished the year at 44-12 in the Big Ten and 26-16 outside of it. Here are the Conference championship picks

Iowa Vs Michigan St: Pick: Iowa
Florida Vs Alabama: Pick: Alabama
Stanford Vs USC: Pick: Stanford
Clemson Vs North Carolina: Pick: Clemson

This will leave us with a four team playoff of
1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Iowa

Finally, lets take a look at the final Big Ten standings
East
1. Michigan St: 7-1
2. Ohio St: 7-1
3. Michigan: 6-2
4. Penn St: 4-4
5. Indiana: 2-6
6. Maryland: 1-7
7. Rutgers: 1-7

West
1. Iowa: 8-0
2. Northwestern: 6-2
3. Wisconsin: 6-2
4. Nebraska: 3-5
5. Illinois: 2-6
6. Minnesota: 2-6
7. Purdue: 1-7

NCAA Week Thirteen Picks

Not one, not two, but three of the five undefeated teams went down yesterday. It was the type of Saturday that makes you love College Football even more. Only two undefeated teams remain now, Iowa and Clemson. Just two weeks left before we determine the four teams in the playoff and this upcoming week promises to be a good one with lots of upset potential. Why so? Because nearly every single team in the playoff discussion has a tough road game against either a good team or in a venue historically difficult to play in. Clemson goes to South Carolina, Alabama to Auburn, Ohio St to Michigan, Iowa to Nebraska, Notre Dame to Stanford, Oklahoma to Oklahoma St, and Baylor to TCU. The only team in the playoff discussion playing at home this week is Florida, and they still play a tough opponent in the Seminoles. Add in that those are all rivalry games and get ready for a wild crazy week. Cant wait. I went 3-3 in picking Big Ten games this week and 2-1 outside it, now standing at 37-12 and 22-14 respectively.

Big Ten
Iowa @ Nebraska: Pick: Iowa
Wisconsin @ Minnesota: Pick: Wisconsin
Ohio St @ Michigan: Pick: Ohio St
Indiana @ Purdue: Pick: Indiana
Maryland @ Rutgers: Pick: Maryland
Penn St @ Michigan St: Pick: Michigan St
Northwestern @ Illinois: Pick: Northwestern

Outside the Big Ten
Traditionally I double my outside the Big Ten picks from 3-6 for rivalry weekend
Baylor @ TCU: Pick: Baylor
UCLA @ USC: Pick: USC
Florida St @ Florida: Pick: Florida
Notre Dame @ Stanford: Pick: Stanford
Oklahoma @ Oklahoma St: Pick: Oklahoma
Alabama @ Auburn: Pick: Alabama

Big Ten Standings: Iowa has officially clinched its spot in the Big Ten title game. Michigan St is in a win and in situation. If Michigan St somehow loses, the winner of Ohio St-Michigan is the division champion.

West
1. Iowa: 7-0
2. Northwestern: 5-2
3. Wisconsin: 5-2
4. Nebraska: 3-4
5. Minnesota: 2-5
6. Illinois: 2-5
7. Purdue: 1-6

East
1. Michigan St: 6-1
2. Ohio St: 6-1
3. Michigan: 6-1
4. Penn St: 4-3
5. Rutgers: 1-6
6. Indiana: 1-6
7. Maryland: 0-7

NCAA Week Twelve Picks

Three weeks left. Thats all that stands between us and figuring out who the final four will be. This week didn't shake up the playoff picture as much as last week, but a couple major developments did occur. Another undefeated went down in Baylor, they are a team that needed an undefeated season to get in so they have now bowed out. Stanford and Utah also both lost leaving every single Pac-12 team with at least two losses and virtually putting them out of the playoff picture. The much anticipated Baylor-TCU matchup now will mean very little while the Oklahoma-Oklahoma St rivalry game may mean more than ever. LSU also suffered a second straight loss and are now done as well. One more thing I have to say is that I have been watching College Football religiously for 11 years now and never has the SEC been as unimpressive as this year. With LSU now having back to back losses they will fall out of the top 12 and Mississippi States loss should drop them out of the top 25, leaving the SEC with only 3 teams in the top 25 (The Big Ten has 6.) People whine and moan about how terrible Iowa's offense is (when it really isn't, they just put up 33 points on Minnesota) but somehow Florida gets off the hook for having an equally as bad offense against lesser defenses. Iowa has received a lot of slack for their easy schedule but Iowa has two wins against teams currently ranked in the top 25, Florida has 0. SEC bias at its finest. They scored 9 points against Vanderbilt and nobody batted an eyelash. It seems I was exactly right when I said that College Football switching from the BCS format to a playoff format would hurt the SEC and bring them to the level of the other conferences. The fact is the BCS system was an unfair system that heavily benefited the SEC, but the playoff system benefits no conference over the other and the SEC is starting to reap the consequences of that. Anyyyyyway, I went 6-0 in picking Big Ten games last week and 2-1 outside the Big Ten, putting me 34-9 and 20-13 respectively.

Big Ten
Northwestern @ Wisconsin: Pick: Wisconsin
Indiana @ Maryland: Pick: Maryland
Michigan @ Penn St: Pick: Michigan
Illinois @ Minnesota: Pick: Minnesota
Rutgers @ Army: Pick: Rutgers
Purdue @ Iowa: Pick: Iowa
Michigan St @ Ohio St: Pick: Ohio St

Outside the Big Ten
Baylor @ Oklahoma St: Pick: Baylor
TCU @ Oklahoma: Pick: Oklahoma
UCLA @ Utah: Pick: Utah

Big Ten Standings
Iowa looks to lock up a division title with a win over Purdue this week. Meanwhile in the other division, this is what we've been waiting for, Michigan St/Ohio St. An Ohio St win paired with a Michigan win over Penn St means the game between Ohio St and Michigan next week is a division title game. An Ohio St win paired with a Michigan loss to Penn St earns Ohio St a division title. A Michigan St win means they would control their destiny with one game left to play. All four teams still have playoff hopes. Buckle Up.

West
1. Iowa: 6-0
2. Wisconsin: 5-1
3. Northwestern: 4-2
4. Nebraska: 3-4
5. Illinois: 2-4
6. Minnesota: 1-5
7. Purdue: 1-5

East
1. Ohio St: 6-0
2. Michigan St: 5-1
3. Michigan: 5-1
4. Penn St: 4-2
5. Rutgers: 1-6
6. Indiana: 0-6
7. Maryland: 0-6

NCAA Week Eleven Picks

Holy cow what a week! The playoff picture really cleared up a bit this week as a lot of undefeated teams went down. TCU, LSU, Memphis, Michigan St, and Toledo all saw their perfect seasons shattered to pieces. Michigan St lost in a complete thriller. All those teams going down has opened the door for a lot of one loss teams to keep hopes alive, particularly Michigan, Oklahoma, Stanford and Utah were all teams who may have thought they were out of it but now all of a sudden have some life. (Other one loss teams such as Notre Dame, Florida, and Alabama were always very much in the race.) The question is can any of the teams who just lost their first game crawl back into the picture? TCU and Michigan St still have a legitimate shot at a conference title but it may be lights out for LSU who now have to hope for a team to upset Bama to have a shot, not likely. Losses by Ole Miss and Florida St have totally eliminated those teams from the conversation. What a week it was. I went 6-1 in Big Ten games and 1-2 outside it. 28-9 now in the Big Ten, 18-12 outside it.

Big Ten Picks
Ohio St @ Illinois: Pick: Ohio St
Maryland @ Michigan St: Pick: Michigan St
Purdue @ Northwestern: Pick: Northwestern
Nebraska @ Rutgers: Pick: Nebraska
Michigan @ Indiana: Pick: Michigan
Minnesota @ Iowa: Pick: Iowa

Outside the Big Ten: Unfortunately after a fantastic week, there's only a couple of really appetizing games this week
Oklahoma @ Baylor: Pick: Baylor
Alabama @ Mississippi St: Pick: Alabama
Memphis @ Houston: Pick: Houston

Big Ten Standings
Iowa continues their undefeated march, the Badgers stay alive hoping for Iowa to drop 2 of their last 3. Even with the loss Michigan St still controls their destiny for a division title and remain on a collision course with Ohio St, but this has creaked the door back open for Michigan. Now if Ohio St beats Michigan St the Michigan-Ohio St game becomes a division title game.

East
1. Ohio St: 5-0
2. Michigan St: 4-1
3. Michigan: 4-1
4. Penn St: 4-2
5. Rutgers: 1-5
6. Indiana: 0-5
7. Maryland: 0-5

West
1. Iowa: 5-0
2. Wisconsin: 5-1
3. Northwestern: 3-2
4. Illinois: 2-3
5. Nebraska: 2-4
6. Minnesota: 1-4
7. Purdue: 1-4

NCAA Week Ten Picks

The calendar flips to November, fall breathes its last breath, and the College football season enters its final stretch. Where does the time go? I went 4-1 picking Big Ten games and 2-1 outside it, putting me at 17-10 outside the Big Ten and 22-8 within it

Big Ten
Penn St @ Northwestern: Pick: Northwestern
Illinois @ Purdue: Pick: Illinois
Iowa @ Indiana: Pick: Iowa
Rutgers @ Michigan: Pick: Michigan
Michigan St @ Nebraska: Pick: Michigan St
Minnesota @ Ohio St: Pick: Ohio St
Wisconsin @ Maryland: Pick: Wisconsin

Outside the Big Ten
Florida St @ Clemson: Pick: Clemson
LSU @ Alabama: Pick: LSU
TCU @ Oklahoma St: Pick: TCU

Big Ten standings: Another week, another week of status quo. Iowa beats another weak opponent and their win over Wisconsin continues to give them a huge edge for the division title. Michigan St and Ohio St remain undefeated and on track for a collision course at the end of November.

East
1. Michigan St: 4-0
2. Ohio St: 4-0
3. Penn St: 4-1
4. Michigan: 3-1
5. Rutgers: 1-4
6. Indiana: 0-4
7. Maryland: 0-4

West
1. Iowa: 4-0
2. Wisconsin: 4-1
3. Northwestern: 2-2
4. Minnesota: 1-3
5. Illinois: 1-3
6. Purdue: 1-3
7. Nebraska: 1-4