Category: Sports

My 2022 Mock Draft

The 2022 NFL Draft is finally upon us with an abundance of incredibly talented players ready to hear their names called. Here’s my one and only Mock Draft.

Cover photo taken from Sports Illustrated.

The NFL offseason’s Christmas is finally upon us. Tonight, 32 young men will have their dreams come true as their names are called and they become professional football players. The first round of the NFL Draft is truly a magical night that everyone in football lives for. One of the best parts of the Draft is how unpredictable it is, yet we spend all offseason debating mock drafts and prospect rankings. So, why not throw out my own mock? Here’s how I see tonight playing out from my own, logical perspective. This will be wildly wrong, but this is how I think each and every team picking tonight should go about their selections.

1 – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

This is the most sensible pick, which makes me almost certain that the Jaguars won’t do this. After selecting their QB of the future last year at #1, it only makes sense to grab a seemingly generational left tackle to protect him, right? The answer is yes, but my gut is telling me that the Jags will forgo logic and draft a pass rusher instead. While I don’t think that would be a horrible move, I’m just a big believer in protecting your young star under center and centering your rebuild around your QB and your tackles.

2 – Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

Nobody rose up draft boards more over the course of last year’s college football season than Aidan Hutchinson, who dominated the Big Ten all season long en route to being a Heisman finalist. He’s a force off of the edge, but I don’t think he’s the top pass rusher in this draft. However, he is too high on too many draft boards to not believe he’ll be the first one to hear his name called. Detroit has a lot of holes to fill, but the defensive front might just be the biggest one. This is a great way to start filling that hole. Hutch stays home and the Lions continue their rebuild with an extremely solid edge rusher.

3 – Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Every offseason, there’s a player who skyrockets to the top of draft boards for seemingly no reason. Whether it’s their performance at the Combine, prospect fatigue, or any other combination of factors, it is bound to happen every spring. The prospect that fits that description this year is Travon Walker. He was a stud at Georgia, but nobody thought of him as a top 10 pick, even after they won the national championship. But, after a very impressive showing at the Combine, he shot up to the top of boards all across the league. There are many who believe he could be the #1 pick. Again, I hope the Jaguars go the tackle route, but it wouldn’t shock me if Walker is the first player off the board tonight. In this case, I think he “falls” into the laps of the Texans, who boast the NFL’s worst roster and need more help at every single position than any team I have ever seen.

4 – Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

The Jets rebuild is not going very well. It’s still early, but this team was embarrassingly bad last year, getting absolutely waxed seemingly every single week. Still, they have some solid young pieces in place, and with a couple more in the right spots, they can see some real improvement. One of those spots is the secondary, which got ripped apart in 2021. Here, they grab the best defensive back in the draft in ‘Sauce’ Gardner to immediately improve at their worst position. Luckily for them, they can fill another hole later in the top 10.

5 – Ikem Okwonu, OT, NC State

The Giants have a solid young roster, but still need some help on the offensive line. Even after drafting Andrew Thomas #4 overall two years ago, tackle is perhaps the biggest need for this team. Here, they nab the prospect who many believe is the best tackle in the draft and get a much-needed lift on their offensive line.

6 – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

The Panthers have a lot of needs, but the biggest one is OL. I think they opt for the best player available at that position, grabbing a tank of a tackle in Charles Cross to protect Sam Darnold (or whoever may line up under center for Carolina this season).

7 – Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Like their New York counterparts, the Giants are blessed with two top 10 picks. Offensive line is their biggest need, but the other side of the trenches need help as well. Up until November of last year, Kayvon Thibodeaux was the consensus top player in the draft, but he has seemingly seeped through the cracks ever since. The Giants steal who I think is the best pass rusher and second best player in the draft and get a future star coming off of the edge.

8 – Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

The Falcons are a mess right now. I think they are embracing that fact. They have arguably the worst roster in the NFL, and they could go a million different ways with this pick. I think they opt to simply draft the best player on the board, and that is undoubtedly Kyle Hamilton, who I think is the third best player in this draft. He’s a stellar ball-hawk safety who can make plays in the box and in the defensive backfield. He is one of this year’s can’t-miss prospects, and I think the Falcons would be blessed to have him fall to 8.

9 – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

The Seahawks are starting over. That’s evident after trading their franchise QB and probably the greatest player in franchise history, Russell Wilson, for a haul of picks and players to kick off their rebuild. This was one of those picks, courtesy of the Denver Broncos, which is great considering the Jets, who pick right after them, own Seattle’s first round pick thanks to that dreadful Jamal Adams trade. So, the Seahawks are in the top 10 and need a new answer at QB. Why not roll the dice on Malik Willis? He’s QB1 on everyone’s board with some of the biggest upside you’ll see in a QB prospect, especially in today’s game. It’s a huge boom-or-bust pick, and while the Seahawks might not be in a position to make a pick like this, I just feel like they desperately want their next great QB.

10 – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Like their New York counterparts, the Jets are blessed with two top 10 picks. As I said before, they need some help in some key spots. After addressing the secondary with the #4 pick, I think they help out their young QB Zach Wilson with a star WR in Garrett Wilson. He’s an explosive target that can get separation and make tremendous catches. Wilson is the exact type of receiver you want to pair next to your franchise QB in a rebuild like the Jets are in, and I think this could be a massive win for them.

11 – Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

The Commanders are a confusing team. This is a seemingly solid roster, but there are a lot more holes than you’d imagine. Perhaps the biggest one is WR, and while I’d love to see this team pick a receiver, the one I want the most is already off the board in this mock. So, I’ll have this team pick perhaps the best player available for their next biggest need, which is defensive back. Derek Stingley is a very good corner who can make an impact from day one. I think he’d be a very solid addition to this defense, which will look to get back to its dominant ways after a rough 2021.

12 – Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

The Vikings are a solid team that seemingly always gets held back by something. More often than not, it’s their defense getting shredded. They need secondary help badly, and I’d be shocked if they don’t take a defensive back with this pick. Luckily for them, they get Andrew Booth here, who is my CB2 and a stellar playmaker with incredible ball instincts. He was a monster at Clemson, and I think he can be an INT machine in the NFL. I think he’ll do wonders for this Vikings secondary that needs a lot of help.

13 – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

via mock trade with Houston Texans

In trading Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs lost one of the most most irreplaceable players in the NFL. Nobody can do what the Cheetah does, and it’s safe to say Kansas City will be trying to fill the hole he is leaving behind through the draft. They own two first rounders thanks to that trade, and I think they’ll use one or both (trading with Houston, who can use all the picks they can get) to climb all the way up here to 13 and snag the closest thing to Hill in this draft in Jameson Williams. After transferring from Ohio State to Alabama, the man they call “Jamo” tore up college football all year long with his incredible speed and rose to WR1 status before unfortunately tearing his ACL in the title game against Georgia. He’ll still be a top pick in this draft, but he won’t be ready for a bit. Still, I think the Chiefs are more than willing to take this gamble, just like they did for Patrick Mahomes five years ago. And, knowing them, I think it’ll pay off.

14 – Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

The Ravens need a lot of help on defense. Their secondary fell off a cliff, and their front seven isn’t as effective as it could be, especially with some nice young talent. While I think taking a defensive back here would probably be a good move, the best corners are already off the board. So, I think Baltimore opts for a terrific pass-rushing talent in Jermaine Johnson. After transferring from Georgia to FSU, he proved to be a force with a ton of upside as a pro. I think the Ravens can get a real gem on the edge here, but I expect them to target the secondary as well.

15 – Drake London, WR, USC

The Eagles have a very nice young roster. That showed in their push to reach the playoffs in 2021. However, they are severely lacking in playmakers on offense, especially at the WR position. That seems counter-intuitive, considering they’ve taken a WR in the first round in back to back years now. While Devonta Smith was a great pick, Jalen Reagor appears to be a bust. So, why not make it three in a row and try to make up for that? Drake London is a guy with tremendous athleticism and perhaps the best ball skills of any receiver in this class. He’s a big body that can go up and snag it; think Michael Pittman Jr. (ironically, they were teammates at USC). London could be a huge gift to Jalen Hurts, who could use all the weapons he can get as he enters a prove-it year at QB.

16 – Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

There are a lot of ways the Saints could go with this pick. QB? WR? DL? How about OL? All of the best rebuilds start with a good offensive line, and New Orleans could get a huge boost here with an absolute TANK in Trevor Penning. Clocking in at 6’7″ and 322 pounds, Penning is a cornerstone tackle that can protect whoever the Saints might be fielding at QB this year, and for many years to come.

17 – Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

I think the Chargers would tell you that they’d ideally get a WR with this pick, but I think the best fits for them are already off the board. You can never go wrong with beefing up the offensive line to protect your star QB. Rashawn Slater was a home run pick last year, and I think LA can get a similar one here in Raimann. At 6’7″ and over 300 pounds, Justin Herbert will have plenty of protection from both of his tackles.

18 – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

Philly’s defense is solid, but lacking at the linebacker position, as well as with athleticism. With this pick, both of those issues are solved. Nakobe Dean is a freak of nature at LB, and can move from sideline to sideline better than almost anyone I have ever seen. I think he could have an impact on this defense similar to what we saw in 2021 with Micah Parsons on the Cowboys. With this pick and the 15th pick, the Eagles immediately get better at two positions that desperately need help and absolutely ace the first round.

19 – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

As I said at #16, the Saints could go a number of ways with this pick. I truly believe they’ll spend one of their first round picks on a receiver. Here, they grab Burks, who may not be the best available WR, but provides a level of physicality that fits in well with this offense. Burks is a physical WR with a Deebo Samuel build that can contribute to this team in several different ways. With Michael Thomas finally coming back from injury, the Saints will finally be competent at WR again.

20 – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

I’m not sure if this is the right pick for the Steelers, but it just feels right. Pickett staying home and playing for this team feels like it has been destined for the last few months now. Pittsburgh needs their new answer at QB, and I don’t think it’s Mitch Trubisky. They could use some OL help, sure, but I think they get their guy here and potentially get their quarterback of the future. Who better than the hometown kid?

21 – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

This is the most Patriots pick I can imagine. New England doesn’t have many holes on its roster, but I think they could really use some help at WR, CB, and LB. Here, they opt for the best player available at those positions. Lloyd is a pro-ready, do-it-all linebacker who can rush the passer, stuff the run, and play coverage. He’ll be a phenomenal fit in New England, and will make an impact from day one.

22 – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The Packers trading Davante Adams was one of the stories of the offseason. It had to happen, seeing as though they couldn’t afford him. So, they use this pick that the Raiders gave them for Adams to restart with a new potential star WR. Olave is as pure as they come at the receiver position, being one of the smoothest route runners I’ve ever seen at the college level, getting separation like it’s nothing. He’s got great hands and sneaky speed that can lead to some explosive plays after the catch. With plenty of experience under his belt, he’ll walk into Lambeau and immediately be WR1. Lord knows the Packers need it. Can’t wait for them to not take a receiver again.

23 – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

The Cardinals are close to being a truly great team. The roster is pretty solid from top to bottom, but the secondary is definitely the weak spot. I think they have to grab the best available DB here, and that’s Trent McDuffie. He’s a phenomenal coverage back with great speed and quickness that will give this physical defense a new, dynamic level of playmaking ability. There are concerns about his size, but I think he’ll be just fine.

24 – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

This is the most Cowboys pick I can imagine. I truly think they should take an offensive lineman with this pick, but I just know it’s not going to happen. Jerry Jones loves picking his seemingly controversial guys with huge boom-or-bust potential. Jordan Davis might be the biggest boom-or-bust player in this draft. Weighing in at a gargantuan 6’6″ and 340 pounds with incredible dominance on the defensive interior, Davis is an absolute force to be reckoned with. However, there are concerns about his in-game longevity and potential fatigue or effort problems late in games. If he can sort his stuff out and realize his huge potential, then Dallas could have their hands on another truly generational talent in their front seven.

25 – Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

via mock trade with Buffalo Bills

The Bengals were the ultimate surprise team of last season. It started by winning the draft with taking Jamarr Chase in the first round, and ended with an AFC title and being mere minutes away from winning the Super Bowl. Anyone who watched a second of Bengals football in 2021 will tell you what position they need to address. The offensive line is a porous weak spot, especially on the interior. I think they want to improve there so badly that they move up a few spots, jumping some other teams that may want to address the same position, to take arguably the best interior lineman in the draft in Kenyon Green. He was projected to go much higher a few months ago, but for some reason has slipped on draft boards. He is still a great talent and will provide Joe Burrow with some much needed protection. Hopefully the Bengals don’t stop the offensive line picks here.

26 – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

Does anyone remember the fact that the Titans were the AFC’s 1 seed last season? Me neither. This team could go one of several ways with this pick. Maybe they grab a much-needed offensive weapon, or get even better on defense. I say they beef up the offensive line with arguably the best interior lineman in the draft. I see Tyler Linderbaum as a can’t-miss OL prospect and a guy who can come in and be a quality starter from day one. It may not be the biggest need for this team, but they’re in a position to pick the best player on the board, and that’s just what they do here.

27 – Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

The Bucs still boast one of the NFL’s most stacked rosters, but they are not without their weak spots. There are three that stand out to me: OL, WR, and DB. They could easily grab another playmaker for Tom Brady or another corner to make up for their lack of depth at the position. But, like the Titans before them, I think they just take the best player available. It’s not the flashy pick, but it’s certainly a helpful one. We saw how they went out last season when the injuries started racking up on the offensive line. With the retirement of Ali Marpet, Tampa needs a new rock on the interior of the offensive line, and I think they get that here.

28 – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa

After addressing their biggest need with pick #22, the Packers can go any which way they’d like with this pick. I could see them perhaps taking a linebacker, but with the best ones off the board, I think they take the conservative route and get some OL help. Again, it’s not flashy, but it is certainly helpful.

29 – Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

via mock trade with Kansas City Chiefs

The Texans could certainly stay at 13 and take the best player on the board, but I think a potential trade with Kansas City that sees them getting a bunch more picks is too much of a win-win to pass up. So, they come all the way down to 29 and essentially do the same thing, going BPA and getting a stud for their secondary after adding one to their front seven. Dax Hill is a fantastic safety who can make plays on the ball and be extremely physical. Every secondary needs its rock, and I think he can be just that for the Texans. It’s entirely possible that they go for a QB or WR or even an offensive lineman with this pick, but considering they pick again 6 selections after this, I say they go BPA here and get their guy on the other side of the ball at the start of Round 2.

30 – Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

After trading up to get their playmaker, the Chiefs will need to address their needs in the secondary. Anyone who watched a Georgia game last season will tell you how awesome Lewis Cine is. He is always all over the field, attacking the ball or whoever might be carrying it. He’s a physical safety that can make plays all over the place. With the departure of Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City is able to get a perfect replacement at a position where they need a ton of help.

31 – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

via mock trade with Cincinnati Bengals

The Bills have one of the NFL’s best rosters. The only hole I can say they have is running back, but I don’t think that’s the direction they’ll go in here with so much other talent still on the board. I say Buffalo just goes BPA and honestly gets a steal in Devonte Wyatt, who was one of the most dominant defensive tackles in college football last season. At 6’3″ and 315 pounds, he’s a beast who makes lightwork of centers and guards. The Bills defense is already pretty spooky, and they get a huge lift in their defensive interior here.

32 – Jalen Pitre, CB, Baylor

The Lions’ second pick of the first round comes courtesy of the Matt Stafford trade and the Rams’ Super Bowl victory. After getting their star pass rusher, there are a number of ways they could spend this pick. I think they could use this pick on a QB like Sam Howell or Matt Corral, but I just don’t think that’d be the right move. After all, they could easily nab one of them 2 picks later in the second round. I think they just go BPA and grab a fantastic DB in Jalen Pitre, a tremendous athlete with huge playmaking potential. If former first rounder Jeff Okudah can figure it out, then they can prove to be a truly lockdown duo in the secondary in Detroit.

2022 MLB Season Preview and Predictions

After a nightmarish offseason filled with doubt that we would even see today, we have made it to Opening Day. Here’s my preview of the 2022 MLB Season, which promises to be a truly special one.

Cover photo taken from MLB.com

We have finally made it. After the most tumultuous offseason of the century featuring the horribly-long lockout and more CBA negotiations than we could deal with, we have reached Opening Day. All 30 teams will play a full, 162-game schedule. Baseball is back. And I could not be more excited.

This promises to be a very fun season on the surface, but I think having baseball after what we had to deal with during the lockout is as sweet as it gets. The offseason was fairly interesting both before and after the lockout, with plenty of trades and huge free agent moves. Spring Training is now over, and the reset button is hit on all of baseball. Let’s predict who will win their divisions and get to the Postseason, who this season’s MVPs will be, and who will win it all in October.

NL East Winner: Atlanta Braves

Considering the offseason this team had, it’s very hard to see them doing anything but repeating as NL East champs. Losing Freddie Freeman is brutal, but when you replace him with a 1B like Matt Olson, you don’t get much worse as a team. Combine that with the already abundant talent on the roster of the defending World Series champions and you have a team that can do plenty of damage in a mediocre division. The team is solid all-around with the bat and the glove, and the pitching staff is still absolutely loaded. Star OF Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss a good chunk of time as he continues to recover from last season’s ACL injury, but when he comes back, this team will get that much better. The Phillies also had a solid offseason and could make a run for the division title, but I’m sticking with the safe pick here.

NL Central Winner: Milwaukee Brewers

I have a love/hate relationship with the Brewers. I’m a pitching purist, and nobody has a better pitching staff than Milwaukee. Boasting names like Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta in their rotation with guys in the bullpen like Josh Hader and Devin Williams, you simply are not going to knock this team around. On the other hand, I just find them so boring. It could be that their offense is a very basic one, not relying on anything flashy to score runs, but rather simply putting the ball in play and putting up numbers. Perhaps the offense will get a bit of a boost this year with Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Renfroe entering the outfield. And it goes without saying that Christian Yelich can be plenty dangerous if he ever returns to his old self. In any case, the NL Central is arguably baseball’s worst division (although the Cardinals are a solid bunch), so the Brewers will able to rack up plenty of wins en route to another division title.

NL West Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are the MLB’s superteam. This is one of the most loaded rosters in the history of baseball, and certainly the most stacked one I have ever seen. They were already plenty good after last season, but after adding 1B Freddie Freeman in free agency, this looks like the most lethal team that we have seen in a long time. The rest of the infield is rounded out by a star-in-the-making in Gavin Lux at second, the fastest and perhaps the best contact man in baseball in Trea Turner at short, and the ever-reliable Justin Turner at third. It’s likely that Max Muncy or Chris Taylor will fill the new DH role that the NL has finally adapted. The outfield still has one of baseball’s best players in Mookie Betts, and if Cody Bellinger returns to form, then this somehow gets spookier. The pitching staff is almost entirely the same as last season’s, with Walker Buehler, my personal NL Cy Young pick, leading the charge. Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias are ever-dangerous as well in the rotation, and the already-stacked bullpen got even better with the acquisition of Craig Kimbrel as the team’s new closer after Kenley Jansen left for Atlanta. In short, this is a bonafide 100-win team with talent the likes of which we haven’t seen in this much abundance in a very long time. They are the easy favorites to win the NL West, the NL pennant, and the World Series.

AL East Winner: Toronto Blue Jays

The majority of people are of the belief that the Blue Jays are the best team in the American League and perhaps a top 2 team in all of baseball. I am definitely in that majority. The Jays had one of baseball’s most talented rosters last year, but injuries derailed them all year long en route to missing the playoffs by just a couple of games. While two of the key members of the 2021 squad, 2B Marcus Semien, an MVP finalist, and SP Robbie Ray, the AL Cy Young winner, left in free agency, Toronto still boasts an incredible roster from top to bottom. To fill the gaps left by those departures, they acquired SP Kevin Gausman and 3B Matt Chapman, two very solid, consistent players that will contribute from day one. The lineup is as dangerous as it gets, with guys like George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez in the outfield and Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the infield. The rest of the rotation is also fantastic, being rounded out by Alek Manoah, Jose Berrios, and Hyun Jin Ryu. The Blue Jays have the best team on paper in the AL East and the American League as a whole, and it’s hard to argue against them riding that all the way to a division title, and perhaps a pennant.

AL Central Winner: Chicago White Sox

2021 was a fun time for the White Sox, returning to the top of the AL Central and the spotlight of baseball. This is a fun, young team that oozes swagger and keeps your eyes glued to the screen each and every night. In a horrible division, after a rather uneventful offseason, it’s hard to see that changing much. The lineup is still awesome, with guys like SS Tim Anderson, OF Luis Robert, 1B Jose Abreu, 3B Yoan Moncada, and more. The pitching staff is still one of baseball’s best, with a rotation featuring Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito. This is an absurdly fun team that made a name for themselves last season, and I’m looking forward to seeing them continue to do their thing in 2022.

AL West Winner: Houston Astros

You just can’t kill this team, can you? Even after losing another World Series and losing one of their best players in Carlos Correa, the Astros are seemingly primed for another fantastic season. It helps that their roster is still one of the best in the sport, boasting plenty of offensive firepower and a strong pitching core. Even without Correa, the infield is plenty good with Yuli Gurriel, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and a star-to-be in Jeremy Peña. In the outfield is the always-consistent Michael Brantley and a rising star in Kyle Tucker, and one of the best power bats in the league sits in the DH spot with Yordan Alvarez. The rotation has some rising young talent in Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia as well as some veteran greats in Lance McCullers Jr. and Justin Verlander. The Astros have all the makings of another potential World Series run. Despite the AL West being better than its usual self this season, it’s hard to see them getting knocked off their throne.

NL Playoffs

1 – Los Angeles Dodgers
2 – Atlanta Braves
3 – Milwaukee Brewers
4 – Philadelphia Phillies
5 – St. Louis Cardinals
6 – San Diego Padres

Nobody is stopping the Dodgers in the National League in their pursuit of following the Rams and bringing another “purchased ring” to Los Angeles. The Braves and Brewers have the pitching to contend, but it’ll be hard to knock off a roster as talented as LA’s. In terms of the Wild Cards, I like Philadelphia, St. Louis, and San Diego. The Phillies had a pretty good offseason, acquiring some big bats like Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber to add to a lineup that needed some power. The Cardinals were one of the hottest teams in the second half last year, and I think they can carry that into 2022. The Padres, meanwhile, were one of the worst teams in the second half of 2021, but with new management, a very talented roster (despite being without Fernando Tatis Jr. for a while), and an expanded playoffs, they should be good to reach the Postseason. I’d take the Brewers over the Padres and the Cardinals over the Phillies in the Wild Cards, and I foresee a NLCS threematch between the Braves and Dodgers, with LA winning the pennant and getting back to the World Series.

AL Playoffs

1 – Toronto Blue Jays
2 – Chicago White Sox
3 – Houston Astros
4 – Tampa Bay Rays
5 – Boston Red Sox
6 – Seattle Mariners

Ordering the division winners 1-3 wasn’t easy. I just ordered them based on their talent. I think the competitiveness of the AL East could steal some wins from Toronto, but I still like their chances of taking the top spot. I like Tampa Bay, Boston, and Seattle to secure the Wild Cards. The Rays are the Rays, and they’ll do their usual schtick to get to the Postseason (look for Wander Franco to have a huge season in the process). The Red Sox overachieved last year and had a solid offseason but are still nothing more than a Wild Card team in my eyes. The Mariners were oh so close to October in 2021, and after a very good offseason and the new expanded playoffs being implemented, I think they can sneak in as the final team. I’d take Houston over Seattle and Tampa Bay over Boston in the Wild Cards, and I’m predicting a potentially legendary 7-game ALCS between Toronto and Chicago, with the White Sox winning the pennant and getting back to the World Series for the first time in 17 years.

Before we get into that World Series prediction, I’d like to shout out my MVP picks for the upcoming season, starting with a bit of a personal one.

NL MVP Pick: Juan Soto, OF, Nationals

Yes, I am biased. No, I do not care. Juan Soto is the best player in the National League, and he is bound to capture the MVP this season. In the last three seasons, he has finished 9th, 5th, and 2nd in MVP voting. Only one higher spot to go. It’s also worth noting that he has increased his walk rate and decreased his strikeout rate in every season since entering the majors, establishing himself as the closest thing to Barry Bonds we have seen at the plate since… Barry Bonds. He is simply breaking every single advanced stat we have in baseball. 2021 started a bit slow for Soto, as he hit a lot of ground balls and couldn’t get the elevation he needed to put up huge numbers. But, he ended up figuring it out, slashing an unbelievable .352/.527/.644 in his final 78 games. If he carries that momentum into 2022 and somehow continues to get better at the plate, then we could see one of the best statistical seasons from a hitter in decades. On a team as putrid as the Nationals are, Soto will be padding his stats all season long. If he can stay healthy, then I think he will run away with that elusive MVP, adding to a World Series title, two Silver Sluggers, and a batting title, establishing himself as perhaps the best player in baseball. That is, if he hasn’t already done so.

AL MVP Pick: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays

The son of Vladimir Guerrero finally had the season we were all waiting for in 2021. Vladdy was a menace at the plate, slashing .311/.401/.601 (led AL in OBP and SLG), hitting 48 homers (tied for the MLB lead) with 111 RBI, winning a Silver Slugger, and finishing second in MVP voting. We knew that he had all the potential to be one of the premier hitters in baseball, and he has done just that. He easily would have won MVP last season, but Shohei Ohtani happened. It’s hard to foresee Ohtani falling off, or even Mike Trout not returning with a bang, but it just feels like this is Vladdy’s year. I really like his chances to continue to clobber baseballs all summer long and bring an MVP home.

World Series Prediction: Dodgers over White Sox in 5 games

As I have said multiple times, nobody is stopping the Dodgers in 2022. The White Sox are a super fun team that can do some real damage in October, but this is simply too tall of a mountain for anyone in baseball to climb. Los Angeles is built for a championship, and it feels impossible to pick them to do anything but win the World Series. Maybe picking this series to be over in 5 games is a bit harsh, but it feels realistic. Dodgers win a ring for real this time, Freddie Freeman lifts the trophy for the second consecutive year, and Trea Turner takes home World Series MVP with his second championship in four years.

I cannot wait to look back on this in October, or even by the All Star Break, and realize how hilariously wrong I was about everything. That’s the real fun of all this, isn’t it? In any case, I am so, so excited that baseball is back, and I can’t wait to watch another great year of this beautiful game. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I know I will. Be thankful that we’ve made it here, and relish it.

All stats taken from ESPN and Baseball Reference.

2022 National Championship Preview and Prediction

After 66 games of the NCAA Tournament, we have reached college basketball’s biggest night. Let’s preview Kansas vs. UNC, and predict who will be cutting down the nets as the national champions.

Cover photo taken from Sporting News.

Welcome to Monday Night. After 17 days, 66 games, countless incredible moments, the greatest Cinderella run in history, and perhaps the biggest college basketball game of all time, we have reached the National Championship. Tonight, the #1 Kansas Jayhawks take on the #8 North Carolina Tar Heels for the title.

I gave a detailed rundown of both teams in Saturday’s Final Four preview, so I’ll spare you all of the nitty gritty stuff here. Still, let’s take a look at each of tonight’s contestants before picking the game itself:

#1 Kansas Jayhawks

The top seed out of the Midwest continued their dominance on Saturday night against a hobbled Villanova team. A wire-to-wire destruction of the Wildcats thanks to red-hot shooting and physical dominance propelled Kansas to its first title game since 2012, where they will try to win their first championship since 2008. The Jayhawks shot 54% from the field and 53% from downtown and simply made Nova look like they didn’t belong on the same floor, which is saying something. Guard Ochai Agbaji had his first great game of the tournament, going off for 21 points, including 6 threes. David McCormack was an unstoppable force down low, tallying 25 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Kansas also got great performances from their key role players, like Jalen Wilson, Dajuan Harris Jr., and Christian Braun, who hit a couple of late threes to seal the deal. The usual spark-plug Remy Martin only scored 3 points and yet the Jayhawks still won by 16. Their dominance cannot be overstated. If they play at that level again tonight, then it’ll be another blowout victory, and Kansas will be back on top of the college basketball world.

#8 North Carolina Tar Heels

All UNC did on Saturday night was win what was billed as the greatest, biggest college basketball game of all time, defeating their bitter rival Duke in their first ever NCAA Tournament meeting to end Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching career and reach the national championship game as an 8 seed. So yeah, nothing major. The first instance of the Tobacco Road Rivalry in March Madness lived up to the hype, with a back-and-forth affair from tip to finish in a heart-stopper. It was college basketball at its finest on the biggest stage. All of Carolina’s stars shined bright, especially Caleb Love, who once again proved to be the key to victory for the Tar Heels. 28 points on 55% shooting, including the game-icing 3 with just over 30 seconds left in the game helped put UNC over the top. Armando Bacot was awesome once again, fighting through injury to put up 11 points and an insane 21 rebounds, 8 of those being offensive. Brady Manek continued his scoring ways with 14 points, R.J. Davis was as hot as ever with 18, and even Leaky Black proved to be an incredibly important piece with 8 points and 9 boards. The Heels have proven themselves as the most impossible-to-stop team when they are at their ceiling. Their offense continues to be blisteringly hot, and their athleticism continues to put them over the top in the clutch. They’ll have their hands full with the physicality of Kansas, but if they keep up their level of play from the previous five rounds of this tournament, it could very well be a fairytale finish to Hubert Davis’ first season as head coach in Chapel Hill.

Key Matchups

My biggest observation and the most indelible image from Saturday night’s Final Four games was Kansas simply being bigger, faster, and stronger than Villanova. I haven’t seen a team this physically dominant since, ironically enough, North Carolina back in 2017. So, in my opinion, tonight’s title game comes down to physicality in both the backcourt and the frontcourt. Behind the arc, the matchup to watch is Ochai Agbaji vs. Caleb Love. Agbaji is bigger and more athletic than Love, but nobody has been more explosive in this tournament than #2 in Carolina blue. If it comes down to shotmaking in the clutch, then it’s hard to pick against Caleb Love. However, if Ochai Agbaji and the Jayhawks are able to physically dominate the backcourt throughout the game, then this one shouldn’t be close late. However, perhaps even more important than the guards in this game are the guys in the paint, namely David McCormack and Armando Bacot. Both of these players have had their way with everyone they have faced so far in the tournament. Now, the two unstoppable forces collide down low. You can easily bank on both guys getting their points, but the key here isn’t scoring. It’s rebounding. Second chance points could prove to be a huge part of this game, seeing as though both teams grab a significant amount of offensive boards. Bacot has been the biggest monster on the glass I have ever seen, but his ankle injury could limit his dominance. If he can play up to his usual par, and the Heels turn those offensive rebounds into points, then I really like Carolina’s chances. However, if his injury holds him back and allows McCormack to be the more dominant force in the paint, then there will be no stopping the Jayhawks from cutting down the nets.

My Pick

I can’t remember the last title game that felt this blue bloody. Perhaps it was Kansas’ last trip to Game 67 back in 2012, where they lost to Kentucky. The Jayhawks are hoping for a better result this time around. Luckily for them, I think they’ll get just what they want.

Kansas 75-69 North Carolina

Monday, 9:20 PM EST, TBS

As I said before, this game comes down to physicality, and nobody is more physically imposing than Kansas. I was blown away by their performance on Saturday night, and while I think it will be hard to replicate, especially against a team as great as UNC, I know this team has what it takes. It feels like this is the Jayhawks team to make up for the lost tournament in 2020, where they would have been the title favorite. This team feels like it is destined to cut down the nets. I do believe Carolina will do their thing in this game, but I just don’t know if they have it in them to win. I wouldn’t put it past them considering the teams they had to beat to get to this point and how awesome Caleb Love has been in this tournament. It would be pretty incredible if they were to win. I just have to trust what my eyes have been telling me about Kansas and roll with them to win their first championship since 2008.

We should be in for a great one tonight in New Orleans. While this hasn’t been the best tournament ever, I’m hoping that it ends on a high note. Regardless, there truly isn’t anything in the world like March Madness, and I’m glad we got to experience it in full this year after three years of craziness. It was a pleasure, and an honor.

All stats taken from ESPN.

2022 Final Four Preview and Predictions

The 2022 NCAA Tournament has produced perhaps the most decorated, blue bloodiest Final Four of all time. Let’s break it down and predict how things will go down this weekend in New Orleans.

Cover photo taken from Sports Illustrated.

We started with 68 teams in the world’s most famous bracket, each with their own hopes and dreams of cutting down the nets in New Orleans. 64 games later, only four teams remain with those dreams still alive. Duke, North Carolina, Villanova, and Kansas have reached the Bayou to compose arguably the single most anticipated Final Four in the long, decorated history of the NCAA Tournament.

It’s rare to see a Final Four with each team having such a rich, deep history. We are in rarified air with three bonafide blue bloods in Duke, UNC, and Kansas, and Villanova has been one of the premier programs of this century, winning 2 of the previous 4 tournaments. It was a wild ride for each of these squads to get to the end of the road. Let’s see how these teams have reached the Final Four.

How Duke Got Here

This being Mike Krzyzewski’s final NCAA Tournament has kept all the eyes on the Blue Devils from the moment they arrived at the First Round. After making light work of CSU Fullerton, they once again ran into the Michigan State Spartans. Sparty gave them a run, but that’s when Duke established a theme that would continue throughout the rest of this run: impeccable late-game execution. Their best players simply went to work in the clutch to help the Devils emerge victorious. This was on display in the Sweet 16 against Texas Tech, where Duke shot 71% in the second half and didn’t miss a shot in the final 7 minutes to escape with a victory in one of the more hard fought, back-and-forth games of this tournament. The Regional Final against Arkansas was simply domination, as the stars shined bright once again to help get Duke to their first Final Four since 2015, where they won it all, and Coach K’s 13th overall (most all time). Those stars include forward Paolo Banchero, guards A.J. Griffin and Jeremy Roach, and center Mark Williams, all of which have had incredible individual moments and are proving themselves as potential first round picks in the NBA. When this team is playing their best ball, you can only pray you can stop them. It truly feels like Coach K is destined to go out on top, and only he is only two wins away from doing just that.

How North Carolina Got Here

The Tar Heels may be an 8 seed, but they sure don’t feel like one. Part of that could be that they are UNC, one of the most decorated and historic programs in the sport. But, it could also be that they are playing like anything but an 8 seed in this tournament. After a subpar regular season and a blowout loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament, not many people gave the Heels a shot to do much in March. However, the formula was clear. The star-studded lineup had to play up to their potential, something that hadn’t been done much in the regular season. But, if they were able to play their best ball, they’d be damn near impossible to stop. That is just what happened in this tournament. After absolutely thrashing Marquette in the First Round, UNC knocked off the 1 seed in the East, the defending champion Baylor Bears, in an OT thriller to reach the Regionals. In the Sweet 16, they outlasted UCLA in a scintillating game that saw star guard Caleb Love take over in the second half. The last opponent standing between them and New Orleans was the Cinderella of all Cinderellas, the Saint Peter’s Peacocks, who they easily disposed of to reach their first Final Four since 2017, where the Heels cut down the nets. Love was a massive part of this run, but he’s not the only guy in Carolina blue making an impact. Fellow guard R.J. Davis has been an incredible complement in the backcourt, forward Brady Manek has been one of the premier scorers in this tournament, and forward Armando Bacot has been a machine, averaging 16.5 points and 15.8 rebounds per game in the tournament. The potential of this roster is finally being realized, and they are at their hottest at the perfect time. That has gotten them to New Orleans, and could potentially put them at the top of a ladder on Monday night.

How Villanova Got Here

Villanova has been the most successful college basketball program of the past 6 years. Without question. The Wildcats are 20-3 in the past six NCAA Tournaments, and this is their third trip to the Final Four in the past five tournaments (and their fourth in the last 13). They have won two of the last four national championships (2016 and 2018), and are more than capable of notching another. After a couple of “down” years, they are back to their standard, and it has been incredible to watch. Nova made light work of each of their first three opponents: Delaware, Ohio State, and Michigan. The Regional Final against Houston was the definition of a war, with both teams playing incredible defense and struggling mightily with shooting. In the end, Villanova made more shots, and that punched their ticket to New Orleans. Unfortunately, it came at a cost. Star forward Justin Moore tore his achilles in that game, and will obviously be out in the Final Four. It’s a massive loss, but that doesn’t mean this team is completely doomed. They are still one of the best teams in the country, led by guard Collin Gillespie, who has been one of the best players in the country all year long, and has continued that level of play in this tournament. Forward Jermaine Samuels has also been huge in this run, and he’ll need to step it up big time if Villanova is to advance to the title game. I think this team has what it takes, but they have a very steep mountain to climb with their opponent, who just so happens to be quite a familiar one.

How Kansas Got Here

The lone 1 seed in New Orleans is no stranger to Final Fours. The Jayhawks are here for the 16th time in their 50th tournament appearance. Going this far in 32% of tournaments you play in is absolutely staggering. This is Kansas’ first trip to the Final Four since 2018, where they lost to the same team they play tonight. But, this is a seemingly better team than that one, and this squad has a great chance to bring a title home to Lawrence for the first time in 14 years. It started with your run-of-the-mill destruction of a 16 seed against Texas Southern in the First Round. The Jayhawks were challenged a bit by Creighton in the Second Round, but toughed it out in the end. They then held off Providence in the Sweet 16, and used a volcanic eruption of a second half to get past Miami in the Regional Final to get to NOLA. Kansas has played like a true 1 seed, and have erased any and all doubt that may have lingered. Thanks to a star-studded lineup with guys like guards Ochai Agbaji, Remy Martin, Christian Braun and a frontcourt with David McCormack and Jalen Wilson, the Jayhawks look like one of the most unstoppable teams in basketball. They are primed to win another title, and I think they have what it takes to do just that.

Saturday night features two matchups that feel larger than life. It’s going to be quite the spectacle. It’s going to be amazing basketball. Let’s pick the 2022 Final Four.

Kansas over Villanova

Saturday, 6:09 PM EST, TBS

The last time both Kansas and Villanova made the Final Four was 2018, where they played each other. The Wildcats dominated that game, winning 95-79, and would go on to win the title two nights later. Now, they’re both here again. But things feel a bit different this time. As I said before, this is a better Kansas team than 2018, and it feels like the best one in a very long time. They have the talent and the experience from top to bottom, and they have executed their winning formula to perfection throughout this tournament. While Villanova is still as strong as ever, the injury to Justin Moore makes it nearly impossible to pick them in this game. If he was playing, then I very well could have picked the Wildcats in this game. He is one of the key cogs in their machine, and without him, I don’t know if they can beat a team as great as the Jayhawks are. Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels will have to step up in a big way, and while I think they are both capable of putting up huge numbers, it will just be too much to overcome. This will be a close game for a while, but the depth and pure excellence of Kansas on both sides of the floor will put them over the top. Look for Ochai Agbaji to have a huge game en route to the Jayhawks’ first title game appearance since 2008.

Duke over North Carolina

Saturday, 8:49 PM EST, TBS

Duke and North Carolina make up arguably the greatest rivalry on Earth. The two schools have met 256 times over the last 102 years, creating history by giving us countless memories and fielding some of the greatest players of all time. On Saturday night in New Orleans, they will meet for the first time ever in the NCAA Tournament. At the Final Four. In Mike Krzyzewski’s final season. Not to mention that this is a rubber match after Duke dominated the first matchup in Chapel Hill on February 5th, then Carolina spoiled Coach K’s final game at Cameron Indoor stadium on March 5th. I know you guys have heard the storylines a billion times, but they’re so seismic that they must be repeated. To have a matchup like this in a spot like this just seems cosmic. It is divine intervention. It’s honestly overshadowing the fact that this is a phenomenal basketball game on paper. Both of the first two games were sizable wins for each team, so it only makes sense that this rubber match is a close game. Both of these teams have been playing their best basketball in this tournament, but one of them has to go home. And matchups like Mark Williams vs. Armando Bacot or Jeremy Roach vs. Caleb Love make this must-see TV, even if you disregard the two teams playing. I’d be better off leaving this pick to a coin flip, but I’m picking Duke for two reasons. The first of which has some merit, whereas the second really doesn’t. My first reason for picking the Devils is the fact that I think they are the more talented team (just barely), and that can put them over the top when the going gets tough, as it has all tournament long. I do love Carolina’s roster, and they are arguably even hotter than Duke is right now, but I think they can get a bit erratic in the clutch (see: the Baylor game), and it’s just a bit hard to put my faith in them for that reason. The second reason is just that it feels written in the stars that Coach K is going to end his career with winning his sixth national championship. Sometimes, you’ve got to throw your hands in the air and surrender to destiny, and I’ve done that with this Duke team. I’d be elated if I am proven wrong. Regardless, this is arguably the biggest game in the history of the Final Four, and I cannot wait to watch history unfold on Saturday night in New Orleans.

So, I think it’ll be Duke vs. Kansas for the National Championship on Monday night. In terms of picking that game, I’d probably roll with destiny and Duke, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I can’t wait to watch this historic Final Four, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I know I will.

All stats taken from ESPN.

2022 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: West Region

The West Region of the 2022 NCAA Tournament features some heavyweight programs and a plethora of storylines. Let’s break it down and preview how the West will play out.

Cover photo taken by Young Kwak, AP.

Welcome to the Madness. The NCAA Tournament is finally back in its full glory in 2022, and if you’re not more excited than ever, you’re just lying. Last year was certainly fun, but the tournament was a shell of its usual self, with virtually no fans and a bubble in Indianapolis from start till finish. Now, March Madness is back to full strength with a plethora of different locations, and fans filling the stands all across the country. This promises to be a glorious few weeks in college basketball. To preview the tournament, I’ll be breaking down the 2022 bracket region by region. This is the preview of the West: a region with endless stories and potentially larger-than-life matchups.

Meet the 1 Seed: Gonzaga Bulldogs

What head coach Mark Few has done and continues to do in Spokane is nothing short of miraculous. For the second consecutive year, Gonzaga is the #1 overall seed in the tournament. Moreover, this is their third consecutive 1 seed and fourth in the last five tournaments. In each of those tournaments, they have reached at least the Elite 8, with one loss in that round (2019) and two National Championship losses (2017 and 2021). The Zags continue to recruit and play at a blue blood level, and this program is here to say. This year’s bunch might be even better than last year’s team that was one game away from completing college basketball’s first undefeated season in over 40 years. It helps when you return a star in forward Drew Timme, who leads the team in scoring with 17.5 PPG to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists per game. The Zags also boast 2021’s #1 recruit and potential 2022 #1 NBA Draft selection in forward Chet Holmgren, a true unicorn of basketball. Holmgren stands at 7 feet, 190 pounds, and can do it all on the floor. From scoring inside and outside to passing or even getting boards and proceeding to run breaks, there truly isn’t anything that Chet can’t do. Averaging 14 PPG, 10 RPG, and 4 BPG, he is the differentiator of this Gonzaga team, but that doesn’t mean they only go as far as he goes. Other role players are plenty capable, including sharpshooter guard Julian Strawther, shifty PG Andrew Nembhard, and 3pt specialist Rasir Bolton. This team can beat you in a plethora of ways with a plethora of pieces, and they are not only the favorites to get to the Final Four in New Orleans, but also to cut down the nets once they get there.

Meet the Sleeper: #3 Texas Tech Red Raiders

Honorable Mention: #4 Arkansas Razorbacks, #10 Davidson Wildcats

I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to call a 3 seed a sleeper, but in a region where the 1 is Gonzaga and the 2 is Duke, maybe it is. I’ve been high on this TTU team all season long, simply because I love the style of basketball that they play. Mark Adams’ team grinds you down with an impeccable defense that is the best in the country according to KenPom. Their offense runs slow, but efficiently and effectively, using the full shot clock to find a good shot and nail it. Led by forward Bryson Williams (14 PPG) and guard Terrance Shannon Jr. (10.4 PPG), along with several other nice pieces in Davion Warren, Kevin McCullar, and Kevin Obanor (a transfer from last year’s Cinderella, Oral Roberts), the Red Raiders are one of the more balanced teams in the field. They have already shown us that their defense can get them to a Final Four in 2019 (in a region where they were the 3 and Gonzaga was the 1, funnily enough). Who’s to say it can’t happen again?

Upset Waiting to Happen: #10 Davidson over #7 Michigan State

Honorable Mention: #11 Notre Dame over #6 Alabama

I really like the Davidson Wildcats. They ran through the Atlantic 10 all season long, and although they couldn’t capture the A10 Tournament title, they left no doubt that they were the best team in the conference. This team scores a LOT of points, highlighted by fantastic guard play and perimeter dominance. Guard Foster Loyer leads the way with 16.3 PPG and nearly 45% 3pt shooting. This MSU team isn’t one of Tom Izzo’s finest groups. As resilient and tough as they are, they simply fail to rise to the occasion too often to inspire confidence in a tournament run. I think it ends before it can start for Sparty against a Davidson team that has flown under the radar for far too long.

Best Potential Games: #2 Duke vs. #7 Michigan State, #1 Gonzaga vs. #2 Duke

Honorable Mentions: #4 Arkansas vs. #5 UConn, #1 Gonzaga vs. #3 Texas Tech

The selection committee setting up a potential Mike Krzyzewski vs. Tom Izzo matchup in the Round of 32 had to be deliberate. What better way to end the first weekend of Coach K’s final tournament with Duke than with a contest with his longterm rival from East Lansing? It would be a great matchup on the surface and would certainly draw in the ratings, but I don’t think it’d be the best game on the court. Duke is substantially better than Michigan State, and they would be able to handle them with ease. But it’s safe to say we’ll all be tuning into that one, if both teams get there.

A potential Regional Final between Gonzaga and Duke would essentially be Goliath vs. Goliath. The Zags may have played the role of David in the past, but not anymore. These two teams met earlier in the season in Las Vegas, with the Blue Devils edging the Bulldogs to the tune of an 84-81 victory. I think things would go a bit differently a second time around. Duke’s starting lineup boasts 5 potential first round picks, and they have one of the highest ceilings in all of college basketball with all that talent. But, Gonzaga has been the vastly better team since that meeting in November, and seemingly nothing stands between them and the Final Four. Not even Coach K in what could be his final game of all time.

My Pick for New Orleans: #1 Gonzaga

Honorable Mentions: #2 Duke Blue Devils, #3 Texas Tech Red Raiders

It just makes a bit too much sense. Gonzaga is easily the best team in this region, with Duke being an underachieving group and Texas Tech, Arkansas, and UConn simply lacking the talent to slay Goliath. I’ve got the Zags over the Red Raiders in a slugfest in the Regional Final to get to the Final Four, where unfinished business awaits them.

Full Round of 64 Picks:

#1 Gonzaga over #16 Georgia State: A 16 will never beat a 1 again. I truly believe that.

#9 Memphis over #8 Boise State: This is as close to a coin flip as an 8/9 can get, but I’m rocking with Memphis and their athleticism, led by star big man Jalen Duren.

#5 UConn over #12 New Mexico State: The Huskies are a solid group led by a great PG in R.J. Cole and a star big man in Adama Sanogo. This shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for them.

#4 Arkansas over #13 Vermont: I love everything about the Razorbacks and their coach Eric Musselman. Their star guard play led by J.D. Notae and dominant presence down low with Jaylin Williams will guide them to victory over a trendy upset pick in the Catamounts.

#11 Notre Dame over #6 Alabama: After getting a spot in the play-in game, the Fighting Irish fought to the very end in a 2OT classic in Dayton against Rutgers to get a shot at Alabama. People may be worried about the fatigue following such a draining game, but I’ll be optimistic and look at the momentum that Notre Dame now has. The Tide are a talented team, but they’ve underachieved all season long. This just feels like a classic 11-6 upset in the making.

#3 Texas Tech over over #14 Montana State: The Red Raiders boast the best defense in the nation, and will suffocate any opponent in this field. Their first challenge shouldn’t be too difficult.

#10 Davidson over #7 Michigan State: Sparty enters the Madness with an above average resume in the gauntlet that was the Big Ten in 2022, but I’ve seen them fall flat too many times to pick them over a Davidson squad that has been consistent all year long. The Wildcats fell in the A10 title game against Richmond, but they were the league’s best team from start to finish, and I like their chances to pull off this upset.

#2 Duke over #15 Cal State Fullerton: Coach K’s final NCAA Tournament can’t be another one-and-done against a 14 or 15 seed… right?

All stats taken from ESPN.

2022 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: South Region

The South Region of the 2022 NCAA Tournament features all sorts of big names and an abundance of star power. Let’s break it down and preview how the South will play out.

Cover photo taken from The Athletic.

Welcome to the Madness. The NCAA Tournament is finally back in its full glory in 2022, and if you’re not more excited than ever, you’re just lying. Last year was certainly fun, but the tournament was a shell of its usual self, with virtually no fans and a bubble in Indianapolis from start till finish. Now, March Madness is back to full strength with a plethora of different locations, and fans filling the stands all across the country. This promises to be a glorious few weeks in college basketball. To preview the tournament, I’ll be breaking down the 2022 bracket region by region. This is the preview of the South: a region with an abundance of star power and my personal pick to cut down the nets in New Orleans.

Meet the 1 Seed: Arizona Wildcats

This year’s Arizona team is an incredible story. After the turmoil of the last few years with Sean Miller’s departure and an FBI investigation, former long-time Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd took this program over and restored them to their usual glory in just one year. The Wildcats won the most games in college basketball with 31 and dominated the PAC-12 all season long, including a championship in the conference tournament en route to their first 1 seed since 2014. This is a deep, remarkably talented team led by guard Bennedict Mathurin, who is one of my favorite players to watch. Mathurin averages 17/6/3/1 on 46% shooting, and has quickly become one of college basketball’s premier guards and a potential NBA lottery pick. But it’s not just him that makes this team so special. Other key contributors include center Christian Koloko, the National Most Improved Player of the Year, forward Azuolas Tubelis, and guard Kerr Kriisa. Kriisa injured his ankle in the PAC-12 Tournament and could be limited during this tournament, which is something to watch. But, Zona seemed to be just fine without him in those games, and I think that can easily continue in the dance. This is a dominant team on both ends of the floor, playing picturesque offense and shutting down even the best of offenses. They are destined for a deep run and have a fantastic chance of reaching their first Final Four since 2001. It’s safe to say that Arizona basketball is back.

Meet the Sleeper: #7 Ohio State Buckeyes

Honorable Mentions: #5 Houston Cougars, #9 TCU Horned Frogs

In my eyes, there are only two possible outcomes for the Buckeyes in this tournament. They will either lose in the first round, or make a run to at least the second weekend. That has been their nature all season long. Ohio State has huge wins over teams like Duke, Seton Hall, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. But, they have also lost to vastly inferior competition, most recently teams like Maryland, Nebraska, and Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament. There’s no doubt that this team is as dangerous as any when they play their best basketball, but a combination of injuries and general inconsistency makes it so that we rarely see the Bucks at their best. With much of both still lingering, it’s going to be feast or famine in this tournament for Ohio State. If they feast, then this team is capable of getting all the way to at least the second weekend, and maybe even the Final Four. It just remains to be seen if they can live up to that potential.

Upset Waiting to Happen: #12 UAB over #5 Houston

Honorable Mentions: #11 Michigan over #6 Colorado State, #13 Chattanooga over #4 Illinois, #10 Loyola Chicago over #7 Ohio State

On paper, Houston is one of the best teams in the country. They have some of the best stats and metrics of any team in college basketball. The Cougars rank 2nd in BPI, 3rd in NET, and 4th in KenPom. This is seemingly just as good of a team as last year’s Final Four squad. But, there is a reason they are a 5 seed. The AAC was remarkably weak this season, and Houston feasted on vastly inferior competition all year long. They also struggled against fellow tournament teams, losing to Wisconsin, Alabama, and Memphis twice. There’s no doubt that Houston is an elite team at their best, but they are much more vulnerable than they might seem. Enter the Blazers of UAB. This is a ridiculously fun team that ran the table in the C-USA Tournament to reach the big dance, and I think they have what it takes to pull off the quintessential 12-5 upset. Led by Jordan “Jelly” Walker, a 20 PPG scorer, the Blazers play top-tier offense, and aren’t so bad on the other side of the ball either. If they can successfully speed things up on the floor, getting Houston off their game, and hit perimeter shots, then I really like UAB’s chance of kicking off a potential Cinderella run. It will be a tall task against one of the nation’s best defenses, but I’ve seen crazier things in March.

Best Potential Games: #1 Arizona vs. #4 Illinois, #1 Arizona vs. #2 Villanova

Honorable Mentions: #1 Arizona vs. #9 TCU, #2 Villanova vs. #3 Tennessee

Illinois hasn’t lived up to their potential this year, a trend that seems to have started in last season’s NCAA Tournament. However, they still have one of college basketball’s most talented lineups, especially up front with their star center, Kofi Cockburn. Going up against an equally-talented Arizona roster in the Sweet 16 would be appointment television, especially with the battle of the big men in Cockburn vs. Zona’s Christian Koloko. This would be a phenomenal game between two historic basketball programs: just what March is all about. I’d have to roll with the Wildcats simply due to the utter inconsistency that the Illini have displayed all season long vs. Arizona’s year-long dominance.

Here’s a question for you. When the Wildcats face off against the Wildcats, who emerges victorious. Probably the Wildcats, right? All jokes aside, Arizona-Villanova would be a spectacular game for anyone who loves basketball. The guard play on display would be something special, with Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin facing off against Villanova’s Collin Gillespie. Other players like Kerr Kriisa of Arizona and Justin Moore of Villanova just add to the pageantry of this one. Again, I’d have to rock with Arizona to win this one. I truly believe they are the best team in the field.

My Pick for New Orleans: #1 Arizona

Honorable Mentions: #2 Villanova Wildcats, #3 Tennessee Volunteers

Arizona is not just my pick to win this region and make the Final Four. They are my pick to win the NCAA Tournament. They are the best basketball team I have seen this season. Gonzaga is close, but we see how that plays out every season. Bennedict Mathurin is ready to play his way into a household name, and Tommy Lloyd is ready to lead one of the most improbable title runs in history. I’ve got the Wildcats beating Tennessee in the Regional Final to get to New Orleans, where two more wins await them.

Full Round of 64 Picks:

#1 Arizona over #16 Wright State: Zona’s title run has to start somewhere.

#9 TCU over #8 Seton Hall: On their best day, the Pirates can beat some of the nation’s top teams. The problem? They don’t have many great days. TCU was a pest in the Big 12 all year long, and their size and athleticism will win them this game.

#12 UAB over #5 Houston: All of the metrics in the college basketball world absolutely adore the Cougars. Makes sense that a team full of seniors that just went to the Final Four gets so much love. For some reason, I just don’t see it. UAB is a super fun team led by guard Jordan “Jelly” Walker, that willed their way into the dance in last week’s C-USA tournament. Why not them?

#4 Illinois over #13 Chattanooga: The Mocs seem to be a trendy upset pick in this game, but I just don’t see it. Just imagine Kofi Cockburn going up against those guys, and your mind might change.

#6 Colorado State over #11 Michigan: The Rams have a budding star in David Roddy, one of college basketball’s best players. Stars usually tend to shine brightest in March. Moreover, the Wolverines should not have made the tournament. The fact that they got a bye is insulting. Luckily for us, their stay in the dance will be short and sweet. Let’s just hope Juwan Howard keeps his hands to himself.

#3 Tennessee over #14 Longwood: The SEC champion Vols are as hot as anyone in America right now, and are criminally under-seeded as a 3. Look for them to continue playing with a chip on their shoulder en route to a deep run.

#10 Loyola Chicago over #7 Ohio State: The Buckeyes are just so unlucky. Injuries have derailed them all year long, and they come into this tournament limping after a loss to Penn State in the Big Ten tournament. They have the star power to compete against anyone in this tournament, but with the way they stand, this pick just seems too plausible. The Ramblers love making noise in March, and I think that trend will continue on Friday afternoon.

#2 Villanova over #15 Delaware: This is Villanova’s best shot at a title since their last in 2018. This team is as deep and experienced as any, and that tends to work wonders in March. This will be the start of a potentially special run for the Wildcats.

All stats taken from ESPN.

2022 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Midwest Region

The Midwest Region of the 2022 NCAA Tournament features a ton of uncertainty and questions, and is certainly destined for madness. Let’s break it down and preview how the Midwest will play out.

Cover photo taken from Evert Nelson, The Capital-Journal.

Welcome to the Madness. The NCAA Tournament is finally back in its full glory in 2022, and if you’re not more excited than ever, you’re just lying. Last year was certainly fun, but the tournament was a shell of its usual self, with virtually no fans and a bubble in Indianapolis from start till finish. Now, March Madness is back to full strength with a plethora of different locations, and fans filling the stands all across the country. This promises to be a glorious few weeks in college basketball. To preview the tournament, I’ll be breaking down the 2022 bracket region by region. This is the preview of the Midwest: a region with seemingly more questions than anything else.

Meet the 1 Seed: Kansas Jayhawks

Bill Self’s Jayhawks are back with a 1 seed after finishing the season strong and winning the Big 12 Tournament title over Texas Tech. This is Kansas’ first 1 seed since 2018 (although they would have gotten one in 2020), where they were beat by the eventual champion, Villanova. This is a bit of a different Kansas team, but they are more than capable thanks to a plethora of experience. After last year’s Round of 32 exit as a 3 seed, Kansas returned several starters, the most notable of which being guard Ochai Agbaji, one of the best players in college basetball. Agbaji is an athletic freak, scoring nearly 20 PPG and dropping jaws from start to finish in every game he plays. He will have to be the star that we all know he can be if Kansas is to go on a deep run this March. Other returning key pieces include guards Christian Braun and Dajuan Harris Jr., as well as forwards Jalen Wilson and David McCormack. Kansas wasn’t the most consistent team all season long, but they are hot when it counts most, and they are ready to go to their first Final Four in 4 years. This is a remarkably experienced group that can score at will in addition to slamming the door shut on defense. It will be a tall task for anyone in this field to stop them.

Meet the Sleeper: #5 Iowa Hawkeyes

Honorable Mentions: #7 USC Trojans, #8 San Diego State Aztecs

One year ago, Iowa was a 2 seed led by Luka Garza, a program legend and one of the sport’s best players in recent memory. They were bounced in the Round of 32 by 7th seeded Oregon in what was Garza’s final game, and nobody thought the Hawkeyes would be able to bounce right back up. But that is exactly what head coach Fran McCaffrey has done this season in Iowa City. Iowa got red hot when the calendar flipped over to March, running the table in the Big Ten Tournament to win the title and earn a 5 seed in the dance. This team runs on experience and offensive dominance, and they have an abundance of both. It starts with forward Keegan Murray, who has become one of the best players in America. Murray, who averages 24/9/2/1/2 on 55% shooting, has been an unstoppable force as of late, and has emerged as the kind of player that can fuel a deep run for a sleeper team a la Kemba Walker for UConn in 2011. His twin brother Kris is also a key contributor, pouring in 10 PPG. Other major factors for this Hawkeyes team include guard Jordan Bohannon, in his whopping sixth season, as well as the coach’s own son, guard Patrick McCaffrey. With all the experience in the world, one of the nation’s best offenses, and a player in Keegan Murray who can captivate the nation, everyone should be keeping their eyes on Iowa all tournament long.

Upset Waiting to Happen: #13 South Dakota State over #4 Providence

Honorable Mentions: #12 Richmond over #5 Iowa, #11 Iowa State over #6 LSU

To put it plainly, Providence might be the luckiest team in college basketball. In fact, they are the luckiest team in the sport according to KenPom, and it’s not even close. The Friars are 11-2 this season in games decided by five or fewer points, and that luck doesn’t seem to thrive in March. It certainly wasn’t on display in last week’s Big East Tournament Semifinal, where Creighton absolutely ambushed them in a near-30-point blowout. This is a talented team, led by guard Jared Bynum, and an awesome story with head coach Ed Cooley, but their recent form inspires little to no confidence. They simply cut it close way too many times against inferior competition, and they’ve just happened to get by all season long. Meanwhile, the Jackrabbits are as hot as anyone in the field. South Dakota State hasn’t lost in this calendar year, winning 30 games (tied with Murray State for the second most in the country behind Arizona’s 31) and earning a 13 seed in the dance. With a scorching offense led by guard Baylor Scheierman, who can do it all, the Jackrabbits are a team that nobody wants to face. Least of all a team fledgling as much as Providence. If you are going to pick a 13 over a 4 in your bracket, look no further than this one. You can thank me later.

Best Potential Games: #2 Auburn vs. #7 USC, #1 Kansas vs. #5 Iowa

Honorable Mentions: #3 Wisconsin vs. #7 USC, #3 Wisconsin vs. #6 LSU

The Midwest features so many teams with so many questions. It makes speculating some of these matchups very difficult, because I’m honestly not sure if we’ll even get them. I am confident that both of these matchups will take place, but I would not be shocked if one of these teams is sent home packing early. In the case of Auburn-USC, anyone who enjoys offense will love watching the Tigers and Trojans do battle. These are two of the most fun offenses to watch in all of college basketball. Auburn has one of the more star-studded lineups in America, led by forwards Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler as well as guards Wendell Green Jr. and Zep Jasper. They were one of the best teams in the country all year long, but ended the season on a whimper. USC has some stars of their own, namely forwards Drew Peterson and Isaiah Mobley. They’re a team that will certainly make a deep run if they play up to their potential. This game would be a blast, and I’d honestly have to roll with the Trojans to advance to the Sweet 16. They’ve just looked better as of late, and I think they match up well enough with the Tigers to get it done.

In the case of Kansas-Iowa, what more can I say? It’s the 1 seed against my sleeper team. It would be a delight to see Iowa’s offense take on Kansas’ defense. And honestly, I think Keegan Murray can lead the Hawkeyes to victory over Bill Self’s blue blood Jayhawks.

My Pick for New Orleans: #5 Iowa

Honorable Mentions: #3 Wisconsin Badgers, #7 USC Trojans

Why not them? You get my love for this team by now, and I’m riding them the whole way. I think they have the offensive prowess and a true star in Keegan Murray that can carry them all the way to NOLA. It’ll be a tough road, starting with their first game against Richmond. But this region seems to be destined for true madness, and amidst that chaos, I like the Hawkeyes’ chances. I have Iowa over Wisconsin in an all-Big Ten Regional Final to reach an improbable Final Four.

Full Round of 64 Picks:

#1 Kansas over #16 Texas Southern: Next.

#8 San Diego State over #9 Creighton: The Bluejays fought their way all the way to the Big East title game last Saturday at MSG, but I think the Aztecs’ elite defense will carry them to victory in this one.

#5 Iowa over #12 Richmond: This is one of the more under-the-radar, super fun games of the First Round. Richmond ran the table in the A10 Tournament to get to the dance, led by super seniors and stellar shooting. Going up against an Iowa team that won the Big Ten Tournament themselves that has plenty of star power will be a tall task, however. This will be a fun watch, but I don’t see an upset here.

#13 South Dakota State over #4 Providence: The Friars were one of the better stories of the 2021-22 season, but given their recent form and nature of flying by the seat of their pants, I cannot pick them here. But it’s not just their struggles. The Jackrabbits boast 30 wins, tied for the second most in the sport, and haven’t lost since December. This team is red hot and super fun, and who’s to say that they can’t win some hearts with a huge upset here?

#6 LSU over #11 Iowa State: Good for the Cyclones to reach the tournament after last year’s nightmare season. Unfortunately, LSU is a far better team, even without a head coach.

#3 Wisconsin over #14 Colgate: For the second consecutive year, the Raiders get a shot at 3 seed who wears red. Unfortunately for them, I see the same outcome here: a close-ish loss to a team destined to make a deep run in Wisconsin.

#7 USC over #10 Miami: The Trojans have one of the highest ceilings in college basketball. When they get hot, they can be unstoppable. But I don’t think they’ll need to reach that potential to get past a Miami team that’s nothing special.

#2 Auburn over #15 Jacksonville State: The Tigers have a ton of questions coming into this tournament, but they should at least get to the next round with ease. After all, they’ve gotten experience beating up on Gamecocks already this year.

All stats taken from ESPN.

2022 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: East Region

The East Region of the 2022 NCAA Tournament features incredible potential with some of basketball’s biggest brands. Let’s break it down and preview how the East will play out.

Cover photo taken from The Sun.

Welcome to the Madness. The NCAA Tournament is finally back in its full glory in 2022, and if you’re not more excited than ever, you’re just lying. Last year was certainly fun, but the tournament was a shell of its usual self, with virtually no fans and a bubble in Indianapolis from start till finish. Now, March Madness is back to full strength with a plethora of different locations, and fans filling the stands all across the country. This promises to be a glorious few weeks in college basketball. To preview the tournament, I’ll be breaking down the 2022 bracket region by region. This is the preview of the East: a region with some of the biggest brands in the sport, with potential late-round games that can captivate the country.

Meet the 1 Seed: Baylor Bears

The defending champions are back with a vengeance and geared up for a potential repeat. Head coach Scott Drew continues to work miracles in Waco, further establishing Baylor as a perennial power in college basketball. It was a bit of a bumpy season, with injuries running rampant during the conference schedule and derailing the Bears for a few weeks. But, by season’s end, Baylor proved themselves as a team more than deserving of a 1 seed. This year’s squad is similar to last year’s title-winning team in the sense that they pride themselves on elite defense on the perimeter and inside alongside impeccable guard play. Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell may be gone, but James Akinjo, a transfer from Arizona, and 2021 champ Adam Flagler headline a more than capable backcourt. LJ Cryer is another key piece of the backcourt, but he has been dealing with a foot injury since January that could keep him on the sidelines for this tournament. The frontcourt is still dominant as well, led by forward Flo Thamba, but a season-ending injury to Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua has seriously hurt Baylor on that part of the floor. This has led to some rough losses, most recently in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal against Oklahoma, who didn’t even make the NCAA Tournament. Still, this team paints one of basketball’s most gorgeous paintings when their guards are clicking on offense, and they’re just as suffocating defensively as last year’s championship team. They certainly have what it takes to run it back and cut down the nets once again.

Meet the Sleeper: #4 UCLA Bruins

Honorable Mentions: #8 North Carolina Tar Heels, #11 Virginia Tech Hokies

I know what you’re thinking. How can UCLA, the most successful program in the history of the sport, and a team that went to the Final Four last year be a sleeper? Well, everyone sort of just… stopped talking about them. The Bruins had all the hype in the world coming into this season after last year’s Cinderella run to the Final Four as an 11 seed and First Four team. But between some losses, injuries, and a COVID pause that lasted over a month, UCLA fell through the cracks of college basketball, especially with the emergence of Arizona in the PAC-12. But this is a team that can do real damage in this tournament, and I know this because I’ve seen it. UCLA returned all five starters from last year’s team, and although injuries have shaken them up all season long, they are healthy and hot right now, which is a winning combination in March. Guard Johnny Juzang still gets all the hype and the love, as he should, but other guards like Tyger Campbell, Jules Bernard, and Jaime Jaquez have been lights out to help UCLA reach this point. This team has the experience and the star power to make a deep run, and I truly believe that they’ll do just that. Between that and their favorable draw, UCLA seems geared up to wrap up some unfinished business.

Upset Waiting to Happen: #11 Virginia Tech over #6 Texas

Honorable Mentions: #12 Indiana over #5 Saint Mary’s, #10 San Francisco over #7 Murray State

In case you haven’t been paying attention, perhaps the hottest team in college basketball resides in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies were a fringe bubble team heading into last week’s ACC Tournament, and all they did was run the table with vastly impressive wins over fellow NCAA Tournament teams in UNC, Notre Dame, and Duke to win the tournament title. Mike Young’s team of scrappy transfers features one of the hottest offenses you’ll see that can shoot from the perimeter and have their way inside. Players like Justyn Mutts, Hunter Cattoor, Darius Maddox, and Keve Aluma are remarkably dangerous when they’re clicking, and the Hokies can beat anyone in that circumstance. They can especially beat a Texas team that has underachieved all season long. Chris Beard’s team entered this season as a national title contender, and they haven’t lived up to that hype for a second. They treaded water all season long in the Big 12 and were bounced out of the conference tournament early. This immensely talented team simply refuses to live up to their potential, and I can think of no more poetic way for this disappointing season to end than with a first round exit.

Best Potential Games: #1 Baylor vs. #4 UCLA, #2 Kentucky vs. #3 Purdue

Honorable Mentions: #1 Baylor vs. #2 Kentucky, #2 Kentucky vs. #4 UCLA

Let’s just say that the second weekend in this region is going to be an absolute blast. Just look at the names! Baylor, the defending champs and 1 seed. Kentucky and UCLA are two blue bloods and some of the most successful programs in history. Purdue boasts one of the nation’s most talented rosters and always seems to make noise in March. Let’s have some fun.

A potential Baylor-UCLA Sweet 16 game would be a delight. It easily could have been last year’s title game matchup, if it weren’t for a certain Jalen Suggs shot. Both of these teams thrive off their guard play, and with some of the biggest names in the sport at those positions, this could be one of the most star-studded matchups of the tournament. I’d have to roll with UCLA in this one, simply because my gut tells me to. I love what they have with their experience, and I really want to see this team make a deep run after last year.

Kentucky-Purdue would be a different story. Instead of a clash of guards, the primary focus in this game would be on the frontcourt, with Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky going up against Trevion Williams and Zach Edey of Purdue. That’s not to say the little guys won’t get some spotlight as well, namely Purdue’s Jaden Ivey and Kentucky’s TyTy Washington. Simply put, this is a matchup with superstars all over the floor that would be a treat for us all to watch. I’d pick Kentucky in this game due to their dominance down low with Tshiebwe, and I have the utmost faith in them to go much further than just the Elite 8.

My Pick for New Orleans: #2 Kentucky Wildcats

Honorable Mentions: #3 Purdue Boilermakers, #4 UCLA Bruins

It’s no surprise that Kentucky is back in the spotlight at the NCAA Tournament. After missing last year’s dance entirely, the Wildcats are back with a furious vengeance. Head coach John Calipari is no stranger to insanely-talented rosters, and this is his best in several years. It all starts with forward Oscar Tshiebwe, a transfer from West Virginia who is perhaps the best player in college basketball. Tshiebwe averages 17 PPG and an unbelievable 15 RPG to go along with 2 SPG and 2 BPG. He is the heart of this team, and the single most dominant force in the sport. The Cats boast four other players who average double digits in scoring in TyTy Washington (13), Kellan Grady (12), Keion Brooks (11), and Sahvir Wheeler (10). Kentucky might just be college basketball’s most talented team with one of the best offenses in the nation, and I think that will carry them all the way to the Final Four. I just don’t think any other team in the East has what it takes to stop them. I like the Wildcats to beat UCLA in the Regional Final and get to New Orleans.

Full Round of 64 Picks:

#1 Baylor over #16 Norfolk State: A nice, easy way to start a title defense.

#8 North Carolina over #9 Marquette: The Tar Heels are honestly a spooky 8 seed. They have underachieved all season long, but if they get hot, then you’d better watch out. But when it comes to underachieving, look no further than Shaka Smart. Sorry, Golden Eagles.

#5 Saint Mary’s over #12 Indiana: The Hoosiers have had a hell of a run to get to this point. Led by star big man Trayce Jackson-Davis, their old-school basketball is immensely tough to beat. I think I’d pick Indiana against a more favorable opponent, but Saint Mary’s seemingly does what they do even better. Their elite defense should be enough to get them over the hump against a very good Indiana squad.

#4 UCLA over #13 Akron: Last year’s Final Four team from Westwood is ready to run it back with another deep run in 2022. They certainly have what it takes, and it starts here with what should be an easy win against a Zips team that admittedly made a nice run in the MAC Tournament to make the dance.

#11 Virginia Tech over #6 Texas: Against all odds, the hottest team in the nation in the last week might have been the Hokies. Mike Young and his group of transfers who followed him to Blacksburg ran the table in the ACC Tournament to leave no doubt and get to the dance. Now, they face a fledgling Texas team that has underachieved all season long. March seems to reward those who overachieve, and that’s all VT has been doing.

#3 Purdue over #14 Yale: The Boilermakers are the true wild card of this region. Boasting one of the nation’s most talented lineups, this team has what it takes to get to New Orleans. It just remains to be seen if they can live up to their potential. In any case, this matchup won’t be too much trouble for them.

#7 Murray State over #10 San Francisco: This is one of the more intriguing matchups of the first round between two of the best Mid-Majors all season long. The Racers boast a whopping 30 wins (tied for second-most in the nation), and the Dons have been a super fun team that proved their worth out of the WCC. This will be a fun one, but Murray State has simply been too dominant throughout the course of this season for me to pick against them.

#2 Kentucky over #15 Saint Peter’s: The Wildcats will get to the Final Four. It all starts here, in a game that might have the biggest point differential in the entire first round.

All stats taken from ESPN.

The 2021 NFL Season, a Retrospective

The 2021 NFL season was one of the best we’ve ever seen. Let’s take a look back at the highs and lows of an incredible campaign.

Cover photo taken from Getty Images.

The longest NFL season of all time is in the books, and it was a joy to watch. From start to finish, this season brought all of the emotions out of football fans. Whether it was wild finishes, crazy storylines, or jaw-dropping performances, the 2021 campaign exceeded to the hype. I thought that I should revisit some of that craziness and give my thoughts on the best and worst of the season. Let’s start with the absolute best of the best.

Player of the Year: WR Cooper Kupp

Honorable Mentions: QB Tom Brady, RB Jonathan Taylor

To put it plainly, Cooper Kupp had the greatest individual season I have ever seen. It’s that simple. The numbers and accolades don’t even make sense. They’d be impressive for a career, let alone a single season. Kupp became the fourth receiver in history to win the proverbial Triple Crown. His total stats (regular season + postseason) are straight out of a video game: 178 catches, 2,425 yards, and 22 TD. Kupp was a unanimous All-Pro selection in addition to winning Offensive Player of the Year. Oh yeah, and he caught 2 TDs in the Super Bowl, including the game-winner, to win Super Bowl MVP. The sheer statistics, the consistency, the reliability, and the pure greatness of Kupp this season was something I’ve never seen before. I have seen some great WR and even QB seasons, but nobody has ever achieved what Cooper Kupp did in 2021. And we might never see it ever again.

Super Bowl 2022: The Rams beat the Bengals : NPR
It only made sense that Cooper Kupp’s historic season ended with catching the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, along with winning SB MVP. (h/t Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)

Team of the Year: Cincinnati Bengals

Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers

They may not have gotten it done in the end, but the fact that they even got there is more than enough for me to crown the Bengals as the most impressive team of 2021. I picked Cincinnati to go 5-12 and finish last in the AFC North. Most fans and members of the media were in agreement that this team would not be good whatsoever. And they were less than 2 minutes away from winning the franchise’s first ever Super Bowl. They opened all of our eyes from Week 1 all the way until Super Bowl Sunday, and I think it’s safe to say that this team is here to stay. They put up crazy numbers all year long on offense and dispatched of everyone else in the division to win their first title in six years. They pulled off multiple road upsets in the postseason, beating the 1 seed Titans and silencing Arrowhead and Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship. Between the emergence of Joe Burrow as a superstar QB, WR Jamarr Chase’s historic rookie campaign, and the complete 180 of the defense, the Bengals proved that they were no longer the perennial underdogs. This team is built to contend, and I can’t wait to see what they do next season. Just get Burrow an offensive line. We’re all begging you.

Joe Burrow Earns All-Time Compliment From Ja'Marr Chase Before the 2022 Super Bowl: 'He's Like a God to Me'
The Bengals have nothing to hang their head over, shattering expectations en route to an AFC title. (h/t Rob Carr, Getty Images)

Game of the Year:Chiefs 42-36 Bills, Divisional Round

Honorable Mentions: Chiefs 34-28 Chargers (Week 15), Raiders 30-27 Chargers (Week 18)

Duh. From before this game even went final, we were all in agreement that it wasn’t just one of the greatest playoff games ever, but perhaps the best NFL game of all time. This divisional showdown had all the hype in the world before it even started, seeing as though it was a rematch of the previous season’s AFC Championship Game and another chapter in the budding Chiefs-Bills and Patrick Mahomes-Josh Allen rivalry. From the jump, this game was a delight to watch, being a pure back-and-forth affair that we knew would come down to whoever had the ball last. In what became the ultimate “did they leave too much time” 4th quarter, Buffalo and Kansas City combined for 28 points, 25 of which came in the final 1:54. First, Allen hit WR Gabriel Davis for a 27-yard laser in the back of the endzone (on 4th and 13!) after he broke Chiefs DB Mike Hughes’ ankles to go up 29-26. KC retaliated when WR Tyreek Hill took a simple drag route and ran past everyone in the stadium for a 62-yard lightning strike to retake the lead at 33-29 with 62 seconds left. The Bills refused to say die, and with just 13 infamous seconds left on the clock, Allen found Davis for the fourth time in the game for a 19-yard touchdown to go up 36-33 and seemingly send Buffalo back to the AFC Championship Game. However, somehow that was too much time for the Chiefs. In just two plays, one throw to Hill and another to TE Travis Kelce, KC got down to the Buffalo 31. From there, K Harrison Butker nailed a field goal to send the game to overtime. The Chiefs won the toss, got the ball, and marched right down the field in a beautiful drive culminating in an 8-yard game-winning touchdown pass from Mahomes to Kelce. Mahomes finished with 378 yards and 3 TDs on 33-44 passing, while Allen had 329 and 4 touchdowns (all of which were caught by Davis, who totaled 8 catches for 201 yards) on 27-37 passing. It was absolutely incredible to watch, and considering the stakes and starpower, I don’t know if I’ll ever see a game as exhilarating as this one ever again. Oh, and if you complained about the overtime rules after this game, you need to grow up.

Chiefs vs. Bills score: Patrick Mahomes edges Josh Allen in OT thriller, returns to AFC Championship - CBSSports.com
Patrick Mahomes had the last word in OT of one of the greatest NFL games ever. (h/t Joshua Bessex, Getty Images)

Story of the Year: Tom Brady Finally Retires

Honorable Mentions: Rams going all-in, Packers collapse again

I remember getting the notification and refusing to believe what I read was true. Tom Brady has been in the NFL longer than I’ve been alive, and yet the thought of him no longer playing football refused to register in my mind. It’s still crazy to think about. After 22 glorious seasons, the GOAT called it a career after the Buccaneers’ 30-27 loss in the Divisional Round to the Rams. Many theorized it after Tampa’s early exit, but it was still a shock to us all. Brady obviously accomplished everything there is to accomplish in this league, and he left on his own terms. The loss stung for sure, but I think that winning 7 Super Bowls, 5 Super Bowl MVPs, 3 MVPs, and being the NFL’s all-time leader in QB wins, completions, touchdowns, and yards is a pretty solid consolation prize. He will always be the GOAT, and trying to imagine an NFL without him seems impossible. Is this how people felt when Michael Jordan retired? Any of the three times?

AP sources: Despite reports, Tom Brady hasn't made up mind | National News | wacotrib.com
Tom Brady ended his legendary career on a rarity: an early playoff exit. (h/t Waco Tribune-Herald)

Most Disappointing Team: Cleveland Browns

Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Football Team, Miami Dolphins

Considering that I picked this team to go to the Super Bowl and they didn’t even make the playoffs, this was an easy choice. An 8-9 season filled with abhorrent offense, COVID problems, injuries, and a plethora of questions placed the Browns in perhaps a worse position than their usual purgatory: mediocrity. This team had real expectations for the first time in decades after the unforeseen success of 2020, and they simply collapsed. The running game was a bright spot as always, but QB Baker Mayfield held the offense back from the start of the season until the very end, posting a horrid 35.1 QBR. The defense had a rough start to the year, but they picked it up eventually, and perhaps they can carry Cleveland in 2022. It’s going to be more of a make-or-break season than this year was, and many eyes will be on the Browns next fall. In summary, I think WR Odell Beckham Jr. forcing his way out of Cleveland, where he was a non-factor, and going to the Rams to be a pivotal contributor en route to winning the Super Bowl is the perfect microcosm of the 2021 Browns.

Baker Mayfield must improve on 3rd and 4th downs in 2022
The Browns let us all down in 2021, and it’s largely thanks to the play of QB Baker Mayfield. (h/t Browns Wire)

Most Disappointing Player: RB Saquon Barkley

Honorable Mentions: QB Sam Darnold, QB Baker Mayfield, WR Kenny Golladay

Anyone who drafted Saquon Barkley in fantasy will tell you how much of a dud he was in 2021. It’s such a shame. We were all ready for Saquon to come back with a vengeance after tearing his ACL last year. It’s safe to say we learned to temper our expectations a bit. Once again, Barkley was plagued by injuries, missing four games and being a non-factor in almost every game that he did play in. He finished the year with just 593 yards (3.7 YPC) and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Saquon wasn’t even the best RB on the Giants, being outperformed by Devontae Booker. It was a rough year all-around in New York (which can be said about both teams), with both Barkley and Kenny Golladay being colossal duds for the Giants. I don’t think we’ll be seeing either of them drafted as early as they were this year in next season’s fantasy drafts.

Former Penn State star Saquon Barkley tests positive for COVID-19 with Giants: report - pennlive.com
Saquon Barkley had very few worthwhile games in 2021, the best of which coming against the Saints in Week 4. (h/t Tyler Kaufman, AP)

Most Disappointing Story: The Urban Meyer Experiment

Honorable Mentions: The Chargers being the Chargers, The Deshaun Watson fiasco

If you didn’t expect Urban Meyer to fail tremendously and hilariously in Jacksonville, were you even paying attention? I remember envisioning the Jaguars going up in flames from the moment I heard that he had been hired as head coach. Just thinking about his track record in college and how he forced his way out of so many programs is enough to make me laugh. And I’m an Ohio State fan. The idea of failure was further emphasized when Meyer brought in all of “his guys” to coach alongside him in Jacksonville, none of which were very good. Combine that with the well-known incompetence of the Jags’ front office, and we have a very loud ticking time bomb. The offseason was filled with wackiness, from the signing and releasing of Tim Tebow (as a TE nonetheless) to the trading of backup QB and fan favorite Gardner Minshew. The Jaguars were blown out in Week 1 by the Texans, who many people thought wouldn’t win a single game in 2021. After a Week 4 loss to the Bengals, Meyer was caught being danced on by a random woman at a local bar (which he owned!). Later in the season, reports came out of Meyer being fought by several coaches and his own rookie QB Trevor Lawrence. On December 16th, about 11 months too late, Urban Meyer was finally fired. We’ll see if Doug Pederson can pick up the pieces as the team’s HC in 2022. If he does, he might deserve a Nobel Prize.

Urban Meyer firing: Incident with Trevor Lawrence, James Robinson led to Jaguars letting go of head coach - CBSSports.com
2021 #1 pick QB Trevor Lawrence couldn’t have asked for much worse of a rookie season thanks to the incompetence of the team that drafted him. (h/t Harry How, Getty Images)

And that’s a wrap on the 2021 NFL season. It was a blast from start to finish, and I already can’t wait for the fall. Next up is obviously the Draft, and I’ll have plenty of coverage of that. Be on the lookout for Mocks and perhaps some Commanders-related (still feels weird to say, doesn’t it?) content as well. See you then!

All stats and info taken from ESPN.

Super Bowl LVI Preview and Prediction

Super Bowl LVI is finally upon us with one of the more intriguing matchups in recent memory. Here’s my in-depth preview of the big game and my personal pick to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Cover photo taken from Coley Cleary, USA TODAY Sports Media Group illustration

We made it. Welcome to Super Bowl Sunday. Finally. After the longest season in NFL history, a whopping 22 weeks of football, 157 days, one of the wildest seasons to date filled with unbelievable stories, amazing games, and historic performances, and an unforgettable postseason, all eyes will finally turn to Hollywood for the final game of the year. And it’s one that seems like it couldn’t have been scripted any better by the writers of that town. Tonight, the Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, California.

There are storylines galore in this game, many of which have worn themselves out by now. But they’re here, and they’re worth repeating. The Rams are the definition of a team built for Hollywood, with stars all over the field and weekly performances that look like they belong on the big screen. On the other hand, the Bengals are the ultimate underdog, as they have been all season long. They’re the “people’s team”, just a group of guys from Ohio who love playing football, led by one of the most likeable athletes on the planet. Against all odds, that has gotten them to the Super Bowl. Before getting into the game itself, let’s take a deeper look into both teams’ roads to get here.

How the Bengals Got Here

Let’s reword that into a question. How did the Bengals get here? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for the last two weeks. It just makes no sense to me. The Cincinnati Bengals, a franchise that epitomizes losing, overcoming every obstacle and turning into a winning machine en route to an AFC title. Makes you scratch your head a bit. When analyzing how Cincy got to this point, I think we have to go back. Way back.

I remember where I was on November 22, 2020. I was in the basement of my house watching the then-named Washington Football Team, as I have been on so many Sundays. We were playing the Bengals in one of the worst matchups on paper any football fan could ever put themselves through. It wasn’t a good game at all, and it became one of those games where you remember an event more than the game itself. In the third quarter, the pocket was collapsing, and after firing an incomplete pass, Joe Burrow’s leg was folded up and his ACL and MCL were both torn. It was one of the more gruesome injuries that I’ve seen, but more than that, it was truly heartbreaking. Burrow was just a rookie in his tenth career game after being drafted #1 overall. He has always been a generally loved player and personality, and we all felt that this injury would stick with him for a while. There were doubts that he’d even be ready for the start of this season. It’s now safe to say that any and all doubts about Joe Burrow have been swiftly put to bed.

Because of that injury, and the majority of football-watchers having functional eyes, we all knew that the Bengals needed a better offensive line. Everyone implored Cincy to upgrade through the draft, but even Joe Burrow himself knew that there was a WR talent available with the #5 pick that was too good to pass up: Burrow’s former LSU teammate, WR Jamarr Chase. And all he did was griddy all over the league en route to the greatest rookie season for a WR in NFL history, tallying 81 catches, 1,455 yards (3rd in the NFL), and 13 touchdown grabs, along with winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The Burrow-to-Chase connection lost no steam after the duo won a National Championship two years ago, and it has added another level to a Bengals offense that already had plenty of playmakers. Now, with a clear star WR1, they boast one of the best WR corps in the league, with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd being some of the best complementaries in all of football. And with one of the best all-purpose RBs in football in Joe Mixon coming out of the backfield, the Cincinnati offense turned into one of the best in the NFL. It’s as balanced of an attack as they come, and they execute it to perfection.

The Bengals' JaMarr Chase, Joe Mixon and Tee Higgins doing the Griddy dance at Kansas City...
The Bengals offense boasts a plethora of weapons that can do it all. (h/t Albert Cesare, The Enquirer)

It’s not all on the fantastic offensive weapons in Cincy. The defense has turned itself around, and it has been the key in getting the Bengals to the Super Bowl. Star pass-rushers like Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard have wreaked havoc on opposing offenses and making tackles look silly in the process. The secondary was formerly one of the most suspect units in football, but they have quickly become the most opportunistic group of DBs I have ever seen. Corners like Eli Apple and Mike Hilton stick to WRs and break up passes, while safeties like Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell swoop in to take the ball away. It’s a vastly underrated unit that has made their name known in this postseason, forcing turnovers at the best of times against all three opponents to get to the big game.

But let’s make no mistake. The #1 reason that the Bengals are in their first Super Bowl in 33 years is the man with more swag and more confidence than any other player in sports. Joe Burrow, just a year removed from the aforementioned injury, came back in 2021 and took this league over. Week in and week out, Burrow was lighting up defenses thanks to his high-flying offense, and in these playoffs, he has emerged as one of the most clutch QBs in recent memory. As the Bengals play-by-play announcer once famously said, “When other QBs start sweating bullets, Joe Burrow starts throwing bullets.” His poise and collectiveness, even in crumbling pockets and other QB crises, is well beyond his years, and he has proven himself as Joe Cool 2.0. This is the biggest stage of his life, but I have no doubts that he is more than ready for the task at hand.

Column: Joe Burrow's poise put Bengals into Super Bowl qualifier - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Joe Burrow is equal parts confident and cool, and his legend is only growing in his second season. (h/t Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

Cincinnati ended the season scorching hot, winning their first AFC North title since 2015, and they did not slow down in the playoffs. The Cardiac Cats won all three games at the death, the last two thanks to their rookie kicker with D’Angelo Russell levels of ice in his veins, Evan McPherson. They are not only one of the more likable teams to get to this point in recent memory, but they are no longer the underdogs that we have all perceived them to be for this whole time. They are for real, and they have a real shot at this thing. They’ll tell you themselves, this most unlikely of playoff runs doesn’t mean a thing without that ring. But one more team stands in their path.

How the Rams Got Here

You ever seen Casino Royale (2006)? If you have, then I know you remember that iconic scene towards the end of the film where James Bond goes all in and defeats Le Chiffre with a legendary straight flush. This hand of all hands comes shortly after Bond goes all in and loses to the Frenchman, but after being re-staked in the game, he learns his lesson and gets revenge. Why am I bringing this up, you ask? Well, for one, I love making movie references. But, more importantly, in my eyes, this is the story of the 2021 Los Angeles Rams.

January 30, 2021 was a fateful day for the city of Los Angeles. Their team was coming off another disappointing playoff loss, and they knew that if they were to fully reach their potential, they’d have to get the QB to get them there. Jared Goff was serviceable, but this league needs a lot more than that to win titles. And thus, Goff was shipped off to Detroit, along with a whopping three first-round picks, and the Rams got their guy. Someone who had shown all the talent in the world and put up the numbers to go alongside it, but never got over the hump of success in the NFL. His name is Matthew Stafford. And well, the rest is history. Stafford’s first season playing for an actual organization has brought out the absolute best in him, and things have played out exactly as intended for the Rams, if not better. Stafford threw for a whopping 4,886 yards (2nd in the NFL) to go along with 41 touchdowns (3rd in the NFL). LA has gotten every ounce of potential out of Stafford, who won his first playoff game just four weeks ago. Now, he gets a shot at a title, something that will surely cement his legacy despite all those years wasting away in Detroit. But, the story of the Rams is not just the story of Matt Stafford. And it’s certainly not when they stopped pushing chips to the center of the table.

Matthew Stafford throws for 3 TDs as his big-play ability on display in winning Los Angeles Rams debut
Matthew Stafford went from one of football’s most underrated QBs to a bonafide star after being traded out west. (h/t ESPN)

Los Angeles’ defense is a vaunted one. Of course it is. They have one of the greatest players in NFL history right in the middle of it in DT Aaron Donald, the best DB in football in Jalen Ramsey, and a plethora of talent to fill out the rest of the defense. They didn’t necessarily need to get better, but they felt like doing so. On November 1, they traded a second and third-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for DE Von Miller, a former Super Bowl MVP and one of the best defensive players of this generation. Miller was showing signs of slowing down in Denver, but upon going to the City of Angels, he turned into his old self. It took him a short while to get going, but he recorded 5 sacks in the last 4 games of the regular season, along with 2 more in the playoffs. He has added another level to this already vaunted front seven, and considering what he did the last time he played in a Super Bowl, we’ll all be keeping an eye out for him. And still, this is not the last of the Bond-like moves from the Rams.

Ever since the Rams reemerged as one of the consistently-elite teams in this league, they’ve had all the offensive firepower in he world. A consistent theme in those offenses was elite WR play. And a rock of those WR corps was always Robert Woods. And on November 13, he tore his ACL in practice. The magnitude of that loss is hard to quantify, and the Rams knew that it would be a serious detriment to them. Luckily for them, less than 24 hours prior, they made another bold move. They took a chance on a former star WR that now, nobody wanted to touch. Could it be because his level of play fell off when he was on his old team? Or maybe the way he forced himself off of that team? In any case, the Rams did what no other contender wanted to do. They signed Odell Beckham Jr. I remember how much I hated the move. I repeated to everyone that it made the team worse. Now, I’m still not even close to finishing all of this crow that I have to eat. OBJ has been a revelation in Los Angeles, finding his old self and turning back into the star receiver he was in New York. He snagged 5 touchdowns in the regular season, and in the playoffs, he has become un-guardable to the tune of 19 catches, 236 yards, and a TD (9/113 in the NFC Championship). Safe to say this was another very ballsy move that worked out.

Matthew Stafford and Odell Beckham Lead Rams Over Cardinals - The New York Times
Odell Beckham Jr. found his old self after being released from the shackles that are the Cleveland Browns. (h/t Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today)

I feel guilty for waiting this long to mention the MVP of this team, and arguably the MVP of the entire league. Better late than never. WR Cooper Kupp is the straw that stirs this entire drink, and if you’ve watched even one Rams game this year, you know that goes without saying. In case you haven’t, I’ll let the numbers do the talking. 145 catches, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns, all of which led the league to secure just the fourth ever “Triple Crown” in history. Kupp took home the award for Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, and nobody was more deserving. Whether he helped you win your fantasy championship (or personally violated your fantasy football team), tore apart your defense, or lit up the football field for all 60 minutes, Kupp put together one of the most impressive seasons in NFL history. Simply put, the Rams go as Cooper Kupp goes.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp leaves Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard on the ground on his way to a 29-yard touchdown in the third quarter of Sunday's 37-7 victory over the Jags in Los Angeles.
Cooper Kupp, the Offensive Player of the Year, has become the NFL’s deadliest offensive weapon. (h/t Jae C. Hong, AP)

LA’s season was, like any Hollywood story, told in three acts. The first act featured a blazing start, led by Stafford’s incredible arm and Kupp’s emergence as one of the NFL’s best offensive weapons. The second act featured some shake-ups with the acquisition of Miller and Beckham, along with the loss of Woods. They lost some games in brutal fashion, and I started to lose hope in them to do anything worthwhile in the playoffs. But, the third act was truly something to behold. All of the pieces started clicking en route to a division title. After a heart-pounding trio of postseason games, including their only ever 10+ point 4th quarter comeback under HC Sean McVay in the NFC Championship, they earned the right to play for a title in their luxurious home of SoFi Stadium. Do these Hollywood comparisons never cease?

The Rams were already big spenders. They had more chips than anyone else at the table. They could’ve held onto them or cashed them and been satisfied with that. Everyone thought they should do so. Instead, they pushed them all to the center of the table. And now, they are one win away from a title.

Key Matchups

To me, there are two key matchups in Super Bowl LVI. And they are both a major strength vs. a major weakness. Let’s start with the obvious one: Cincinnati’s offensive line vs. Los Angeles’ front seven. Many believe that the Rams boast the best defensive front on football, with names like Donald, Miller, Leonard Floyd, and more. That argument certainly has some merit to it. But regardless of whether or not you think they’re the best, the key to this matchup comes on the other side. As I said before, anyone with eyes can tell you how rough this Bengals OL is. Just look at their Divisional Round performance, when they allowed a playoff record 9 sacks against the Titans. Joe Burrow’s heroics two weeks ago in Kansas City involved overcoming his porous offensive line, but the wheels might be coming off soon. This is the best front that Cincy has faced in this postseason, and if they crumble on the biggest stage, it will be the team’s downfall. All they have to do is give Joe Burrow a few seconds to breathe, and they’ll have a shot. Just a few seconds.

The other key matchup involves yet another Rams strong suit, with their WRs going up against the Bengals secondary. Those Cincinnati DBs have certainly stepped up in these playoffs, but they are prone to make mistakes throughout the course of the game. And this is not a group of WRs that you want to make mistakes against. Cooper Kupp, OBJ, and Van Jefferson against Eli Apple, Mike Hilton, and Chidobe Awuzie is a complete mismatch on paper, but that shouldn’t faze the Bengals. Their aforementioned opportunistic nature is their bread and butter. They don’t care how many yards they give up if they make plays at the right time and give the ball back to their offense. If the Bengals secondary can force Matt Stafford into making mistakes and limiting big plays, or even just forcing field goals instead of allowing touchdowns, then Cincy’s offense will be in a perfect position to win. But, if they rear their ugly head of porous play, then they’ll bring out the Lombardi by halftime for the Rams.

My Pick

Before I get into my pick for the game, I think it’s worth noting that I have not picked a Super Bowl correctly in six years. The last team to not let me down was the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. It has been downhill ever since. But I still feel very confident in my pick for this game, as I always do. I’ve been thinking about it for two weeks, crunching the numbers, micro-analyzing every matchup at the most granular levels, reading into superstitions. But after all that, I’m sticking with what my gut has told me since the Championship Games went final on January 30th.

Bengals 27-24 Rams

Sunday, 6:30 PM EST, NBC

It just makes sense. Although, it doesn’t. Not really. On paper, the Rams are clearly the better team in this game. If you ran it in a simulation 100 times, they’d win 90+ times. They have the better offense, the better defense, and maybe even the better special teams. They have all the star power in the world. They’re even playing in their home stadium for crying out loud! But after all this, I simply refer to one thing: destiny.

Sports are a funny thing. At its core, sports come down to heart. The best athletes in the world compete for all this time, but games are not won by the strength of players. Games are won by heart. It’s the heart that leads teams of destiny from rags to riches. From the pits of hell, filled with injuries and losing and heartbreak, to titles and glory. You can’t show me a team with more heart on a Super Bowl stage than this Cincinnati Bengals team. If you don’t believe this is a team of destiny by now, then you’re simply not paying attention.

It’s more than just the mushy stuff, though. I can’t rely on that alone for a Super Bowl pick. The Bengals have simply proven me wrong more than any team I can remember. Their offense is leaps and bounds above what I ever could have imagined, and we’re all running out of things to say about Joe Burrow. Their defense steps up when it matters most, and even their kicker, who they once “inexplicably” drafted with a 5th-round pick, has become a national hero. This team puts up numbers and then smacks you in the mouth when you try to retaliate. They can blow you out, they can grind you down, and they will always emerge victorious when things are toughest. I truly believe that the offensive line will give Joe Burrow that extra second to throw, the secondary will force the turnovers, and I know for a fact that Joe Burrow will be his usual self and pull one last clutch rabbit out of his hat. Evan McPherson kicks another game-winner at the buzzer, and Burrow takes home a Super Bowl MVP to go along with every other accolade and achievement in the book.

I know that the Rams have all the stars and the future Hall of Famers and the “genius” head coach and all of the above. I simply do not care. Because you can measure all you want in stats, contracts, trade details, stadium costs, and everything else. But there is one thing you cannot measure. Heart.

In any case, I hope this game is as great as it promises to be. We deserve it as fans. I think it’s going to be a blast, even if the commercials and halftime shows in between the game action aren’t all that. I can’t wait for Super Bowl LVI, and I hope you all enjoy it, no matter what unfolds on the field.

Lastly, I just want to thank you all for another fantastic NFL season. If you read, clicked, or shared any of the posts from this season, I appreciate you tremendously. This was an even better year than 2020-21, with more posts, interactions, and growth than ever before. I am truly grateful all of the support. And I promise you, things aren’t slowing down anytime soon. I’ll be back soon enough. I’ll see you all then.

All stats taken from ESPN.