Super Sunday Has Arrvied!

Welcome back, Sportz Freaks to a very special Super Bowl edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk! That's right, it's Super Bowl Sunday and dare I say that this is the biggest Super Bowl match up in quite some time. The Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of an unprecedented 6 Super Bowls, will head down to North Texas to do battle with the winner of the first two Super Bowls, the Green Bay Packers. Both these teams have quite a historical background, but they also have interesting stories in the 2010 season.

The Steelers, winners of two championships in the last five seasons, began the year with much doubt. Their fearless QB, Ben Roethlisberger, was suspended for the first four games of the year, and he city of Pittsburgh was anxious to see if their team could remain in the hunt with a backup. Yet, the Steelers marched through their early-season adversity and won their first three in a row, and five out of their first six. Pittsburgh went on to achieve a 12-4 record and earned the #2 seed in the AFC, as well as a first round bye. After downing hated division rival Baltimore in the first round, and edging the New Jory Jets in the AFC Title game, the Steelers are headed to their 8th Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

Meanwhile, Green Bay is on a mission as well. Early Super Bowl favorites, the Packers got off to a bit of a slow start, and needed to win their last two in a row to sneak into the playoffs. From there, it was a dominant run over the Eagles, Falcons and Bears to get back to the big game. Aaron Rodgers has been nothing short of phenomenal, and the Pack have scratched and clawed their way from the 6th seed in the NFC to make their 5th Super Bowl appearance.

Tonight's game matches two of the most storied franchises in NFL history, and it's sure to be a classic. This article will cover each team, position by position, in an attempt to predict who will emerge victorious in Super Bowl XLV! So let's get things started, shall we?

Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers, both under 30 years of age, have proven themselves to be fantastic leaders for their respective clubs. Rodgers has been absolutely incredible this season, especially in the playoffs. In three games, Rodgers has thrown for 788 yards (262.6 ypg) and six touchdowns, just two picks, as well as a rushing touchdown. Although Roethlisberger's numbers are never pretty, the man always seems to find a way to get it done. Two weeks ago in the AFC title game, Big Ben went an atrocious 10-19, for 133 yards and two interceptions. Despite those horrendous stats, Roethlisberger still managed to hook up with Antonio Brown (who?) for 14 yards and seal a Pittsburgh victory, sending them to the Super Bowl for the third time in the Roethlisberger era. Both quarterbacks also have the added edge of being able to run the ball, so there's always that factor. If asked which quarterback will have a better game statistically, I'd say that it's Rodgers without a doubt. If asked who the better quarterback will be at the end of the game, I honestly couldn't tell you. This one's a toss-up, and though Big Ben has the experience, I believe Rodgers will emerge as the top dog as far as quarterbacks go.

Winner: Green Bay

Running Back

Green Bay's running game has been given a spark.. or Stark, if you will. James Starks has seemingly come out of nowhere, running for 263 yards in three post-season games, and one score. In addition to this, the Pack also relies on big man John Kuhn in short yardage situations. The two-headed dog has certainly made some noise in the playoffs. On the flipside, Rashard Mendenhall has been fantastic in two post-season games, rushing for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Although Starks is flashy, and Kuhn is a powerhouse, I have to give the nod to Mendenhall, as he has been consistent all season, and he has produced the most where it counts: the endzone.

Winner: Pittsburgh

Wide Receiver

This one's an interesting match up of some veteran wide outs in Donald Driver vs. Hines Ward. Then, of course, there's Greg Jennings and Mike Wallace. The Green Bay receivers have accumulated the higher totals, but this is reflective of the dominant performances strung together by Aaron Rodgers. However, I'm going with Pittsburgh once again here as I believe Wallace is one of the more explosive receivers in the game today, and Ward is a wise veteran who always comes up with the big play. Point for black and yellow.

Winner: Pittsburgh

Tight End

The Packers haven't had much in the way of a tight end this year since losing Jermichael Finley early. This is one position where Pittsburgh is sure to have the edge, as Heath Miller has accumulated 544 yards and two scores this season, and just as with Ward, he always seems to make the catch when it counts the most. Once again, the nod goes to Pittsburgh.

Winner: Pittsburgh

Offensive Line

Here's another close one for ya. In the 2010 regular season, Aaron Rodgers was sacked a total of 31 times. And Roethlisberger? 32. Both defensive units will be bringing the pressure, and it's going to be up to the O-line to get things done. It's another toss-up, but I'll give the slight edge to Green Bay, as I think Rodgers has the speed to make his line look better. He may be pressured just as much, if not more, but I believe Big Ben will eat turf more often in this one.

Winner: Green Bay

Defense

It's #1 vs. #2. Pittsburgh has long been a strong defensive team, but it's Green Bay's defense who has helped propel the Pack into the big game. Polamalu is a machine, and Harrison's punishing defense is sure to make an impact. On the other side, Clay Matthews has made quite a name for himself this year as well, and there's always the threat of Charles Woodson. Both defenses have the threat of explosive plays, and despite how close the other positions have been so far, I believe this one's an even closer match up. I'm going with a toss-up here.

Winner: Toss-up

Kicking/Special Teams

This is another arrea I feel Green Bay is going to struggle, as they have shown this post-season that they aren't quite as good as the rest of their team. All you have to think back to is three weeks ago in Atlanta, when they gave up a 100 yard return for a score. On the flip side, I believe Green Bay trusts Mason Crosby far more than Pittsburgh trusts Suisham, but then again the game is indoors so we may see more kicking than we have in recent weeks. If the Pack can cover kicks and punts well, which I believe it can, then they'll stay in the game. The one man to be fearful, though, is Antwaan Randle El. I believe that if it comes down to a clutch kick, however, that Crosby is a far more reliable candidate and so I will go with Green Bay here.

Winner: Green Bay

Coaching

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has slowly begun making quite a name for himself in his brief tenure with the Steelers. He has shown confidence in his team, but has also done so in a quiet manner. He gets things done effectively, and always has his team ready to play. Mike McCarthy is making his first appearance in the Super Bowl, and though he has coached his team through three tough games so far, he still makes some decisions which leave something to be desired. I'll go with Tomlin.

Winner: Pittsburgh

And so now it comes down to the winner. Green Bay's got the quarterback, the O-Line and the special teams, while Pitt has the receiving, defense and coaching. This is sure to be a classic match up between two of the most historic franchises in all of sports. But when it's all said and done, who will emerge victorious? I've been picking the Super Bowl winner for seven years now, and until last year my mark was undefeated. This includes the Giants upset of New England three years ago. However, last year I made the mistake of discrediting the underdog in New Orleans, and saw no way for the Saints to top the Colts. This year, seeing how the Steelers are back in the title game for the third time in six years, and how they're 2-0 in that span, the experience factor is a bit lopsided. That being said, I believe the Packers bring something different to the table, something neither Seattle or Arizona had in each of Pitt's first two wins in this past decade. Just as the Giants were in Super Bowl XLII, and the Saints were last year, I believe the Packers are a team of destiny and despite the fact that many of their players are here for the first time, I see the Pack getting it done in an extremely tight contest. I'm going with Green Bay.

Winner: Green Bay-27 Pittsburgh-24

Enjoy the game, everyone!!!

Round 2 Under Way: NFL's Divisional Playoffs Set

Welcome, once again sportz freaks to another edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. Last week was a rough one for this sportz freak, as I went 1-3 in picking the Wildcard match ups. Let's hope this week goes much better, as there are four new games, and I start with a clean slate. Last weekend, the Packers, Jets, Ravens, and Seahawks all got by their first round opponents and get ready for round 2 against those teams who received a bye week. The Pack will travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. The Jets head to New England to face bitter foe New England, while the Steelers host their nemesis, Baltimore. And finally, the stunning Seahawks, who upset the defending champs at home last week, will head to Chicago to face Jay Cutler and the Bears. It should be another interesting weekend of games, so let's get to pickin!

AFC: #5 Balimore Ravens (13-4) @ #2 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

This, to me, is easily the most difficult match up of the weekend to predict. The Ravens and Steelers are almost twins when you put them on paper. Their records are identical, their styles mirror one another, and they have met twice before in the playoffs. There's nothing left to hide for these AFC North foes, so now it's a matter of who wants it more. The Steelers have gotten the better of Baltimore in their last two postseason meetings, although the two teams split during the regular season. The Ravens went into Heinz Field in week 4 and edged the Steelers 17-14, but Pittsburgh returned the favor in week 13 with a 13-10 victory in Baltimore. So not only are the head-to-head victories equal, but the combined scores for both these teams is 27-27. This is sure to be a tug-of-war once again, and of course one that will be full of hard-hitting. Now onto the game: The Ravens and Steelers both bring a fierce defense to the table. Ed Reed, who is still struggling emotionally with the recent ongoings of his brother, is likely to have another impactful game against Big Ben and the Steelers. On the other side, Troy Polamalu is set to return for the Black and Gold, and that is sure to give the Pittsburgh defense a huge boost. Offensively, the Ravens were clicking last week in Kansas City. That was, however, against a far inferior defensive unit. Flacco and company need to keep the ball moving if they are to have any shot in this one. Ben Roethlisberger, on the other hand, has been down this road many times before. Big Ben always seems to get the job done when it comes not only to the playoffs, but especially against the Ravens. Pittsburgh finished the regular season on fire, winning six out of their last seven games, with their only loss in that stretch coming at home to the Jets. The Steelers had a tough time against teams who made the playoffs this year, splitting with Baltimore, defeating the Falcons, but losing to the Saints, Pats, and Jets. The only team who matters now, however, is Baltimore. As if the similarities already stated between these two teams weren't enough, the Ravens won six out of their last seven games as well, and their only loss was that against the Steelers. Even when you match up opposing players, these two teams are almost identical. Flacco vs. Roethlisberger? Toss up. Rice or Mendenhall? Pick em. Mason or Wallace? Who knows? In their first match up, it was an all-ground assault, with McGahee scoring once and Mendenhall twice. The lone passing TD went to TJ Houshmandzadeh in the final seconds. The second time around, Flacco struck through the air first, but after several field goals from both sides, Big Ben hit Isaac Redman for the winning score. So who will make the big play in this one? It's going to come down to whoever makes the least mistakes, and the Ravens have a bad habit of making those in Pittsburgh. I've gone with Baltimore twice before in this situation, and been disappointed both times. Will the third time be the charm? I like the Ravens to give the ball to Rice and keep Big Ben off the field. So long as Flacco doesn't throw a costly pick, I think Baltimore is headed to the AFC title game.

Prediction: Baltimore-20 Pittsburgh-17

NFC: #6 Green Bay Packers (11-6) @ #1 Atlanta Falcons (13-3)

The "team of destiny" is ready to play again, as the Packers travel down to Atlanta to face the first place Falcons. Last week, Green Bay went into a hostile environment in Philadelphia defeated the Eagles on a Michael Vick interception at the end of the game. Now they'll take on Matt Ryan, who is looking for the first post-season victory of his career. Aaron Rodgers got his last week. These two teams met in week 12, with the Falcons edging Green Bay 20-17. That game literally went back and forth, as the Falcons and Packers traded scores all the way until the 0:09 second mark, when Matt Bryant kicked the game-winning field goal. Aaron Rodgers threw for 344 yards and a score in that game, while Matt Ryan was far less impressive: throwing for just 197 and a touchdown. Michael Turner dominated in that gam, however, running for 110 and a score, while the Packer's best rusher was Rodgers himself, who ran 12 times for 51 yards and a touchdown. Rodgers had a great game in Philly last week, and unless the Falcons make some serious defensive adjustments, Rodgers will do so once again. The Falcons are red hot coming into this game, winning 9 of their last 10, including victories over Baltimore, Green Bay, New Orleans and Seattle. The Packers rolled into the post-season too, winning their last two games to get in, and then edging the Eagles last week. As far as head-to-head match ups are concerned, Matt Ryan vs. Aaron Rodgers is sure to be another epic. Michael Turner had a huge game last time around, but can he do it twice? For Green Bay, James Starks and John Kuhn provide a balanced attack on the ground, with Starks playing the role of the speedy back and Kuhn the role of the tank. Starks ran for 123 yards in Philly, although he failed to reach the endzone. At wiedout, the Falcons have Roddy White and... wellm Roddy White. Their only other threat at receiver at this point is Tony Gonzalez. That could prove to be a huge problem, as Charles Woodson will surely blanket White, leaving just the future hall of fame tight end to catch passes. The Packers have a rather large arsenal, including Donald Driver, James Jones, and Greg Jennings. I think if the Falcons have any chance to win, it's going to rest on the shoulders of Michael Turner. If he can run well, as he did last time, and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field, then Atlanta could roll in this one. However, I believe the Packers will adjust defensively, shut him down and Aaron Rodgers will toss a few more touchdowns in a Green Bay victory.

Prediction: Green Bay- 27 Atlanta-20

NFC: #4 Seattle Seahawks (8-9) @ #2 Chicago Bears (11-5)

Yes, the Seattle Seahawks live to play another game. After shocking the world last weekend by defeating the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, the Seahawks will now look to keep their momentum rolling as they head to Chicago to take on the 2nd seeded Bears. Oddly enough, the last time these two teams met, Seattle got the better of them, winning 23-20 in week 6 at Chicago. In that game, Hasselbeck threw for 242 yards and a touchdown, but the impressive stat lies in that he was not sacked nor intercepted the entire game. Cutler, on the ontherhand, was taken down six times by the Seattle defense. The star of the game, however, was Mike Williams, who caught 10 passes for 123 yards. Williams is truly having an amazing season, and it's not a stretch to think he may have another big game this Sunday. Another big key in the Seahawks victory was a strong run game, as both Justin Forsett and Marshawn Lynch found pay dirt. That splitting of carries is long over now, however, and it's the machine Marshawn Lynch, who steamrolled the Saints defense in one of the heartiest plays I've ever seen last week. The Bears key to success will be containing Lynch, but they must also look out for Matt Hasselbeck, who tossed the ball 35 times for 272 yards and a remarkable 4 touchdowns a week ago. The Saints' defense isn't quite the same as Chicago's, but if Hasselbeck plays half as well as he played against New Orleans, the Seahawks could be in store for another big upset. Another thing Chicago needs to do is protect the ball. Cutler needs to limit his mistakes, as does Matt Forte. I think the Seahawks match up well offensively with the bears, but defensively they leave a lot to be desired. What it comes down to, then, is how well the Seattle Offensive line can protect Hasselbeck. If they can keep Peppers and Urlacher from wreaking havoc, then Seattle is in good shape. If not, the Bears could have a field day. Last week, I discussed Seattle's mediocre record, and mentioned how they had only beaten one team who made the playoffs. Well, now they've beaten two. The Seahawks are hot at the right time and they just may be primed for another upset. The Bears played very well at the end of the season, however, as they won seven of nine, with their losses coming at the hands of the Patriots and Packers. This game is actually a whole lot more even than you might think, but there's one player in this game that I think will make all the difference. Devin Hester is the ultimate playmaker. Whether he's running back punts or kickoffs, or he's catching a big pass for a touchdown, Hester has the ability to turn a whole game around in one play. Although Marshawn Lynch played that role a week ago, the Seahawks just don't have that big-time playmaker that can match up with Devin Hester. Not to mention the fact that Seahawks' head coach Pete Carroll said he has no problem punting to Hester. Looks like the win last week may have caused Carroll to quite literally lose his mind. Punt it to Hester? That's asking for a loss, my friend. I think the Seahawks stick with them early, but the Bears will pull away late, possibly because of Hester or a big defensive play. I'll take Chicago.

Prediction: Chicago-31 Seattle-17

AFC: #6 New York Jets (12-5) @ #1 New England Patriots (14-2)

Another AFC game in which two teams will meet for the third time? This should be a dandy. Waaaaaaay back in week 2, the Jets defeated the mighty Patriots at home by a score of 28-14. The Pats then went on to win their next five in a row before stumbling in Cleveland, and then won eight more in a row. Talks regarding home-field advantage for the Falcons in their dome are well-waranted, but there is perhaps no stronger team at home right now than the New England Patriots. They have not lost in Foxboro all season, and the Jets are going to have to go in to this hostile territory and win if they want to go back to the AFC title game. What is even scarier is how dominant New England has been in this eight game stretch. They rocked Pittsburgh 39-26 on the road (although the game was not as close as the score reflects), beat the Dolphins 38-7, the Bills 34-3, and the Bears 36-7. Of course, who could forget the 45-3 thumping they put on these very Jets a month and a half ago? The Pats aren't just winning, they're winning big. The Jets sort of stumbled into the playoffs, but got a huge victory over the perennial playoff-bound Indianapolis Colts. With that monkey off their back, the Jets now focus their attention on an even more familiar opponent. In the Jets' victory in week 2, Mark Sanchez was phenomenal, throwing for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Brady was his usual self, throwing for over 200 yards and two scores, but threw two costly interceptions. Sanchez protected the ball, and the Jets won. He will need to do the same this Sunday if the Jets have any shot of moving on. In that week 2 loss, the Patriots also had a miserable time running the ball, as their lead rusher was Kevin Faulk, who ran five times for an abysmal 22 yards. The Pats totaled just 52 yards on the ground in that game. The Jets, however, did a nice job of splitting carries between Tomlinson and Greene. Neither back went over 100 yards, but they kept the bal moving, and more importantly, kept Brady off the field. I am actually going to toss out the 45-3 drubbing from week 13, as this game needs to be forgotten by both teams. The Jets need to move on and forget it ever happened, while the Patriots need to make sure that victory doesn't provide an overconfidence of sorts. But unfortunately, as I bring up overconfidence, I am forced to mention the Jets' continued use of trash talk. I'm all for talking a big game, but I think this time they may have gone too far. Once again, Rex Ryan has made this game all about him, as he says it's "Rex Ryan vs. Bill Belichick". Now granted, this is a big coaching match up, but this is the second straight week in which Ryan has made the game revolve around him. This does not include the additional bashing that Antonio Cromartie put on Tom Brady. The Jets are in a good position right now, and they need to realize when enough is enough and just play the games. As for the game itself, Sanchez needs to be good for the Jets to have a chance, while Tom Brady is literally unstoppable right now. The ground game leans toward New York, but the Pats have an improved backfield now with Danny Woodhead and Benjarvus Green-Ellis splitting carries. As far as receivers go, I'd say this is a toss-up. The Jets' have the bigger names, but the Pats have a plethora of weapons including Welker, Woodhead, and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. The Jets's defense gets the nod here as well, although the Pats defensive unit has played extremely well in the past few months also. This will come down to whichever quarterback limits their mistakes the most, an right now Brady is mistake-free. Sanchez could have a good game, but I believe a mistake or two will give the Pats the win.

Prediction: New England- 33 New York Jets- 19

And that does it for this week's edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. Hopefully, I'll fare much better than I did a week ago, as I hope to at least draw even at 4-4 for the first two rounds. Once again, put me down for a nice helping of Baltimore, Green Bay, Chicago and New England. Enjoy the games, everyone!

Let The Games Begin! : Breaking Down the 2011 Wild Card Weekend

Welcome back, sportz freaks! It's been many months since my last post, but with the 2011 NFL playoffs about to begin, I felt it was only fitting to once again post my yearly predictions. This year's playoff pool is loaded with a ton of talented teams, as well as one not-so-talented team. But hey, rules are rules, right? Anyway, there are four intense match ups slated for this weekend, and I'm here to break each one of them down for you and give my prediction as to who will come away victorious. So let's get started, shall we?

NFC: #5 New Orleans Saints (11-5) @ #4 Seattle Seahawks (7-9)

Yes, you read those records correctly. This past Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks became the first franchise in NFL history to make the post season despite a losing record in the regular season. Many complaints have risen as a result, and I could sit here and give my take on the situation. However, the bottom line is that the Seahawks won their division, and under the current rules, that guarantees the birds a playoff spot. An even bigger issue people have with this rule, however, is that not only does Seattle get to play a second season, but they get to host a playoff game. And despite their 7-9 record, a game in Seattle is a huge advantage to the hawks, just as a game in the dome would have benefitted the Saints. The question is, just how much will the noise of Qwest Field affect the defending Super Bowl champions? These two teams met in week 11 in New Orleans, with the Saints cruising to a 34-19 victory. In that game, Seahawks Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 366 yards and a touchdown. With Hasselbeck slated to return this weekend, the Saints defense may have something to worry about. Matt's counterpart, Drew Brees threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns in that game, despite two interceptions. Clearly, these two quarterbacks are poised to go off on the opposing defenses, but now it's a matter of which team's running game can step up their game. The defending champs will be without leading rusher Chris Ivory, as well as Pierre Thomas for the remainder of the playoffs. That leaves former Heisman (sort of) trophy winner Reggie Bush to carry the New Orleans running game. Marshawn Lynch will be the go-to guy for the Seahawks, though he only accumulated 36 yards on the ground in their first meeting. Can Bush lead the Saints back to the big game? The Seahawks have won their last four home playoff games, so many believe this will be nowhere near as big a landslide as it should be. That being said, I believe Drew Brees is far too great a threat for the Seahawks to handle, and he will light them up for another 300 and a pair of touchdowns. I like the Saints by double-digits.

Prediction: New Orleans 33-14

AFC: #6 New York Jets (11-5) @ #3 Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

So, we meet again. The confident New York Jets are traveling to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in the post season for the second year in a row. Will lightning strike twice in the dome, or can the brash Rex Ryan lead the Jets past Peyton and the Colts? These two squads haven't met since last year's AFC Championship game, where the Colts got the best of New York by a score of 30-17. It's no secret that the Manning-led Colts are far less dominant than they have been in previous years, however. A team that went 13-0 before its first loss last year had to win its last four in a row just to make the post season this time around. The Jets aren't quite as intimidating as they were last season, either. Their defense has dropped in just about every category, and their overall swagger has declined as a result. New York does have two wins against teams in the playoffs this year, with victories against the Pats and Steelers. The Colts, on the other hand, have just one victory against this year's post-season pool, with a 19-9 win over the Chiefs back in week 5. This is opposed to two losses to the Patriots and Eagles. However, the defending AFC Champs appear to have hit their stride at the right time, having won four straight to win the AFC South. It wasn't an easy ride, either, as the Coltd average margin of victory in the past month is just a mere five points. But wins are wins, and the Colts have strung together a nice little streak here as they head into the postseason. The Jets stumbled a bit down the stretch, having lost three of their last five. They did manage to take down the Steelers in Heinz Field, however, as well as capping their season with a beatdown of the Bills at home. So the Jets, having finished one game better than the Colts in the regular season, will have to travel as well. That's t he NFL for ya. The Colts have just managed to get their running game going, and LT proves to be a great threat for Gang Green. Of course, Peyton's experience far outweighs that of Jets' QB Mark Sanchez, although this is Sanchez's second straight postseason trip. I believe the biggest factor in this game will be whether or not the Colts defense can shut down the New York run game and force Mark Sanchez to to go the air. If they can do that, I expect they'll win. If not, the Jets could take this one. But as with the case of Drew Brees, I think Peyton Manning is enough of a playmaker to get the job done. I'll take Indy in a very close contest.

Prediction: Indianapolis 24-20

AFC: #5 Baltimore Ravens (12-4) @ #4 Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)

Once again, we have a case where a team with a better record traveling to its opponent. The Ravens finished their 2010-2011 regular season with a stellar 12-4 record, as opposed to the Chiefs who finished just 10-6. Kansas City is a fresh face in the postseason, as they haven't been in the playoffs since 2003. The Ravens are far more experienced, having made the postseason four out of the last five seasons. That might lead one to believe that this should be a slaughter. Let's not get carried away just yet. Matt Cassel has had one hell of a season as the Chiefs starter, and with big time play makers such as Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe in their arsenal, Kansas City's offense is nothing to laugh at. The problem with the Chiefs has been their remarkable lack of consistency. Kansas City just might be the most difficult team to figure out in this year's post-season, as one week they will win in grand fashion and another get hammered 31-0 by the Chargers, or 31-10 by the Raiders. The Chiefs are also lacking as far as their strength of schedule. They recorded just one win against a playoff team, that being a 42-24 victory over the lowly Seahawks. The Ravens have beaten the Jets, Saints and Steelers, while losing to the Pats and Steelers. Baltimore poses a great threat in that they are strong both offensively and defensively. With Joe Flacco under center and Ray Rice in the backfield, as well as playmakers Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin playing receiver, their offense is truly well-rounded. And of course, their defense is as strong as ever. The Chiefs may be able to match them offensively, but their defense may prove to be a problem as they look to stop Rice and company. I think KC will hang with them early, but a costly turnover or two will lead to their inevitable downfall.

Prediction: Baltimore 37-20

NFC: #6 Green Bay Packers (10-6) @ #3 Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

The last game of the weekend takes place in a familiar location to the postseason, Philadelphia. The Eagles have won their last four Wildcard Weekend home games. Way back in week one, the Packers recorded their first win in Philly in fifty years. The question is, can they do it again? Many may remember that Green Bay was all over the Eagles in their first match up before Michael Vick entered the game and closed the score 27-20 in a game in which they fell just short of a miraculous comeback (which the Eagles are no stranger to this season). Green Bay comes into this game having won three of its last five, including its last two in a row. Three weeks ago, t he Pack's season was pronounced dead, and it was thought that they had no hope of making the playoffs. However, two straight wins as well as some help from some other contenders have paved the path to the postseason once again. In fact, the circumstances surrounding the Packers playoff berth have been so great that many are calling them a team of destiny. The Eagles, on the other hand have lost two straight to Mediocre Minnesota and Dallas, although Kevin Kolb played against the Cowboys. The birds had a shot at gaining a first round bye in which they would have had more than enough time to rest banged up quarterback Michael Vick, as well as DeSean Jackson. That being said, both Vick and Jackson were given an extra six days to rest as they did not play in week 17. The Pack were 3-3 this season against teams that made the playoffs, with wins over Chicago, the Jets, and of course, Philadelphia. Their losses came at the hands of the Bears, Falcons, and Patriots, although Matt Flynn was the quarterback in that one. The Eagles have beaten both the Falcons and Colts this year, with their only loss to a playoff team coming against the Packers. It is clear from this that despite their identical regular season records, Green Bay's Schedule was far more difficult than that of Philadelphia's. Both team's defenses have struggled this season, but the Eagles' 'D' has been just plain bad in recent weeks. Another issue the Eagles face is their offensive line, who have allowed fifteen sacks in the past four weeks. However, the majority of those guys were given week 17 off as well, so perhaps they'll be healthy enough to protect Vick. If not, it's going to be a long day for Philly fans. The key for the Eagles is stopping Aaron Rodgers, which I'm not sure they can do. However, with a healthy O-line, the Pack might have just as difficult a time preventing Vick and Jackson. I think this is going to be a shootout, but I think Michael Vick is too much of a playmaker for the Packers to handle and he will find a way to lead the Eagles to victory.

Prediction: Philadelphia 34-31

Well that does it for this week's edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. It should be an interesting weekend of games. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as the 2011 NFL Playoffs get started! Tune in next week as I predict the Divisional playoff match ups!

NHL First Round Playoff Predictions Part II: Eastern Conference

Welcome back, sportz freaks to another edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. Last post, I talked about the NHL's playoff scenarios, and offered my predictions for the Western Conference series' in the first round. Today, I'll take a look at each of the four match ups taking place in the Eastern Conference, and preict who will emerge victorious from each series.


#1 Washington (54-15-13) vs. #8 Montreal (39-33-10)

Head to Head: 2-2 (Washington: 1 OT Win)

Players to Watch:

Washington: Alex Ovechkin- Is there any other player you'd rather keep your eyes on in this series? I didn't think so. The Washington captain lit the lamp 50 times this year, and could net a decent amount more against a weakened Montreal defense.

Montreal: Tomas Plekanec- When you think of the Canadiens, you might think of ex-Devils Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez, both of whom have a good amount of playoff experience. However, Plekanec did not lead the team in goals or assists, but ended up with 70 points, more than any of his other team mates. Could be a dangerous weapon to watch out for.

Analysis: The Capitals' offensive attack is relentless, as they have scored 318 goals this season, far surpassing the #2 seeded Devils, who only netted 222. Offense isn't everything come playoff time, but if the Caps get clicking early, the Canadiens won't have a shot to win this one.

Winner: Washington in 4.

Not even the raucous Montreal crowd will be enough to get the Habs a win over the far-superior Washington squad. Ovechkin should light the lamp in and around five to six times, and the Caps will breeze by their first round opponents.




#2 New Jersey (48-27-7) vs. #7 Philadelphia (41-35-6)

Head to Head: 5-1 Philadelphia

Players to Watch:

New Jersey: Ilya Kovalchuk- Kovy has found himself in the center of some harsh criticisms since joining the Devils, with some claiming that he 'doesn't fit in with the team' and that 'New Jersey can't find a place for him'. Having seen the past few Devils' contests, I feel like just the opposite is true, as it seems as if Kovalchuk is starting to find his groove with this team. He'll be one to watch out for.

Philadelphia: Brian Boucher- Perhaps criticized just as much, if not more than Kovalchuk is the Flyers' goltending situation. They started with ex-Senator net0minder Ray Emery, then went through a laundry list of goalies before settling in on Brian Boucher, who spent a few years with the team in the past decade. Boucher may not be the best goaltender on paper, but the way he played against the Rangers Sunday afternoon has to have sparked some confidence. If he can play well, Philly has a great shot to win the series.

Analysis: It's been all Philadelphia in the season series this year. Regular season games may not mean a lot when the postseason rolls around, but one has to feel like the Flyers have that extra mental edge over New Jersey from having beaten them in all but one game this year. The Flyers are also riding high on the momentum built up from their emotional win over the Rangers on Sunday. The Devils have played well in their last few contests as well, including a beatdown over the Islanders, a team New Jersey has its fair share of struggles against, and a thrilling victory over Buffalo Sunday night. It's sure to be a good old-fashioned Atlantic Division Showdown.

Winner: Devils in 7.

This series always has the potential for an upset, as seedings often never matter. For that reason, I believe the Flyers will give New Jersey all it can handle in round one, and will make it very tough for them to win on the road. New Jersey is good at home too, however, and it could be a series in which neither team takes a road victory. Either way, it's sure to be an exciting, back-and-forth series which I think New Jersey will emerge victorious from.



#3 Buffalo (45-27-10) vs. #6 Boston (39-30-13)

Head to Head: 4-2 Boston

Players to Watch:

Buffalo: Ryan Miller- The Sabres' goaltender has been the center of attention in upstate New York all year long, due mostly in part to his stint in the Olympic Winter Games. Miller has been outstanding so far this year, with a 2.22 goals against average, and it will be up to him to shut down the Bruins' offensive unit.

Boston: Tuukka Rask- The other goaltender in this series, Rask snuck up and stole the starting job away from Tim Thomas mid-season, and has been phenomenal since. He has played in 45 games, and has an astounding 1.97 goals against average, and could be the deciding factor in this one. Buffalo may not have enough offense to stay in this.

Analysis: Another division rivalry brings more intrigue to what is otherwise a bizarre first-round match up. The Sabres were nowhere near being the favorites to win the Northeast Division this year, and the Bruins were among the top two in the division predictions. However, despite records and seedings the Bruins have beaten the Sabres 4 out of 6 times this season. It probably doesn't seem fair to give them the edge based on that, since I gave the Devils the nod over Philly, who has beaten them 5 out of 6, but the Bruins have a much stronger defense and a young goaltender who can really get the job done. If he plays half as well as he has since taking over, the Bruins will dominate this series.

Winner: Bruins in 6.

The Sabres have been a good, but not great team all year long. Looking at the four match ups on the east in search of an upset, I see this series as the most likely to produce such an outcome. It will be an interesting series to watch, but look for the Sabres to get bounced in the first round.



#4 Pittsburgh (47-28-7) vs. #5 Ottawa (44-32-6)

Head to Head: 2-2

Players to Watch:

Pittsburgh: Evgeni Malkin- Not Crosby? Well, of course Crosby will be his usually productive self, so there's really no worry there. Where there may be a bit of concern is with Malkin, who has been rather quiet this season. Sure, he amounted 77 points this year, but he has hid in the shadows behind Sid the Kid all year long. Ottawa may fall into the trap of focusing too much in on Crosby and fall victim to the Russian.

Ottawa: Daniel Alfredsson- What does it say for a team when a 38-year old leads his squad in assists, as well as total points, while not being too far behind in the goal-scoring category? Alfredsson is a legend in Ottawa, and he may be the only chance the Sens have to stay alive in this series.

Analysis: The two teams split the four games they played against one another this season, although the last time they faced off was in late January. Both teams have stumbled a bit into the playoffs, although the Pens were just a game shy of matching the division-winning Devils' record. Ottawa won just three less games than Pittsburgh, as well, so the two are very evenly matched.

Winner: Pittsburgh in 5.

I don't think the Penguins will repeat as champions this year, and it may also be said that they won't get out of the second round. However, their overall talent level combined with the huge advantage in experience should be enough to give Pittsburgh a relatively easy pass through round one.


That does it for all of my first round playoff predictions. To quickly recap, I'm taking the Sharks over Colorado, Chicago over Nashville, the Canucks over LA, Phoenix over Detroit, Washington over the Canadiens, New Jersey over Philly, Boston over Buffalo, and Pittsburgh over the Senators. All of the action begins tomorrow night, beginning with the Sens and Pens at 7, followed by Jersey and Philly at 7:30. Later tomorrow night we will see Detroit and Phoenix battle it out in the desert at 10PM, and at 10:30 the Sharks will face off against Colorado. Enjoy!

Let the Games Begin: NHL Playoff Match Ups Set

Welcome back, sportz freaks to another edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. Last time, I broke down Major League Baseball and how things would work if the divisions were to be realigned, and promised you a part II to that story. Do not fret, that analysis will come some time during this month, but today the NHL's playoff match ups were determined, and nothing gets me more excited than hockey's post-season. Let's start with a quick recap of what took place today.

The Flyers and Rangers battled out in Philadelphia for the final playoff position in the east, with Philly edging out New York 2-1 in a shoot out, eliminating the Rangers from playoff contention and locking up a #7 seed in the east. The Devils and Sabres faced off for the 2nd place spot in the east, with New Jersey emerging victorious 2-1 and setting up a first round series with the Flyers, while Buffalo will play host to Boston. Also, the Red Wings continued to roll today as they beat the Blackhawks 3-2, giving Chicago the #2 seed while San Jose locked up #1. In Colorado, it was the Los Angeles Kings topping the Avs to move ahead of Nashville in the standings and clinching the #6 seed in the west. LA will take on #3 Vancouver in round one, while the Preds will head to Chicago to face their division rivals, the Blackhawks. When it was all said and done, we finally had our playoff match ups set, and it appears this year's post-season is sure to be a fun one. All the action begins Wednesday night, so what I'll do is break down the match ups in the Western Conference today, and then the Eastern Conference predictions will be up on Tuesday night. So here we go...





#1 San Jose (51-20-11) vs. #8 Colorado (43-30-9)

Head-to-Head: 2-2

Players to Watch:

San Jose: Joe Thornton- Marleau's the big-time scorer for this team, but Thornton needs to step up and lead a team that has struggled in the playoffs over the past few years.

Colorado: Paul Stastny- May be the only shot the Avs have offensively to keep them close against a high-scoring San Jose club.

Anaylsis: Here we are, once again, with the Sharks sitting pretty in the #1 slot in the west with yet another underdog headed to the Shark Tank. And yet, it's very tough to feel any sort of confidence eminating from California, as the Sharks have struggled mightily in the past few post-seasons, regardless of seeding. After an embarrassing performance against the 8th seeded Flames last season, the Sharks are looking to restore some of the respect they've worked so hard to gain. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are back in the playoffs after a rough patch, and looking to make a little noise. The Avs stumbled into the playoffs this year, losing their last three in a row but still managing to clinch a spot regardless. Meanwhile, the Sharks finished rather impressively, winning 8 of their last 10, and gaining at least a point in all but one of those contests.

Winner: San Jose.

I like this match up, and I think it's going to be a great series. However, I don't think the Avs have the goaltending to stop the high-powered Shark offensive attack. I think San Jose avoids a second straight year of embarassment and takes this one in 6 games.





#2 Chicago (52-22-8) vs. #7 Nashville (47-29-6)

Head to Head: 4-2 Chicago

Players to Watch:

Chicago: Patrick Kane- This guy can do it all, and he proved it in the olympics. He might just bee too much for the weakened Nashville defense to handle.

Nashville: Pekka Rinne- The Preds only have one 30-goal scorer this season, and it's safe to say their offense isn't exactly a powerhouse. For that reason, the goaltending is going to have to be top-notch for Nashville to have any chance in this one.

Analysis: Since last year when the Blackhawks re-entered the playoff picture, Chicago has looked very impressive. In fact, they actually accumulated more wins than the #1 seeded Sharks, but fell due to a three less overtime losses. Chicago could well be the #1 seed, and are looking qute good right now. They fell today to the ever-so-quiet Red Wings, but had won six in a row before that. Nashville has won three of their last four, but has not performed well against teams in this year's playoffs.

Winner: Chicago.

I just don't see any way for Nashville to keep up with Patrick Kane, and they don't have the offense to stay in this series. I'll be generous and say this one goes five games since it's a division rivalry, but it won't go past that.




#3 Vancouver (49-28-5) vs. #6 Los Angeles (46-27-9)

Head to Head: 3-1 Vancouver (1 OT Win)

Players to Watch:

Vancouver: Henrik and Daniel Sedin- The main talk in Vancouver is the goaltending of Roberto Luongo, but it's the Sedin brothers who will have to keep playing at a high level to propel the Canuck offense. Between them, they have 197 points, and each has 29 goals on the year.

Los Angeles: Anze Kopitar- You might be asking- who? Kopitar may not be a household name, but the guy leads LA in both goals as well as assists, achieving 34 and 47 in those categories, respectively. He may be the only offensive chance the Kings have.

Analysis: Vancouver has never stood out to me as the strong team they're built up to be, but they still find a way to win their division and play well in the post-season. The Kings have been away from post-season contention for a few years now, and it's tough for me to see them hanging in this one with Luongo in the other goal.

Winner: Vancouver.

I think the Kings will play well enough to get a win out of this series, but the Canucks are the far more experienced team, and I like them to take this one in five games.




#4 Phoenix (50-25-7) vs. #5 Detroit (44-24-14)

Head to Head: 2-2 (Pho: 2 OT Wins)

Players to Watch:

Phoenix: Ilya Bryzgalov- The Phoenix goaltender is going to have to be on his A-game if he wants to knock off the defending Western Conference champions. The Wings are starting to look normal again, and if Bryzgalov doesn't step up, Detroit will run away with this one.

Detroit: Pavel Datsyuk- If this guy gets going early, it could be a long series for the Coyotes. Datsyuk leads the Wings in goals with 27 and in second in assists with 42. Phoenix will need to shut him down if they hope to survive this series.

Analysis: It's been a magical ride for Phoenix thus far, and a lot of people may speculate that it's all but over for the Coyotes now that they've matched up with Detroit. I don't like their chances either, but one truly never knows what can happen when the playoffs come around.

Winner: Phoenix.

Why? Well, for two reasons. #1, I think there will be at least one upset in this Conference Quarterfinals, and despite their seedings you have to label Phoenix over Detroit as an upset. The second reason I like the Coyotes is the passion and energy the crowd is going to bring. A team that appeared to be awfully close to moving back to Canada has suddenly rejuvenated its city, and I think the Coyotes can win this one in 7 games and move onto the second round, even if that's as far as they go.




So there you have it, I'm going with the San Jose, Chicago, Vancouver, and Phoenix in round one of the Western Conference playoffs. Stay tuned on Tuesday as I break down the Eastern Conference and give my predictions as to who will win each series. Until then, keep on reading sportz freaks.

Looking Ahead: Realigning MLB's Divisions (Part I)

Welcome back, sportz freaks to another edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. I've been feeling particularly overwhelmed with an abundance of sportz information with which I could blog about this week. The other day, my friend and I were discussing the possibility of Major League Baseball reshaping the way all of its divisions are set up. This, of course was brought up due to the rumors that have been going around that these changes might take place as soon as the 2011 season. The idea they are pitching is to eliminate National and American leagues, and to restructure the league so that it is more similar to the NHL and NBA, in that it will have Eastern and Western conferences. While my friend and I aren't too keen on the idea of baseball changing a system that has worked for a number of years, we thought it'd still be fun to try and map out just how the MLB would split the map into Eastern and Western clubs. What I'd like to do now is share with you which teams would go where, and to offer a brief explanation as to why.



West

The Whole California Bunch
This, of course, would include the Dodgers, the Angels, the Padres, the A's and the Giants. Pretty easy to figure out that all teams from California would be considered "west".


The Rest of the West
Any teams remaining from the current AL and NL western divisions would be included in this group. That would include the Colorado Rockies, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Texas Rangers, and the Seattle Mariners. I think that we can also agree that Colorado, Arizona, Texas, and Seattle are all far enough West that they can be grouped in with the aforementioned California ballclubs.


Houston Astros
I'm not into the whole idea of splitting Texas every which way, such as in football where the Cowboys are magically a part of the NFC East (or worse yet, back when the Cardinals were in that division as well) For that reason, I think the Astros should join their Texas counterparts in the West.


Minnesota, St. Louis and Kansas City
Taking a gander at a map of the U.S. http://www.kidney.org/about/images/usMap550px.gif you can sort of see where the East-West split happens, with states like Minnesota and Missouri falling right in the middle. However, they are the two remaining states that are farthest west, therefore I believe the Twins Royals and Cards should all be placed in the West.


The Windy City
Again, this is tough because looking at the map, Illiois is where it really begins to lean East. However, I felt that teams from the same state should share the same conference. Since we needed 2 more teams to fill the Western half, we figured why not go with the Cubs and White Sox? The only other team you could feasibly place there that lies directly in the middle would be Milwaukee. However, for the reason that we need KC and Saint Louis together, as well as the Chicago clubs, that leaves no room for the Brew Crew in the western half of the League.



East

All 10 Eastern Division Teams
The Yanks, Mets, Phils, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Nats, Marlins, O's, Braves, and Rays are all in the AL and NL east right now, and deservedly so. In fact, the team furthest west out of all of those is Atlanta. Just as their west counterparts, they will remain in their respective half of the country.


The Ohio Players
Looking once again at the map, you'll see that Ohio is definitely far enough east to be grouped in with the others mentioned above, and as a result the Indians and Reds will tag along as members of the Eastern Conference.


Milwaukee Brewers
See "Windy City"


Detroit Tigers
Detroit is a universal city in sportz, as it has four major franchises, all of which fall under different divisional titles. In baseball, they're considered central. In hockey, they're west, but in basketball they're east. They're not any of those in football, as the Lions are classified as 'North'. We're not really sure why it's so all over the place when it comes to this city, but it's clear to me that Michigan is a state on the eastern half of the country, and should be treated as such. The Tigers join the Easterners.


Pittsburgh Pirates
Cards with the Royals, Yanks with the Mets, Chi Sox with the Cubbies, and Indians with the Reds. You'll notice a very nice pattern evolving in that if you play in the same state as another team, you should play in the same conference. Besides, Pittsburgh may be western PA, but it is by no means a western city. The Pirates join Philly in the east.


So there you have it, the MLB split between Eastern and Western conferences. Stay tuned in the next blog, however, as I kick it up a notch and try to predict just how a system like this would work, how many teams would make the playoffs, and which teams would benefit/suffer from this type of change.

Put Up or Shut Up: Duke, Butler Collide For National Title

Welcome back, sportz freaks to a very special edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. Three weeks ago, 65 NCAA basketball squads were entered into the tournament we all know as March Madness. Tonight, the final two will take the floor in Indianapolis with the same goal: winning a national championship. For Duke, it would be their fourth, their last since 2001. For the underdog team from Butler, it can truly be a historic night, as the Bulldogs could very well win their very first championship. It's been a wild ride in this year's NCAA tournament, and the finals is truly indicative of that.

On one hand, you have a Duke team who has been riddled with post season failure in the past ten years, but is still considered a national powerhouse none the less. The #1 seed from the South Region, the Blue Devils got a free pass to the round of 32 after beating down Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Then, Duke went on to face the #8, #4, and #3 seeds in succession, defeating California, Purdue, and Baylor, respectively. Saturday evening, Duke finished their run to the title game with a rather impressive victory over what was then a red-hot West Virginia club.

Then there's Butler. What can we say about those Bulldogs? Well, I know for myself personally, these guys have proven me wrong time and time again. I have counted them out a number of times this season, and they have proved me wrong every step of the way. It started with a victory over #12 UTEP, a game in which I had selected the underdogs and was incorrect from the start. From there, Butler went on to defeat the 13 seeded Murray State, and while the wins were coming, the decent opponents were not. That didn't last long, though, as Butler shocked the world in the Sweet 16 by eliminating the #1 seed in the West when they beat Syracuse 63-59. With my champion erased from the brackets, I still didn't have much faith in Butler's chances to make it to the Final Four. In their Elite Eight match up, however, the Bulldogs prevailed again in another shocking victory over #2 Kansas State. Then on Saturday, facing the defending runners up, Butler faced one last test against the gutty, gritty Spartans of Michigan State. Butler pulled it off again in thrilling fashion, knocking off MSU with a 52-50 victory.

Now it's David vs. Goliath for about the 400th time this season. But this one feels different. This one feels special. Butler will be playing tonight in front of a crowd that will be vastly behind them, considering they are just miles from their home court. Duke is a tough challenge, no doubt. But so was Syracuse... and Kansas State... oh, and Michigan State also. So what makes the Blue Devils any different? What makes Coach K's squad the team that will finally put an end to this Cinderella story? Maybe the better question is: will they?

When the field was released back in mid-March, I had Duke and Syracuse facing off in the finals, and while I'm happy with getting half right, I'm also quite certain that there weren't too many people who took Butler this far either. The problem I have now is that I never had Duke winning it all. I had the Orange taking home the trophy, and the Blue Devils falling just short. This story is quite different than Duke-Syracuse. Butler is on the ride of their lives, and who's to say the party's going to end tonight? Last year, I thought Michigan State would pull off the upset against UNC, virtually playing at home as Butler is tonight. UNC took the game with ease, making one wonder just what makes Butler any different. As an avid Duke fan, I am here to tell you that this is completely different from last year's title game, and that the Blue Devils are on major upset alert.

If Duke can shoot like they did on Saturday, the Blue Devils will walk out tonight as national champs. One slip back to the slop they played in the middle rounds and Butler will walk all over them. Duke seems focused, almost too much so. Will they finally choke the way Tar Heel fans have been waiting for all tournament?

I believe they will. And it may not be so much on Duke as it is on a fired up Butler team, looking to defy all the odds. I'm a huge fan of underdog stories, even if the underdog is facing my favorite team. Sometimes miracles happen, and sometimes teams leave with no championship, but great memories are left behind. Tonight, I believe the Bulldogs pass the test, and as a result we will be faced with the inevitable 96 team tournament next season. Before we worry about next year, though, let us all enjoy what I expect to be a phenomenal match up tonight, and watch as a champion is crowned.