A Quick Take on Each Pick in the 2016 NFL Draft 1st Round

I apologize for the long title, but I wanted to make it as specific as possible. Anyways, the draft is the biggest highlight of the NFL off-season. It is here that great careers are born and the fate of teams are forever changed. Think back to when the Indianapolis Colts drafted Peyton Manning #1 overall or when the Detroit Lions drafted Calvin Johnson with the second pick, ending their wide receiver curse.

This year's draft is filled with a ton of talented players, including Ohio State's Joey Bosa, Alabama's Derrick Henry, Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley, Memphis's Paxton Lynch, and Florida State's Jalen Ramsey. There were also plenty of surprises in the actual draft, which made things even more fun. In this article we'll take a quick look at each draft pick. Let's get started.

1. Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee): Jared Goff, QB (Cal)- The Rams traded up to get Goff and it looks like this will certainly work out. The Rams are in need for a QB and Goff was the best out of this year's draft class. Having guys like Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin will certainly help him adjust to the NFL.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (from Cleveland): Carson Wentz, QB (North Dakota State)- Goff may be the best QB in the draft, but Wentz is not far behind. He may not start right away, but watching Sam Bradford play should get him acclimated.

3. San Diego Chargers: Joey Bosa, DE/OLB (Ohio State)- At the beginning of the college football season, I thought Bosa was the best player in the game. His stock had fallen a little since then, but not by much. Everyone expected the Chargers to take Tunsil here (more on that later), but Bosa should help improve the lackluster SD D.

4. Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliot, RB (Ohio State)- This is one of my favorite picks from the entire draft. Elliot is an elite back that can really help out the 'Boys. The only time in the last six years Dallas made the playoffs was two years ago when a certain DeMarco Murray was running rampant. This could be the key to get Dallas back in playoff conversation.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey, DB (Florida State)- This pick makes a lot of sense: Ramsey is one of the best defensive players in the draft while Jacksonville has one of the weakest defenses in the league. Expect Ramsey to be a star over the coming seasons.

6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, OT (Notre Dame)- GM Ozzie Newsome said they had Stanley higher on their board than they did Tunsil, which is debatable. but the pick makes sense. Stanley is one of the best talents in this draft and will help protect Joe Flacco.

7. San Francisco 49ers: DeForest Buckner, DE (Oregon)-  The 'Niners need a QB, but this was way too early to get Lynch or anyone else. Meanwhile, Buckner is a defensive force that will give Russell Wilson and Carson Palmer fits.

8. Tennessee Titans (from Miami via Eagles and Browns): Jack Conklin, T (Michigan State)- The Titans traded away their #1 overall pick but traded up to get Conklin. I think this was a little early to get Conklin, but it makes a lot of sense for the Titans. Tennessee is hoping that Marcus Mariota (who was injured last season) is their franchise QB and they need to protect him. Having Conklin also helps Murray and the ground game (which was pretty weak last year).

9. Chicago Bears (from Tampa Bay): Leonard Floyd, DE/OLB (Georgia)- Trading up to get Floyd was a smart move, as he probably would have been off the board two picks later. Floyd is an impact defense player that can certainly help the Bears.

10. New York Giants: Eli Apple, CB (Ohio State)- The fourth Buckeye to be taken in the draft is a very talented player that will definitely help a weak Giants D. This was a bit of a surprise pick as well, but as we've seen, that's what you can expect from the draft.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago): Vernon Hargreaves III, CB (Florida)- Thanks to guys like Jameis Winston, Doug Martin, and Mike Evans, the offense in Tampa is much stronger than the defense. Hargreaves III will also benefit from having veteran CB Brent Grimes playing alongside him.

12.  New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Rankins, DT (Louisville)- The defense was the real problem in NO last year and adding Rankins should help alleviate that. Rankins was arguably the best pass-rusher left on the board, so this was a very smart pick.

13. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia): Laremy Tunsil, T (Ole Miss)- Just about a month ago, everyone was sure Tunsil was going #1. Since then however, he's been plagued with off-the-field issues, including getting money from an Ole Miss coach and having a video surface of him smoking weed through a gas mask. Nonetheless, Tunsil has endless potential and this can be considered one of the biggest steals of the round.

14. Oakland Raiders: Karl Joseph, S (West Virginia)- The Raiders lost Charles Woodson, one of the all-time greats, to retirement this season. While Joseph is nowhere close to the level of Woodson, he's got a ton of potential.

15. Cleveland Browns (from Los Angeles via Tennessee): Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor)- I was a little surprised by this pick, as Laquon Treadwell was the best receiver of this class. Still, Coleman is very talented and should hook up often with fellow Baylor alumni RG3. Coleman will also help the Browns forget about Travis Benjamin and Josh Gordon.

16. Detroit Lions: Taylor Decker, OT (Ohio State)- Some expected the Lions to take a receiver to help fill the void left by a retiring Calvin Johnson, but the signing of Marvin Jones helped with that. Getting Decker will help protect Matthew Stafford and create room for sophomore Ameer Abdullah, so this was a pretty smart pick.

17. Atlanta Falcons: Keanu Neal, S (Florida)- Somewhat of a surprise pick, but it makes sense. Head coach Dan Quinn is a defensive strategist, after all. Besides, Atlanta has plenty of weapons on offense, including Matt Ryan, Tevin Coleman, and Julio Jones, so a defensive player makes sense.

18. Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly, C (Alabama)- The biggest concern for Indy is protecting Andrew Luck, who spent a lot of last season on the sidelines. Getting an offensive linemen also helps the Colts' run game, which was pretty weak last season. Kelly won the Rimmington Award for Best Center last year, so you know he's an elite player.

19. Buffalo Bills: Shaq Lawson, DE (Clemson)- Many expected Lawson's teammate Kevin Dodd to go ahead of Lawson, but the Bills snapped up the former Clemson star. Lawson is a fantastic pass-rusher that can completely disrupt an offense. Lawson also helps the Bills forget about Mario Williams.

20. New York Jets: Darron Lee, LB (Ohio State): Many expected the Jets to take a quarterback, as the Ryan Fitzpatrick situation is not getting any better. Lee however, is a talented player that will help the Jets D. Besides, HC Todd Bowles is a defensive-minded coach.

21. Houston Texans (from Washington): Will Fuller, WR (Notre Dame): I absolutely love this pick. The Texans have an elite defense (thanks to guys like JJ Watt and Jonathan Joseph), so an offensive player makes sense. Fuller was the fastest WR in the class and is an incredible deep-ball threat. The Texans already have an elite-WR#1 in DeAndre Hopkins so having Fuller mixes things up and gives Brock Osweiler another target.

22. Washington Redskins (from Houston): Josh Doctson, WR (TCU): After Houston traded up to pick up Fuller, Washington got a receiver of their own. Doctson is a stellar player that will give Kirk Cousins another target besides DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and Jordan Reed. I would have preferred Washington help out their suspect defense, but signing Josh Norman before the draft certainly helps.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Laquon Treadwell, WR (Ole Miss): I love this pick. As I said before, Treadwell was the best WR of this class. The Vikings had trouble with the passing game last season, so adding Treadwell gives Teddy Bridgewater a receiver to pair with Stefon Diggs.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: William Jackson III, CB (Houston): I don't love this pick, as the Bengals already have Dre Kirkpatrick, Leon Hall, and Adam Jones. Still, having Jackson only helps in a division with Big Ben and Joe Flacco.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Artie Burns, CB (Miami, Fl.)- The pass defense was the weakest thing about the Steelers last year, so this was a smart pick. At 6 feet and 193 pounds, Burns has the potential to defend guys like A.J. Green.

26. Denver Broncos (from Seattle): Paxton Lynch, QB (Memphis): Wow. It looks like John Elway has passed over Colin Kaepernick, Mark Sanchez, and Blake Bortles in favor of the former college standout. Lynch is a great player that should help the Broncos try and defend their championship. It's likely he will play a more reserved role, as Peyton Manning did last season.

27. Green Bay Packers: Kenny Clark, DL (UCLA): The Packers needed a player to fill the void left by B.J. Raji's retirement. The Packers are looking for another deep run in the playoffs this year and adding Clark will help.

28. San Francisco 49ers: Joshua Garnett, G (Stanford)- After getting Buckner earlier in the day, San Fran picks up Garnett, who played an important part in Christian McCaffrey's incredible season last year. Adding Garnett will help RB Carlos Hyde and whoever the QB is (probably Colin Kaepernick).

29. Arizona Cardinals: Robert Nkemdiche, DL (Ole Miss)- Although there are plenty of red flags concerning his off-the-field activity, Nkemdiche is vastly talented that will help a team looking for a Super Bowl. Nkemdiche will also benefit from playing alongside Calais Campbell.

30. Carolina Panthers, Vernon Butler, DT (Virginia Tech)- There wasn't a glaring issue for the defending NFC Champions to address, so they took a guy who was likely at the top of their draft board. Butler is a monster (6'4" and 323 pounds) that will fit in nicely with a defense that includes guys like Kawaan Short and Luke Kuechly.

31. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Germain Ifedi, OL (Texas A&M)- To close out the first round, the Seahawks picked up one of the best offensive linemen left on the board. The 'Hawks needed one to help Thomas Rawls and fill the void left by Russell Okung,

Thanks for reading everyone. Check back Sunday to see an article about the other six rounds of the draft. 

NBA 2016 Postseason Predictions

The 2015-2016 NBA regular season is over, and it was definitely one for the record books. The Golden State Warriors set the new record for most wins in a season, the San Antonio Spurs tied the record for most home wins in a season, and Kobe Bryant ended his legendary career by scoring 60 points, the most by any player this season.

But that's all in the past now. It's now time for the playoffs and for a team to be crowned as the 2016 NBA champs. In this article we'll break down each match-up and give our picks. Let's get this show on the road.

Eastern Conference First Round:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8 Detroit Pistons

It might sound weird, but you could make the argument that the Pistons had a better season than the Cavs. After all, Cleveland was expected to be the first seed, anything less than that would have been a disappointment. They were also plagued by constant stories about their lack of chemistry and reports that point guard Kyrie Irving wanted out. The Pistons on the other hand, entered this season with low expectations. They ended up making the playoffs, Andre Drummond led the league in rebounding and was named an All-Star, and acquired Tobias Harris from the Magic.

The Pistons match-up well on paper, especially thanks to Drummond. The Cavs have no answer for Drummond, especially since their own big man Timofey Mosgov has been playing poorly all season-long. However, LeBron James is a proven postseason commodity and will lead Cleveland to victory. Pick: Cleveland in 5

4. Atlanta Hawks vs. 5 Boston Celtics

This is one of the most intriguing series of the first round. Both of these teams had good seasons, and Boston's young team certainly exceeded expectations. Atlanta on the other hand, is full of veterans like Paul Millsap and Al Horford.

This series might come down to experience. While Boston is led by Isaiah Thomas (a man with little playoff experience), Atlanta went to the conference finals last season. That could be the deciding factor here. Pick: Atlanta in 6

2. Toronto Raptors vs . 7. Indiana Pacers

The Raptos had a great season punctuated by Kyle Lowry being named a starting All-Star. Indiana also had a great season. No one really expected them to make the playoffs, especially now that Derrick Rose was back.

Unfortunately, it looks like this is where Indiana's journey comes to an end. Toronto is just too stacked and strong to have an early exit. The Pacers will undoubtedly play hard, but it just won't cut it. Pick: Toronto in 5

3. Miami Heat vs. 6. Charlotte Hornets

This is another great first-round match-up. Both of these teams had great seasons. No one expected Miami to win their division and get the third seed while Charlotte quietly an efficient and productive season.

This will be a star-studded affair, as Miami has Dwayne Wade, Joe Johnson, and Hassan Whiteside while the Hornets have Cody Zeller, Frank Kaminsky,  and Jeremy Lin. The Hornets are a sneaky-good defensive unit and will no doubt benefit from Chris Bosh's absence. However,  like with Atlanta, the experience factor weighs in here. Wade is a three-time NBA Champion while coach Erik Spoelstra has two rings. Pick: Miami in 7

Western Conference First Round:

1. Golden State Warriors vs. 8 Houston Rockets

The Warriors had the greatest regular season in NBA history. Guys like Draymond Green, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson all had great seasons. The Rockets... well, they made the playoffs. That's all we can really say about them.

The result here is a foregone conclusion. The Rockets are simply over-matched here. They have no answer for Curry, unarguably the hottest player in the entire NBA. I would bet good money on a sweep here. Pick: Warriors in 4

4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers lost four of their starters from last season, but they're still flying high. Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and company are playing well and are looking for a solid run. The Clippers on the other hand, entered the season as one of the top five title contenders (along with Golden State, San Antonio, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City), but people aren't so sure now. Blake Griffin will be returning after being suspended for getting in an altercation with the team's equipment manager, and that will undoubtedly help LA.

Despite Portland's unexpected success, the Clippers are still the favorites here. Chris Paul is one of the best players in the NBA and has a talented supporting cast with the likes of DJ, JJ Redick, Paul Pierce, Jamal Crawford, and Austin Rivers. Pick: Clippers in 6

2. San Antonio Spurs to 7. Memphis Grizzlies

The Spurs lost only once in San Antonio this year, tying the best record for a home team in NBA history. They have one of the most loaded rosters in the entire league thanks to guys like Kwahi Leonard, Danny Green, and Tim Duncan. The Grizzlies also have plenty of talent with guys like Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Matt Barnes.

Like with the Warriors, I would put good money on a sweep. The Spurs are just too focused and too hot to suffer an early exit. On top of that, the Spurs have the first two games of the series at home, something the Grizzlies won't be able to come back for that. Pick: Spurs in 4

3. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 6. Dallas Mavericks

The Thunder, along with San Antonio, Golden State, and Cleveland, are the only real title contenders here. With that being said, this is the playoffs and anything could happen. Dallas is the perfect team for an upset. Dirk Nowitzki is one of the greatest power forwards the game has ever seen, Rick Carlisle is a great coach, and Deron Williams has a ton of experience.

When you have two of the best players in the world (Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook), you automatically become one of the teams to beat. These men have made it to the Finals before and are hungry for more. Pick: Thunder in 5

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 4. Atlanta Hawks

These two teams met in the Eastern Conference finals last year with Cleveland coming out on top. Unfortunately for Atlanta fans, it looks like Cleveland will take this series as well. Coach Tyronn Lue will almost certainly coach the Cavs to victory. Pick: Cleveland in 5

2. Toronto Raptors vs. 3. Miami Heat

There is definitely upset potential here. Wade has been known to always step up his game in big-game in big-game situations (see his Finals MVP performance against Dallas). The Raptors on the other hand, are known to flame out in the playoffs. However, I see that changing here. DeMar DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll and the Raptors are too loaded to lay down. The Heat however, will not go down without a fight. Pick: Toronto in 6

Western Conference Second Round:

1. Golden State Warriors vs. 4. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers will certainly do their best to derail the Warriors's repeat hopes, but it's very unlikely. The Warriors are the best team in the NBA and it will take something truly monumental to stop them. Pick: Warriors in 6

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 3. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are more than just Durant and Westbrook (thanks to guys like Steven Adams and Dion Waiters), but are still not as deep as the Spurs. The Thunder will keep it close, but the Spurs are taking the W here. Pick: Spurs in 7

Eastern Conference Finals:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 2. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors were only a few games behind Cleveland in the regular season, so this could be interesting. However, you have to give the edge to Cleveland simply because of LeBron James, a five-time Eastern Conference champion. Pick: Cleveland in 6

Western Conference Finals:

1. Golden State Warriors vs. 2. San Antonio Spurs

This is by far the biggest series of the entire playoffs. These are the two biggest title contenders, but only one can make it to the Finals. The Warriors have home-court advantage and that could be the decider here. Pick: Warriors in 7

Finals;

1. Cleveland Cavaliers at 1. Golden State Warriors

I've said it before, I'll say it again: the Warriors are the best team in the world. Unfortunately for Cleveland fans, their wait for LeBron to bring them a title will have to wait just a little bit longer. Pick: Golden State in 7, MVP: Steph Curry

Thanks for reading everyone. Comment and let me know if you agree with my picks.

2015 Sports Examiner Awards

It's time for the first-ever Sports Examiner Awards. This will soon become an annual tradition that will hopefully become even a little prestigious. But until then, we'll make do with a few people on the internet reading it.

It's been a very exciting and newsworthy year for sports. The Kansas City Royals finally won the World Series, Ohio State won the first ever College Football Playoffs, Deflategate took over mainstream news, Duke men's basketball won its fifth national title, and Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota went 1 and 2 in this year's NFL Draft. In our inaugural awards, we'll be handing out 12 awards. Let's get started.

Franchise of the Year:
Golden State Warriors

This is a pretty easy pick when you think about it. The only real rule for this award is that this team had to have won a title in the past year. Based on that rule alone, we have a small amount of nominees, including the New England Patriots, Chicago Blackhawks, and Kansas City Royals. Out of all of those, there was no bigger story than the Warriors. Yes, the Blackhawks are on the verge of creating a dynasty, but this award is only for 2015. The Royals (the runner-up here) winning was a huge story, but they did make the World Series last year, so their victory wasn't as big. The Patriots had their Super Bowl win marred by Deflategate. That leaves us with the Warriors, who rolled over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals to win the NBA Championship. Add on to the fact that they only lost two games thus far in the 2015-2016 season and you have a clear winner.

NFL Player of the Year:
Tom Brady

Ignore Deflategate for a second. Think instead of Brady leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl and being named MVP, being named to another Pro Bowl this season, and leading an injury-depleted roster to another AFC East title and first-round bye. They are the current favorites to win the AFC title and compete in the 2016 Super Bowl. Sure, Cam Newton (our runner-up) will be most likely named MVP of the '16 regular season, but Brady led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

NBA Player of the Year:
Steph Curry

We had runner-ups for the first two awards, but why even bother picking one here? Curry had a much better year than any other NBA player. He ended the 2015 season as a member of the championship-winning Golden State Warriors while also being named regular season MVP and member of the All-NBA First Team (along with James Harden, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and Marc Gasol). This season, he has led the Warriors to the best record in the NBA while also leading the league in points per game and being fifth in free throw percentage (behind Jamal Crawford, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and Lance Thomas).

Tennis Player of the Year:
Serena Williams

Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year had an absolutely incredible 2015. She won three majors: the Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and French Open. She also made it to the semi-finals of the US Open before being upset by Roberta Vinci. Her dominance in the sport was one never seen before. In fact, at one point this year, she had twice as many points as the #2 player in the world. These accomplishments are even more impressive when you consider that she was battling medical issues (such as bone bruises and a cold) all year long.

Sports Legend of the Year:
Kobe Bryant

In November, Bryant announced that the 2015-2016 NBA season would be his last. Thus, one of the greatest careers in the history of American sports comes to an end. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer has won five titles, twice been scoring champion, won 2 Finals MVPs, won 1 regular season MVP, made 15 All-Star games, been named MVP of the All-Star game four times, been a Slam Dunk Champion, has put up at least 60 points in 5 games, made 15 All-NBA teams, and has won two Olympic Gold Medals. There will never be another player quite like Kobe Bean Bryant, and the sport will certainly miss him.

Female Soccer Player of the Year:
Carli Lloyd

Even if Llyod hadn't won the Ballon d'Or, she would still be a shoe-in for this award. After all, she led the U.S. National Women's team to their first World Cup since 1999. Add on the fact that she won the Golden Ball and Silver Boot, was named to both the All-Star and Dream Teams, and became the first female player in history to score a hat-trick in the finals of a World Cup, and you have the clear winner for this award.

Male Soccer Player of the Year:
Lionel Messi

Messi won his fifth Ballon d'Or (given annually to the best player in the world) to cap off an absolutely incredible year. He helped lead Barcelona to its 23rd Spanish championship, scored 52 goals in 61 games with the club, led Barca to victory in the European Champions League and Spanish Cup, and also led Argentina to the 2015 Copa America final. How can anyone argue with results like that?

Golfer of the Year:
Jordan Spieth

Considering the year he had, it's hard to believe Spieth is only 22 years old. Take a look at his performance in Augusta, where he tied the scoring record set in 1997 by some guy named Tiger Woods. He also won the John Deere Classic (something he also won the prior year), came in second at the PGA Championship in Whistling Straits, won the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup in September, and led his teammates to victory in the Presidents Cup in South Korea. On top of that, he made a whopping $22 million (a golf record), a lot of which is going to a charity named after his family.

Play of the Year:
Malcolm Butler's Super Bowl Interception

There is no bigger single night for sports than the Super Bowl. This year's event (the 49th in history) was watched by 114.4 million people, making it the most watched event in the history of American television. So, any big play made on that stage is set to be noticed by people all around the world and will elevate that player into the stratosphere. That's exactly what happened to Butler. The cornerback intercepted a pass from Seattle's Russell Wilson late in the fourth quarter to end Seattle's comeback bid and seal the deal for New England.

NCAA Football Player of the Year:
Christian McCaffrey

This was actually closer than you might think, as the Cardinal gets the nod here over Ezekiel Elliot of Ohio State and Derrick Henry of Alabama. Elliot led the Buckeyes to the first ever CFP title in January while being named the Offensive MVP. He also finished 8th in this year's Heisman voting. Henry meanwhile, won the Heisman and led Alabama a spot in the CFP. So how does McCaffrey (the Heisman runner-up) get the nod here? Simple, he broke Barry Sanders's NCAA record for all-purpose yards in a single season.

Upset of the Year:
Holly Holm defeats Ronda Rousey

It cannot be argued that Rousey is one of the biggest female athletes on the planet. The first and only female bantamweight champion in UFC history had successfully defended her title six times against talents like Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano. Holm on the other hand, had only been in two UFC fights before her meeting with Rousey. In a complete shocker, Holm defeated Rousey the champ in the second round by knockout to win the title and end Rousey's unbelievable run.

Sports Star of the Year:
American Pharaoh

That's right, our biggest award of the year is going to a horse. Not Serena Williams, not Steph Curry, not Jordan Spieth, but a horse. Of course, American Pharaoh is no ordinary equine. The most famous horse in the world won the Triple Crown, a feat that had not been accomplished in 37 years. On top of winning those three races (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and Belmont Stakes), he also won in the Haskell in August and the Breeders' Cup Classic (the main event of racing's world championships and the last big race of the year). In doing so, he became the first horse in history to win both the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic. His career earnings are more than $8.6 million dollars, good for seventh-highest in history. American Pharaoh earns Sports Star of the Year for making his mark in the record books. 

NFL 2016 Playoff Predictions

The 2015-2016 NFL regular season is over and it sure was an exciting one. But it's now time for the playoffs, which will undoubtedly even be more exciting. In this article, we'll break down each game and pick a winner. Let's get started.

NFC Wildcard Round:

#6 Seattle Seahawks at #3 Minnesota Vikings- The Seahawks are red-hot after their big win over Arizona in Week 17. The Vikings are also hot after beating Green Bay in Week 17 to clinch the NFC North. Unfortunately, the Vikings just don't match up to Seattle. The 'Hawks secondary will create trouble for Teddy Bridgewater, Pick: Seattle

#5 Green Bay Packers at #4 Washington Redskins- The 'Skins are doing a lot better than the Pack right now, and that could be the difference in this match. Overall, the Packers are a better team with more talent, but Washington is simply better playing football right now. Aaron Rodgers is in a terrible slump while Kirk Cousins is having the best year of his career. Pick: Washington

AFC Wildcard Round:

#6 Pittsburgh Steelers at #3 Cincinnati Bengals- Cincy is notorious for going one-and-done in the playoffs, and it looks like that trend will continue this year. The Bengals will be without their starting QB Andy Dalton, who was an MVP candidate earlier in the season. In his place will be AJ MCarron, who's made three starts his entire career. The Steelers meanwhile, feature an elite aerial offense comprised of stars like Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger, and Martavis Bryant. Pick: Pittsburgh

#5 Kansas City Chiefs at #4 Houston Texans- Both of these teams have elite defenses, but the edge here goes to the Chiefs. Alex Smith and Andy Reid have playoff experience, while Brian Hoyer and Bill O'Brien do not. When you add on the fact that Kansas has won their last ten games, a KC win looks certain. Pick: Kansas City

NFC Divisional Round:

#6 Seattle Seahawks at #1 Carolina Panthers- It looks as if Marshawn Lynch will not be back in time for the playoffs, and that's really going to hurt the Seahawks. They don't have anyone else on their roster that can run through that stout Carolina D. Meanwhile, Carolina is flying high and absolutely loaded with talent like Cam Newton, Mike Tolbert, and Josh Norman. Pick: Carolina

#4 Washington at #2 Arizona Cardinals- Realistically, Washington doesn't have a chance here. A defense featuring guys like Calais Campbell will most likely shut down the 'Skins offense. Expect Carson Palmer, David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and the rest of Arizona's offense to do big things in this one. Pick: Arizona

AFC Divisional Round:

#6 Pittsburgh Steelers at #1 Denver Broncos- Peyton Manning will be starting for the Broncos, but it's not known exactly how healthy he is. The Steelers meanwhile, are hopeful DeAngelo Williams (who was great for them this season) will be back for this round. If he is, expect the Steelers to pull off an upset. Pick: Pittsburgh

#5 Kansas City Chiefs at #2 New England Patriots- As mentioned before, the Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the league and have one of the best defenses in the league (thanks to guys like Dontari Poe, Allen Bailey, and Eric Berry). While I wouldn't be surprised by an upset, the Patriots are still the favorites here. Their defense has been playing well all season and Tom Brady had a great season. Pick: New England

NFC Championship:

#2 Arizona Cardinals at #1 Carolina Panthers- The Panthers had the best record in all of football this season, but that run should end here. They just don't have that playoff experience while the Cardinals are chock-full of veterans like Palmer and Fitzgerald. Pick: Arizona

AFC Championship:

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers at #2 New England Patriots- The Patriots have had trouble staying healthy this season, but receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman should be available for this game. That could tip the scales in what will otherwise be a very close game. Pick: New England

Super Bowl:

New England Patriots vs. Arizona Cardinals- Despite Brady having a great season, he has been stopped on occasion (like against the Jets in Week 17). The Cards' defense is good enough to stifle the Pats' offense (especially their running game). The MVP will go to the probable regular-season MVP runner-up, Palmer. Pick: Arizona Cardinals (Carson Palmer)

Agree with these predictions? Comment and let me know. 

Week 14 Heisman Watch

It's now time for the final Heisman watch of the season. It's been a wild and crazy season with numerous contenders rising and falling. In this article, I'll give my pick for the Heisman and finalists (the top three in the standings). We only have one superstar who dropped off from last week: Oregon's Royce Freeman who did not play last week. The seven superstars in this watch are the only ones I expect to get any Heisman votes. Let's get started. 

7. Keenan Reynolds, Navy (Last Week: 7)- Reynolds did not play in Week 14, but it's impossible to ignore how good of a season he's had. He's accounted for 25 total touchdowns while leading Navy to a 9-2 record. 

6. Ezekiel Elliot, Ohio State (Last Week: 6)- Elliot and the Buckeyes did not play in the Big Ten championship game and will not play in the playoffs this year. However, they will take on Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.  

5. Dalvin Cook, Florida State (Last Week: 5)- Though Cook will not be playing in the playoffs, he will be taking on Houston in one of the New Year's Six bowl games. 

4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 4)- Mayfield and the Sooners will be taking part in the second-ever playoffs. On top of that, Sports Illustrated and other websites have pegged them as the favorites. 

3. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 2)- Watson threw for 289 yards and two scores as well as running for 131 yards and two scores while defeating North Carolina for the ACC Championship. Watson will also be competing in the playoffs for the #1 ranked team in the country.

2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 3)- Though Watson has had a great season, McCaffrey's had one for the history books. The Cardinal broke Barry Sanders's single-purpose all-purpose yards record thanks to his performance against USC in the Pac-12 title game.

1. Derrick Henry, Alabama (Last Week: 1)- Henry is the favorite to walk away with the Heisman, ad he solidified his campaign with a great effort against Florida. On top of that, he broke the SEC record for most rushing yards in a single season.

Thanks for reading everyone. Check back soon for more articles. 

Week 13 Heisman Watch

With only one week of the regular season left, the Heisman race is drawing to a close. For the first time this season, we have less than 10 players on our list. Two players have dropped out: Corey Coleman of Baylor (who didn't make much of an impact against TCU) and Leonard Fournette of LSU (who had the week off). Let's get started.

8. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 10)- Freeman had himself a day as Oregon knocked off Oregon State, He ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns while also picking up 51 receiving yards. Freeman definitely won't make it to New York, but he deserves some votes.

7. Keenan Reynolds, Navy (Last Week: 6)- Reynolds and Navy fell to Houston, but Reynolds still had a good game. He went 13 for 16 with 312 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also ran for 84 yards and one score.

6. Ezekiel Elliot, Ohio State (Last Week: 7)- Elliot was a big reason that the Buckeyes trampled over the Wolverines. The back ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns while also catching two passes for seven yards.

5. Dalvin Cook, Florida State (Last Week: 5)- Cook has an outside chance of making it to New York, but he'll definitely get some votes. In FSU's win over #12 Florida (a win that ended Florida's playoff dreams), Cook ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.

4.  Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 4)- Mayfield and the Sooners beat Oklahoma St. to all but clinch a playoff spot. Mayfield went 17 of 25 for 180 yards, two scores, and zero picks. He also ran for 77 yards and one score on 11 runs.

3. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 3)- McCaffrey failed to get 100 rushing yards against Notre Dame, but he did accumulate 19 receiving yards while also returning five kicks for an average of 21.8 yards.

2. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 1)- Watson may have fallen out of the top spot, but he can still has a chance to walk away with the Heisman. He'll need a big game over North Carolina in the ACC title game next week.

1. Derrick Henry, Alabama (Last Week: 2)- At this point in time, Henry looks like the favorite to walk away with the Heisman. He's been consistent for 'Bama all season long and is one of the main reasons they're ranked #2.

Thanks for reading, be sure to check in next week for the final installment of the Heisman watch.

Week 12 Heisman Watch

For the first time this season, we do not have anyone on the watch-list. As the season gets longer, the list of real Heisman candidates shrinks. We have two players who dropped off the list: Trevone Boykin (who didn't play due to injury) and DeShone Kizer (who played sloppily against Boston College). Let's get started.

10. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: NR)- Freeman has had a great season thus far for the Ducks. Against #24 USC on Saturday, he ran for for 147 yards on 20 carries while also picking up 50 receiving yards.

9. Corey Coleman, Baylor (Last Week: 8)- Coleman had a relatively quiet game on Saturday (three rushes for 21 yards and five catches for 77 yards). Baylor beat Oklahoma St. to keep their playoff dreams alive.

8. Leonard Fournette, LSU (Last Week: 6)- Fournette stopped his two-game slide by rushing for 108 yards on 25 carries and hauling in four catches for 72 yards. However, LSU lost its third straight game.

7. Ezekiel Elliot, Ohio State (Last Week: 3)- Elliot failed to rush for at least a 100 yards for the first time this season. The stout MSU defense held him to 33 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries. He'll need a big game against Michigan to get back in the top tier of Heisman contenders.

6. Keenan Reynolds, Navy (Last Week: NR)- No player in FBS history has run for more touchdowns than Reynolds. Against Tulsa, he ran for 81 yards and one score while also throwing for 55 yards and another TD.

5. Dalvin Cook, Florida State (Last Week: 7)- Cook rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns as his Seminoles cruised past Chattanooga for an easy win. Cook still has a chance of making it to New York. but he'll have to finish the season strong.

4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 4)-Oklahoma did knock off TCU, but Mayfield only played in the first half after being pulled due to injury. Fortunately for his team, he is expected to play next week against Oklahoma State.

3. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 5)- No Heisman contender had a better week than McCaffrey did. Against Cal, the Stanford Cardinal ran for 192 yards, hauled in a 49 yard touchdown pass, and returned a kick for a score.

2. Derrick Henry, Alabama (Last Week: 2)- Henry only played in two quarters as Alabama coasted past Charleston Southern. In those two quarters, he ran for 68 yards and two touchdowns on 9 carries.

1. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 1)- Watson holds on to the top spot in our Heisman watch after running for 44 yards and one touchdown while also accumulating 343 yards and three scores through the air.