Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.
Whew – things have certainly changed in the Bronx ahead of the 2014 season! Gone are Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano from what was a typically potent lineup and in are some new pieces including Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran.
The Boston Red Sox will attempt to build on a worst-to-first 2013 campaign while trying to repeat as improbable World Series Champions. The Sox had a relatively quiet offseason – there were more departures on this team than there were acquisitions.
The Baltimore Orioles will be looking to get back to their 2012 form in which they won an astounding 93 games with what was, on paper, an average team.
Race for the President’s Trophy Commences Friday Night – Ducks Host Blues
The NHL overall leaders Anaheim Ducks begin their stretch run Friday night when they play host to one of the teams nipping at their heels in the President’s Trophy race, the St. Louis Blues.
Flames Look to Remain Perfect Against Kings This Season
The Calgary Flames begin their post-Olympic stretch run on Thursday night when they host the Los Angeles Kings who played last night and snapped out of their recent scoring woes en route to a 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
The PGA pros begin their Florida swing this week when PGA National Resort & Spa’s Champion Course hosts The Honda Classic which turned out to be the most difficult par 70 track the Pros played last year.
The Olympic Break is over – hockey fans were treated to quite a two weeks in Sochi but it is time to rein everything in and get back to the reality that is the NHL chase for the Stanley Cup.
Canucks Look to Snap Seven Game Slide – Host Blues Wednesday Night
Its back to reality for the NHL starts as the Regular Season swings back into action this week. The Vancouver Canucks, losers of seven straight games before the Olympic break begin their stretch drive Wednesday when they play host to the St. Louis Blues who won six of eight games before the two week hiatus.
Canes and Sabres Kick Off Stretch Run Tuesday Night
The Olympics are over – what a ride! Now it is time to get back to the business of the NHL stretch run. It all kicks off Tuesday night when the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres meet in a game originally scheduled for January 7 but was postponed due to snow.
UFC 170: “Rousey vs. McMann”
Date: Sat., Feb. 22, 2014, at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (PPV)
Location: Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
UFC 170 Main Event:
Ronda Rousey (8-0-0): -400
Sara McMann (7-0-0): +300
A battle of the undefeated headlines the UFC 170 card Saturday – former Olympians will meet for the Women’s Bantamweight Title. Rhonda Rousey is coming off yet another title defense against Meisha Tate – her eighth victory – all by arm bar. Seven of those wins have come in the first round! Sara McMann brings stellar wrestling chops to the Octagon Saturday – she will be a rare challenge for Rousey on the mat.
Both fighters will use their striking to set up what will inevitably turn into a ground battle. The fight will likely be won or lost there. So in the end this looks like a battle between Rousey’s judo and submission dominance versus McMann’s wrestling and ability to control her opponents from the top position.
The only thing missing from Rousey’s game was the absence of a real challenge – someone that would take her into deep water. Rousey got that last time out and can now be considered battle tested. Rousey’s judo game is better than McMann’s wrestling game which means that when this fight hits the ground it is likely Rousey that is on top – McMann definitely isn’t used to that.
Nobody has come close to defeating Rousey thus far – Tate gave her a battle but was clearly the second best fighter in the Octagon. Rousey has a lot to prove Saturday and with the giant chip on her shoulder growing by the minute, it is nearly impossible to see McMann posing much of a challenge. Watch for yet another arm-bar victory – likely in the first round again as Rousey cements herself as one of the most dominant champs in the UFC today.
Pick: Rhonda Rousey -400
Daniel Cormier (13-0-0): -1200
Patrick Cummins (4-0-0): +750
Daniel Cormier was supposed to fight Rashad Evans but injury forced Evans to the sidelines. Enter Patrick Cummins who looks a lot like a sacrificial lamb in this case. Cormier has looked terrific in the UFC with wins over Frank Mir and Roy Nelson – he has the aggression and the defense that makes it tough to get in close.
On paper, this fight isn’t close. Sure Cummins is undefeated but he hasn’t faced anyone near the caliber of Cormier so far. It’s too bad that Evans is injured – this fight doesn’t offer a whole lot of intrigue.
Pick: Daniel Cormier -1200
Rory MacDonald (15-2-0): -300
Demian Maia (18-5-0): +220
Rory MacDonald will try to regain some of the momentum that he had a few years back and in turn throw his name back into title contention in the wide open Welterweight Division of the UFC. His challenge Saturday? A steadily improving Demian Maia – one of the best jiu-jitsu practitioners that the UFC has ever seen.
MacDonald has been somewhat disappointing lately – coming off a loss as heavy favorite to Robbie Lawlor. He will have a reach and size advantage as per usual in this fight – the trick is to use those advantages to score rather than to set up a takedown. MacDonald likely won’t want to go to the mat too early with Mr. Maia.
Demian Maia has been good since dropping to Welterweight – a split decision loss to Jake Shields last time out stopped a three fight win streak in the division. His last three losses have come against Shields, Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva – no shame in that.
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MacDonald is definitely not on the level of the fighters that have beaten Maia in the past – it’s a tad hard to believe that MacDonald is -300. Maia, although not elite is a very tough B+ fighter – one of the best grapplers in the Welterweight Division. MacDonald is dangerous but has a few more lessons to learn – Maia provides one Saturday.
Pick: Demian Maia +220
Mike Pyle (25-9-1): -210
T.J. Waldburger (16-8-0): +165
Two fighters coming off underwhelming performances in which they were knocked out early will try to get back in the win column Saturday when Mike Pyle takes on TJ Waldburger. Both men bring a good striking game to the Octagon Saturday but Pyle has by far the better rounded game.
Experience and a varied attack will likely be the difference in this fight – Waldburger will have a tough time defending all that Pyle brings to the Octagon. Pyle gets it done by TKO.
Pick: Mike Pyle -210
Stephen Thompson (8-1-0): -135
Robert Whittaker (11-3-0): +105
Strikers with interesting styles kick off the pay-per-view portion of UFC 170 when Robert Whitaker, who lost a split decision in controversial fashion to Court McGee last time out, takes on Stephen Thompson who beat Chris Clements in his last fight.
The striking looks about even in this fight – grappling and ground chops could be the difference here. Whittaker has the slight edge in that department – watch for him to take advantage of that advantage and wear Thompson down en route to a decision victory.
Pick: Robert Whittaker +105
Alexis Davis (15-5-0): -165
Jessica Eye (11-1-0): +135
Pick: Alexis Davis -165
Raphael Assuncao (21-4-0): -220
Pedro Munhoz (10-0-0): +175
Pick: Raphael Assuncao -220
Aljamaine Sterling (8-0-0): -240
Cody Gibson (11-3-0): +190
Pick: Cody Gibson +190
Zach Makovsky (17-4-0): -170
Josh Sampo (11-2-0): +140
Pick: Josh Sampo +140
Erik Koch (13-3-0): -400
Rafaello Oliveira (17-7-0): +300
Pick: Erik Koch -400
Ernest Chavez (6-0-0): +220
Yosdenis Cedeno (9-2-0): -300
Pick: Yosdenis Cedeno -300
The World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship comes our way this week – the best golfers in the world (minus Tiger and Phil) will go head to head at Dove Mountain in 64 matches to determine the winner.
The famed Riviera Country Club hosts the PGA pros this week – a 7,349 yard par 71 track that challenges every aspect of one’s game. In fact, Riviera was the fourth toughest Par 71 the pros played last year.
Columbus Aims to Maintain Recent Dominance Over San Jose Sharks
The Columbus Blue Jackets head to San Jose Friday night to take on a Sharks team that they have inexplicably have owned the last couple of seasons – winning four straight against the perennial powers of the West.
Struggling Canadian Teams Attempt Head Into Break In Style – Canucks Visit Habs
The Vancouver Canucks will try to avoid a sixth straight loss Thursday night when they head to Montreal to take on a Canadiens team that has had their share of troubles lately as well.
Chara-less Bruins Head to St. Louis Thursday Night
The Hot Boston Bruins travel to St. Louis Thursday night in a battle of the NHL Heavyweights. While both teams have been fixture in the top 10 in the NHLs overall standings virtually all year, the bigger story may be the fact that Boston will play without Zdeno Chara who has been given two games to get to Sochi early and bask in the glory of being Slovakia`s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies.
The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am comes our way this week – three courses will be played before the final round Sunday. They include Pebble Beach (PB), Spyglass Hill (SH) and Monterey Peninsula (MP).
