Miscellaneous Articles

Quarterbacks in the 2010 NFL Draft
by Aaron Smith - 3/25/2010

No single rookie quarterback had a fantastic statistical season last year, but Mark Sanchez and his New York Jets did have a great run deep into the NFL Playoffs. Two years ago, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco both took the football world by storm. This year’s quarterback class is unlikely to produce two players that do as well as those two did right away, but I do think this is a solid class with a whole lot of potential.

Free NBA Picks: Thursday NBA On TNT Doubleheader
by Matt Severance - 3/24/2010

I understand that TNT has a contract to have the national rights to the NBA on Thursday nights, but you would think the network would take the two Thursdays of the NCAA Tournament off in exchange for some other special night or something. But what do I know?

2010 Spain World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/24/2010

Two years ago Spain couldn’t break its international tournament jinx. That is, until it ran the table at Euro 2008 and captured its first European Championship in 44 years. Now La Furia Roja are the favorites heading to South Africa in 2010.

2010 Portugal World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/24/2010

Just like France, Portugal barely found its way through qualifying and booked a spot to South Africa similarly in the second leg of their European playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 10 qualifying matches they won only five. Granted, four of the five non-wins were draws, but that drew a lot of criticism and would have likely cost head coach Carlos Queiroz his job if his squad failed to advance.

2010 Switzerland World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/24/2010

The Swiss found success in Germany during the World Cup in 2006, advancing to the second round. However, their exit wasn’t as conventional as most teams experienced. Get this: Switzerland didn’t allow a single goal in four games during their run. They did, though, fall victim to their inefficiencies on offense. The Swiss drew in their opener with France and pitched 2-0 shutouts in each of their last two group play matches.

2010 Brazil World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/23/2010

Brazil is the most accomplished football nation with five World Cup titles. The 2010 edition of The Select is again pegged for a deep run, and they will look to build off their 2009 Confederations Cup trophy, as that tournament played out last year in South Africa and always serves as a precursor a year before each World Cup.

2010 Ivory Coast World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/23/2010

Once qualified, many pegged Ivory Coast as the tournament dark horse and Africa’s best hope to raise the trophy on home soil. Once the group pairings were announced, the West African nation found itself yet again in the precarious position as a member of the ‘World Cup Group of Death’. Their World Cup debut in 2006 was a similar story, being stuck with world powers Netherlands and Argentina. This time around they will clash with Brazil and Portugal.

2010 Chile World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/23/2010

It’s been 10 years since Chile’s last World Cup berth. However, they were a pleasant surprise with a second-place finish in CONMEBOL (South America region). Even more impressive were their 32 goals scored, eight more than Paraguay and nine more than Argentina.

2010 Honduras World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/23/2010

Central America is an area that too often gets swept under the rug, with the attention understandably being given to the top South American teams or even elsewhere towards Europe or Africa. But Honduras is one nation that has talent that needs to be given its accolades. Stars like Wilson Palacios, David Suazo and Mayner Figueroa all make their living playing in Europe and several others are situated in domestic leagues throughout Europe’s vast football continent.

2010 North Korea World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/23/2010

It’s not a stretch to say North Korea is the most unknown entity among this year’s field. They haven’t appeared on this stage in 44 years, and despite finishing second to South Korea in their final qualifying group, this team is far and wide the least capable team headed to South Africa.

2010 France World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/22/2010

When June rolls around every soccer fan will know the name of Frenchman Thierry Henry, and not necessarily because of his great skill. Henry’s notorious handball was against Ireland in the second of a two-match playoff for Europe’s last spot in the World Cup. That play essentially gift wrapped France’s entry into the tournament and was undoubtedly the touch heard around the world that would spark endless debate about a possible replay of the match or another scenario.

2010 Uruguay World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/22/2010

When you think of World Cup past winners from South America, Uruguay isn’t the country that first comes to mind. Brazil? Absolutely. Argentina? Yes sir. But Uruguay has won soccer’s most glorious trophy multiple times as well. And while 1930 and 1950 seem like ages ago, there is reason for optimism for this widely forgotten football nation.

2010 World Cup Group of Death
by T.O. Whenham - 3/20/2010

If we are talking about the World Cup then we are going to be talking about the ‘Group of Death’ - one of the most beloved and talked about themes leading up to every major soccer tournament. the Group of Death isn't an official title, of course. In the World Cup teams are arranged into groups of four, and the top two teams after all of those four teams have played each other move on to the elimination rounds. In most groups it seems clear which teams are the favorites to advance before the tournament starts.

NASCAR: Food City 500 Odds and Predictions
by Christopher G. Shepard - 3/19/2010

After a one-week hiatus the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Bristol Motor Speedway for short-track racing at its finest for the Food City 500 this Sunday March, 21 at 1:13 p.m. EST for the Food City 500. Gamblers should keep in mind that Bristol is one of six tracks that Jimmie Johnson has never won at. Johnson is 0-16, but his best finish at the historic racetrack was third last March.

2010 NFL Draft Team-by-Team Needs
by T.O. Whenham - 3/19/2010

The big splashes have been made in free agency, and now NFL teams are looking towards the NFL Draft to add stars and fill holes. Even the best teams in the league have several needs to fill and upgrades to make, but every team has a few needs that are the most obvious and most pressing. Here's a look at the most significant needs for each team heading into the 2010 NFL Draft.

2010 Mexico World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/19/2010

Outside of Argentina, perhaps no team in any qualifying region was more up and down than Mexico. They still finished second in CONCACAF behind the United States, and it took them three different coaches throughout the process to make it. Hugo Sбnchez was fired after failing to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, only to see former England head man Sven-Gцran Erikson coach for just 13 games, losing six times.

2010 Greece World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/19/2010

If you follow world football then you know the Greeks are most well known for their amazing underdog run to win Euro 2004. Prior to the European Championship six years ago, Greece was installed at 150/1 odds to win the tournament held in Portugal. The World Cup, however, has not been as kind to them and another unparalleled title run would be exponentially harder.

Impact Offensive Players in the NFL Draft
by T.O. Whenham - 3/18/2010

The NFL Draft is the single most over-hyped, over-analyzed, borderline obnoxious event there is. It's now a constant three-month process where players can go from off the radar to the top of the heap and back without ever playing a game. It's unquestionably important as a way for teams to reload and rebuild, but the impact isn't nearly as significant as the media makes it seem.

2010 Argentina World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/18/2010

Mario Ariel Bolatti’s 84th-minute strike in the final qualifying match against Uruguay was celebrated from Buenos Aires and Cуrdoba to Rosario and Mendoza. That’s because had it not been for such a timely winner, Argentina would be watching the World Cup from home this summer.

2010 Nigeria World Cup Predictions
by Doc's Sports - 3/18/2010

Nigeria was briefly in a state of limbo after its disappointing third-place finish during January’s African Cup of Nations earlier this year. After the continental tournament they fired head coach Shaibu Amodu and hired Swedish coach Lars Lagerback in late February to run the team this summer. Lagerback, during his stint with Sweden, led them to five major tournaments, including both 2002 and 2006 World Cup appearances.