The wild year in sports that was 2014 is now in the past and it’s time to look forward to 2015. Unforeseen events and results happen on a nearly daily basis in the professional sports world. This upcoming year has the potential to be one of the wackiest in recent memory. Here are my 25 bold predictions for the 2015 year in sports.
Bonus: Cubs Win World Series
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Bonus: Cubs Win World Series
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Just kidding!
Sorry Cubs fans - the 107 years of torture will continue, even after the team vastly improved their roster this offseason. In all seriousness, with Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon leading the way, the future looks bright for the Cubbies.
25. Indianapolis Colts Win Super Bowl
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25. Indianapolis Colts Win Super Bowl
Andrew Weber - USATODAY Sports
Andrew Luck has proven to be the real deal and a franchise quarterback that can be counted on to win big games. With their first-round victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Colts took the first step toward winning their first Super Bowl since Peyton Manning led the team to the promised land in 2006. The biggest test of all is next - a showdown with Manning and the Broncos in Denver this Sunday.
24. Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Happens
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24. Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Happens
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Boxing’s dream matchup we have all been wanting for years will finally go down, or at least be scheduled. There’s no way either fighter will be able to turn down the insane payday this bout would produce. Once and for all, the debate over the world’s best pound-for-pound will be decided.
23. Kentucky Basketball Goes Undefeated
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23. Kentucky Basketball Goes Undefeated
Jasen Vinlove - USA TODAY Sports
John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats team might be the best we have seen in college basketball in a couple of decades. Every player “Coach Cal” sends on to the court is a future pro and collectively, Kentucky is just too talented for any other team to match.
22. Spurs Finish Fourth In Southwest Division
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22. Spurs Finish Fourth In Southwest Division
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The Spurs still may be the best team in the NBA, but at this point, the regular season means little to the defending champs. Popovich and his veteran team still will make the playoffs and advance to the Western Conference Finals (see next slide). Memphis, Dallas, and Houston will finish above San Antonio in the division.
21. Golden State Warriors Win NBA Title
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21. Golden State Warriors Win NBA Title
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Led by MVP candidate Stephen Curry and his backcourt “Splash Brother” Klay Thompson, the Warriors currently hold the best record in the NBA at 26-5. The only question mark Golden State has is the health of center Andrew Bogut. With Bogut healthy for the playoffs, the Warriors might just be the team capable of knocking the Spurs out of the playoffs and winning the Western Conference.
20. Adrian Peterson Wins Rushing Title
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20. Adrian Peterson Wins Rushing Title
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Peterson played only one game in 2014 and was suspended for at least the remainder of the season by the NFL after the running back was indicted by a grand jury on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. “AD” is far too talented to not be signed by a team once he’s reinstated and don’t be surprised if he picks a Super Bowl contender that utilizes his talents and gives him the rock early and often.
19. Anthony Davis Wins NBA MVP
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19. Anthony Davis Wins NBA MVP
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It’s not easy for a player whose team misses the postseason entirely to win MVP, but Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans might just do it in 2015. It’s a testament to how incredible the 21-year-old Davis is and has been, as he’s catapulted his name into the discussion for the NBA’s best player in just his third season in the league.
18. Jameis Winston Drafted No. 1 Overall
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18. Jameis Winston Drafted No. 1 Overall
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Now that Jameis Winston has officially declared for the 2015 NFL draft, we can begin penciling his name into our mock drafts. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota is expected to be selected first overall, in large part because of Winston’s off the field issues. I predict the Buccaneers hope and bet on Winston maturing and will select the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner with the first overall pick.
17. Peyton Manning Announces 2015 Season Will Be His Last
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17. Peyton Manning Announces 2015 Season Will Be His Last
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The day Peyton Manning decides to call it quits will be a sad day for the NFL and its fans. The Denver Broncos quarterback will go down as one of the greatest players in the history of the league. The five-time NFL MVP will turn 40 shortly following the conclusion of the 2015 season.
16. Cavaliers Knocked Out In First Round of Playoffs
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16. Cavaliers Knocked Out In First Round of Playoffs
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LeBron is back in Cleveland with a new and improved roster, but things thus far haven’t gone to plan for “King James.” Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and LeBron have yet to mesh the way most expected and with a 19-15 record so far, the Cavaliers could be in trouble come April and May.
15. Washington Wizards Win Eastern Conference
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15. Washington Wizards Win Eastern Conference
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The Miami Heat have won four-straight Eastern Conference crowns, but now with LeBron back in Cleveland, the chance for a fifth is gone. The Wizards are off to a hot start at nearly the mid-way point of the season and look like one of the teams to beat out East. Let’s be real though, this is a sign of just how weak the East is.
14. Chicago Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup
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14. Chicago Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup
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The Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory in 2013 is sandwiched between two titles by the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. Chicago took Los Angeles to Game 7 last season and will have to go through the defending champions to reclaim their spot atop the NHL. Here’s to thinking Jonathan Toews leads his team to their third Stanley Cup in five years.
13. Tiger Woods Wins The Masters
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13. Tiger Woods Wins The Masters
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Tiger hasn’t won a major since 2008, but that streak is going to end in 2015. Injuries derailed his 2014 season and Woods managed to place in only one major. He’s finally healing up and has finished outside of the top six at The Masters just once since 2005.
12. Michigan Football Wins 10+ Games
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12. Michigan Football Wins 10+ Games
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The city of Ann Arbor has been rejoicing since the University of Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh back to his old stomping grounds, and for good reason. Harbaugh is that good of a coach and the Michigan football program should see marked improvement as early as 2015.
11. Troy Tulowitzki Traded To New York Mets
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11. Troy Tulowitzki Traded To New York Mets
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The Colorado Rockies’ star shortstop has been in the rumor mill all offseason as a candidate to be traded. The only thing holding Tulowitzki back from being a serious contender every year for MVP is his proneness to injury. Teams would be foolish to not at least discuss the possibility of adding him to their roster and the New York Mets are a perfect fit for an early to mid-season trade for “Tulo.”
10. Johnny Manziel Starts Zero Games
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10. Johnny Manziel Starts Zero Games
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2014 was simply a disaster for “Johnny Football.” First he fell in the draft to No. 22 and then struggled mightily in his rookie season with the Browns. Manziel started just two games and failed to throw a touchdown or top 100 yards passing in either start. Expect the Browns to move on from Manziel before too long.
9. Anthony Rendon Wins NL MVP
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9. Anthony Rendon Wins NL MVP
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The Washington Nationals' now full-time third baseman is one of sports’ biggest unknown stars. In his first full season in the big leagues, Rendon finished fifth in NL MVP voting and at just 24 years old, he still has room to grow. On a team that should compete for the pennant, Rendon might already be the best National of all.
8. Odell Beckham Jr. Leads NFL in Catches and Receiving Yards
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8. Odell Beckham Jr. Leads NFL in Catches and Receiving Yards
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Odell Beckham Jr.’s rookie season was incredible. In just 12 games, the New York Giants wide receiver tallied 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s already in the discussion for the best wide receiver in the league and with a full offseason to improve, Beckham Jr. could light the league on fire in 2015.
7. NFL Announces L.A. Will Get Two Teams
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7. NFL Announces L.A. Will Get Two Teams
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There’s no way Los Angeles doesn’t get at least one team very soon, and I’m guessing the city will get two. With the recent reports St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke plans to build a stadium in Hollywood Park, it seems this possibility will become a reality even sooner than first thought.
6. Dodgers Fail To Win a Playoff Series
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6. Dodgers Fail To Win a Playoff Series
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The Los Angeles Dodgers may be the most talented team on paper in all of baseball, but that has not shown on the field the past few seasons, especially in the postseason. Their archrival San Francisco Giants have won three of the last five World Series, while the Dodgers have crumbled in October. That trend will continue in 2015 and the highest payroll team in the game will be searching for answers once again.
5. College Football Announces Playoff to Expand to 8 Teams
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5. College Football Announces Playoff to Expand to 8 Teams
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Seriously, how did it take this long to have a playoff system in college football? After the first two playoff games, the new system has been a colossal success. As we all know, the college football heads will continue chasing the money and what’s the best way to do that? More playoff games!
4. Cleveland Browns Draft a QB in 1st Round
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4. Cleveland Browns Draft a QB in 1st Round
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I know Johnny Manziel was just a rookie in 2014, but the returns thus far for the Browns have not been promising. It’s looking like Brian Hoyer won’t return in 2015, leaving Cleveland in serious need of a signal caller. The Browns 7-4 start to the season showed they can compete for the playoffs and all the team might be missing is a quality quarterback.
3. Whoever QBs Ohio State Wins Heisman
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3. Whoever QBs Ohio State Wins Heisman
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It’s an embarrassment of riches at the quarterback position for Urban Meyer and Ohio State. Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and now Cardale Jones have all proven worthy as starters and whoever does lineup behind center for the Buckeyes in 2015 is sure to put up monster numbers in that explosive spread offense.
2. Rick Nash Wins Rocket 'Richard' Trophy
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2. Rick Nash Wins Rocket 'Richard' Trophy
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It’s been 11 years since Rick Nash won the Rocket “Richard” Trophy for leading the NHL in goals. The New York Rangers’ big, power left-winger is currently second in the NHL in goals scored, just two behind Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars. I don’t expect Nash and the red-hot Rangers to slow down any time soon.
1. Kris Bryant Hits 30+ Home Runs
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1. Kris Bryant Hits 30+ Home Runs
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The Chicago Cubs top prospect has yet to play a game with the big league club, but he’s about to be one of the team’s best players. Bryant has nothing more to prove in the minor leagues after tearing it up with 43 home runs in 2014. With the Cubs expected to compete in 2014, Bryant should be in the middle of the order and blasting home runs out of Wrigley Field on a regular basis.
There are several sports franchises that haven't been good in the past but are headed toward contention now. Expect these teams to win a title or two in the next few years. Read More
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