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15 Sports Franchises Most on the Rise

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15 Sports Franchises Most on the Rise

Chicago Cubs Introduce Jon Lester
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Teams that traditionally haven't had success in sports are starting to look promising. Whether they should be competing for titles during this season or in the coming seasons, all 15 of these teams should be championship contenders very soon. Don't be surprised if some of these teams are crowned champions of their respective leagues in the near future.

15. Winnipeg Jets

San Jose Sharks v Winnipeg Jets
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15. Winnipeg Jets

San Jose Sharks v Winnipeg Jets
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The Jets have been one of the most surprising teams in the NHL this season, and they haven't been good in quite some time. If the season were to end today, they would make the playoffs. Should they reach the postseason, they could surprise a lot of people.

14. Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers v Arizona Cardinals
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14. Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers v Arizona Cardinals
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Head coach Bruce Arians has worked wonders in Arizona in his two years there. Had they had quarterback Carson Palmer for this entire season, they likely would've had a first-round bye and would still be in the playoffs. With a stellar defense and an emerging offense (with Palmer healthy), they should be among the NFL's best for at least the next couple seasons.

13. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays v Pittsburgh Pirates
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13. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays v Pittsburgh Pirates
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The Blue Jays made it known they want to contend this offseason when they signed catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $ 82 million deal. With the American League East looking like it may be down this season, it is Toronto's perfect chance to claim the division crown.

12. Atlanta Hawks

Memphis Grizzlies v Atlanta Hawks
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12. Atlanta Hawks

Memphis Grizzlies v Atlanta Hawks
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Raise your hand if you had the Hawks sitting at 27-8 through 35 games this season. Nobody should be raising their hand. The Hawks have been the biggest surprise in the NBA this season, and they seem like the real deal. Until the playoffs come, nobody will know if they're for real, but they certainly seem to be set for sustained success.

11. Nashville Predators

Carolina Hurricanes v Nashville Predators
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11. Nashville Predators

Carolina Hurricanes v Nashville Predators
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The Predators are in first place in their division, which not many people saw coming this season. While they've always been solid on the defensive end, their offensive play hasn't quite matched up. That hasn't been the case this season as they've been very balanced. Watch out for the Predators to make serious noise in the playoffs this year.

10. Washington Wizards

Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards - Game Six
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10. Washington Wizards

Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards - Game Six
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John Wall is coming into his own, Bradley Beal is becoming a borderline All-Star and the frontcourt in Washington is developing nicely. All of that adds up to the Wizards being a force in the East for the foreseeable future. They may be a bit too young to make serious noise in the playoffs this season, but they figure to be very competitive for years to come.

9. Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox v Cleveland Indians
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9. Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox v Cleveland Indians
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The White Sox were the surprise of this MLB offseason as they added the likes of Adam LaRoche, Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson and Melky Cabrera. That puts them right in the mix with the Tigers as favorites in the AL Central. Only time will tell if they can sustain success, but they should be a playoff contender in 2015.

8. New York Islanders

New York Islanders v Vancouver Canucks
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8. New York Islanders

New York Islanders v Vancouver Canucks
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After several years of futility (with one playoff appearance mixed in there), the Islanders are looking like a contender in the Eastern Conference. Center John Tavares is a bona fide superstar, and this team will go as far as he will take him. With all of his talent, that could be a long way.

7. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots
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7. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots
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The Bills' quarterback situation has been brought into question with the retirement of Kyle Orton, but their defense is still good enough to make them playoff contenders in the future. As long as they add some offensive playmakers, they should be back in the playoffs before too long.

6. St. Louis Rams

St. Louis Rams v Seattle Seahawks
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6. St. Louis Rams

St. Louis Rams v Seattle Seahawks
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While they were wildly inconsistent this season and still need a quarterback they can rely on, there were points during the year when the Rams looked like the best team in football. That's not an exaggeration. They shut out two teams in a row and that was without Chris Long, their best defensive player. With a solid quarterback, the Rams could be a force to be reckoned with very soon.

5. Toronto Raptors

Brooklyn Nets v Toronto Raptors - Game Seven
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5. Toronto Raptors

Brooklyn Nets v Toronto Raptors - Game Seven
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The Raptors are another team in the Eastern Conference that has been surprisingly good. People shouldn't be too surprised as they were a very good team last year, but nobody is used to them being perennial contenders. They seem better built to win in the playoffs this season, so other contenders in the East better watch out.

4. San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers
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4. San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Padres made some serious noise this offseason, acquiring an entirely new outfield of Wil Myers, Justin Upton and Matt Kemp. While they're in a really tough division, the Padres should be a playoff contender this season. That would mark the first time in nearly a decade they were seriously competitive.

3. Seattle Mariners

Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners
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3. Seattle Mariners

Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners
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After adding Nelson Cruz to an already solid roster, the Mariners could very well be favorites in the AL West. Not since 2001, when they were the best regular season team in baseball, have the Mariners been seriously competitive. With their current roster, it would actually be a big surprise if the Mariners missed the postseason in 2015.

2. Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors v Denver Nuggets
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2. Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors v Denver Nuggets
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Even though the Warriors have been good for a couple years, they haven't been serious contenders until this season. In a tough Western Conference, Golden State is among a few favorites. With the dynamic duo of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the sky is the limit for this promising young team.

1. Chicago Cubs

Atlanta Braves v Chicago Cubs
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1. Chicago Cubs

Atlanta Braves v Chicago Cubs
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The Cubs have an incredible farm system, most of which will be in the major leagues by this season or next. That makes the Cubs, who also signed ace Jon Lester this offseason, a team likely to win it all in the next several years. While prospects can be hit and miss, the Cubs have so many of them that chances are very good they could end the curse of the Billy goat in the near future.

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