RockstarGator

Tennessee vs. (21) Auburn

Auburn hasn’t been impressive at all and frankly doesn’t deserve to be in the top 25 after their pathetic performance against Mississippi State.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tennessee pull off a stunner, as they have a better offense than Auburn right now, but I’m taking Auburn to win late.

Prediction: Auburn 24, Tennessee 17

Missouri vs. (1) Alabama

Nobody can stop Tua Tagoviola right now, and there’s no way in hell Missouri can.  Drew Lock will put up some numbers though.  Close game at first but Alabama pulls away and wins big.

Prediction: Alabama 52, Missouri 24

Ole Miss vs. Arkansas

Neither team has a defense, and only Ole Miss has an offense.  Ole Miss wins big although because their defense sucks, Arkansas will still light the lamp.

Prediction: Ole Miss 56, Arkansas 34

(14) Florida vs. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt always seems to play Florida tough, but I’m not so sure they can keep up with this version of the Gators.  Florida defeated LSU at home after wins at Mississippi State and Tennessee, and now they look for real.  Franks is getting better week by week and the defense is relentless.  Florida will lead 17-7 at halftime, but will score 24 unanswered in the second half to win big.

Prediction: Florida 41, Vanderbilt 7

(2) Georgia vs. (13) LSU

You can call me crazy all you would like to, but I’m going with the upset here.  LSU was embarrassed by the Gators last weekend (O-line was manhandled, Burrow was sacked 6 times, and they couldn’t stop Florida’s offense when they had to) and are looking to avenge the loss with a big win at home.  I think they are catching Georgia at the right time, and will feed off the crowd and will win a very close, defensive battle.

Prediction: LSU 19, Georgia 17

(22) Texas A&M vs. South Carolina

South Carolina is far worse than anyone expected.  However, Texas A&M hasn’t been as impressive as once thought, either.  A&M wins by a field goal.

Prediction: Texas A&M 13, South Carolina 10

Florida hasn't lost to Kentucky in 31 straight seasons.  On this coming Saturday, the Wildcats will take on the Gators in Gainesville, with the hope of ending the Gators' 31 game streak.

Kentucky defeated Central Michigan, but not in the best of fashion, as the score was only 35-20.  Benny Snell was excellent, as he had 20 carries for 125 yards.  

Florida absolutely smoked Charleston Southern (not surprising) 53-6 on Saturday night, and did it with a oustanding performance from Felepie' Franks and the Gators' running game.  Franks was 16-24 for 219 yards and 5 TD's, all in the first half.  The Gators' offensive line also looked better, but they will be tested for sure this weekend against Kentucky.

PREDICTION:

I'll ask again, will Kentucky defeat Florida this weekend in Gainesville?  The answer is no.  I just don't think Kentucky can get it done in The Swamp.  I expect another big game from Felepie' Franks and the Gators' running game, and another spotless performance from the Gators' defense.  

In all of my honesty, Florida will be favored by at least two touchdowns, and I think they will win by more than that.

MY PREDICTION: Florida 34, Kentucky 14.

Well, it appears that the Caps are going full Crapitals/Chokers again... as they have dropped three straight games to the Tampa Bay Lightning, including two games at home, after leading the series 2-0 early.

So here we are, it's Washington's last chance to keep their season alive, as with a loss, they will head to the golf course yet again.  With a victory, they'd force a Game 7 in Tampa on Wednesday night.  Can Washington keep it going and force a game 7?  I don't think so.  Although the Caps have outplayed the Bolts in every game except for Game 3, they are still losing, thanks to the remarkable play of Andrei Vasilevksiy.  I expect another strong performance from Vasy, and Tampa's forwards, and am predicting Tampa to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals with a 4-2 victory to face the Vegas Golden Knights.

You’re in the wrong forum bud.

I don’t think the Caps can beat Tampa simply because the Bolts are very deep and very fast.  Tampa in 6 or 7.

I feel like the only team that can really give the Jets trouble right now are the Bolts.  They’ve been firing on all cylinders as well.  If a Jets-Lightning series happens, it would be a fantastic one, but I’d take Tampa in 6.

BOS @ TB

Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL

LINE: TB -170, BOS +150

A Look at the Boston Bruins (5-6)

The Bruins now find themselves on the brink of elimination, after a backstabbing 4-3 OT loss at home to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who now must attempt to stave off elimination with a victory in Tampa, which will not come easy by any means.  Not to mention, the Bruins were also embarrassed in Game 3, falling 4-1.  Expected to win at least one of the games at TD Garden, they were beaten in both, and now head to Tampa down 3-1 in the series, where it is extremely difficult to win.

Boston won their first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 7 grueling games, with almost all of the production coming from their top line (Marchand, Bergeron, Pastrnak).  However, they have done almost nothing in the four games so far against the Bolts.  In order to return the series to Boston for Game 6, the line must produce.  Boston does not have any secondary scoring, if not very little, from what we’ve seen so far in this series.

Boston’s defense and penalty kill has been very maligned so far this postseason, which has opened the door for the high scoring Bolts to bury pucks in the net.

A Look at the Tampa Bay Lightning (7-2)

The Bolts have a great chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in the last four seasons, as they come home for Game 5 up 3-1 in the series.  They have been unstoppable on offense, as their second and third lines have been burying pucks left and right.  More impressive of all, the Bolts won both games in Boston, and it came from excellent defense and offense, and fantastic goaltending from Andrei Vasilevskiy.  This hockey club is very difficult to beat at home.

Tampa Bay made short work against the New Jersey Devils in Round One, dispatching them in five easy games.  One of the reasons the Bolts are handling the Bruins this easily could be due to the fact that Tampa has far more rest than Boston does and as a result the Lightning are running away with this series.  They have far more depth than the Bruins, as they get production from all four lines.  Their defense has also vastly improved from the regular season, as they get sticks on pucks, block shots, and cover the net very well.

Although Tampa Bay’s penalty kill has also been maligned, their defensive zone coverage is much better than it was in the regular season.

EXPECTED GOALIE MATCHUP:

Rask vs. Vasilevskiy

PREDICTION: LIGHTNING 3, BRUINS 1

I am going to look for the Lightning to end this series right here.  They are clearly the better team here and are getting productions from all four lines, while Boston only gets production from one line, which hasn’t produced at all this series.  Not to mention this is also in Tampa, which is a very hostile environment.  If the Bolts can win both games in Boston, then they can certainly win this one at home.  

Friday, 4/27

WPG @ NSH: 8 PM, NBCSN

NSH -145
WPG +135

Give me the Preds here in Game 1, pending that Rinne plays like the Rinne we know and that Nashville's defense is able to stop Winnipeg's high-flying offense.

Pick: Predators 3, Jets 2.

Saturday, 4/28

BOS @ TB: 3 PM, NBC

TB -155
BOS +135

I'm going with the Bolts to take Game 1.  Tampa Bay has had far more time to prepare, more time to rest, Boston is coming off of a long 7 game series vs. Toronto that ended on Wednesday night, and Tukka Rask hasn't been at his best.  I actually think that Tampa should win this game fairly easily to tell you the truth, although this will still be a fantastic series.

Pick: Lightning 4, Bruins 1.

SJ @ VGK: 8 PM, NBC

VGK -160
SJ +140

Had Game 1 been close, I would've predicted that the Sharks would bounce back here, but now I'm starting to think that the Knights are for real.  They took Game 1 by a whopping score of 7-0, and Fleury pitched his third shutout of the playoffs.  Look out, hockey world.

Pick: Knights 4, Sharks 2.

Sunday, 4/29

PIT @ WSH, 3 PM, NBC

WSH -120
PIT +100

Another glorious collapse by the Capitals in Game 1!  I just don't think it'll happen again, though, so give me the Caps to tie the series up.

Pick: Capitals 2, Penguins 1.

WELCOME TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!!!! It's about that time.  Let's get started with some picks!

EASTERN CONFERENCE

[WC2] New Jersey vs. [1] Tampa Bay

LIGHTNING IN 6.

[3] Toronto vs. [2] Boston

BRUINS IN 7.

[WC1] Columbus vs. [1] Washington

CAPITALS IN 6.

[2] Pittsburgh vs. [3] Philadelphia

PENGUINS IN 6.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

[WC2] Colorado vs. [1] Nashville

PREDS IN 4.

[3] Winnipeg vs. [2] Minnesota

JETS IN 6.

[WC1] Los Angeles vs. [1] Vegas

KNIGHTS IN 6.

[3] San Jose vs. [2] Anaheim

SHARKS IN 6.

PLAYOFF POSITION KEY:
* - Clinched President's Trophy (best record in league);
z - Clinched Conference (best record in conference)
y - Clinched Division (best record in division)
x - Clinched Playoff berth
e - Eliminated from playoff contention

ATLANTIC DIVISION:

1. * - Tampa Bay (56-21-5, 117 points) [First Round Opponent: (WC2) Florida Panthers]
2. x - Boston (51-20-11, 113 points) [First Round Opponent: (3) Toronto Maple Leafs]
3. x - Toronto (46-29-7, 99 points) [First Round Opponent: (2) Boston Bruins]
4. x - Florida (41-31-10, 92 points) [First Round Opponent: (1) Tampa Bay Lightning]
5. e - Detroit (33-38-12, 78 points)
6. e - Ottawa (30-39-13, 73 points)
7. e - Montreal (29-39-14, 72 points)
8. e - Buffalo (26-42-14, 66 points)

METROPOLITAN DIVISION:

1. y - Washington (46-27-9, 101 points) [First Round Opponent: (WC1) Columbus Blue Jackets]
2. x - Pittsburgh (47-29-6, 100 points) [First Round Opponent: (3) Philadelphia Flyers]
3. x - Philadelphia (41-28-13, 95 points) [First Round Opponent: (2) Pittsburgh Penguins]
4. x - Columbus (43-32-8, 94 points) [First Round Opponent: (1) Washington Capitals]
5. e - New Jersey (41-32-9, 91 points)
6. e - NY Islanders (35-34-13, 83 points)
7. e - Carolina (34-34-14, 82 points)
8. e - NY Rangers (36-38-8, 80 points)

CENTRAL DIVISION:

1. z - Nashville (52-19-11, 115 points) [First Round Matchup: (WC2) Colorado Avalanche]
2. x - Winnipeg (48-23-11, 107 points) [First Round Matchup: (3) Minnesota Wild]
3. x - Minnesota (46-28-8, 100 points) [First Round Matchup: (2) Winnipeg Jets]
4. x - Dallas (44-31-7, 95 points) [First Round Matchup: (1) Vegas Golden Knights]
5. x - Colorado (41-31-10, 92 points) [First Round Matchup: (1) Nashville Predators]
6. e - St. Louis (40-34-8, 88 points)
7. e - Chicago (34-38-10, 78 points)

PACIFIC DIVISION:

1. y - Vegas (51-24-7, 109 points) [First Round Matchup: (WC1) Colorado Avalanche]
2. x - San Jose (45-27-10, 100 points) [First Round Matchup: (3) Anaheim Ducks]
3. x - Anaheim (42-26-12, 96 points) [First Round Matchup: (2) San Jose Sharks]
4. e - Los Angeles (41-34-7, 89 points)
5. e - Calgary (38-34-10, 86 points)
6. e - Edmonton (37-39-6, 70 points)
7. e - Vancouver (29-42-11, 69 points)
8. e - Arizona (24-45-13, 61 points)

MY STANLEY CUP FINAL MATCHUP: Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

You heard me right, the two best teams in the NHL will goe toe to toe in the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.  This will be "America's Series".  This series will be so epic that it may be one of the best ever in history.  I see this one going 7 extremely close games, all being very low scoring.  At the end of the day, I feel like Andrei Vasilevskiy will just be the tad bit better goaltender than Pekka Rinne, which ultimately will be the deciding factor.  With 3 minutes left in regulation in Game 7, Steven Stamkos will score the go-ahead goal which will ultimately seal one of the best Game 7's of a Stanley Cup Final to remember, as well as one of the best playoff series ever in NHL history.

MY STANLEY CUP CHAMPION: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

TB vs. WSH

4-3 Lightning win. 

FLA @ TOR

4-2 Leafs win.

CBJ @ NJ

3-1 Devils win.

MTL @ PHI

2-1 Flyers win. 

NSH @ DET

4-1 Predators win. 

SJ @ STL

3-2 Sharks win.

LA @ WPG

2-1 Jets win.

BOS @ EDM

4-1 Bruins win.

COL @ VAN

3-2 Avalanche win.