Irresponsible Predictions for 2011

Well in case you didn't notice, the calendar rolled over yesterday to bring us the beginning of 2011. And with it comes an exciting chance to make ridiculous predictions that you are sure to make fun of but are certain to come true. To make things interesting, I will endeavor to make a prediction or two for each major sport. Here we go *Bud Light commercial voice*...

FOOTBALL
Your Super Bowl Champions will be the.....................Green Bay Packers. Yes, a bit of a crazy selection seeing that the Packers have not secured a playoff spot as of yet, and yes it pains me to pick Green Bay because of my love for da Bears, but the Pack are finally getting healthy and are on a bit of a roll. The Packers dropped a close game at New England despite playing with backup quarterback Matt Flynn and then bulldozed the New York Giants at home with Aaron Rodgers back in action. Yes, the Packers will have to win three road games to go to Dallas, including an NFC Championship victory at Soldier Field, but the Cheeseheads will be very happy this February.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Tennessee will win the SEC East next year. I like Derek Dooley and I think he will turn around the Volunteer program, but no one will expect him to win like this so quickly. Tyler Bray has been extremely impressive in his freshman year, and with plenty of offensive weapons returning, the Big Orange will make a move back in the national spotlight. Expect Georgia to challenge but have difficulty replacing A.J. Green on the outside. South Carolina will be average again and Florida will be in transition. Vandy will be Vandy, and as for the Cats, it may be difficult getting back to six wins next year with Randall Cobb likely gone.

PRO BASKETBALL
The Miami Heat will not win a championship...this year. There's really not much parity in the NBA these days because I only see five teams that could win it all this year -- Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, Orlando (a stretch), and San Antonio (an even bigger stretch). But I don't think karma will allow Miami to win a championship in their first year. Besides, the playoff moxie that the Celtics and Lakers have will be difficult to defeat. With Boston getting very old very quickly, and with Kobe about to enter the twilight of his dominant days, Miami looks unchallenged on the NBA landscape...but not this year.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Kentucky will go undefeated in SEC play. Yeah, why not? The SEC is terrible, let's be honest. The only thing worse than the SEC West was the SEC East in football this year. South Carolina is awful, Florida is average, and Tennessee is imploding. That leaves Georgia and Vanderbilt, but let's remember that Billy Gillispie isn't coaching anymore -- UK can beat the Dawgs and Commodores. What I saw in the Louisville game yesterday was a team coming together as a singular unit, one that takes joy in passing and defending as much as scoring the ball. With Terrence Jones putting passing at a premium, and Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb continuing to rain threes, these Cats look like they could do something special.

PGA TOUR -- No American will win a major this season. International golf is kicking butt right now.

NASCAR -- Jimmie Johnson will not win his sixth straight title. For the love of God, please be true.

BASEBALL -- The Pirates will be bad.

That's all I have for now. Go ahead and book all of these as true. It will save you time and energy later.