51 shots is an awful lot to give up to a 13th place team, but I suppose that’s what happens when you are the worst team in the league. This has been an incredibly difficult season to be a Sabres fan, but on the bright side it looks as though the goaltending on this team is decent and will get plenty of practice. Bring on Connor McDavid!!!!
Dan Pluta (@DPluta08) has put together his latest 2014 NFL Mock Draft and it has literally been months since the last edition. So much has changed and the scope of the Draft is really in place now with the order set and NFL Combine having been completed.
This edition of the mock draft is based on the official 2014 NFL Draft order of picks. This list is subject to change and will throughout the NFL offseason as free agency gets under way and the Combine and Pro Days occur. These selections will more than likely be incorrect as all mock drafts typically are. Don’t let Mel & Todd tell you otherwise.
2014 NFL MOCK DRAFT Volume 8.0 (2 Rounds)
ROUND 1
1.) HOUSTON TEXANS: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF – This is still up for debate. The Houston Texans could do a number of things here, and listing all of them would be senseless because we all know what every option is. I think given the QB class, and the inability (right now) to pick a truly #1 between Bridgewater, Manziel, Bortles and heck, even Mettenberger, McCarron and Carr, really makes it possible that Houston trades this away to grab one of them a few picks later. Or, realistically, Houston could just nab Clowney and be over with it – I’m sure J.J. Watt is lobbying for that pick. Nonetheless, it makes too much sense for the Houston Texans to grab a new QB given Schaub’s disappointing 2013 and a new coaching hire in Bill O’Brien. The question becomes, is this a veteran or a newly drafted QB? O’Brien had success in his first year at Penn State with Matt McGloin, maybe that was McGloin’s own doing or O’Brien’s coaching – nonetheless, Blake Bortles is the pick. Matt Schaub will be owed upwards of $14.5 million next season. It makes a lot of sense to say goodbye and utilize that money on free agency. Bortles brings a physical skill set that is tops in his class, plus a big arm and winning track record. Bortles showed some impressive stuff at the combine, and although Bridgewater is more NFL-ready than Bortles, I think the Texans take the UCF signal-caller.
What an absolutely incredible game this past weekend. It is safe to say that TJ Oshie at least for today has grabbed the torch from Ryan Miller as US Hockey Olympic darling after his shootout performance. I am not a huge fan of the shootout, I think a skills contest is a terrible way to end an amazing game like that, but the Olympic rules allowing for repeat shooters is top notch. The fact that Dan Bylsma kept rolling Oshie out was incredible drama. Hopefully this victory will be the catalyst for an American run at the gold. The US was able to keep their minds right and defeat Slovenia the next day and entered the single elimination portion of the tournament in second place. The Americans will take on the winner of the Czech Republic and Slovakia on Wednesday. Let’s get’em boys!!!
The Latvian men’s Olympic hockey team, coached by Sabres coach Ted Nolan, lost to Switzerland today 1-0 on a goal with 7.9 seconds left. Latvia also features one NHL player on their roster, Zemgus Girgensons who also plays for the Sabres.
This game must have given Nolan and Girgensons flashbacks because the Sabres have lost at least a handful of games this season in the same fashion. It is unfortunate for the Latvians because they, like the Sabres for much of the year, got incredible goaltending throughout the entire game from Edgars Masalskis, who stopped 38 shots in the game and made a handful of highlight reel saves.
Tomorrow morning at 7:30am the United States men’s hockey team begins their quest for a gold medal against Slovakia in Sochi. The American’s will be starting Jonathan Quick in net (for at least the first game). The US will need Quick and Ryan Miller (if he plays) to step up and lead the way because they are not as loaded up front as the Canadians and Russians. Whether or not they win gold it should be a fun ride and this will be the best hockey that you can watch so make sure you tune in.
Here’s a little video to get you ready for tomorrow.
Prediction:
Gold: Canada
Silver: Russia
Bronze: USA
Well degenerates it is that time of the year again. Thats right the Super Bowl is here and that means that we can delve into the prop bets that always come along with the biggest game in professional football. This year there are seemingly more prop bets than ever and in the following space I will show you some of my favorite in hopes to make you a few dollars.
All lines are courtesy of Sportsbook.com.
I am going to start with my favorite bets dealing with the Super Bowl and those are cross-sport bets. This is one of the great days in sports gambling where you can bet against a basketball team or hockey team being more successful than a team playing in the big game.
Celtics-Magic Points Scored vs. Russell Wilson Passing Yards
Celtics-Magic total points scored +16.5 (-115)
Russell Wilson passing yards -16.5 (-115)
Both the Celtics and Magic have struggled this season and the Celtics are a bit banged up heading into this game, even if this game was high scoring I cannot possibly see the final score being higher than 210 total points. That would mean that Russell Wilson would only have to throw for 217 yards in the game. Given the way that the Broncos have been able to shut down running backs in the last two playoff games I would be inclined to think that the Seahawks come out throwing or at worse are forced to resort to throwing the ball later in the game. I think Mr. Wilson comes close to the 300 yard mark in this game. I’m taking Russell Wilson -16.5.
Washington Capitals-Detroit Red Wings Total Goals Scored vs. Demaryius Thomas Receptions
Capitals-Red Wings goals scored -0.5 (-105)
Demaryius Thomas receptions +0.5 (-125)
Alex Ovechkin has been on a tear recently (his recent game against the Sabres is proof of that, but hey it’s the Sabres) and this game should be a high scoring affair. On the other hand one woudl imagine that Richard Sherman will be blanketed all over Thomas for much of the game if not the whole thing. However, I think that Peyton Manning will find a way to get his best reciever into the game early and Thomas will end up with somewhere around 7 catches. That would mean the hockey game would have to be an abnormally high scoring game. I’m going to lay the odds on this one and take Demaryius Thomas receptions.
Tiger Woods 4th Round Score vs. Eric Decker Receiving Yards
Tiger Woods 4th round score -5.5 (-115)
Eric Decker receiving yards +5.5 (-115)
This is a tough one for me because I am such a huge Tiger Woods homer, but given his recent poor play I really like his odds here. If he is able to put up a nice smooth 75 here Eric Decker will be hard pressed to get to 70 yards with that punishing Seattle defense all over him. I’m taking Tiger Woods.
Now let us move on to the props that involve just the game itself. Some of these are outrageous and others are pretty standard, but they are all fun ways to keep yourself interested in the game.
Coin Toss
Heads (-102)
Tails (-102)
C’mon guys, tails never fails.
First Score of the Game
Touchdown (-150)
Any other score (+120)
Both of these teams have phenomenal field goal kickers and I think that will play a factor in this prop. The first score of this game will be a field goal. I’m taking any other score.
Will Both Teams Make a Field Goal 33 Yards or Longer?
Yes (+120)
No (-150)
As I said in the previous bet both of these teams feature great place kickers and are not afraid to use them. The odds are too good to pass up on this one, I’m going with Yes they will.
Over/Under Jersey Number of the Player to Score the First TD
Over 79.5 (-125)
Under 79.5 (-105)
This bet boils down to whether or not you thnk that the first TD will scored by a wide receiver or a tight end. The oddsmakers seem to think that a wideout will be the first to score, but I think it all depends on what team scores. If Seatlle punches it in first I think it will either be Lynch or Wilson with the score, but if it is Denver I think that Peyton Manning will pull the old Bud Kilmer and use Knowshon Moreno to move the ball down the field and then throw it to one of his talented wide outs. Since I like Seattle to win I’m taking the Under.
MVP
Peyton Manning (+120)
Russell Wilson (+400)
Marshawn Lynch (+500)
Knowshon Moreno (+1500)
Football usually boils down to which QB plays better, so using that theory the two favorites are the QB’s. However, I think that Marshawn Lynch at 5-1 is an interesting play here. If Lynch can rush for over 100 yards and add a TD or two he should have enough to win the MVP. The only real choice from the Broncos is Manning, so if you think they will win you should bet him at +120 instead of betting the Broncos as a team. Since I think that Seattle wins the game I am going to take Russell Wilson at 4-1 to win the MVP because I think the Seahawks throw it more than they have shown in the last few games.
I, for one, am shocked to hear this as Mr. Young has made quality and conservative investments with his money, both earned and borrowed.
Unrelated to anything sports – but shocking news.
TPlush!