The 2014 Man vs. Wife Prediction Competition

Well, it's New Year's Eve 2013, and as all other outlets are doing today, it's time for 2014 sports predictions. When I first decided to post something on this, I thought of one thing:

"Everybody does this already, why should I conform to the norm?"

A valid question, but I eventually convinced myself to do it since I can be wrong about everything just as well as the big media boys can be.

The twist for me is that I felt it would be more entertaining if I included my wife, Cathy, in the predictions. After much begging and pleading, she agreed to "jot a few ideas" down on paper. I'll also be organizing the closet at some point in the near future.

For transparency, we went to separate rooms to make our sports-related predictions. I didn't want to knowingly give her an edge that would somehow lead her to besting me in the one area of expertise I excel at more than her . At the end of 2014, we can go back and see how well we both did...if I remember.

And now...the 2014 Man vs. Wife Prediction Competition!!!! Remember, this is what we both wrote separately and then smushed together for the blog.

NCAA Football BCS National Championship
Justin: Auburn vs. Florida State for all the marbles. I made my prediction on this game in a previous post, so I need to stay the course. Auburn 45, FSU 39. The Tigers win the title.

Cathy: Auburn

NFL
Justin: The playoffs start the first weekend in January 2014. Denver and Seattle are the #1 seeds in the AFC and NFC, respectively. Seattle is tough at home and will be tough to beat there. Denver plays well at home too, but it WILL be cold and windy and Peyton Manning is not as dominating in cold weather. However, the Broncos offense is tough to stop and I think Peyton does get his team to the Super Bowl for the third time.

On the NFC side, any of the six teams are capable of a run, but I think the Carolina Panthers do just enough to make it to the Super Bowl. They remind me of the 49ers last year and I think they get the job done.

So...Denver and Carolina in the Super Bowl. Winner: Denver. Peyton matches his brother's ring total in Eli's backyard.

Cathy: Denver Broncos

Sochi Winter Olympics
Justin: In case you don't know, there are Winter Olympic games in 2014. I only know this because NBC has broadcast rights to the games and I watch NBC Sunday Night football. Obviously the Peacock has been making a push to get more people aware of the upcoming Olympiad. The Winter games just don't have the same luster as the Summer games. Except when it comes to the Biathlon. Look for that great event this winter. By the way, Sochi is in Russia and the country is rather volatile.

Predictions for the Sochi games: 

Shaun White will win the gold medal in Snowboarding and will once again be the U.S. team's star. 

Lindsey Vonn will not have as much luck and her knee injuries prove too hard to overcome. She will not finish on the podium in 2014. 

Ratings for the games will be lower than 2010. Technology has made it hard for people to sit around in primetime to watch events that they already know the outcome of. Of course for people that do care, watch on your cell phone or tablets live at work. Take my advice, your boss won't care.

Cathy: Lindsey Vonn most hype...won't medal. Sarah Hendrickson has a better shot.

NCAA Basketball
Justin: March Madness will bring its annual excitement to the job scene and internet usage will once again spike during the tourney's 2nd and 3rd rounds (Remember, the first round is now dedicated to the four play-in games).

My Mens Final Four teams: Syracuse, Arizona, Michigan State, and Ohio State. It's tough to predict, but I'll go with these four for now. Michigan State wins it all.

My Womens Final Four teams: UConn, doesn't matter, doesn't matter, and doesn't matter. UConn will win no matter who is in the Final Four.

Cathy: Mens - Kansas State, Kentucky, NC State, Arizona...Champ - Kansas State

Womens: UConn

NHL
Justin: Disclaimer: I don't follow hockey on a regular basis so this will be an uneducated guess. The NHL re-shuffled how the divisions are set up starting this season so, in theory, the best teams in each conference will make the playoffs.

Stanley Cup finals: The Chicago Blackhawks over the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

Cathy: Capitals

NASCAR
Justin: Two predictions for the circuit:

Kyle Busch wins the Daytona 500

Jimmie Johnson wins the title AGAIN.

Cathy: Jimmie Johnson

NBA
Justin: The Indiana Pacers get past the Heat in the East and I'm still going to stick with the Oklahoma City Thunder out of the West. Russell Westbrook is hurt right now, but I think they make do without him and then run through the playoffs with KD and Westbrook at full strength.

In the end though, the Pacers beat the Thunder in seven games.

Cathy: Heat

MLB
Justin: The baseball season is too long and I lose interest even before opening day. The playoffs are all I care about and are much more fun to watch.

World Series: The Washington Nationals over the Oakland A's in seven games.

Cathy: Boston...again.

And finally...

Will Tiger Woods win a major golf tournament in 2014 and inch closer to the Golden Bear's major record?

Justin: In one word...No. Oh and he and Lindsey Vonn will go their separate ways in 2014.

Cathy: No, he will not. I hate 'em and he stinks.