Goz’s Five Bold Sports Predictions For 2019

The sports calendar in 2018 is winding down so let's make some BOLD predictions for what happens in 2019. Let's hear some of your bold predictions below.

#1 Rob Gronkowski Retires

Mr. Tide Pod himself calls it a career. Rumors were flying this past off season that "Gronk" was already considering moving on into acting. After previous injuries and less than stellar performances in 2018, Gronk moves on from New England.

#2 Syracuse Basketball Misses The NCAA Tournament

I want to be wrong about this one. I HOPE I am wrong about this one. I am writing this blog following the Orange's loss at home to Buffalo. Most of these players were a part of the Sweet 16 roster in 2018. However with the Orange's lack of offense and struggles to get second chance looks, I see Coach Boeheim's team missing the NCAAs.

#3 Athletes begin to be sponsored by... .Sports books?

Sure, this sounds like something out of "The Onion" . However, after more states continue to legalize sports wagering, athletes will begin to benefit. Initially, there will be some controversy but in three to five years, no one will find it as a huge deal that athletes are promoting sports books.The trend starts in 2019.

#4 College Football Playoff Expansion Is Agreed Upon

I will admit I'm being a big vague about the above. Will the number be six? Eight? Will it arrive in 2020? 2022? I believe that information may actually change year to year. However I do believe, the college football powers will come together and expand the playoff to eight teams. The elite in college football are finding out how much money is involved and how much can be made. Plus this idea that the regular season can be tarnished will an expanded playoff is just nonsense. We get a bigger playoff at least agreed upon for the future in 2019.

#5 A 20-1 long or bigger wins the Kentucky Derby

Six straight years the Run for the Roses has been won by the favorite. That changes in 2019!

So how'd I do in 2017 for my 2018 predictions? Let's recap them below.

Goz's Five Bold Predictions for 2018 in December 2017

1-Pittsburgh Steelers Win Super Bowl 52 In Minnesota, Ben Roethlisberger retires. 

I wrote back in September that Ben Roethlisberger would win the league MVP and help the Steelers get to the AFC title game. We have too many recent examples of playing considering retirement and ending their careers with a Super Bowl Win (Elway, Strahan, Bettis, Lewis). I believe the Steelers get revenge on the Patriots in the AFC Title game and take out the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 52 in Minnesota.

(Swing and a miss. Roethlisberger came back and played and the Steelers are fighting for a spot for Super Bowl 53. ) 

2- The Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and New York Jets all draft a quarterback during the 2018 NFL Draft.

Every draft expert believes this draft is loaded with potentially great quarterbacks. As of now all three New York NFL teams have a future need at the position. Jets and Bills starters Josh McCown and Tyrod Taylor are likely to leave the franchise. Eli Manning has just one year left on his deal and is likely to not be a part of the Giants' future. The Bills and Giants are more likely to have the rookie quarterback (Lamar Jackson and Josh Rosen) compete for the starting job in camp rather than the Jets who will draft a quarterback as a back up and sign one in the off season (Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield gets Jets fans excited)

(Nailed it! Well The Giants of three did not draft a quarterback in round one but they did draft Kyle Lauletta later on! I nailed this one, just different names on different teams) 

3- The Oklahoma City Thunder Make a Run All The Way To the Western Conference Final

Am I biased to my guy Carmelo Anthony? Maybe! However I truly believe the Thunder will be the team no NBA team wants to play come playoff time. This is the same Thunder team that took the Golden State Warriors to a 3-1 defect in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. The Thunder have beaten the Warriors by double digits this season. The Rockets are on a win streak but when it matters most, the talent of George, Westbrook and Anthony will be too much for any time. If the Thunder get the 2, 3, 6, or 7 seed they will be poised to make a run all the way to the Conference Final.

(Woof.. Thunder were bounced by the Jazz. Melo currently isn't playing in the NBA. 1/3) 

4- Floyd Mayweather fights in the UFC... sort of.

This time last year, people were laughing about the suggestion that Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor would ever fight one another. Sure enough it happened last August. I laughed earlier this month when Mayweather suggested the UFC offered this amount of money for a deal I predict that Mayweather sees a huge amount of money come his way in an offer, the UFC becomes desperate for a money making super star and signs to box rather than an MMA fight as a part of the company.

(Can I count this one as a tie? Is Floyd Mayweather doing something in Japan still on New Year's Eve? Is it an MMA fight? Showcase event? Cancelled? I'm going push on this one because it actually still may happen)

5- Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton Chase 62 Home Runs. One gets it! 

Last season then Miami Marlin and now New York Yankee Giancarlo Stanton said he believes sixty one home runs to be the true single season home run record. Now that Judge and Stanton are on the same team, the home runs are likely to be flying out of the ball park at a record pace with the 2018 New York Yankees. Once June hits, the media will hype up the home run chase between teammates Judge and Stanton in similar fashion to McGuire and Sosa. Judge finishes 2018 with 55 home runs while on the final day of the regular season, Stanton belts number sixty two!

(No where close Yankee fans. Sorry for the no drama. However there is always 2019!)