The WGC-Accenture Match Play- Tiger's chances

Since winning the Chevron challenge at the end of last year, Tiger Woods has failed to compile 4 solid rounds in a row.  With a share of the lead in Dubai, he fell short on Sunday- usually his day to shine-  and has struggled ever since.  He said he couldn't get comfortable with the putter after his terrible performance in the last round at Pebble Beach, and that isn't a good sign.  His swing looked better, more on-plane after Hank Haney screwed it up, but it still looks more mental than mechanical for him.  

This week he will be a #5 seed at the WGC match play, playing Spaniard Gonzalo Fdez-Castano.  Castano has already been quoted as saying "Tiger is not at his best, so I feel like I can beat him."  It will be interesting to see what happens this week especially, because you have to get off to great starts and play well every day to advance in the bracket.  There's no room for error here, and he would face the winner of Darren Clarke/Nick Watney(both of them can probably beat Tiger) if he can get through the first round.  

Jeremy Lin: Will he continue his Linning ways?

Jeremy Lin over the past few weeks has captivated the world unlike anyone besides a certain "Tim," but they come from two completely different backgrounds.  Lin, a Harvard graduate, never got an opportunity after college to play in the NBA, jumping around to different D-league teams, seeing the court once in Golden State, and eventually being signed by the Knicks to try and solve their Point Guard issues.  Mike D'antoni's system is a pick and roll offense perfectly suited for Lin.  His system also includes the inability to defend players on the other team, and has been one of the most overrated coaches in NBA history.

While sleeping on his brother's couch in NY, he got the nod from D'antoni to start getting minutes, and since then has been averaging ~28 points and ~8 assists since taking over the point, but his turnover rate(nearly ~7 per game) is something to be concerned about.  When Stoudemire came back, the team didn't change too much, but with the imminent return of Carmelo Anthony, the team may see less W's in the win column.  Once he gets the ball, he shoots it.  Linsanity will continue, as it now even translates into Mandarin.

Super Bowl 46: Who Ya Got?

The big game is here.  Patriots v. Giants, in an epic rematch of the 2007 showdown in which the Giants were 12.5 point underdogs.  We all know how that turned out, the most unbelievable catch by David Tyree leading to the game-winning touchdown by Plaxico Burress.

This year, the Quarterbacks may be the same, but the game won't be.  The Patriots are still favored, by 2.5 points, but I think it will be much higher scoring than the first meeting 4 years ago.  The Pats run a crazy offense that has been taken to levels we've never seen before.  Who will it be out of the backfield?  Woodhead?  The Law-Firm?  Hernandez???  The 2-tight end set leaves defenses scrambling every play.  Is it shotgun, or will they run an under-center all out blocking scheme?

We all know the Giants have a super defensive line, and a linebacking core good enough to run with Hernandez and a banged-up Gronk, and fast enough to rush Tom Brady as seen in the regular season game between the two teams.

My prediction:  Patriots 38, Giants 31.  I do like the Giants front 4, but Tom Brady is going to win this chess match.  The Giants can score, and they're going to have to on a terrible defense, but Brady is going to take advantage of the Giants secondary.