The Major League Baseball playoffs begin Tuesday, but entering last night's games none of the match-ups were set. There is plenty of work to do yet during the regular season.
In the National League, the only thing we know is that the New York Mets won the East and own the best record. Five teams are still vying for the other three playoff spots. Things are so jumbled that St. Louis could be forced to play a rained out game on Monday, then go to Houston for a division championship game Tuesday.
At least in the American League we know which four teams have qualified for the postseason. We do not know who owns either home field advantage.
Trend - Watch out for one of the Wild Card teams. A Wild Card has reached the World Series five out of the last six years, and won the title three of those times.
Predictions - With the American League's New York Yankees a heavy favorite and sure to play against the Wild Card, the upset should come in the National League. If the NL Wild Card comes from the West or Central, it will beat the New York Mets, which makes sense since the Mets are playing terrible and their ace Pedro Martinez clearly is hurting. If Philadelphia gets the Wild Card, it will win against either the West champion or struggling St. Louis. If Houston gets in the playoffs, beware, because the Astros would be completely on fire.
World Series - Things have become unpredictable lately, with six different champions in the last six years. But it's hard to go against the Yankees, from the stronger American League, who are getting healthier right now. If the Yanks own the overall best record when the playoffs start, ironically that would be a strike against them, since the last time the team with the best record won the World Series was 1998.
Prediction - The New York Yankees defeat the NL Wild Card.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
This is the perfect time of year to be betting on college football. Right now good handicappers have a leg up on the sports books as everyone adjusts to the new season. Take a look at the scores so far, remember the games you've seen, keep track of injuries and how teams cover the point spread, and examine the schedules in order to make sound betting judgments.
POKER
It was interesting to watch the main event of the World Series of Poker, as amateur Jamie Gold took home the $12 million (yes, $12 million!) first prize. Or did he? It seems that Gold had previously promised someone half of his winnings after taxes using a telephone message machine. Although there was no written agreement, a Las Vegas judge has frozen half of Gold's money. Will Gold get to keep the other half of his booty? Stay tuned.