2011 Sports Predictions

We're back with the world famous New Year's Eve Sports Predictions - Here's what we see happening in 2011.

This will be the year of NCAA Scandals - Ohio State is only a foreshadow of major violations to come.

For the local fans, the Pens will win the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Philly will have 3 - 20 game winners.

In another bold prediction - Barcelona will not win the Champions League.

And finally just like last year, but we mean it this time the Detroit Lions will make the NFL Playoffs.

Another NFL SideLine Hit

Surprise, surprise another NFL sideline hit, this one seems a little more thought out then the now famous Jets trip.

How to Improve the UEFA Champions League

The Group Stage of the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League has been dull to say the least. There is very little on the line in the final round. In most cases there are 2 good teams per group and two…..shall we say lesser quality teams. It’s impossible not to acknowledge the quality of play has improved across Europe over the last decade. However during that time, the big clubs have become even more powerful, and now a group of super elite teams is emerging. We have a couple quick and simple suggestions to improve the quality of the Group Stage and Champions League all together.

1. Europa League winner from the previous year is automatically entered into the group stage of the next Champions League – This helps the Europa League the most, but it also gives 3rd place group knock-outs something to strive for.
2. Give the 4th placed league in the UEFA coefficients system - Germany / Italy a fourth team. The fourth place teams from those leagues are way better then the champions of Latvia, Iceland, Moldova, etc.
3. Give the 7th league 3 places.
4. Give the top ranked league all 4 four Champion League places in the Group Stage.
5. Only give the 15th place country 1 CL place.

This system would give 1-4 (4 teams into the CL) 5-7 (3 teams into the CL)

Based on the current coefficients it would look like this.

#1 - England – 4 teams in Group Stage
#2,3,4 - Spain, Italy, Germany – 9 in Group Stage with the possibility of 12
#5,6 - France, Portugal – 4 in the Group Stage with the possibility of 6
#7 – Russia, one in the Group Stage with the possibility of 3
#8-#14 – The chance to have two club reach the Group Stage.

Right now you can argue there are only about 8 super elite teams with a chance to the win the Champions League. If you enter in more big clubs you, might be able to level the playing field between the big clubs and what we call the super elite clubs. The best thing for UEFA is not to have small clubs in the Champions League it’s would be to have 20 teams with a chance to win the Champions League. This also would be good for the big and mid level domestic leagues as well.