Let us take a look at a division that features the good (Jacksonville Jaguars) and the bad (Indianapolis Colts). Are any of these teams worthy of winning the Super Bowl?

• Team(s) to Beat: Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars: The Texans missed Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt for a good chunk of 2017. Houston will be getting those two back and should be a solid team if almost everyone stays healthy. The Jaguars made it to the AFC Championship game last season thanks to a solid defense consisting of Myles Jack, Calais Campbell, and Jalen Ramsey. Other contributors include Leonard Fournette (1,040 rushing yards, nine touchdowns), Yannick Ngakoue (12 sacks, 30 total tackles, six forced fumbles), and Malik Jackson (eight sacks, 39 total tackles, four forced fumbles).
  
• Teams That Will Regress or Be Better: Tennessee Titans: Now that DeMarco Murray has retired, the reins are handed off to Derrick Henry. Henry's a big running back that can also be a solid third-and-short player. If Marcus Mariota and the passing attack can improve, the Titans will make a return to the playoffs.
  
• Cellar Dweller: Indianapolis Colts: The only good thing the Colts have going for them is Andrew Luck. Even that isn't a guarantee since we don't know if Luck can stay on the field.
  

Now we shall turn our attention to the AFC West, a division where anybody has a fighting shot at winning the division (even the Broncos)! Who is the top dog in the division?

Team(s) to Beat: Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders: The Chargers started off slow last season before making a late-season surge, barely missing out on the playoffs. The Raiders fell apart last season after making the playoffs the year before and missed the playoffs as well. With the Denver Broncos still rebuilding and Kansas City scrapping a good chunk of their team, it seems that these two teams will be fighting for the top of the division.
Rebuilding Team: Kansas City Chiefs: They traded away Alex Smith and are trusting Patrick Mahomes to run the offense. They also released Tamba Hali to make some room for the salary cap. This team seems to be one in transition. However, it is possible that the Chiefs can come out on top in their division again.
Cellar Dweller: Denver Broncos: It is possible for the Broncos to win the division, too. If Case Keenum duplicates the season he had in Minnesota last year and if the defense stays elite for Denver (i.e. Von Miller), the Broncos can surprise some people and make the playoffs.

The trade deadline looms closer by the day. Which team has made the necessary upgrades to compete for the October push?

1. Boston Red Sox (last week: 1): Steve Pearce (.340 BA, .429 OBP, .939 OPS in 47 at-bats) has been a nice addition to the Red Sox. Boston also acquired Nathan Eovaldi from Miami to bolster their rotation more and remain interested in relief help from the likes of Brad Ziegler and Craig Stammen.
2. New York Yankees (2): Losing Aaron Judge for three weeks is going to suck for New York, especially if they are to try and catch Boston in the race for the AL East. The Yankees are hoping that J.A. Happ will be the pick-me-up that the Yankees need for their starters; lefties are batting .188 against Happ this season with a paltry OBP of .239. Maybe the Yankees can seek temporary outfield help?
3. Houston Astros (3): Houston, we have a problem? Losers of five of their last six (including a home sweep at the hands of last-place Texas), losing Jose Altuve to the 10-day DL has the defending champions worrying a bit. The Astros just acquired Ryan Pressley from the Twins and Houston may make one more move before the deadline's over.
4. Chicago Cubs (4): Chicago's hoping that Cole Hamels can leave the woes of hitter-friendly Globe Life Park behind him. They'll need him to be an important piece to their World Series run: Jon Lester (3.06 ERA) is the only Cubs starter from Opening Day to currently hold an ERA under four.
   
5. Oakland Athletics (6): Before getting swept in Colorado, the A's ran off a six-game winning streak that included a comeback win from eight runs down against the Rangers. Oakland's hoping that Jeurys Familia will help shore up the bullpen a bit, but the A's might look into getting a starter.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (7): With Manny Machado in tow, the Dodgers are set on making it back to the World Series. Can they get a low cost reliever and stay under or around the luxury tax threshold in the process?
7. Seattle Mariners (5): The Mariners actually made their biggest move long before the trade rumors picked up. They acquired speedy Denard Span and closer Alex Colome from the Tampa Bay Rays. Colome (1.07 WHIP, 3.09 ERA, 9.26 K/9 in 25 appearances with Seattle) has settled down in his new role as the eighth-inning set-up man for Seattle after a rough patch early.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (8): Will getting Mike Moustakas from Kansas City help the Brewers in their playoff push? Milwaukee missed out on Machado, so they settled for the next best hitter on the trade market. Milwaukee's also looking for another starter and is eyeing Zach Wheeler and Matt Harvey.
9. Colorado Rockies (-): After sweeping the Oakland Athletics, the Rockies are throwing their hat in the postseason conversation. Adding Seunghwan Oh as a late-inning set-up man will help Colorado, especially with the Rockies playing five straight playoff contenders after their road series in St. Louis.
10. Philadelphia Phillies (9): Philadelphia just missed out on Machado as well. However, they added Asdrubal Cabrera as a back-up plan (and as a versatile infielder). Cabrera (18 homers, 58 RBIs) hopes to boost the Phillies to their first NL East title since the days of Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.

In The Hunt: Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels

Now we shall take a look at a division that has the reigning Super Bowl champions: the Philadelphia Eagles. Are the Eagles set to run the division yet again?

• Team to Beat: Philadelphia Eagles: What Philly did in the Super Bowl to New England was incredible. Doug Pederson threw everything but the kitchen sink at New England and came out on top. What's more is that the Eagles didn't have quarterback Carson Wentz or offensive lineman Jason Peters for a good chunk of the season. This Eagles' team is deep and has the potential to repeat as Super Bowl champs, especially if the front seven dominates again.
  
• Sleeper Team: Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott mans the running game for Dallas and is a big threat on the field, but the offensive line isn't as good as it once was. Still, it's nice to get Dez Bryant out of Dallas since he was a bit of a problem. If Dallas' defense plays stellar, the Cowboys should be back in the playoff fold.
  
• Team That Can Be Good... Or Bad: Washington Redskins: Yes, Kirk Cousins is out of D.C. However, Washington's replacing Cousins with... Alex Smith. Smith's known to be a great game manager and will benefit from being a part of one of the better passing attacks in the NFL. However, he is a bit older than Cousins.
  
• Cellar Dweller: New York Giants: New York has their stud running back in Saquon Barkley and they still have to figure out whether they want to pay Odell Beckham Jr. or not. In any case, it wasn't that long ago that this was a playoff team. However, everything came apart for the Giants last season and the idea is that New York will continue to build something for the future.
  

Next, let's take a look at a division that could produce two playoff teams this season: The NFC North. The return of a future Hall of Fame quarterback, the addition of a former Patriots coach, and the last-place team making some additions could make for an interesting division race.

• Team(s) to Beat: Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers: Both teams are getting upgrades at the quarterback position. Minnesota just inked Kirk Cousins to an $84 million deal and Green Bay will be getting Aaron Rodgers back. The Packers don't have many offensive weapons aside from Rodgers, though. Therefore, it should be a good bet that Minnesota wins the division this year.
  
• Sleeper: Detroit Lions: The Lions got New England's defensive mastermind Matt Patricia as their head coach. Patricia's bringing his own system over to Detroit in hopes of emulating the Patriot Way in the Motor City. If the Lions can get improved offensive line play and finally get a running game going, they could be in the playoff mix come December.
  
• Cellar Dweller: Chicago Bears: Chicago is riding on many things to go right to be a good team this season. One of them is Kevin White finally being the receiver the Bears hoped for. He's having a good mini camp so far, so Chicago hopes that'll translate to on-field success. Allen Robinson has been added to add more playmakers to Chicago's offense.
  

Next, we shall take a look at one of the NFL's premier divisions: The NFC South. Last year, the NFC South produced three playoff teams, with one coming one play away from the NFC Championship. How do the teams stack up?

• Team(s) to Beat: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers: Honestly, I wouldn't recognize three teams in a four-team division as being the teams to beat. But there is plenty of talent to go around on all three squads. Atlanta has a solid offense featuring Julio Jones. New Orleans has that Drew Brees guy and an improved defense. Carolina has a solid linebacker corp and a decent defense overall. It'll be a dogfight to see who emerges on top in the NFC South.
  
• Cellar Dweller: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lost in the dogfight are the Tampa Bay Bucs. Jameis Winston's character issues have come into fruition and Dirk Koetter's seat is getting warmer. If Tampa Bay doesn't achieve anything this season, expect some heads to roll.
  
• So... Who Wins the NFC South? I don't trust Carolina making the playoffs again. Their offensive line has not done a good job protecting Cam Newton and has left him vulnerable to hard hits. It's similar to what Andrew Luck has dealt with in Indianapolis. Therefore, it's between two rivals: Atlanta and New Orleans. Atlanta's offense is second to none, but New Orleans looks like an improved team. Still, I like Atlanta to win the NFC South. Don't be surprised if New Orleans makes the playoffs, especially as the winner of the NFC South.
  

With the Hall of Fame game edging closer and closer, football season is around the corner. Who will rule the roost in the NFL this season? Let's start off by taking a look at the NFC West.

• Top Dog: Los Angeles Rams: This used to be the Seattle Seahawks' spot. However, many changes have happened in the Seahawks' organization, signaling a bit of a rebuild for the once-dominant franchise. Therefore, the Rams now sit atop the NFC West perch. Los Angeles just extended Todd Gurley to a huge contract and added Brandin Cooks to their deep receiving group. They're also taking a gamble on Ndamukong Suh to give Aaron Donald some assistance on the defensive line.
  
• On the Rise: San Francisco 49ers: It isn't just Jimmy Garappolo that has this team believing that they're winners. Richard Sherman joins the 49ers, boosting a young defense that may sprout into a force in the future. There are some concerns, however. Who will step up at running back? Are there any other playmakers on offense?
  
• Rebuilding: Seattle Seahawks: As mentioned before, Richard Sherman went to Seahawks rival, San Francisco. Kam Chanchellor's also retired and Earl Thomas is seeking a better deal (or he may be out the door as well). The Legion of Boom suddenly looks much more different than it did a year ago.
  
• Cellar Dwellers: Arizona Cardinals: What looked like a promising team heading into last season suddenly showed its age. The Cardinals are hoping new quarterback Josh Rosen can eventually pick up where Carson Palmer left off and make an impact as Arizona's franchise quarterback. In the meantime, Sam Bradford will be under center for the Cardinals.
  

Coming back from the All-Star break, what is going on in baseball? Who's going where when the trade deadline goes down?

1. Boston Red Sox: Is it possible for the Red Sox to topple the 2001 Seattle Mariners' AL record of 116 wins? It can be done. However, the Red Sox will have series against the Yankees (three times), the Astros, the Phillies (twice), the Braves, and the Indians (twice). Their September slate looks especially brutal with critical match-ups against the Yankees and Indians making up the last two weeks of the season.
2. New York Yankees: Like their rival, the Yankees are pursuing an old Mariners record themselves: the record for most home runs in a season (264 home runs in 1997). Unlike the Red Sox, the Yankees are on pace to break that record, set to hit 274 home runs by the end of this year.
3. Houston Astros: The Astros are in a middle of a stretch where their only home series in the first six series of the second half is at home. All the teams the Astros are facing on the road are at .500, at least. This is a solid Astros team, however. They should be able to handle the load.
4. Chicago Cubs: Chicago has proven why they're a top team in the National League. They have 15 wins in their past 20 games, seizing control of first place in the NL Central. The Cubs are currently looking at Zach Britton to bolster their bullpen, which would be a traditional Theo Epstein pickup.
5. Seattle Mariners: Seattle won't have to worry about picking up a bat to boost their lineup. They'll be getting Robinson Cano back from an 80-game suspension in Mid-August, which will account for an acquisition to help the Mariners push towards their first playoff appearance since 2001.
6. Oakland Athletics: It seems like Oakland doesn't want to be left out of the postseason party. The A's acquired Jeurys Familia from the Mets for prospects and are looking at Mike Fiers for rotation help.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers got their big fish in Manny Machado. Will they win their first World Series since 1988 with their newest big bat? Their chances got better, but they'll have to do it with the team they now have since they're swimming near the luxury tax line.
8. Milwaukee Brewers: It's been a tough road for the Brewers lately. First, offensive tweets from All Star reliever Josh Hader's Twitter surface, leaving a black eye on Hader and the organization. Another issue is that the Brewers are 2-8 in their last ten games, sliding out of the NL Central lead and possibly out of the NL Wild Card.
9. Philadelphia Phillies: Philadelphia missed out on Manny Machado. However, they still are looking at players, namely Whit Merrifield and Zach Britton. They'll beed the help since Atlanta is looking to make a push for the NL East.
10. Atlanta Braves: The young Braves should make their push for the playoffs now. A tough September slate which includes match-ups against the Diamondbacks, the Phillies, and the Red Sox awaits Atlanta in the last month of the season.

In The Hunt: Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates,

The year seems to be flying by quickly. Before you know it, the Philadelphia Eagles will begin their title defense with a date against the Atlanta Falcons. Anyways, here are five bold predictions that I have for the NFL season.

1. The NFC South Will NOT Produce Three Playoff Teams This Season: Yes, the NFC South is the toughest division in the NFL. Three of the four teams in the division are Super Bowl-caliber. However, many teams in the NFC have gotten better. Minnesota added Kirk Cousins, Green Bay is getting Aaron Rodgers back, and San Francisco added Richard Sherman and many other pieces to their team. Chances are that the NFC South will send two teams to the postseason at best. If this is the case, it'll likely be Carolina on the outside looking in. The Panthers have a suspect offensive line that can't keep Cam Newton upright.
   
2. Jordy Nelson Will Not Have as Good of a Season as Expected: Nelson (7,848 career receiving yards, 69 receiving touchdowns, 14.3 yards per catch) benefited from having Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback in Green Bay. When Rodgers went down last year, so did Nelson's stats. In 15 games played, Nelson had 53 receptions for 482 yards and six touchdowns. Nelson will be in a different offense, one that expects to utilize all their weapons. That includes Amari Cooper, Martavis Bryant, Doug Martin, and Marshawn Lynch. Expect Nelson to not have a seismic year.
   
3. Jimmy Garappolo's Efforts as the 49ers' Quarterback Won't Be Enough to Get Them to the Playoffs: A quarterback that changes the dynamic of a team is a rare find. When Jimmy Garappolo came to the Niners from New England, he turned a hapless 1-10 squad into a team that dismantled the likes of AFC Championship contender Jacksonville. His first true test will come this season, where he'll have to compete in the tough NFC conference. Trying to usurp teams like Green Bay, Minnesota, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and the like will be tough. Plus, there are still questions offensively for San Francisco. Thus, San Francisco will be on the outside looking in come January. However, that shouldn't discourage Niner fans, for this team does have a solid future ahead of them.
   
4. The Tennessee Titans Will Also Miss the Playoffs: Nothing against the Titans. Marcus Mariota is an exciting quarterback who had a rough 2017 campaign and Derrick Henry is a big body the Titans need at running back. However, the Houston Texans will be getting Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt back. If Tennessee's passing attack doesn't get better and injuries claim key players, the Titans will not be playing football in January.
   
5. The AFC Will Have a New Representative for the Super Bowl: As good as Tom Brady is, he is not getting younger. He turns 41 in a couple weeks and there was some underlying tension between him, Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft. Also losing defensive mastermind Matt Patricia will hurt New England, too. If there is a new AFC champion, it'll be the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, Ben Roethlisberger is getting older like Tom Brady. However, a dynamic offense featuring Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell cannot be overlooked.
   

Believe it or not, college football season is right around the corner. That means spending your Saturdays watching the best games, "SEC! SEC! SEC!", and grabbing a beer. Which games should you watch aside from the traditional rivalry match-ups?

• USC vs. Stanford, September 8th: A key Pac-12 match-up as USC already gets a true road test. How will they be able to contain Heisman favorite Bryce Love?
  
• Colorado vs. Nebraska, September 8th: New Cornhuskers coach Scott Frost will bring his knowledge to a Nebraska squad that is longing for the glory days. The two teams also renew their old Big 12 rivalry.
  
• USC vs. Texas, September 15th: What will these two teams do for an encore after last year's thriller?
  
• Syracuse vs. Clemson, September 29th: Can Dabo Swinney's crew avenge last year's upset?
  
• LSU vs. Florida, October 6th: Two former SEC powerhouses duke it out. This may be a bout where points are at a premium.
  
• Michigan State vs. Penn State, October 13th: How about two potential Big Ten championship teams duking it out to see whose season stays alive?
  
• Louisiana Tech vs. Florida Atlantic, October 26th: If you're interested in a Lane Kiffin game, here's one for you to enjoy.
  
• Stanford vs. Washington, November 3rd: The past three seasons has seen these two teams win the Pac-12 North. Which squad will be on their way to that distinction this season?