East

15. Brooklyn Nets

14. New York Knicks

13. Atlanta Hawks

12. Orlando Magic

11. Chicago Bulls

10. Charlotte Hornets

9. Miami Heat

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

7. Detroit Pistons

6. Milwaukee Bucks

5. Washington Wizards

4. Philadelphia 76ers

3. Indiana Pacers

2. Toronto Raptors

1. Boston Celtics

West

15. Memphis Grizzlies

14. Sacramento Kings

13. Dallas Mavericks

12. Phoenix Suns

11. Los Angeles Clippers

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

9. Utah Jazz

8. Denver Nuggets

7. San Antonio Spurs

6. New Orleans Pelicans

5. Los Angeles Lakers

4. Portland Trailblazers

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Houston Rockets

1. Golden State Warriors

 

Although very early in the season, a rough idea for what schools will be in the four-team playoffs has emerged. With teams like Kentucky and Duke shaking up the College Football world with both schools being ranked for the first time since 1957, it is not out of the question to see some of the staple powerhouses of College Football becoming dethroned. Regardless, here is my prediction for what teams will be in the 2018 College Football Playoffs.

(1) Alabama

Despite what I said above about how their may be a shift of power in college football – that does not apply to Alabama. The Crimson Tide have been in all four of the playoffs since its inaugural season back in 2014, and look set on making it five straight. With Sophomore Sensation Tua Tagovaliloa looking like a likely Heismann Candidate behind Center, Alabama has demolished their first four opponents and will continue to do so all the way to the SEC Championship.

(2) Georgia

The second best team in College Football also happens to be the second best team in the SEC – unfortunate for the Bulldogs. However they show no signs of an inferiority complex towards Alabama. Georgia’s NFL-Ready D-Line has given them some seemingly easy victories over the likes of Missouri and South Carolina. Additionally, after losing to Alabama in OT of the Championship last year, Kirby Smart will make sure they have another chance at a National Title this season.

(3) Clemson

Although this is not the Deshaun Watson lead team that shocked the world in 2016/17, Clemson looks to have not dropped back towards middle of the pack but rather as a new powerhouse along the likes of Alabama and Georgia. With the ACC Title seemingly a lock this year given the downfall of schools such as Louisville and Florida State, Clemson have only one goal now – to win the National Championship.

(4) Ohio State

Rounding out the playoffs we have the Ohio State Buckeyes out of the Big 10. Although the allegations and suspension of head coach Urban Meyer raised concerns over both the football program and the school as a whole, the players seem to be unaffected by this road bump. With the first three spots being taken by SEC and ACC teams, the final spot will seemingly go to the winner of the PAC or Big 10 (barring an undefeated by Notre Dame). Therefore, with neither Stanford or Washington showing dominance in the PAC just yet, the fourth spot looks to be a toss up between Penn State and Ohio State. Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, Ohio State looks to be the better team this year. Luckily for fans, the two will play each other this Saturday in what will be a huge decider for the playoffs.

On October 6th, Khabib Nurmagomedov will be looking to defend his Lightweight title against the “Notorious” Conor McGregor at UFC 229. McGregor, a loud mouthed Irishman, became a household name in 2017 after fighting Floyd “Money” Mayweather in what is now known as “the Money Fight”. Despite losing, McGregor made over $100 million from the event while Mayweather brought home a reported $300 million. However, the fight between McGregor and Mayweather made headlines less so because it was seen as an even match (it was not), but instead the two’s back-and-forth antics during the Press Tour attracted non-boxing fans to see what would happen. This fight, however, is much less about the press tours and much more about these two expert fighters.

Nurmagomedov, who holds a professional record of 26-0-0, is the current champion and has left no doubt in viewers’ minds who the winner has been in any of his fights. Fighting out of Dagestan, Russia, Khabib mauls his opponents across three rounds and leaves his talking inside the ring.

McGregor, although talks a big game, has shown he is one of – if not the – best Lightweight fighter in the UFC. With knockouts of world class fighters such as Eddie Alvarez and José Aldo, McGregor has soared into superstar status.

Regardless of their pasts, the two will face off in just over a week and the trajectory of the UFC will be shifted regardless of the outcome.