ATS Sports Blog

That’s right.  Hold on to your butts, boys and girls…ATS Consultants is bringing you a new weekly feature, “Fearless Predictions.”

Why?  Because we’ve got the cajones to put it all on the line.  Remember, for winning picks and bold predictions, head over to ATS Consultants.  In fact, why not get some of our free picks right now?

Fearless Predictions: Week of May 18th – May 24th

-   Eric Staal’s two goals and assist will lead the Carolina Hurricanes over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Thursday’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, tying the series at a game a piece. This should be a hard fought series, where Staal and Crosby will shine throughout. Seven games isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

-   American IDOL Season 8 winner, Kris Allen, will throw out the first pitch prior to the start of Friday’s interleague matchup between the LA Angels, and LA Dodgers. Good thing Kris will win … cuz Adam throws like a girl.

-   Phillies Slugger, Ryan Howard, will have a huge weekend at the new Yankee stadium, as the Phillies square off interleage play with the New York Yankees. Look for Ryan Howard to have four HRs in the series, as Howard’s power bat starts to heat up.

-   Tampa Bay Devil Rays Pitcher, Andy Sonnanstine will not bat cleanup ever again in his life. Despite his RBI double, in last Sunday’s victory over Cleveland … a game in which Sonnanstine batted cleanup, because of an error made on the Lineup card by manager Joe Maddon.

-   Look for Nuggets SG Dahntay Jones to be ejected from Game 2 on Thursday versus the LA Lakers, as he commits his 2nd flagrant foul of the game. The Denver will loss the game, not because of the Jones ejection, but because Kobe will drop 43 points.

-   As Preakness winner, Rachel Alexandra’s connections decide to skip the Belmont Stakes, Jockey Calvin Borel will get the mount on Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird. Mine That Bird’s jockey in the Preakness Stakes, Mike Smith, will be riding at Hollywood Park, June 2nd, which is the day of the Belmont Stakes.

-   On the cusp of Top recruit, John Wall’s decision to go to the University of Kentucky, basketball prep phenom, Lance Stephenson will announce his intent to attend the University of Maryland next fall. This might come as a surprise to many, as most people believed that Stephenson would select either Kansas or St. John’s. Gary Williams will actually land a Top 50 prospect … yeah I know … big news.

-   After Saturday’s victory, the Denver Nuggets will take a 2-1 series lead over the LA Lakers. The Nuggets athleticism is just too much for the Lakers to handle. Though Kobe will score over 40 points in two of the first three games, the Lakers will see themselves playing catchup in the Western Conference Finals. If I were a Laker fan, I’d be worried.

-   Look for the Orlando Magic to take a 2-1 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers after this Sunday’s overtime victory in Orlando. JJ Redick will score a much needed 21 points in the Game 3 win. Don’t worry though, the Cavaliers will pull out the series to reach the NBA Finals.

-   Lead by RW Pat Kane’s two goals on Friday evening, as the Chicago Blackhawks get closer in the Western Conference Finals, cutting the Detroit Red Wins series lead to 2-1. Though Chicago appears overmatched in this series, don’t be surprised to see the Blackhawks pull out two or even three wins.

-   Though he thinks he has a terrible contract, and has refused to report to training camp, look for Browns WR Josh Cribbs to give in, and report to camp under his current deal. Cribbs is slotted to be a starter next to WR Braylon Edwards … aka “Butterfingers” … meaning that Cribbs is probably Cleveland’s #1 receiver. Come on Josh, this is your opportunity to show off your talents, don’t blow it.

-   Look for the New Orleans Saints to sign free agent RB Edgerrin James by the weekend. “Edge” could fill the vacancy left by RB Deuce McAllister. Look, James isn’t the top level RB he was in Indy, but he might be an effective runner in the Saints scheme, splitting carries with RB Reggie Bush – Bush getting the bulk of the load obviously.

-   The Patriots will trade a 2010 3rd Round draft pick to the Oakland Raiders for DE Derrick Burgess. Burgess. Burgess would immediately upgrade the Pats pass rush. Burgess has had double digit sack totals, two of the last four seasons – including 16 sacks in 2005.

-   Though a deal might not be struck by the end of the week, look for the KC Chiefs to move extremely close to finalizing a deal for WR Anquan Boldin. Arizona would most likely get a 1st round pick in return.

-   Look for Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress to address the QB situation in Minnesota by stating that Sage Rosenfels is his starting QB to open training camp. Childress will state that its Sage’s job to lose, and QB Tavaris Jackson will have ever opportunity to win the job – yeah right … at least until Brett Favre’s shoulder heels, then he pass the Vikins physical and sign a one-year deal … the ladder is probably going to happen late summer.

-   St. Louis Cardinals CF Rick Ankiel will hit two home runs Friday night versus Kansas City, in only his third game back from the DL. With slugger Ryan Ludwick going on the DL, Ankiel’s power presence will be much needed in Cardinal land.

-   Golfer Shane Lowry, winner of last week’s Irish Open, as an amateur, will turn professional, and began playing events on the European Tour immediately. Just 22 years of age, and a good friend of fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy, look for Lowry to play mainly in Europe this season, and accept a couple – one or two – exemptions to play on the PGA tour this season.

-   Look for Stud Muffin to win the Seaport Mac Stakes this Friday at Belmont Park.

-   Look for Lattice to win the Grade II Louisville Handicap, Saturday, at Churchill Downs.

-   Look for the best filly in the country to win this Saturday’s Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park. Yeah, that’s right, the best filly in the country … ZENYATTA. Undefeated in nine career starts, 5 year old mare, Zenyatta is set to make her 2009 debut in the Grade II $150,000 Milady Handicap set at 1 1/16-Mile over the cushion track. Expect an top notch performance, from a heavily favored Zenyatta.

Hey, in case you’ve forgotten already, check back again next week for another breath-taking edition of ATS Fearless Predictions.

Editor’s note: Kris Allen winning American Idol?  Seriously?  Come on now…Adam Lambert all the way.  If I’m wrong, I’ll get a new tattoo.

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