Welcome to the inaugural edition of Wodo’s Weekend Hot Takes where I will make bold, sometimes foolish, predictions for games and basically anything else going on in the sports world. As many on the PocketBlog staff know I have a tendency to fire off some scorching hot takes (Klay being the best Warrior being a fan favorite) so I might as well share them with the rest of the world.

NFL

Pittsburgh @ New Orleans (Saints -6, O/U 53) (Sunday)

This game has big playoff implications for the AFC. A Steelers win and Ravens loss at the Chargers puts them in the driver seat for the AFC North title. The Saints offense has fallen off a cliff the last few weeks and looks more like the Buffalo Bills than the potent Saints team we had seen throughout the season. The Saints are really good at home and the Steelers stink on the road, regardless I like the Steelers.

Derek Carr to the Jaguars

I know its early to start talking about the NFL offseason, but with Peterman getting a new life with Gruden and the Raiders it’s become apparent Derek Carr and the $100 million left on his massive extension are no longer welcome in the Bay. The Jaguars have been suffering through the Blake Bortles Experiment and actually looked decent with him in 2017, making it all the way to the AFC Championship, but water always finds its level and Bortles has been flaming hot garbage again. Carr is a significant upgrade over Bortles and would be a great compliment to the win-now roster assembled in Jacksonville. Even if Carr doesn’t push the Jags over the top just get Bortles out of there for the sake of NFL viewership.

NBA

New Orleans @ LA Lakers (Friday)

The traditional next step in the Lebron-Bringing-in-who-he-wants-to-play-with saga is the highly anticipated matchup that always ends with the ceremonial Lebron hug/handshake at the end of the game. This year’s saga includes Anthony Davis. Lebron has openly said he would love to play with AD even using the word “duh” when talking about how great it would be to play with him. The Pelicans second-tier players probably want to win this game as a last gasp effort to keep Davis in New Orleans. I totally expect that to happen. Pelicans win with big games from Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic and E’Twaun Moore.

CBB

#14 Buffalo @ #20 Marquette (Friday)

The IU fan that I am is still somewhat upset and confused as to why Marquette is ranked higher than the Hoosiers who smacked them around in Bloomington a few weeks back, but anyway, this game is gonna be great. Buffalo is legit and Marquette should be one of the top teams in the Big East this year. Markus Howard is a ridiculous scorer (except against IU) and will pop off again against the Bulls. Buffalo is too deep and too talented to leave Milwaukee without this win, though. The Bulls are a tested team winning at a ranked West Virginia team and beating a decent Syracuse team in the Carrier Dome. I like Buffalo in an instant classic.