By Chris Emma–

CHICAGO (CBS) — It was a year ago this time that Anthony Rizzo came out with what seemed to be a perplexing prediction.

Speaking at the annual Cubs Convention, Rizzo didn’t shy away from being bold. He went on record and said his team would win the NL Central. While the Cubs didn’t take the crown, they went on to win 97 games, eliminating the Pirates in the one-game wild card and knocking out the Cardinals in the NLDS.

Confidence is again riding high for a Cubs team that went all the way to the NLCS last season. Meeting with reporters at Joe Maddon’s “Thanksmas” event at the Chicago Help Initiative, outfielder/catcher Kyle Schwarber went on record with the same prediction Rizzo made a year ago, if not is such grandiose fashion.

“I feel like we’re going to win the division,” Schwarber said. “We showed what we can do when we’re all in it for the common goal. We were all in.”

Last year, Rizzo’s prediction seemed surprising, but the Cubs played with that kind of confidence all season long. It carried them to a memorable run. The team added on in free agency with outfielder Jason Heyward, utilityman Ben Zobrist and right-hander John Lackey, bolstering an impressive roster.

Entering his second year as Cubs skipper, Maddon’s preparing for spring training in a month, where he will address the team for the first time and lay out their path to the postseason and beyond.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Maddon said. “We’re going to have a larger target on our back. We have to embrace the target and move on from there. But I really believe our guys are going to be up for the challenge.”

This time around, Rizzo wouldn’t go on record with a prediction. However, he’s feeling confident.

Rizzo was around the Cubs for some of their lean years, arriving as one of the first pieces to their youth movement. Now, he’s a 26-year-old leader for this young team.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Rizzo said. “We’ll be ready for it. Now, we got to go out and prove we can do it again.”

The Cubs are prepared for what’s to come. They enter 2016 as a legitimate World Series favorite.

Last year, when Rizzo made his prediction, it seemed crazy. Now, that’s just the beginning of what’s expected for the Cubs.

“Now, we know what to expect,” Schwarber said. “There’s probably going to be more targets on our back. We’re going to have to come with our ‘A’ game every day.”

Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.