As we prepare to say farewell to 2006, here are some sports predictions for 2007. If we’re right, you heard it here first. If we’re wrong, well, we didn’t really want you to take us seriously…
FOOTBALL
Bears 24, Packers 10: This one will be on New Year’s Eve, but we won’t let that stop us. Green Bay will be eliminated before taking the field. The Bears roll into the playoffs with a full head of steam, only to be eliminated in the first round.
Comeback kid: Packers quarterback Brett Favre is too close to some important records and too healthy to turn down another $10 million. He’ll be back for one more season.
Bob Sanders keeps his job: A late surge by the defense, coupled by the fact that head coach Mike McCarthy is going to have to replace offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski (likely with Joe Philbin), will keep Jim Bates on the sideline and allow the embattled defensive coordinator to return for another year.
Falling stock: Have you seen the Packers’ special teams this season? They weren’t very special, so it won’t be a surprise when coach Mike Stock will be sacrificed.
Moving on: The Packers want to keep Ahman Green, at least in theory, but he’ll balk at a low-ball offer and head somewhere else.
Either or: Bubba Franks or Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila will be cut before next season.
There is no sense keeping to personnel mistakes on the roster.
Taking charge: San Diego wins the Super Bowl over New Orleans.
In the draft: The Packers will move up to take running back Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma.
Wisconsin 17, Arkansas 7: Bret Bielema caps a spectacular first year with a victory in the Capital One Bowl.
Valley of the Sun: Badgers offensive lineman Joe Thomas, a former star at Brookfield Central, will be chosen by Arizona in the NFL Draft.
Ohio State 35, Florida 28: The Buckeyes win the title with Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk standing on the sidelines.
Badgers victories in 2007? Eight.
2007 Heisman Trophy winner: Michael Hart from Michigan.
Top Badgers freshman player? John Clay from Racine Park.
BASKETBALL
Seeing Redd: Bucks star Michael Redd will head to Las Vegas for the All-Star Game, but he won’t surpass the 2,000-point plateau this year because of the team’s more balanced attack.
Breaking even: The Bucks finish the regular season 41-41, but lose a first-round playoff series.
Hoops hype: Wisconsin will win the Big 10 title and advance to the Elite Eight. Marquette will reach the Sweet 16 before bowing.
Moving on: Golden Eagles point guard Dominic James will leave school for the NBA Draft, but he will be taken two spots below Badgers forward Alando Tucker, who helps his position with a strong tournament performance.
Cross-town rivalry: The long-awaited matchup between Marquette and UW-Milwaukee will take place in December. The Golden Eagles will win by 18.
Moments in the Sun: UCLA will win the national championship and the Phoenix Suns will win the NBA title.
BASEBALL
For starters: Right-hander Ben Sheets is healthy and starts for the Brewers on opening day, but he loses to Los Angeles.
Remember me? Geoff Jenkins starts the season with the Brewers but will be traded at the deadline.
The century mark: Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy will play in more than 100 games.
Star gazing: Closer Francisco Cordero represents the Brewers in the All-Star Game in San Francisco.
Close race: Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan wins 13 games, matching the total by Arizona lefty Doug Davis.
New face: The Brewers will introduce their new TV announcer at the “winter warmup” on Jan. 11.
World Series champs? The Mets finally break through.
MISCELLANEOUS
Title Wave: Milwaukee wins another indoor championship, but the big soccer story of the year is approval for a MSL team.
Back to earth: Tiger Woods will have an “off” year, which means he’ll win only one major and fewer than six tournaments in a row.
Miles of smiles: Danica Patrick will win the Indy 500, which will create a huge audience for the ensuing race at the Milwaukee Mile.
FOOTBALL
Bears 24, Packers 10: This one will be on New Year’s Eve, but we won’t let that stop us. Green Bay will be eliminated before taking the field. The Bears roll into the playoffs with a full head of steam, only to be eliminated in the first round.
Comeback kid: Packers quarterback Brett Favre is too close to some important records and too healthy to turn down another $10 million. He’ll be back for one more season.
Bob Sanders keeps his job: A late surge by the defense, coupled by the fact that head coach Mike McCarthy is going to have to replace offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski (likely with Joe Philbin), will keep Jim Bates on the sideline and allow the embattled defensive coordinator to return for another year.
Falling stock: Have you seen the Packers’ special teams this season? They weren’t very special, so it won’t be a surprise when coach Mike Stock will be sacrificed.
Moving on: The Packers want to keep Ahman Green, at least in theory, but he’ll balk at a low-ball offer and head somewhere else.
Either or: Bubba Franks or Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila will be cut before next season.
There is no sense keeping to personnel mistakes on the roster.
Taking charge: San Diego wins the Super Bowl over New Orleans.
In the draft: The Packers will move up to take running back Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma.
Wisconsin 17, Arkansas 7: Bret Bielema caps a spectacular first year with a victory in the Capital One Bowl.
Valley of the Sun: Badgers offensive lineman Joe Thomas, a former star at Brookfield Central, will be chosen by Arizona in the NFL Draft.
Ohio State 35, Florida 28: The Buckeyes win the title with Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk standing on the sidelines.
Badgers victories in 2007? Eight.
2007 Heisman Trophy winner: Michael Hart from Michigan.
Top Badgers freshman player? John Clay from Racine Park.
BASKETBALL
Seeing Redd: Bucks star Michael Redd will head to Las Vegas for the All-Star Game, but he won’t surpass the 2,000-point plateau this year because of the team’s more balanced attack.
Breaking even: The Bucks finish the regular season 41-41, but lose a first-round playoff series.
Hoops hype: Wisconsin will win the Big 10 title and advance to the Elite Eight. Marquette will reach the Sweet 16 before bowing.
Moving on: Golden Eagles point guard Dominic James will leave school for the NBA Draft, but he will be taken two spots below Badgers forward Alando Tucker, who helps his position with a strong tournament performance.
Cross-town rivalry: The long-awaited matchup between Marquette and UW-Milwaukee will take place in December. The Golden Eagles will win by 18.
Moments in the Sun: UCLA will win the national championship and the Phoenix Suns will win the NBA title.
BASEBALL
For starters: Right-hander Ben Sheets is healthy and starts for the Brewers on opening day, but he loses to Los Angeles.
Remember me? Geoff Jenkins starts the season with the Brewers but will be traded at the deadline.
The century mark: Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy will play in more than 100 games.
Star gazing: Closer Francisco Cordero represents the Brewers in the All-Star Game in San Francisco.
Close race: Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan wins 13 games, matching the total by Arizona lefty Doug Davis.
New face: The Brewers will introduce their new TV announcer at the “winter warmup” on Jan. 11.
World Series champs? The Mets finally break through.
MISCELLANEOUS
Title Wave: Milwaukee wins another indoor championship, but the big soccer story of the year is approval for a MSL team.
Back to earth: Tiger Woods will have an “off” year, which means he’ll win only one major and fewer than six tournaments in a row.
Miles of smiles: Danica Patrick will win the Indy 500, which will create a huge audience for the ensuing race at the Milwaukee Mile.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
