Premier League Week 27 Fixtures: Final-Score Predictions for Upcoming Schedule

The Premier League has a clear leader after Week 26 as Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team sit astride the English domestic league.

The West London side lead the rest by just a solitary point, per BBC Sport.

As the midweek fixtures were decimated by the inclement weather sweeping across the UK, Chelsea's draw at West Brom was enough to see them extend their advantage.

Arsenal could only manage a draw against a staggering Manchester United team, who managed to defensively contain the Gunners at the Emirates to earn a point, and almost took all three.

So who will take the advantage in Week 27? Here is a list of all the fixtures and score predictions:


Premier League Week 27 Schedule and Predictions
Fixture                                            Date Time (GMT) TV Info   Prediction
Chelsea v Everton                          Feb. 22 12:45 p.m. BT Sport         2-1
Arsenal v Sunderland                  Feb. 22 3:00 p.m.                         3-0
Cardiff City v Hull City                  Feb. 22 3:00 p.m.                         1-0
Manchester City v Stoke City          Feb. 22 3:00 p.m.                         4-0
West Brom v Fulham                  Feb. 22 3:00 p.m.                         1-1
West Ham v Southampton          Feb. 22 3:00 p.m.                         2-1
Crystal Palace v Manchester United  Feb. 22 5:30 p.m.        Sky Sports 1-1
Liverpool v Swansea City                  Feb. 23 1:30 p.m.                         3-1
Newcastle v Aston Villa                  Feb. 23 1:30 p.m.        Sky Sports 1-1
Norwich v Tottenham Hotspur          Feb. 23 4:00 p.m.        Sky Sports 1-3
premierleague.com



Chelsea v Everton

Chelsea take on a buoyant Everton side in the early kick-off on Saturday.

It has been a wonderful start for Roberto Martinez to his reign on Merseyside, with his team still very much in contention for the last Champions League position.

However, the Toffees have slipped to 11th in the Premier League form guide after winning just two of their last six matches. Their away record also reads poorly, with the club only managing six points from a possible 18 on the road.

Chelsea on the other hand are flying high and are undefeated in the league since losing away at Stoke on Dec. 11. Per Squawka, the Blues are now on an undefeated streak of 11 games, having played both Arsenal and Liverpool in that run of matches.

It is difficult to see anything but a win for Mourinho's men, as their credentials of Premier League champions begin to grow.

This is the time of the season where the Portuguese manager comes into his own, showing his ruthless ability to close in on titles and grab whichever silverware he desires.

Everton have overachieved this season and the core quality of their football has improved under their new manager.

But Stamford Bridge will be a bridge too far. Chelsea should power on through the gears and dispose of their opponents with ease. The scoreline might remain tight, but it should be a comfortable win nonetheless.

Prediction: 2-1



Liverpool v Swansea

Stu Forster/Getty Images
As a Swansea side without Michael Laudrup looks to the future and tries to maintain its Premier League status, the country's form side looks to extend its wonderful run.

Liverpool are top of the form guide with 16 points accumulated from their past six home matches.

The combination of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge with a cast of many have propelled the Reds into not only Champions League contention, but for the English league title as well.

Swansea really do not have a chance at Anfield. Any positive result achieved by them would be a titanic shock especially as Brendan Rodgers' side has destroyed all comers on their own turf.

The Swans are up to 10th in the Premier League table but still only lie four points off the relegation zone.

If Suarez is in the mood it could well turn into a cricket score, but I think the team from South Wales will show some backbone and manage to restrict Liverpool despite losing.

Prediction: 3-1



Crystal Palace v Manchester United

Who knows what the score of a Man Utd match will be these days?

In years gone by a trip to Selhurst Park would not concern United one bit, but in these times of trouble, and with Tony Pulis' team's amazing home form, this could be yet another hard day for David Moyes.

Palace are above United in the form guide and that fact alone is a damning statistic to the reigning league champions.

Palace have won four of their last six games at home, with an unusual slip-up against Newcastle, who beat the Eagles 3-0.

Moyes' side have looked more comfortable away from Old Trafford, and a competent showing away at Chelsea will have delivered some confidence.

But you can't help but feel that some more bad days are still to come.

Palace will have enough to hold a United team yet to find its genuine scoring boots.

One day soon United will click, and the magic of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata will destroy an opponent. However, it will not be against Palace. Pulis has the experience to deal with this United side, and his team will be looking for a counter-punch victory over the Red Devils.

Prediction: 1-1

Olympic Women's Downhill Skiing Schedule 2014: TV Info, Day 5 Medal Predictions

Uncertainty will reign supreme for the world's best women skiers as they head into Wednesday's downhill final at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Organizers were forced to cancel the final training session for the event on Tuesday, as temperatures were higher than expected and the terrain proved untenable. As noted by The Associated Press' Krasnaya Polyana (via ABC News), ruts left over from this week's super-combined competition needed to be repaired especially toward the bottom of the course.

This leaves the skiers in the field with just four instead of the typical five practice runs.


Luckily, most of the contenders have a good idea of how this will play out. Lindsey Vonn's absence from Sochi due to injury cracked the downhill field wide open, as the American star was widely expected to run away with the competition. Without Vonn, German and super-combined winner Maria Hoefl-Riesch will have a good chance, as will American Julia Mancuso, who finished second behind Vonn in Vancouver.

But there is an eclectic field here in Russia, one that won't have any fear on the slopes. And these women qualified for the Olympics for a reason. They are very, very good at skiing very, very fast down a sheet of snow.

We'll have to watch and see how this event plays out. With that in mind, let's check out how you can watch Wednesday's downhill competition and predict the medalists.

Women's Downhill Viewing Info
Date: Feb. 12
Time: 2 a.m. ET
TV: Click here for TV listings
Live Stream: Available on the NBC Olympics website


Medal Predictions

Gold: Lara Gut (Switzerland)

Gut comes into the downhill hoping to atone for a frustrating run at the super-combined. Heading into her second run, she was just 47 seconds behind Mancuso, with the rest of the field breaking perfectly for an easy medal. Hoefl-Riesch put together a solid lead time, but not an unattainable one for Gut, a Swiss who was exceptional in super-combined events in 2013.

Instead, Gut faltered. She was one of numerous high-profile skiers to disqualify herself early in her run, pulling off the slopes before even putting a medal anywhere near attainability. It was a disappointing performance that left Gut in tears after her run, her coach Hans Flatscher told Graham Dunbar of the AP (via The Charlotte Observer).

Still, the disappointment seemingly turned into motivation. Flatscher noted that his skier was still "really angry ... but after a few hours she was already in focus for the downhill."

The downhill very well could end with glory for Gut. At age 22, she came into Sochi seemingly primed for a run at gold. Gut, who was too injured to compete at the 2010 Games, was considered an up-and-coming threat for Vonn's throne in Vancouver before being ruled out. Now four years older and fully healthy, nearly everyone close to the Swiss thinks she has what it takes.

"She's physically perfect. Technically she improved because she did more work in the summer," Mauro Pini, Gut's former coach, told Dunbar (via The Washington Times). "I think the important point is Lara is not any more a little girl, she's a young lady. She is more mature."

From a purely physical standpoint, I tend to agree. But we'll have to see how she handles the mental spotlight. There is no telling whether it was nerves or merely a mental error that caused her to cough up the chance to medal in the super-combined. If it was the former, another disqualification or a poor run could forbid her contention once more.

If it's the latter, as suspected, Switzerland will be walking away with its third gold in Sochi.



Silver: Julia Mancuso (United States)

Will Mancuso ever get the rightful credit she deserves within United States skiing circles? Vonn is widely considered the most decorated female skier in the country's history, but that entirely depends upon how you judge someone's legacy.

When it comes to World Cup victories, Vonn is unimpeachable. Her 59 is more than eight times Mancuso's piddly total of seven. She consistently ranks as the first- or second-best skier in the world in season standings, dominating the downhill event to the point that she would have been the super-combined favorite just by proxy.

The Olympics are another story entirely. Vonn's only two Olympic medals came in 2010, a gold in the downhill and a bronze in the super-G. Mancuso has twice her American friend and rival's bling. She has medaled in each of the last three Olympics, with her four overall medals being the most for a female skier in U.S. history.

"That kind of stuff has never mattered to me," Mancuso told Bonnie D. Ford of ESPN. "My teammates have been incredible. Lindsey Vonn is a champion and of course has had way more success than I have on the World Cup [59 wins to seven for Mancuso], so it's definitely warranted to give her a lot of credit."

Still, with Vonn injured, Mancuso added to her total in the super-combined. Though one has to surmise she was a little disappointed with bronze considering the lead she held coming in, Mancuso raised her arms in triumph ever the good sport. Her slalom run was uncharacteristically sloppy at points, as she was unable to let go of the skis at the right time and wound up losing momentum as her run went along.

The first downhill run, on the other hand, was nearly flawless. She had a near half-second lead over Gut going into the slalom, and only the top four competitors were within a second. If past performance is any indicator of future results, Mancuso may add to her 2010 silver with a 2014 gold. I'm taking Gut, but these two are our favorites.


Bronze: Maria Hoefl-Riesch (Germany)

Believe it or not, Hoefl-Riesch is a bit of an underdog coming into the downhill. Though the AP (via Yahoo! Sports) selected her as the favorite to win the downhill, the actual results don't back that up. The German is a menace in slalom competition and has won each of the last two super-combined medals, but the downhill is arguably her worst discipline.

She ran only fifth during the downhill portion of the super-combined and was absent from the podium in Vancouver, finishing eighth. While she has had some success in the event on the world circuit, bronze is the best Hoefl-Riesch has ever done in the World Championships.

Here, then, would likely be the spot where an underdog could slip in. Tina Maze of Slovenia is the best bet to take Hoefl-Riesch's place, as is Leanne Smith, the least-discussed of the American skiers in the field. And there are a number of dark horses who could come completely out of the woodwork to a surprise medal.

Hoefl-Riesch is just performing far too well to predict any of that stuff will happen. She's been brilliant in Sochi—and all season actually. She has tamed her greatest beast with three wins in seven World Cup downhills this season and, if she wins on Wednesday, will tie the women's all-time Alpine Olympic record of four golds.

"I don't think about records so much," said Hoefl-Riesch, per the AP (via ABC News). "If it happens, it's great."

It's a bit of a long shot, but if we've learned anything in Sochi, it's never count Maria Hoefl-Riesch out of any skiing competition.

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Olympic Snowboarding 2014: Schedule, TV Info, Team Medal Predictions for Day 4

Day 4 of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi brings one of the most exciting events of the Winter Games—men's halfpipe. This is one event in which the United States is certainly looking for a gold medal, as snowboard sensation Shaun White will be in action.

However, White will not be without stiff competition, as up-and-coming Japanese snowboarder Ayumu Hirano will look to give him a run for his money. Also, American Danny Davis will look to keep his hot streak alive, as he won the 2014 Winter X Games while White and Hirano missed the event.


This event is must-see TV, so let's break down when each round will be taking place on Tuesday to ensure that none of the action will be missed.



Viewing Information

What: Men's Halfpipe

When: Tuesday, Feb. 11

Where: Rosa Khutor Extreme Park


TV Times

Qualification Round: 5 a.m. ET

Semifinals: 10 a.m. ET

Finals: 12:30 p.m. ET

Channel: NBC

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com


Medal Prediction

White of Team USA figures to be the name to watch during this event. White pulled out of the men's slopestyle event in Sochi so he could fully focus on the halfpipe.

He has found a great amount of success in this event in the past, as he won gold medals in the 2006 Olympics in Turin and again in 2010 in Vancouver. Despite being on the snowboard scene for over a decade, White continues to push himself with each contest, seemingly remaining one step ahead of his competition.

White will look to become the first American male to earn a gold medal in three consecutive Winter Games.

White will not only have to battle his competition, but the course conditions as well. During an interview with Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today, he explained that the conditions in Sochi weren't perfect:

The first day, the walls were a little over-[vertical], so everybody was doing airs, and then landing like pretty flat. Today, they made the walls better so everybody lands [correctly], but in the flat bottom, where they cut it, it's like a bump, so everyone is riding along and then hits the bump, and that's really not very good.

Hirano became the youngest medalist in the history of the Winter X Games earlier this year, when he took home the silver medal at the age of 14. Now at 15 years old, Hirano continues to nip at White's heels with some impressive air in this event.

In snowboard circles, Hirano is considered by many to be White's heir apparent. It will be interesting to see how close of a competition we will get from this youngster from Japan.

Of course, American Danny Davis cannot be counted out of this conversation. Davis has been on a hot streak lately, as he finished in first place earlier this year in the 2014 Winter X Games' superpipe event in Aspen.

Davis is back in action after a brutal injury suffered back in 2010 which cost him a spot on the Olympic team in Vancouver. During an interview with Rachel Axon of USA Today, Davis is excited about his opportunity in this year's Olympics:

I wasn't ready to be done. Like I've always said, to have the chance to go to Russia, to have the chance to be on an Olympic team, I'm psyched. It wouldn't have killed me if I didn't make it, but I'm very happy that I did and I'm very excited for the opportunity.

Davis will look to continue to ride his hot hand in order to finally claim some Olympic glory of his own.

Gold: Shaun White

Silver: Ayumu Hirano

Bronze: Danny Davis

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2014 Olympic Skiing: Preview and Predictions for Women's Ski Slopestyle

Get ready to witness history!
Freestyle skiing has gained quite a bit of traction in the last few Winter Games, and Sochi will be the first-ever Winter Olympics to award medals for the woman's slopestyle competition.

What is slopestyle?
It's a freestyle event, in both skiing and snowboarding, where the objective is to perform the most difficult aerial tricks while getting the most height off the course. The event rewards variety, rather than doing a single trick repeatedly, and has been a staple of—and one of the most popular events in—the X Games for years.

At Sochi 2014, the first women’s gold, silver and bronze medalists in these events will be crowned. This is your complete preview and predictions guide for the historic women's ski slopestyle competition.


You're going to need to be a night owl on the East Coast in order to catch the live action of the women's slopestyle qualification and medal rounds. The good news is that they are only separated by 95 minutes, and you'll get a chance to witness history if you do decide to stay up.


February 11
1 a.m. ET, Qualifying
4 a.m. ET, Medal Round
Live streams will be available at NBCOlympics.com.
Tape-delayed TV schedules can be found at NBCOlympics.com/TV-Listings.

Its been a long road.
The 2014 Sochi Games will be the first Winter Olympics to feature a women's slopestyle freestyle skiing event. That's right, a competition long-relegated to the X Games has finally become mainstream and burst onto the biggest of international stages.

This event is among the most thrilling you'll get to see in Sochi, combining speed, skill, athleticism and steely nerve in order to perform tricks that will oftentimes require you to pick your jaw up off the floor.

The short answer, then, is the way we got here wasn't easy, but for the athletes who will be attempting to become the first woman to wear that Olympic gold, the road was certainly worth it.


Will It Be a Hit?
Slopestyle has been around for a while now—it can be found in both freestyle skiing and snowboarding—but until it's inclusion in the Sochi Games, it was largely consigned to X Games competitions. For fans of the sport, the excitement, daredevil-like stunts and pure athleticism that will be showcased, making it a huge addition to the 2014 Games.

But the big question remains, will it be a hit with the masses, or will slopestyle remain a niche sport?

It's hard to see how people could help being awed by some of the stunts and tricks they'll see over the next few weeks, but in a spectacle built on tradition and pageantry, slopestyle might have a hard time breaking through.


Can Anyone Stop Kaya Turski?
If you've never seen Canadian Kaya Turski perform, drop what you're doing, find your nearest computer and get yourself onto YouTube. This girl can do some things on skis that will make your jaw drop, fall to the floor and scurry away with you chasing after it.

She's already a legend in the world of slopestyle and rarely loses a competition. But she'll be looking to break out in Sochi, capture that first-ever gold medal and become a star to more than just the audience she's been playing to for years.


Do the Americans Have Any Hope?
The United States team, and the event in general, received a huge blow this past week when it was announced that Maggie Voisin, the youngest U.S. Olympian in Sochi, would miss the Games due to an ankle injury, per The Associated Press (h/t The Huffington Post).

The 15-year-old from Whitefish, Mont. was injured during training runs on Friday, and her doctors determined that she would not sufficiently heal in time for Tuesday's event.

Without her, the American team is down to Keri Herman—a decorated slopestyle skier who has two silver, but no gold medals in X Games competition—Devin Logan, who captured silver at the 2012 X Games in Aspen and Julia Krass.

A medal is a possibility to the American ladies, but it won't be easy.


The only real answer to this question is, can anyone beat Kaya Turski? She's the overwhelming favorite to walk away from this event with the gold medal, and it'll take a special performance from one of the other women to deny her that historic medal.

Keri Herman
Herman is likely the American women's best shot to reach the podium in this event. She won the 2013 Copper Mountain Grand Prix and has four silver medals in X Games competitions to her name. Two of those came in the United States and two came in Europe, so she's definitely got some experience on an international stage.

Tiril Sjaastad Christiansen
Christiansen is one of the few women who have defeated Turski in a major competition. She unseated her in the slopestyle event at the 2013 X Games held in Aspen, Colo. That alone gives her a major edge over any of her competitors.

Dara Howell
Howell, like Turski, is a Canadian with an excellent shot at medaling in this event. She's captured three bronze medals in the X Games, and she came in just behind both Turski and Christiansen in Aspen last year.


Kaya Turski is the overwhelming favorite in this event, and with good reason.
The one hitch in her plans could turn out to be her left knee. The ACL in her knee was surgically repaired in late September 2013—the second reconstruction on her left knee and third overall—and it was only thanks to a revolutionary procedure that she was able to get back on skis as fast as she did.

She made her return in January at the U.S. Grand Prix of Freeskiing and placed third—narrowly behind Devin Logan and Dara Howell—showing that she still has what it takes to compete at a high-enough level to win gold in Sochi.

That was her first race back post-surgery, and if it's any indication, she remains the favorite to take home gold in Sochi. After all, she's only going to keep getting stronger and closer to the form that led her to dominate the sport these last several years.


This is Kaya Turski's moment. She's worked for it and she's earned it. After dominating the X Games for years, this will be her shining Olympic moment.

Expect her to be pushed, hard, by a talented field, and especially her by rival Tiril Sjaastad Christiansen and compatriot Dara Howell. They'll do enough to join her on the podium, but they'll have to settle for silver and bronze.

Gold: Kaya Turski (CAN)
Silver: Tiril Sjaastad Christiansen (NOR)
Bronze: Dara Howell (CAN)

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Olympic Hockey Schedule 2014: TV Info, Live Stream and Predictions for Day 2

Four teams in women's hockey Group B will take the ice on Sunday in their first action of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Canada and the U.S. flexed their muscles on Saturday, affirming their status as the bracket's favorites with big victories. In a more open grouping, Sweden, Japan, Russia and Germany can all start the tournament off right.

Under the new group formatting, Sweden and Russia were placed in Group B after ranking fifth and sixth, respectively, in 2012's world rankings. Germany and Japan qualified for the final two spots.

This group's top two teams will advance to face off against Group A's bottom two squads. Group A was purposefully stacked with the four best teams (Canada, U.S., Finland and Switzerland) so the two best countries earn an automatic trip to the semifinals.

But we're a long ways from that, so let's take a look at the day's two games, both of which are available for live streaming at NBCOlympics.com.

2014 Olympics Day 2 Schedule
Matchup Time (ET) TV
Sweden vs. Japan 3 a.m. NBC Sports
Germany vs. Russia 8 a.m. MSNBC
NBCOlympics.com



Sweden vs. Japan
Both fringe medal contenders, Sweden and Japan are playing with house money in Sochi.

Sweden, however, enters this match as the seemingly more experienced club. Since women's ice hockey became an Olympic sport in 1998, the country has finished no worse than fifth, earning the bronze in 2002 and silver in 2006.


On the other hand, Japan has not qualified since 1998, when it finished sixth during the event's inaugural tilt. That means nearly all of Yuji Iizuka's squad has yet to experience the Olympic platform. Japan's coach said it's crucial for his players to keep a calm frame of mind as they soak in the grand stage.

“Since this is the first Olympics for most of the players in the team, the most important thing is mental training so they don’t feel anxious or intimidated,” Iizuka told The Japan Times' Jack Gallagher.

Then again, only one player on Sweden's roster is older than 25 years old. Japan features nine such players, including Yoko Kondo, a member of the 1998 team.

While it's fair to then toss aside the experience concerns, Sweden still boasts the more talented group, which should be one of the two teams to survive Group B.

Prediction: Sweden 2, Japan 1



Russia vs. Germany
The hosting nation is the top team to watch from Group B.

Russia has never finished above fifth place, but that could change this year. After finishing third in the 2013 Women's World Championship, a bronze medal is in play.

The Star Tribune's Rachel Blount credited Minnesota Duluth coach Shannon Miller with reviving the Russian program after Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic Committee president at the time, warned that women's hockey program that “we cannot continue without improvement.”

Since Miller began advising the Russians, they have increased funding for women’s hockey, sent the team to train in Duluth for two weeks and won the bronze medal at last spring’s world championships. Several other nations have taken similar steps forward, and Miller said she expects to see even more progress in the years leading toward the next Winter Games.

For Russia to take the next step, it must defeat Germany, who has also failed to finish better than fifth in its three years of qualification. One of the keys to victory is the play of goalie Nadezhda Alexandrova, who propelled Russia to a bronze finish in the world championship.

Advancing to the Olympics is in itself an achievement for Germany, but Russia is on the upswing and ready to make noise with its home-field advantage. Expect a major victory on Sunday.

Prediction: Russia 3, Germany 0

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Olympic Figure Skating Schedule 2014: TV Info and Predictions for Day 2

The 2014 Olympics team figure skating events will come to a close on Sunday, as the series completes with men's free skating, ladies' free skating and ice dance free dance. Once these three evens are in the books, the medal ceremony will follow.

Currently, Russia is in a commanding lead with 47 points, followed by Canada with 41 and the United States with 34. Italy and Japan also qualified with scores of 31 and 30, respectively.

Athletes will have to be on point, as Sunday's events will go for a much longer duration than the previous short programs.

The Russians have been able to rattle off three 10-point performances in the five elapsed events, while the U.S. is barely hanging in there due to a 10 in the team ice dance short-dance event when Meryl Davis and Charlie White put on an astonishing performance to keep their country in the mix.

Per Reuters via Yahoo! Sports, White elaborated on the United States' position in the figure skating competition, "Points wise it (the skate) did (help the team climb back up). We don't feel we are carrying any special burden or load. We are counting on the whole team to pull through together."


Viewing Information
What: Team men's free skating
Where: Iceberg Skating Palace
Watch: NBC
TV Time: 10 a.m. ET
Live Stream: NBC Olympics Live Extra


Outlook
United States skater Jeremy Abbott will look to regroup after his poor performance in the short program. He only earned four points for the U.S.—the country's lowest score of any figure skating event so far. Japan, Russia and Canada earned 10, 9 and 8 points, respectively in this event in the short program.


Viewing Information
What: Team ladies' free skating
Where: Iceberg Skating Palace
Watch: NBC
TV Time: 11:05 a.m. ET
Live Stream: NBC Olympics Live Extra


Outlook
Russia's 15-year-old sensation Yulia Lipnitskaya stole the show in the ladies' short program and earned 10 points for her country. Gracie Gold of Team USA will need to put together a solid performance to overtake Italy and Japan—both countries scored higher during the short program as well.

Viewing Information
What: Team ice dance free dance
Where: Iceberg Skating Palace
Watch: NBC
TV Time: 12:10 p.m. ET
Live Stream: NBC Olympics Live Extra


Outlook
This is where the U.S. can really make up some ground. Meryl Davis and Charlie White were absolutely dazzling during their short dance and look to duplicate their performance on Sunday. This was Russia's weakest event, as they came away with their lowest point total (eight) of the competition during the short dance.

Prediction
While the U.S. has plenty of ground to make up, they certainly have a great chance of reaching the podium. They may not be able to overtake Russia at this point; however, if Abbott can deliver a stronger showing, and the Davis-White combo can recreate their success, Team USA can definitely pass Canada and claim a silver medal here.

Gold: Russia
Silver: United States
Bronze: Canada

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US Olympic Hockey Team 2014: Full Schedule and Predictions for Women's Squad

Todd Korol/Getty Images 84 Reads 0 Comments It is no secret that the United States and Canada are the teams to beat heading into the women's hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. They have combined to win four gold medals, three silvers and one bronze since the debut of women's hockey in the 1998 Nagano Games, and they have continued to thrive ever since.
Although it isn't totally inconceivable that a team like Finland could potentially play spoiler, it will be a major shock if Team USA and Canada don't make it to the gold-medal game. Due to the new format implemented to make the tournament more competitive, the United States and Canada will also meet in group play, so the bitter rivals will have seen enough of each other by the time the event comes to an end.
Canada is a slight favorite to win the tournament at 5-6, while Team USA is just behind at 1-1, according to Bovada. Canada has won gold in three straight Olympics, but the Americans enter Sochi having beaten Canada four consecutive times.
Here is Team USA's full schedule, along with predictions for how they will fare in Sochi as they vie for their second Olympic gold.
United States Women's Hockey Olympic Schedule Opponent Date Time (ET) Watch Finland Saturday, Feb. 8 3 a.m. NBCSN Switzerland Monday, Feb. 10 5 a.m. NBCSN Canada Wednesday, Feb. 12 7:30 a.m. NBCSN Quarterfinals (if necessary) Saturday, Feb. 15 TBD TBD Semifinals (if necessary) Monday, Feb. 17 TBD TBD Bronze-Medal Game (if necessary) Thursday, Feb. 20 7 a.m. NBCSN Gold-Medal Game (if necessary) Thursday, Feb. 20 12 p.m.

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Premier League Week 25 Fixtures: Full Picks and Predictions for Matchday 25

Things couldn't be much tighter in all three major races in the Premier League.

Arsenal hold two points over Manchester City and Chelsea. Liverpool are fending off Everton by two points and Tottenham by three in the race for the final Champions League spot. And the relegation battle is a huge, muddled mess.

For another perspective on just how tight things are at the top of the league, check out this tweet from Paul Carr of ESPN:


The race to the end of the season is going to be fun, folks. And this weekend, the Premier League will have several huge matches with serious implications for the table. Below, we'll take a look at those fixtures, offering predictions and a preview of the top matches to watch for.



Premier League Matchday 25 Fixtures
Date Time (ET) Home Prediction Away
Saturday, February 8 7:45 a.m. Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
Saturday, February 8 10 a.m. Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
Saturday, February 8 10 a.m. Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle
Saturday, February 8 10 a.m. Crystal Palace 1-1 West Brom
Saturday, February 8 10 a.m. Norwich City 0-4 Manchester City
Saturday, February 8 10 a.m. Southampton 1-0 Stoke City
Saturday, February 8 10 a.m. Sunderland 1-0 Hull City
Saturday, February 8 12:30 p.m. Swansea City 1-0 Cardiff City
Sunday, February 9 8:30 a.m. Tottenham 1-1 Everton
Sunday, February 9 11 a.m. Manchester United 3-0 Fulham


What to Watch For

Alastair Grant/Associated Press
Without question, the top matchup this weekend is Liverpool hosting Arsenal, a clash between the Reds' second-ranked offense (58 goals) and the Gunners' second-ranked defense (21 goals conceded).

Of course, Arsenal will tip their defensive superiority to win the day. If you take away the six goals they conceded to Manchester City, the Gunners have allowed just 16 goals in 23 matches while keeping a clean sheet against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

And according to ESPN, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last 32 Premier League games when Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny start and finish a game together at centre-back. As Mertesacker told Mark Irwin of The Sun, he's really enjoying his football next to Koscielny:

We know each other much better now and we complement each other well. Laurent is more mobile and I have more height. It fits together perfectly because these days centre-backs are more than just tall defenders whose only job is to head away the long balls.

Laurent is one of the quickest players I've ever partnered and he anticipates things so well, and we feed off each other's strengths and that is the main key to our success this season. The statistic seems unreal to me. When someone first told me about our record, it sounded very weird. It's a good statistic but now we have to build on that.

Of course, dealing with Luis Suarez (23 goals, seven assists) and Daniel Sturridge (14 goals, three assists) is no easy task. But Arsenal should have Jack Wilshere back for the match, according to Jack De Menezes of The Independent, a huge boost the Gunners should he be fit enough to start.

Expect a tight, entertaining match.

Everton and Tottenham on Sunday should also be an excellent contest. While Romelu Lukaku remains out with an ankle injury, the Toffees have relied on a strong defense (25 goals conceded) and the bright play of 20-year-old Ross Barkley this season.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are a team still searching for an identity (and a top-four finish) this season. All season long, they've played like a squad that was hoping someone could fill the void left by Gareth Bale, but no one has quite stepped up to the challenge. New manager Tim Sherwood has breathed some life into the squad, but Spurs need to start consistently winning games to get back into the Champions League race.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press
A match against a tough, disciplined Everton side is a difficult place to start.

Chelsea against Newcastle could be an intriguing contest. Or it could be an utter blowout by Chelsea. It's hard to say with this Magpies side, who have really seemed to miss the departed Yohan Cabaye in the midfield.

They did beat Chelsea, 2-0, when last these teams met in the Premier League, however, so this one could get interesting.

Manchester United and new man Juan Mata should be able to get back to their winning ways against hapless Fulham, while all three points are ripe for the taking for Manchester City against Norwich following the Citizens' home loss to Chelsea.

And West Brom and Crystal Palace will both hope to gain some ground on the relegation zone when they face off.

All in all, expect another fun and wild weekend in the Premier League.

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Complete 2014 Minnesota Vikings Offseason Preview and Predictions

With another football season officially in the books, teams across the NFL are preparing for an offseason guaranteed to have its fair share of drama and excitement.

The Minnesota Vikings are no different in terms of player evaluations and personnel decisions, although they will likely need to take a more drastic approach in turning around such a disappointing year.

Each decision leading up to the regular season impacts other moves the team can take, specifically relating to free agency and the NFL draft.

I've outlined several of those scenarios in this offseason preview, making predictions along the way through the eyes of general manager Rick Spielman.

There's no denying that the next few months are going to be a busy affair. Let's get a jump start on some of the most important areas facing the club. 

 

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Football League Trophy 2014 Finals: Bold Predictions for Next Round of Matches

The Football League Trophy strides toward its conclusion as we reach the area-finals stage, and the battle for a coveted place in this year's showpiece final at Wembley.

In the southern section League One promotion hopefuls Peterborough United and Swindon Town square off against each other.

The northern section is contested by Fleetwood Town and the current dominant force in League Two, leaders Chesterfield. 

Chesterfield are recent winners of the lower-league prestige tournament, defeating Swindon 2-0 in 2012, per BBC Sport.

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Six Nations Championship 2014: Predictions, Analysis for Remainder of Tournament

The opening weekend of this year's Six Nations action served in answering several questions regarding the title-challenging credentials of some of the championship hopefuls.

Wales, France and Ireland all started the tournament with wins at home and as a result are in the driving seat for eventual glory at the end of the campaign.

As Planet Rugby pointed out in December, this year's table had no truly outstanding favourite in its build-up:

No clear winner ahead of Six Nations.
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NFL Free Agency 2014: Start Date, Rumors and Early Predictions

When the 2014 edition of NFL free agency kicks off on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, the excitement surrounding the biggest names to hit the open market will have fans from every corner of the world interested in where top stars will land.

With elite players like New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham and Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy possibly hitting free agency—the franchise tag and contract negotiations with their respective teams could have them re-signed before they the market—the frenzy is picking up exponentially with each passing day.

Here are the top 50 players who could hit free agency this offseason, early predictions of where they will land and rumors surrounding two of the biggest stars in the 2014 class.

2014 NFL Free Agent Class Player Team Position Age Predicted Landing Spot 1. Jimmy Graham NO TE 28 New Orleans 2. Greg Hardy CAR DE 26 Carolina 3. T.J. Ward CLE S 27 Cleveland 4. Jairus Byrd BUF S 27 Buffalo 5. Brian Orakpo WAS OLB 28 Denver 6. Alterraun Verner TEN CB 25 Tennessee 7. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie DEN CB 29 Retired 8. Michael Bennett SEA DE 28 Seattle 9. Michael Johnson CIN DE 27 Cincinnati 10. Randy Starks MIA DT 30 Chicago 11. Henry Melton CHI DT 27 Miami 12. Eugene Monroe BAL OT 27 Baltimore 13. Jared Veldheer OAK OT 27 Pittsburgh 14. Brent Grimes MIA CB 31 Miami 15. Eric Decker DEN WR 27 Pittsburgh 16. Jason Worilds PIT OLB 26 Pittsburgh 17. Alex Mack CLE C 28 Cleveland 18. Vontae Davis IND CB 26 Indianapolis 19. Jason Hatcher DAL DT 32 Indianapolis 20. Aqib Talib NE CB 28 New England 21. Lamarr Houston OAK DE 27 Philadelphia 22. Dennis Pitta BAL TE 29 Kansas City 23. Captain Munnerlyn CAR CB 26 Carolina 24. Arthur Jones BAL DE 28 Baltimore 25. Knowshon Moreno DEN RB 27 Denver 26. Brandon Spikes NE ILB 26 New England 27. Golden Tate SEA WR 26 Seattle 28. Jordan Gross CAR OT 34 Carolina 29. Geoff Schwartz KC OG 27 Kansas City 30. Branden Albert KC OT 29 Kansas City 31. Paul Soliai MIA DT 30 Miami 32. Hakeem Nicks NYG WR 26 New England 33. Sam Shields GB CB 26 Green Bay 34. Linval Joseph NYG DT 25 New York 35. Zach Strief NO OT 30 New Orleans 36. Walter Thurmond SEA CB 26 Philadelphia 37. Justin Tuck NYG DE 31 Oakland 38. Anthony Spencer DAL DE/OLB 30 Dallas 39. Travelle Wharton CAR OG 33 Carolina 40. Julian Edelman NE WR 28 New Orleans 41. Ben Tate HOU RB 26 New England 42. Michael Vick PHI QB 34 Oakland 43. Tyson Jackson KC DE 28 Kansas City 44. Anthony Collins CIN OT 29 Cincinnati 45. Antonio Smith HOU DE 32 Houston 46. Jared Allen MIN DE 32 Atlanta 47. Karlos Dansby ARI ILB 32 Arizona 48. Clinton McDonald SEA DT 27 Chicago 49. Jeremy Maclin PHI WR 26 Kansas City 50. Donte Whitner SF S 29 San Francisco.
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Premier League Week 25 Fixtures: Live Stream, TV Info and Predictions

Premier League Week 25 is crammed with interesting fixtures, from top-of-the-table showdowns to relegation six-pointers.

Liverpool face Arsenal in a huge clash at Anfield, Tottenham welcome Everton, and Newcastle travel to Chelsea. Of course, there's also the small matter of the South Wales derby.

Here's a rundown of the full schedule, television listings and live stream information. Of course, we preview the weekend's biggest games directly afterward.

Premier League Week 25 Schedule & Predictions Fixture Date Time TV Info Predictions Liverpool vs. Arsenal Feb. 8 12:45 p.m. GMT/7:45 a.m. ET BT Sport 2-2 Aston Villa vs. West Ham Feb. 8 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET 1-1 Chelsea vs. Newcastle Feb. 8 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET 2-0 Crystal Palace vs. West Brom Feb. 8 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET 1-1 Norwich vs. Manchester City Feb. 8 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET 0-3 Southampton vs. Stoke City Feb. 8 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET 2-1 Sunderland vs. Hull Feb. 8 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET 2-1 Swansea vs. Cardiff Feb. 8 5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET Sky Sports 1-2 Tottenham vs. Everton Feb. 9 1:30 p.m. GMT/8:30 a.m. ET Sky Sports 1-1 Manchester United vs. Fulham Feb. 9 4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET Sky Sports 2-1 premierleague.com

BT Sport subscribers can view the crucial Liverpool vs. Arsenal battle on the BT Sport app, which is compatible on both laptops and mobile devices.

U.K. viewers can watch Sky Sports’ live games on the Sky Player website or via Sky Go for laptops and mobile devices (subscription required). Live scores are also provided on Sky Sports News throughout each match.

All highlights are available without the need for subscription on Match of the Day (BBC One, Saturday) or Match of the Day 2 (BBC2, Sunday). The latter can be found on BBC iPlayer.

 

Best Games to Watch This Weekend

Liverpool vs. Arsenal

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