2021-sports-nfl-nba-mlb-nhl-pga tour-predictions-betting odds

December 29, 2020 By: Mark Knudson

COVID or no COVID – The 2021 year in preview

Normally this end of the year column looks ahead with tongue firmly in cheek, forecasting some of what maybe (possibly) could happen in the world of sports over the next 12 months.

It’s typically a fun exercise in futility, sure…but at least it’s based on what could happen next.

Maybe.

sports-xfl-lsu-mlb-denver broncos-heisman trophy-baseball celebrations-ncaa-stoneys-nfl-houston astros-college football-dan mullen

Then we arrive at 2021 – still reeling from the past year and still in the midst of a deadly pandemic. Who can even begin to guess what may happen in sports over the course of the next year?

Will we see a return to “normal?”

What will “normal” even look like?

There will inevitably be some impactful stuff that comes out of 2020 that will blend into whatever “normal” looks like next and become part of sports as we know them moving forward.

Sports is currently proceeding cautiously – same as they’ve done since games began to be played again last summer. Very few, if any fans in the stands. Mask wearing on the sidelines. Daily COVID testing. Limits on everything from preparations to celebrations. Media stuff all done remotely. Will any of that change when the scientists give the all clear?

My best guesses are as follows:

sports-xfl-houston astros-mlb-college football

January 11^th – Clemson and Alabama meet for the fifth time in the past six years to crown this year’s totally fake college football playoff champ. It’s Alabama’s turn to win. There will be roughly 15,000 fans spread out around Hard Rock Stadium in Miami despite the Governor of Florida and Gators Head Coach Dan Mullen advocating for full stadiums.
February 7^th – The Super Bowl is be played in Tampa in front of a “crowd” that resembles a Friday night Texas high school game. Raymond James Stadium holds about 65,000. Best guess is that another 15K will spread out and get to watch the game in person…all wearing masks of course. Former President Donald Trump shows up expecting to participate in the ceremonial coin toss before kickoff. However, he’s rebuffed and not allowed onto the field. Trump immediately complains and calls for an investigation. On the field, the Baltimore Ravens shock the favored New Orleans Saints to win the Lombardi Trophy.
March 10^th – Major League Baseball starts to allow up to 1,000 fans – depending on the size of the ballpark – in to watch spring training games in Arizona and Florida. The fans will be spread out around the stadiums, wearing masks, following protocols. Autographs signing sessions will take place only through bank teller-style windows set up on the concourses and only be held on selected days.
March 16^th – The NCAA Men’s basketball tournament – the first major casualty of the pandemic a year ago – will take place in a bubble in Indianapolis, hosting all 68 teams, and starting with the “first four.” It will end at the beginning of April with Gonzaga winning the title. There will be a lot of complaining on Selection Sunday, each revolving around the number of cancellations during the season. Multiple basketball coaches will come out publicly backing the sentiments expressed the previous December by Clemson football coach Dabo Sweeney regarding the number of games played by each team.
April 26^th – Professional athletes begin to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Despite this development, teams will continue to conduct ALL pre and post-game interviews via Zoom or other virtual platforms, citing concerns over the health of media members.
May 22^nd – NBA Playoffs begin with some fans in attendance – but only fans who can show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination and a recent negative coronavirus test. Seating will be limited to 9,000 fans per NBA arena. The postseason ends with the Milwaukee Bucks beating the Los Angeles Clippers in six games in the NBA Finals.
June 23^rd – The XXXII Olympic Summer Games begin in Tokyo. All events are held without spectators for the first time in modern history. The “Team USA” men’s basketball squad is made up mostly of collegiate stars, with the exception of Golden State’s Steph Curry, New Orleans’ Zion Williamson and Ja Morant of Memphis, who represent the NBA. Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich arrives just in time for the team’s first game. His squad cruises to the Gold Medal.
July 13^th – The Major League Baseball All-Star game is played in front of a crowd of 25,000 fans in Atlanta. The game was originally scheduled to be played without fans, but MLB modified the ruling to include fans with proof of a COVID vaccination and recent negative test. National League star Nolan Arenado tells media on a Zoom call after the game that it felt really weird playing in front of fans again.
July 13^th – The Colorado Avalanche defeat the Boston Bruins in six games to win the franchises’ third Stanley Cup. All six games are played in almost entirely empty arena’s, expect for family and friends being allowed to attend. The leagues new divisional alignment, with all the Canadian teams playing only in Canada during the regular season, is said to be favored by most of the teams in the league and might become permanent.
July 15^th – In a significant milestone decision, MLB announces that every team’s local broadcasters WILL be allowed to travel with their respective teams and broadcast games from visiting ballparks starting with the second half of MLB season. The NFL quickly follows by announcing business as (used to be) usual for local broadcasters covering NFL games too. These announcements do come with a caveat: All pre and post-game media sessions will continue to be held virtually for the remainder of baseball AND football’s regular seasons.
August 14^th – The NFL’s annual Hall of Fame game is held in Canton, Ohio at Tom Benson Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 23,000. Each fan had to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination and a recent negative coronavirus test to be admitted. The Las Vegas Raiders defeat the Dallas Cowboys.
September 18^th – In the 50^th anniversary year of the 1971 “Game of the Century” played in Norman, Oklahoma, the Nebraska Cornhuskers shock the favored Oklahoma Sooners 45-41. Immediately after the game during his virtual press conference, Huskers coach Scott Frost tells the media that his school is immediately applying for membership to rejoin the Big 12 Conference.
October 10^th – New Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Urban Meyer picks up his first NFL win, defeating the Houston Texans 31-27 in front of a half full stadium in Jacksonville. Meyer voices concern after the game that no one feels safe coming to games in TIAA Stadium, which can hold almost 68,000 fans. A media member speaks up and informs the coach that a recent survey conducted in the area said that lingering concerns about COVID were not the reason fans weren’t coming to see the previously winless Jags.
November 7^th – In the second consecutive re-scheduled Masters Golf tournament, Tiger Woods wins his sixth green jacket in front of a large, cheering gallery (all of whom had to show proof of a COVID vaccine.) With temperatures hovering in the low 50’s, Master’s organizers decide to give Woods a green down parka rather than a sport coat, and promise to move the event back to April 2022.
December 5^th – The College Football Playoff committee announces the four teams that will participate in the 2021 playoff. Those teams are…Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma.