This is a huge, huge game for the Cubs, less so for the Dodgers.

ALDS:

Rays over Chisox in 5: I like the Rays, but the chisox are pretty solid at US celluar. The home team wins every game in this series.

Bosox over Angels in 4: I think this years angels team resembles a lot of those 90s and early 00 Braves teams. A team that’s built for the regular season, but falters when it comes to playoff time.

NLDS: Phillies over Brewers in 4: C.C. wins game 2, but the brewers suck when he doesn’t pitch. They are the worst defensive team in the playoffs, and their bullpen is full of arsonists.

Cubs over Dodgers in 4: I agree with Adam, if the cubs don’t win game 1, this series could go to hell quickly for my cubs. But the cubs four starters have the ability to completely shut down a teams lineup on any day. The dodgers have a nice team, but they played in a terrible division. The cubs top to bottom have a superior team, and if they don’t press too much at the plate, they should be just fine.

ALCS: Redsox over Tampa Bay in 6: The Rays Dream ends in Boston

NLCS Cubs over Phillies in 5: Cubs show the Phillies who the boss is of the NL.

World Series: I can’t jinx so i won’t say it.

As one of the quietly confident cubs fans higgins was referring too, i am extremely worried about this series for the cubs. After last years sweep at the hands of the dbacks, i’ve come to grips with the fact that success in the regular season does not always translate to a short series. The cubs pressed big time last year, and there’s even more pressure this year, they are either going to feed off the energy, or crumble beneath it. I’m going to the first two games of this series, and i can already tell you that the crowd is going to be on edge until the cubs get a lead, because of last years postseason disappointment.

Everything really does come down to those two guys. I’m fairly comfortable with Z, depending on the circumstances, but there’s no question that Harden has been healthy for too long.

As for circumstances, game 1 is always crucial, but I think even more than usual in this series. Dempster was excellent at home and Lowe was great down the stretch. I think that will break in the Cubs’ direction, but if it doesn’t I would be a bit worried about Z getting too pumped up (as Kurkjian noted) and facing arguably LA’s best in Billingsley. I think the Cubs win tonight, but if they don’t my prognostication might be DOA. Put another way, I believe tonight could possibly determine the outcome of the series.

It’ll be a fun ride. First October with no Yankees since 1994, and I’m still pretty pumped.

If I were the Cubs I’d be worried about Harden hurting himself (I know he hasn’t, but you ALWAYS have to worry about Harden), I’d be worried about Zambrano going insane or is arm falling off or both (including the no hitter, he’s got a 7.08 ERA in September and a 7.42 ERA in August — and his career postseason numbers are 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA, hardly ace material). I’d be worried that the wheels finally fall off the wagon.

But in reality, at this point of the year, you want to still be worrying about those things. If you’re not, then you’re like the Twins. Out of it.

I’ve been on the wrong end of a curse-breaking postseason, and this Cubs team has that feel about it. My Cubs fan friends have been strangely quiet, as if they’ve tempered their expectations but can feel something big coming. It’s like a layer of quiet confidence applied on top of countless layers of self-loathing and doubt.

Cubs fans around here are giving me a little crap for the Twins losing, then quickly bite their tongues realizing whom they root for, and that it’ll soon happen to them. Probably in more heartbreaking fashion.

Interesting picks though. I don’t agree with the LDS sweeps, but that’s really neither here nor there.

NLDS -Cubs in three. They remind me of the late 90’s Yankees: strong bullpen, quality starters, fantastic mix of veterans and youth. Sorry, Joe. -Phillies in four. CC can’t start every game. Or can he?

ALCS -Angels in five. I’ll take playoff experience over youth. NLCS -Cubs in seven. I could realistically see them making quick work of the Phillies, but the Cubs aren’t going to do this without some drama. Maybe a D. Lee walk-off for the Pennant?

WS -Cubs in seven. The Angels always scare me and their rotation is tough and experienced. But as long as Harden stays healthy, this is the Cubs’ year.

N.B. this is the guy who picked one of the eight playoff teams correctly, and more than likely zero of the postseason awards. I am sticking with what worked though, the Cubs winning the Pennant. So the horse was obliterated from under me, but I’ll try to get back on anyway.

What you’ve got is one top of the line starter and one top of the line closer. Hamels can’t go 8 innings per day.

The Phillies offense isn’t “better enough” than the Brewers’ to overcome their significant shortcomings on pitching and defense. Oh, and Pat Burrell is hurt.

And how long can Ryan Howard reasonably be expected to hit .450 with power? He’s a .250 hitter, and after a good September he’ll probably regress right back to what he is.