All collegiate and professional competitions will have winners in 2024, with both frontrunners and underdogs likely finding ways to be crowned.
Here are my 2024 champion predictions for some of the most well-known leagues.
NCAA Division 1 Football: Michigan Wolverines
In the College Football Playoff, Michigan will come out victorious after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the semifinal and Texas Longhorns in the championship. The No. 1 seed beat three ranked Big 10 rivals in the final four weeks — including their arch nemesis, the Ohio State Buckeyes — en route to an undefeated regular season. Michigan will get the job done this season to claim their first national championship since 1997.
National Football League (NFL): San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco took an unexpected beatdown from the Baltimore Ravens at home this past week, but I still think they will be the ones to lift the Lombardi Trophy at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11. The 49ers boast the best all-around squad in the NFL, having plenty of household names on both sides of the ball. No one wants to face the 49ers come the playoffs, and NFC foes will likely have to do so at Levi’s Stadium if San Francisco can clinch the conference’s No. 1 seed.
NCAA Division 1 Men’s March Madness: Kansas Jayhawks
It is very early to predict the Men’s March Madness champion — it is oftentimes too early to do so even when the tournament is underway — but Kansas looks like the best collegiate basketball team in the country thus far. The Jayhawks, led by an experienced trio of Kevin McCullar Jr., Hunter Dickinson, and KJ Adams Jr., are efficient and impress both offensively and defensively. They have what it takes to make a run in the tournament, and I believe they will do so.
National Basketball Association (NBA): Boston Celtics
The Celtics have been on the fringe of championship success throughout the past few years, but this season they seem stronger than ever. With the additions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, Boston puts out the best starting five in the NBA and can dominate in all aspects of the game. Depth is a slight problem for the 17-time NBA champs, but as long as their stars can stay on the court, the Celtics should be the team to beat this season.
Major League Baseball: Los Angeles Dodgers
After putting up a 100-win season last year but losing early in the playoffs, the Dodgers have splashed in the offseason by adding Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow to their roster. With the pitching rotation improving and the hitting lineup becoming undoubtedly the league’s best through these moves, the Dodgers look poised to find success soon. It will be tough to bet against them in 2024.
Major League Soccer (MLS): Inter Miami CF
MLS prizes in itself the fact that almost half of participating teams have won a championship in its 30-year history. Only two teams have repeated as champions in consecutive seasons, and the playoffs rarely go the way fans expect. However, Inter Miami — now having Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez — seem like they have a mighty upper hand over the rest of the competition. It will be a massive surprise if they do not win the MLS Cup in 2024.
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