First Predictions of 2010 Including Predictions in a New Sport..

We may be in a new year but the predictions carry on but as it is a new year I have decided to introduce a new sport into my predictions for this weekend - American Football.

However, to start with I am back to predictions on both this weekend's football and rugby. This weekend sees the entry of the big clubs into the FA Cup at the third round stage. In the all premier league clash between Aston Villa and Blackburn my prediction is for a draw based on Villa's focus being on the league this season and Blackburn's good showing in the Carling Cup.

Roberto Mancini's first managerial exposure to the Cup comes at Championship side Middlesbrough and as the Cups provide Manchester City with their best chance of silverware this season I am going for the premiership side to prevail. Nottingham Forest are flying high in the Championship and they host Birmingham who have been the form team in the premier league in the last couple of months and I think this will lead to the teams cancelling each other out and so my prediction is for a draw at the City Ground. My final FA Cup prediction is also for a draw but in the all-premiership clash between West Ham and Arsenal at Upton Park and my reason being that both teams will see the FA Cup as a distraction this season as West Ham battle relegation and Arsenal seek glory in the League and Champions League.

In Rugby Union's Guinness Premiership four of the form teams meet this weekend with Northampton hosting second place London Irish and leaders Saracens hosting the team that has been the most successful English team in the professional era - Leicester Tigers. I think both of these games will be close but my predictions are for the away sides to prevail with London Irish potentially moving to the top of the league and Leicester providing a very stern test of Saracens' title credentials.

Finally, I am introducing a new sport to the predictions this weekend, and one that I will admit I know very little about but have started watching on the odd occasion on a Sunday evening, American Football. The season is moving towards the sharp end now with the Superbowl only five weeks away and this week I am predicting two of the form teams to win, the Indianapolis Colts at the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers who host the Washington Redskins.

Let's hope I get 2010 off to a good start and the predictions are summarised as follows:

FA Cup Third Round Football

Aston Villa to draw with Blackburn at 3/1
Manchester City to beat Middlesbrough at 4/6
Nottingham Forest to draw with Birmingham at 12/5
West Ham to draw with Arsenal at 3/1

Guinness Premiership Rugby

London Irish to win at Northampton at 13/8
Leicester to win at Saracens at 6/4

American Football

Indianapolis Colts to beat the Buffalo Bills at 10/3
San Diego Chargers to beat the Washington Redskins at 6/11