It's that time again - predictions sure to go wrong

It is that time.

Good, bad or just so-so, it is time to write my annual predictions column for 2015.

Before I make my prognostications for the New Year, let's take a brief look back and see how some of my predictions fared for 2014.

The good: I accurately predicted that Marmion's Johnny Jimenez would cap his outstanding high school career by winning the 126-pound Class 3A individual state title at Champaign's Assembly Hall last February.

I also correctly said that Geneva's girls basketball team would avenge an earlier loss to Batavia as both teams share the UEC River title. They finished as co-champs.

I was on the mark when I said that St. Charles North senior Erik Miller would clear 6-10 to place second in the high jump at the Class 3A state track and field meet.

I picked a Plainfield East vs. St. Joseph championship game at the St. Charles East/Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament as well as the third-place contest between St. Charles East and St. Charles North.

I also said that St. Charles North's girls basketball team would score a first-round victory at last month's Dundee-Crown Holiday Tournament.

The bad: I picked an Atlanta-Texas World Series (Texas finished with the worst record in the A.L.).

I said that Geneva's football team would earn a 35-28 victory over Batavia. Batavia won 26-20.

I added that St. Charles North's girls soccer team and St. Charles East's boys soccer team would advance to the Class 3A state championship matches. I picked the wrong St. Charles team in girls soccer as the Saints earned a second-place state finish. In boys soccer, St. Charles East lost in the regional finals to West Chicago.

So-so: I picked an all-Big Ten NCAA Basketball Championship with Michigan State vs. Wisconsin. Wisconsin made it to the Final Four while MSU bowed out in the Elite Eight.

I said that Liza Fruendt would lead Batavia's girls basketball team to its first regional title in 24 years with a win over Geneva. Batavia beat Willowbrook in the regional finals before losing to Geneva in the sectional championship.

In girls golf, I predicted that St. Charles North sophomores Gianna Furrie and Kate Lillie would finish in the top 20 at the 2A state tournament. Furrie placed 13th while Lillie tied for 43rd.

Here are my picks to click for 2015:

It will be another ridiculous Chicagoland winter with record-breaking subzero temperatures.

AFC Championship: New England 30, Denver 20.

NFC Championship: Seattle 24, Green Bay 16.

Super Bowl XLIX: New England 27, Seattle 20.

Chicago will have plenty to celebrate this summer as the Blackhawks reach the Stanley Cup Finals and the Bulls advance to the NBA Finals.

NBA: Portland over Chicago in 6 games.

NHL: Chicago captures its third Stanley Cup in 6 years on a Game 7 overtime goal by Jonathan Toews against Pittsburgh.

NCAA Basketball: The championship matchup features Wisconsin vs. Kentucky. My Final Four includes Duke and Wichita State.

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Baltimore in the World Series. By the way, the Cubs will finish above .500 and challenge for a wild card spot in the N.L.

PGA: After capturing the Masters, Jordan Spieth goes on to earn Player of the Year honors while Rickie Fowler also claims his first major. Other major champions include Rory McElroy and Winfield's Kevin Streelman.

In January, Nichole Davidson scores 25 points to lift St. Charles North's girls basketball team past St. Charles East. Meanwhile, St. Charles East edges the host North Stars on Cole Gentry's buzzer beater in overtime.

Next month, Geneva, St. Charles East and St. Charles North all capture Class 4A girls basketball regional titles.

Marmion juniors Nathan Traxler and Lucas Warren earn Class 3A individual state wrestling titles at 182 and 220 pounds, respectively.

St. Charles East senior Keone Derain (152) and Marmion junior Trace Carello (160) also participate in the Grand March at the 3A state wrestling meet.

In March, St. Charles East will square off against host Geneva for a third time in the Class 4A boys basketball regional championship.

Class 4A Elite Eight (girls basketball): Benet vs. Edwardsville; Whitney Young vs. Marian; Fremd vs. Hersey; Geneva vs. New Trier.

Class 4A state champion: Fremd.

Class 3A Elite Eight: Vernon Hills vs. Montini; Phillips vs. Rich South; Burlington Central vs. Galesburg; Bethalto Civic Memorial vs. Quincy Notre Dame.

Class 3A state champion: Burlington Central.

Class 4A Elite Eight (boys basketball): Hinsdale Central vs. Neuqua Valley; Whitney Young vs. Stevenson; Barrington vs. Rockford Auburn; Simeon vs. Rock Island.

Class 4A state champion: Stevenson.

Class 3A Elite Eight: Bogan vs. Hillcrest; Belleville Althoff vs. Lincoln; Rockford Lutheran vs. Galesburg; St. Joseph vs. DePaul College Prep.

Class 3A state champion: St. Joseph.

In May, Aurora Christian lands another top-3 finish at the Class 1A girls state track and field meet behind senior 200-meter dash champion Natasha Brown. In Class 3A, St. Charles East repeats as 4x400 relay state champions while Geneva junior Foster Ignoffo earns a top-3 finish in the 400.

On the boys' side, Kaneland's Ben Barnes repeats as Class 2A long jump state champion while West Aurora junior Chris Walker wins the triple jump Class 3A state title.

Batavia captures its second consecutive Class 4A regional baseball championship while St. Charles East faces Geneva in the regional finals.

Former St. Charles North standout pitcher Zach Hirsch will make several appearances at Geneva's Fifth Third Ball Park as a member of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers) playing against the Kane County Cougars.

The defending Midwest League champion Kane County Cougars will reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year - this time as an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In mid-October, St. Charles North juniors Gianna Furrie and Kate Lillie crack the top 10 at the Class 2A girls state golf tournament.

In November, Batavia and Geneva land top-6 team finishes at the Class 3A girls state cross country meet in Peoria.

Seven local football teams qualify for the playoffs - Aurora Central Catholic, Aurora Christian, Batavia, Geneva, Kaneland, Marmion and St. Charles North.

Led by senior quarterback Kyle Niemiec, Batavia opens the season with an upset victory at Oswego.

Junior Grace Loberg helps lead Geneva's girls volleyball team to its second Class 4A sectional title in 3 seasons.

Senior 6-10 forward Nick Rakocevic powers St. Joseph to its second consecutive St. Charles East/Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament title.

In December, senior Hannah Frazier guides Batavia's girls basketball team to a second-place tournament showing at Oswego while seniors Morgan Rosencrants and Claire Jakaitis lead St. Charles North to the semifinals of the Dundee-Crown Holiday Tournament.

Batavia senior guard Canaan Coffey breaks his own mark by pouring in 24 3-pointers at the York/Jack Tosh Holiday Classic.

Make a copy of these picks, tape them to your refrigerator and see if any of them actually come true.

Here's wishing you a happy and healthy 2015!

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com