ITS FRIDAY! - SFTC 5/10

I hope everyone is having a good Friday and is ready to make some picks before the weekend begins.  Lets make some picks:

1) Soccer: Levante Win or Draw
Zaragoza is desperate.  They are just one point above the relegation zone and a win here would be vital for their hopes of staying in the top flight division next year.  They are matched up today against Levante who is not having the greatest season either, finding themselves in the 12th spot in the table.  Levante has not won a match since March 30.  Zaragoza has won two straight matches, but those were both on their home pitch.  They have not won on the road since December 30.  That stat alone make me believe that Levante has the upper hand today and at worst, should walk away with a draw.
Confidence: 60%

2) MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates
The Mets are about as good as they are expected to be every year.  A few games below .500 and not showing too much potential to ever achieve above that level.  David Wright is having another solid season and the pride and joy of Wyoming, John Buck, has already had 10 home runs.  But the problem for the Mets is their rotation.  Tonight they send out Shaun Marcum who on the season has an ERA above 7.  The Pirates  should get plenty of hits tonight.
Confidence: 70%

3) NBA: Bulls: Win or Single Digit Loss
Yes I know the Bulls just lost by nearly 40 points.  I know that they are injured and without several key players.  Yes I realize that Luol Deng came back to practice and had lost over 15 pounds!  I realize that there are very few good arguments for the Bulls in this game.  I too don't think the Bulls can win tonight.  But I do think it will be much closer than the last game.  I think the Bulls will be mad, like running in Pamplona Spain mad.  The big question for me is Dwayne Wade.  Which D-Wade are we gonna see tonight?  The one who looks limp and slow and hurt or the one who was at one point considered Batman with LeBron being the Robin.  One thing is for sure now, this is LeBrons team, but as we are learning from watching the Thunder, one star needs help from everyone else around him.  LeBron will be LeBron and will have a big game, but if he is doing it all alone, the Bulls will keep this one close.
Confidence: 50%

4) MLB: Atlanta Braves
In a matchup of aces, the Braves' Tim Hudson takes on the Giant's Matt Cain.  But so fat this season Cain has not quite looked like an Ace.  He finally got his first win of the season last week but has had several difficult outings.  That does not mean that he is not capable of having a good start.  But I think the Braves as a whole have been a better team this year and should get the win tonight.
Confidence: 60%

5) NBA: Golden State Warriors
I truly can see this game going either way.  The Warriors have looked like the better team so far in this series but they have one major flaw, if they fail to make shots and get hot, they stop scoring.  Bogut has been big for the Warriors down low, but he is only getting around 10 points a game.  He has come up big on the defensive end and has rebounded well, but on offense, he has not been a huge presence.  If the Warriors backcourt (who is now beginning to be known as the Splash Brothers) goes cold for a single game, the Spurs could end up blowing them out by 30 +.  I have been to lots of Warriors games and have sat in the "Roaracle" on many occasions, including once this year against the Spurs.  It truly is an amazing atmosphere. But I have also seen the Warriors guards go cold on their home court.  But the way they have been shooting, I have no reason to believe they won't keep that up and get the big win tonight to take the lead in the series.
Confidence: 40%