On the Matt: Preseason fact or fiction
The Mt. Prospect High School football team in Illinois surprised everyone by winning the state championship in 2005. Sports Illustrated predicted the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers would be the best team of the American League. The Chicago White Sox won the World Series in 2006. The Cleveland Indians were called the worst team before the start of their playoff drought in 1987. They were the most successful team during their 30-year drought. It was a miscalculation.
There are many stories of teams as predicted just before or immediately after the start of the season. The 1995 Nebraska team clicked on all cylinders from day one and never looked back. In baseball, the 1987 Cleveland Indians baseball team featured the strength of two returning 30+ home run hitters from the previous year, but many overestimated its pitching staff.
