LOS ANGELES — The annual National Football League college entry draft is on Thursday in New York City and Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will be selected first overall by the Indianapolis Colts. These are the facts of the case. It’s been assumed Luck would be the first name commissioner Roger Goodell speaks since about October of last year; right around the time it became undoubtedly obvious Peyton Manning’s surgically repaired neck wasn’t going to allow him to signal call in 2011 and the Colts were in for a historically bad season.  Then, last month, the Redskins mortgaged their future to trade up to the No. 2 hole for the right to select Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.

After these two 22-year olds are chosen what will happen with the next 30 picks is anybody’s guess. It’s what makes the NFL Draft my favorite sporting event of the year. (click here and here for my running diaries of the 2010 and 2011 NFL Drafts) The Awkward interviews, outrageous suits, head shaking over bad picks and Jets fans booing are only the tip of the football iceberg for what’s to come over the course of the 5-hour extravaganza. With that, and because everyone seems to do the same NFL Draft columns each year (“Biggest Busts,” “Best Late-Round Picks,” etc.), I decided to offer up some Round 1 Predictions. I’m shooting for a 12.5% success rate, or roughly the exact percentage of 2011 First Rounders to make the Pro Bowl last season (Cam Newton, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson and A.J. Green).

Enjoy.

Baylor's Robert Griffin III is one of the few athletes remaining still rocking the braids. Oh, and he's good at football.

1.) Someone is going to compare Robert Griffin III to Cam Newton, Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, Troy Smith and other African-American running quarterbacks who came before him.

2.) NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin is going to a) say something so ridiculous I’ll wish I had a “Mute Irvin” button my remote, and b) look ridiculous doing it.

3.) Some team will pull a Vikings and completely whiff on turning in their draft card causing a chain reaction of quick picks.

4.) One of the draftees will spend his entire bonus check, which he hasn’t received yet, on a bracelet, watch, earrings or all of the above.

5.) Commissioner Roger Goodell will get lots of hugs from the draftees and all of them will be awkward.

Andrew Luck knows that no one rocks a neck beard on the set of "Mad Men." He's also really good at football.

6.) At least three of the draftees will look like “Mad Men” extras and Andrew Luck will definitely be one of them.

7.) New Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will be mentioned so often we’ll think it’s The Decision: Part 2.

8.) There will be less Pro Bowlers drafted in the First Round than last year.

9.) Neither Luck nor Alabama running back Trent Richardson will win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012.

10.) NFL Network host Rich Eisen will say “Radio City Music Hall” roughly 57 times during the 5-hour broadcast.

11.) Colts Owner Jim Irsay will be interviewed looking like he just spent the night with Roger Sterling.

Brandon Weeden is looking to dispell the notion that 28-year olds can't play quarterback in the NFL.
Little known fact: most quarterbacks in the NFL are at least 28-years old.

12.) Oklahoma St. quarterback Brandon Weeden will be this year’s Andy Dalton.

13.) The Patriots will trade UP in this year’s draft rather than their traditional downward movement.

14.) Now that Al Davis is no longer with us, the Raiders will make a rational selection based on team needs… who am I kidding.

15.) Someone will get picked that none of “experts” had in their Top 50.

16.) An analyst will totally kill the mood of the broadcast by bringing up last year’s lockout.

17.) There will be roughly 2-3 commercials that will get played over and over and over again making me literally hate those companies.

18.) At least two of the draftees will be wearing bow ties.

19.) Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones will get drafted.

JaMarcus Russell enjoys many of life's pleasures, including eating and shopping at the mall with friends.
Playing in the National Football League is not on that list.

20.) We will see video of JaMarcus Russell doing SOMEthing (playing football well won’t be it, either.)

21.) Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill will get drafted far too high and spark comparisons to Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert.

22.) In three years, teams are going to wish they drafted linebackers Courtney Upshaw (Alabama) and Luke Kuechly (Boston College) higher.

23.) The Colts will try and trade up into the end of the First Round to draft Luck’s favorite target of the last few seasons: Stanford tight end Coby Fleener.

24.) Someone will talk about the Madden video game curse.

25.) A team that didn’t make the playoffs last year, is going to complete a trade so terrible it’ll seem make the Falcons 5-pick swap with Cleveland last year look like a steal.

In case you didn't know, NFL Network Draft Analyst Mike Mayock spends a lot of time watching tape of players that might potentially be drafted. He'll remind you of this often.

26.) NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock will say the phrase “when I looked at the tape” no less than 487 times.

27.) During a crowd shot there will be someone wearing a jersey so dated I’ll have to rewind and watch it at least 3 times to figure out who it is and/or laugh.

28.) At least 7 players who played in this year’s BCS National Championship game (LSU vs. Alabama) will get drafted.

29.) Someone will trip either walking out to shake hands with the Commissioner or heading to a network interview.

30.) Despite the networks vowing not to show draftees on the phone before they’re selected, somehow we’ll know who’s going where before Goodell says a name.

31.) The point will be hammered home in full force that Nike is the new maker of NFL uniforms.

32.) At least one of the draftees girlfriends will become a Twitter star before the night is over, kind of like Jets backup quarterback Greg McElroy’s sister did a year ago.