This is the year. I mean it. There simply are too many stars in alignment -- and in the lineup -- for it not to occur.

So here's the simple prediction: The Chicago Cubs are going to win the World Series this fall.

I am not basing this on the fact Vegas oddsmakers show my beloved North Side team as 3:1 favorites to accomplish the feat. (In fact, only the Boston Red Sox have stronger odds at 2.75:1.)

It's not that there are seven Cubbies on the National League roster for Tuesday's All-Star game. (The next best represented team only has three.)

It's not that the team's .282 combined batting average is tops in the league by 12 points. Or that the pitching staff's 3.91 ERA is third best. Or that as of Friday, no team in either league had won more games.

It has nothing to do with the fact the Cubs haven't won a World Series in 100 years. That's right -- 100 years.

It has nothing to with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" also is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. Or that local Cubs fan and Community Celebration Church leader Kyle Ermoian will audition next week for a chance to sing the beloved anthem in the sport's most hallowed shrine -- Wrigley Field. (Good luck, brother.)

It has nothing to do with the vine-covered walls inside Wrigley looking as lush as ever, and that the home team has a 77-percent winning percentage within the Friendly Confines.

It doesn't even have a thing to do with billy goats or Steve Bartman being forgiven for past misdeeds.

Nope, take all the statistics, curses, records and the fact new owner Sam Zell wants to sell the team and the ballpark -- and throw them behind the dugout.

The reason the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series this year is because I believe it to be true. That's all I need. That's really all any Cubs fan needs to keep them going.

Oh sure, you're probably saying to yourself, isn't that what Cubs fan say every year until they drop out of first place? It always happens that way, doesn't it? All the anticipation, the excitement, the promise of the sport's highest honor, dashed at some point in June, July or even August? And then all loyal Cubbies utter those dreaded words: "There's always next year."

It doesn't matter. Not this year.

This is absolutely the best chance I have in my lifetime to see something my dad didn't, nor his dad nor even his dad. This is destiny. Generations of lovable losers have waited for this moment, this opportunity, this chance at salvation.

And it will be delivered by the bats of Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Jim Edmonds, Derrek Lee, Mike Fontenot, Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot. And by the arms of Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, Carlos Marmol and the newly acquired Rich Harden. And the genius leadership of manager Lou Piniella.

I've got shivers just thinking about it. The Chicago Cubs hold their future, my future, 100 years of futility, the hopes and dreams of millions of fans past present and future, in their hands.

They have 10 head-to-head contests against second-place Milwaukee and nine more against perennial rival St. Louis.

They won't have to play their crosstown rivals, the Chicago White Sox, any more this year unless that's the fall classic matchup. Which would be great, as the teams split their interleague series 3-3 this year.

How will it play out specifically? Well, I predict the Cubs clinching the Central Division by Sept. 26. In the first round of the playoffs, they'll oust the Philadelphia Phillies in four games. In the National League Championship Series, it will take five games to knock out the Milwaukee Brewers. In the World Series, the Cubs will top the Boston Red Sox in six games.

And I will never have to wait for "next year" ever again.

Patrick Lowry is editor and publisher of The Hays Daily News.

plowry@dailynews.net