By Michael Whitmer

MEDINAH, Ill. -- With the US holding a 10-6 lead at the 39th Ryder Cup, it's time to predict what will happen in the 12 singles matches on Sunday. The US needs just 4.5 points out of the 12 available to win back the Ryder Cup, which it last won in 2008. Europe would need 8 points to retain it, since a 14-14 tie would let them keep possession of the trophy.

This is how I think today will play out, not necessarily how I'd want it to. Personally, I'd like to see a tense, dramatic, amazing Sunday, willed with wild momentum swings and the result hanging in the balance. We can dream, right?

Match 1: Bubba Watson vs. Luke Donald. Great opening match, with the pressure squarely on Donald to get him, and his team, off to a quick start and continue the momentum they built late on Saturday. He'll be up to the task. Donald, 2 and 1.

Match 2: Webb Simpson vs. Ian Poulter. No surprise that European captain Jose Maria Olazabal is sending Poulter out early. But can he continue his hot play? Simpson is steady, but the Ryder Cup rookie falls short. Poulter, 3 and 2.

Match 3: Keegan Bradley vs. Rory McIlroy. As if Bradley needed anything else to get him fired up, he's drawn the top-ranked player in the world. A win would cap a perfect, unbeaten week for the US star, and he'll get it in an early swing match. Bradley, 1 up.

Match 4: Phil Mickelson vs. Justin Rose. Expect Mickelson to be rested and hungry to show he can win without his sidekick, Bradley. He's had his best Ryder Cup this week, and will rally late to earn a halve. Match halved.

Match 5: Brandt Snedeker vs. Paul Lawrie. Interesting matchup, with no history between these two and each having a lackluster week so far. Lawrie hasn't won yet, and he won't get one here, Snedeker riding a hot putter to a big win. Snedeker 5 and 4.

Match 6: Dustin Johnson vs. Nicolas Colsaerts. Battle of the bombers, one of the few matches that would have been on the list of requests if the singles pairings could be rigged. Colsaerts hasn't done much since his eight-birdie, one-eagle debut. Johnson, 3 and 2.

Match 7: Zach Johnson vs. Graeme McDowell. Johnson has been solid as Jason Dufner's teammate, and gets a good draw in McDowell, who has struggled at Medinah. He'll lose for the first time in singles in another swing match. Johnson, 2 and 1.

Match 8: Jim Furyk vs. Sergio Garcia. Rematch of a singles match in 1999 at The Country Club, won by Furyk. Garcia likely hasn't stewed about that loss for 13 years, or maybe he has. He'll feel better after putting together a solid win. Garcia, 4 and 3.

Match 9: Jason Dufner vs. Peter Hanson. Mismatch, based on form this week. Dufner should be a good singles player, not getting too high or low. Just once I'd like to see him cut loose with some emotion. Maybe we'll see it here. Dufner, 2 and 1.

Match 10: Matt Kuchar vs. Lee Westwood. It must be a blow to the ego to have Westwood stuck in the back end of the lineup on a day in which they need early momentum. Perhaps that will snap him out of the funk he's in. Or not. Kuchar, 4 and 3.

Match 11: Steve Stricker vs. Martin Kaymer. Someone has to win this. But don't expect a lot of NBC coverage of this one. Both players have struggled, which is why they're in Match 11. Kaymer, 1 up.

Match 12: Tiger Woods vs. Francesco Molinari. US captain Davis Love said he put Woods at the end because he's used to playing at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. on Sunday. Huh? Tiger's been really good at times, really bad at other times. No change today. Woods, 3 and 2.

Singles score: US 7.5, Europeans 4.5
Final score: US 17.5, Europeans 10.5