Monday, February 24, 2014

NCAA Basketball - 2014 NCAA Tournament Projections

2/24/14

East Regional - New York

at Buffalo
1 Syracuse 16 Vermont
8 UMass 9 Kansas State
at Spokane
5 Michigan 12 Tennessee/Utah
4 Cincinnati 13 Mercer
at Milwaukee
6 North Carolina 11 Cal
3 Michigan State 14 Georgia State
at Buffalo
7 Memphis 10 Oklahoma State
2 Villanova 15 Delaware

South Regional - Memphis

at Orlando
1 Florida 16 Davidson/Southern
8 VCU 9 Arizona State
at San Diego
5 Iowa State 12 Stephen F Austin
4 Wisconsin 13 Middle Tennessee
at San Antonio
6 UCLA 11 Baylor
3 Virginia 14 New Mexico State
at Raleigh
7 Oklahoma 10 Missouri
2 Louisville 15 NC Central

Midwest Regional - Indianapolis

at St. Louis
1 Wichita State 16 Weber State
8 New Mexico 9 Stanford
at San Antonio
5 Ohio State 12 St. John's/Clemson
4 St. Louis 13 Green Bay
at Orlando
6 SMU 11 Harvard
3 Kentucky 14 Iona
at St. Louis
7 Pittsburgh 10 Colorado
2 Kansas 15 Belmont

West Regional - Anaheim

at San Diego 
1 Arizona 16 VMI/Robert Morris
8 Gonzaga 9 George Washington
at Spokane
5 San Diego State 12 Toledo
4 Iowa 13 North Dakota State
at Milwaukee
6 UConn 11 Arkansas
3 Creighton 14 UC-Santa Barbara
at Raleigh
7 Texas 10 Oregon
2 Duke 15 Boston U

First Four Out: Providence, BYU, West Virginia, Minnesota
Next Four Out: Florida State, Georgetown, Xavier, St. Joseph's

Final Four (Arlington, TX): East vs. South, Midwest vs. West

Monday, February 17, 2014

NCAA Basketball - 2014 NCAA Tournament Projections

2/17/14

East Regional - New York

at Buffalo
1 Syracuse 16 Coastal Carolina/Utah Valley
8 UMass 9 Oklahoma State
at San Diego
5 Cincinnati 12 Stephen F Austin
4 Wisconsin 13 Arkansas/Utah
at Raleigh
6 Gonzaga 11 Colorado
3 Louisville 14 Georgia State
at Milwaukee
7 Texas 10 Harvard
2 Michigan State 15 UC Irvine

South Regional - Memphis

at Orlando
1 Florida 16 Robert Morris/Southern
8 Arizona State 9 Kansas State
at Spokane
5 San Diego State 12 Toledo
4 St. Louis 13 Green Bay
at Milwaukee
6 Pittsburgh 11 Minnesota
3 Iowa 14 Iona
at Buffalo
7 Memphis 10 Stanford
2 Villanova 15 Vermont

Midwest Regional - Indianapolis

at St. Louis
1 Wichita State 16 Boston U
8 VCU 9 New Mexico
at San Antonio
5 UCLA 12 West Virginia/Tennessee
4 Virginia 13 Mercer
at San Antonio
6 Ohio State 11 Cal
3 Creighton 14 Delaware
at Raleigh
7 Oklahoma 10 George Washington
2 Duke 15 Weber State

West Regional - Anaheim

at San Diego
1 Arizona 16 Davidson
8 North Carolina 9 Missouri
at Spokane
5 Michigan 12 Louisiana Tech
4 Iowa State 13 North Dakota State
at Orlando
6 UConn 11 Xavier
3 Kentucky 14 Belmont
at St. Louis
7 SMU 10 Oregon
2 Kansas 15 NC Central

Final Four (Arlington, TX): East vs. Midwest, South vs. West

First Four Out: Florida State, Southern Miss, Georgetown, St. John's
Next Four Out: Baylor, Clemson, NC State, St. Joseph's




Sunday, February 16, 2014

NBA - Midseason Report

We have reached the unofficial half way point of the NBA season. As All-Star weekend winds down and the trade deadline approaches, we take a look at what the rest of the NBA season has in store for us. The intensity will pick up a notch, and the playoff picture will start to unfold. Here is how the rest of the season projects to play out based on current standings and simulations of the rest of the season.


Eastern Conference
1. Miami 62-20
2. Indiana 60-22
3. Chicago 45-37
4. Brooklyn 43-39
5. Washington 42-40
6. New York 40-42
7. Toronto 39-43
8. Atlanta 37-45
9. Detroit 37-45
10. Cleveland 35-47
11. Charlotte 32-50
12. Boston 29-53
13. Philadelphia 24-58
14. Orlando 23-59
15. Milwaukee 20-62

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 
1 Miami over 8 Atlanta 4-0
5 Washington over 4 Brooklyn 4-2
3 Chicago over 6 New York 4-3
2 Indiana over 7 Toronto 4-2

Eastern Conference Semifinals 
1 Miami over 5 Washington 4-0
2 Indiana over 3 Chicago 4-1

Eastern Conference Finals
2 Indiana over 1 Miami 4-3


Western Conference 
1. Oklahoma City 61-21
2. San Antonio 58-24
3. LA Clippers 57-25
4. Houston 54-28
5. Golden State 49-33
6. Portland 48-34
7. Memphis 47-35
8. Dallas 46-36
9. Phoenix 42-40
10. Denver 41-41
11. Minnesota 40-42
12. New Orleans 33-49
13. LA Lakers 31-51
14. Utah 29-53
15. Sacramento 28-54

Western Conference Quarterfinals
1 Oklahoma City over 8 Dallas 4-0
5 Golden State over 4 Houston 4-3
3 LA Clippers over 6 Portland 4-3
2 San Antonio over 7 Memphis 4-2

Western Conference Semifinals
1 Oklahoma City over 5 Golden State 4-0
3 LA Clippers over 2 San Antonio 4-3

Western Conference Finals
1 Oklahoma City over 3 LA Clippers 4-3

NBA Finals
1 Oklahoma City over 2 Indiana 4-2

Before the season began I picked the Miami Heat to complete the 3-Peat. Through 50 games of the regular season, I am jumping ship. Dwayne Wade has been able to right himself in the postseason the last couple years. I just don't see it happening this year. As great as LeBron is, I think he needs a healthy D-Wade to win another title. This is beginning to look like Kevin Durant's year. The Thunder have the league's best record, and have done so without Russell Westbrook. Once Westbrook returns to the lineup they will have to adjust. But watch out. This team could be in for big things.





Monday, February 10, 2014

NHL - Midseason Report

This is one of those years where the Winter Olympics interrupt the NHL season. So instead of the All-Star Break, we have now reached the Olympic Break. This is the unofficial midway point in the season, though most teams have played about 70% of their games. Teams are gearing up for the stretch run, and the playoff race will begin to take shape. Remember, the playoff format changed this season. The top three teams from each division qualify, as well as the top two teams that did not finish in the top three of their respective division. Make sense? Well if not, you can bet that the conclusion to the NHL season will be as fierce as ever, with some intriguing playoff matchups bound to unfold. Here is how the end if the season projects based off of current standings and simulations of the rest of the games.

*Denotes Wild Card team

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
1. Boston
2. Montreal
3. Toronto
4. Tampa Bay*
5. Detroit*
6. Ottawa
7. Florida
8. Buffalo

Metropolitan Division
1. Pittsburgh
2. NY Rangers
3. Philadelphia
4. Columbus
5. Washington
6. Carolina
7. New Jersey
8. NY Islanders

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Pittsburgh over Detroit
NY Rangers over Philadelphia
Boston over Tampa Bay
Montreal over Toronto

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Pittsburgh over NY Rangers
Boston over Montreal

Eastern Conference Finals
Pittsburgh over Boston

Western Conference

Central Division
1. Chicago
2. St. Louis
3. Minnesota
4. Colorado*
5. Dallas
6. Winnipeg
7. Nashville

Pacific Division
1. Anaheim
2. San Jose
3. Los Angeles
4. Vancouver*
5. Phoenix
6. Edmonton
7. Calgary

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Chicago over Colorado
St. Louis over Minnesota
Anaheim over Vancouver
San Jose over Los Angeles

Western Conference Semifinals
St. Louis over Chicago
Anaheim over San Jose

Western Conference Finals
St. Louis over Anaheim

Stanley Cup Finals
St. Louis over Pittsburgh

Not a lot has changed since my preseason pick! I still have the Blues hoisting their first Cup.
http://ringersports.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html



NCAA Basketball - 2014 NCAA Tournament Projections

2/10/14

East Regional - New York

at Buffalo
1 Syracuse 16 Robert Morris/VMI
8 VCU 9 New Mexico
at San Antonio
5 Ohio State 12 Utah/LSU
4 Iowa State 13 Stephen F Austin
at Orlando
6 Oklahoma 11 Missouri
3 Louisville 14 UC Santa Barbara
at Milwaukee
7 Memphis 10 Stanford
2 Michigan State 15 Iona

South Regional - Memphis

at Orlando
1 Florida 16 Boston U
8 UConn 9 Oregon
at San Diego
5 Michigan 12 Toledo
4 Virginia 13 Delaware
at Milwaukee
6 UCLA 11 Tennessee
3 Creighton 14 Georgia State
at St. Louis
7 Gonzaga 10 Southern Miss
2 Wichita State 15 NC Central

Midwest Regional - Indianapolis

at St. Louis
1 Kansas 16 Davidson
8 Arizona State 9 George Washington
at Spokane
5 Cincinnati 12 Harvard
4 Pittsburgh 13 Mercer
at San Antonio
6 Wisconsin 11 Cal
3 San Diego State 14 Vermont
at Buffalo
7 UMass 10 Kansas State
2 Villanova 15 Weber State

West Regional - Anaheim

at San Diego
1 Arizona 16 Utah Valley/Southern
8 Texas 9 North Carolina
at Spokane
5 St. Louis 12 Xavier/Clemson
4 Iowa 13 Green Bay
at Raleigh
6 Oklahoma State 11 Colorado
3 Kentucky 14 Belmont
at Raleigh
7 SMU 10 Minnesota
2 Duke 15 North Dakota State

First Four Out: Arkansas, Ole Miss, Florida State, BYU

Final Four (Arlington, TX): East vs. South, Midwest vs. West

Monday, February 3, 2014

NCAA Basketball - 2014 NCAA Tournament Projections

2/3/14

East Regional - New York

at Buffalo
1 Syracuse 16 Coastal Carolina/Chattanooga
8 Oregon 9 Missouri
at San Diego
5 Michigan 12 Toledo
4 Creighton 13 Baylor/Stanford
at Orlando
6 Wisconsin 11 Xavier
3 Louisville 14 American
at Raleigh
7 Gonzaga 10 Kansas State
2 Kentucky 15 Weber State

South Regional - Memphis

at Orlando
1 Florida 16 Murray State
8 SMU 9 Arizona State
at San Antonio
5 Oklahoma State 12 Cal
4 San Diego State 13 Mercer
at San Antonio
6 Ohio State 11 Tennessee
3 Iowa State 14 Georgia State
at Buffalo
7 UMass 10 North Carolina
2 Villanova 15 NC Central

Midwest Regional - Indianapolis

at St. Louis
1 Kansas 16 Robert Morris
8 Memphis 9 George Washington
at Spokane
5 UCLA 12 LSU
4 Pittsburgh 13 Stephen F Austin
at Milwaukee
6 Oklahoma 11 Florida State
3 Iowa 14 Canisius
at St. Louis
7 VCU 10 Minnesota
2 Wichita State 15 IPFW

West Regional - Anaheim

at San Diego
1 Arizona 16 Utah Valley/Southern
8 Harvard 9 New Mexico
at Spokane
5 St. Louis 12 Green Bay
4 Cincinnati 13 Utah/Clemson
at Raleigh
6 Texas 11 Colorado
3 Duke 14 Stony Brook
at Milwaukee
7 UConn 10 Southern Miss
2 Michigan State 15 UC-Santa Barbara

**The Final Four would be matchups of East vs. Midwest and South vs. West


Super Bowl XLVIII - Recap

Seattle 43 Denver 8

There is no recap needed for Super Bowl XLVIII. It was complete and utter domination by the world champion Seattle Seahawks. From the opening snap, which sailed over Peyton Manning's head and resulted in a safety, Seattle controlled the game. Seattle's D proved to be one of the best that's been put together in recent memory, and stifled Denver's record-setting offense. Their defense alone could have won this game, but the Seahawks dominated every facet. The defense recorded the safety on the first play, and MVP Malcolm Smith returned a Peyton Manning pick to the house for a defensive TD. The Special Teams scored on Percy Harvin's KO Return for a TD. And Russell Wilson and the rest of the offense looked at ease all night. When it was all said and done, it was Seattle 43 and Denver 8. The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions for the first time ever.