2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs

It's time for playoff hockey. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are as grueling and intense as any playoffs you can find.the action officially gets going tonight. The Boston Bruins are the favorite to hoist the Cup this season. The Bruins were dominant in the second half of the regular season, and look to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive season. The Bruins edged out the Anaheim Ducks to claim the President's Trophy. The best team in the NHL for much of the season was the St. Louis Blues. The Blues were my preseason pick to win the Stanley Cup, but a recent streak of injuries and poor play has them skidding into the playoffs. The Blues will need to regain some of their health and have Ryan Miller elevate his game for that pick to come to fruition. Here is how I expect the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs to play out.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Boston (-320) vs. Detroit (+260)

The Boston Bruins had the best record in the NHL this season. Their reward? Drawing the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round. The Red Wings defeated the Bruins three out of four times they played this season. Boston has the talent and experience to withstand their regular season woes against Detroit. I expect the Bruins to advance.

Prediction - Boston over Detroit 4-2

Tampa Bay (-105) vs. Montreal (-115)

The Tampa Bay Lightning played great hockey at the beginning of the season. They faded late, but were able to hang on to 2nd place in the Atlantic Division and earn home ice for this series. That could be crucial in such an even matchup. Carey Price will need to come up big against the offensive firepower of Tampa. I think he will.

Prediction - Montreal over Tampa Bay 4-3

Pittsburgh (-295) vs. Columbus (+245)

Pittsburgh has been the most disappointing playoff team of the last few seasons. They will play the up and coming Columbus Blue Jackets in the Quarterfinals. Many will view this as an easy matchup for the Penguins, but the Blue Jackets are a young and hungry bunch. Pittsburgh needs to win now or face major changes to the team that it is currently constructed.

Prediction - Pittsburgh over Columbus 4-1


NY Rangers (-150) vs. Philadelphia (+130)

This has the potential to be an outstanding series. The Rangers and Flyers both played their best hockey in the second half of the season, and have the confidence to make a playoff run. Steve Mason is battling injury for Philly. If he misses any games in net, as it appears he will, that will swing the momentum in the Rangers' favor in a big way.

Prediction - NY Rangers over Philadelphia 4-3

Western Conference Quarterfinals

Anaheim (-185) vs. Dallas (+160)

The Anaheim Ducks were consistently good all season long. They wound up clinching home ice throughout the Western Conference playoffs. They have been great throughout the last couple regular seasons, but they have had a history of underachieving in the postseason. Dallas is capable of winning this series. But it all begins with the goaltending. They must win that battle to have a fighting chance.

Prediction - Anaheim over Dallas 4-1

San Jose (-145) vs. Los Angeles (+125)

San Jose and Los Angeles are making it a habit of playing playoff hockey against one another. This will be the third time in four years that they meet when it matters most. The Kings won the Stanley Cup as recently as 2012. The Sharks are still chasing that elusive Cup. They are making their 10th consecutive playoff appearance and expect it to end differently from the previous nine. Will this be the year? I'm taking the Kings.

Prediction - Los Angeles over San Jose 4-3

Colorado (-140) vs. Minnesota (+120)

Patrick Roy has completely changed this Colorado team around. The Avs have not been relevant in years. They were expected to be that way this year as well. Enter Patrick Roy as head coach, and they win the Central Division. Will that translate into postseason success? Minnesota may very well have a more talented roster than Colorado, despite the way the standings look.

Prediction - Minnesota over Colorado 4-2

St. Louis (-105) vs. Chicago (-115)

This is as good as you will see for a Quarterfinal matchup. Unfortunately, the matchup has lost some of its luster because of the mounting injuries on both sides. I picked the Blackhawks to win the Cup last season and they didn't disappoint. I picked the Blues to win it this year. I'm not feeling nearly as confident. I need the Blues to right themselves if I want to correctly pick the Cup winner for a fourth consecutive year.

Prediction - St. Louis over Chicago 4-3

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Boston over Montreal 4-1
Pittsburgh over NY Rangers 4-2

Western Conference Semifinals
Los Angeles over Anaheim 4-2
St. Louis over Minnesota 4-1

Eastern Conference Finals
Boston over Pittsburgh 4-2

Western Conference Finals
St. Louis over Los Angeles 4-2

Stanley Cup Finals
St. Louis over Boston

2014 Masters Preview

There is not a more symbolic sign of spring than The Masters being played in Augusta, Georgia. Augusta National will host a tradition unlike any other over the next four days. And this Masters will be unlike any other in the last 20 years, because Tiger Woods will not be playing. The perennial favorite conceded to back surgery, meaning Vegas had to peg someone else as the favorite. Two men received that title, as defending champion, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy have been deemed co-favorites at 10/1. Here are my top 10 favorites to walk away from Augusta as the 2014 Masters champion.

1. Adam Scott (10/1)
World Golf Ranking: 2nd
Top Masters Finish: 2013 Champion
2014 Scoring Average: 69.70

2. Lee Westwood (50/1)
World Golf Ranking: 37th
Top Masters Finish: 2nd (2010)
2014 Scoring Average: 71.19

3. Matt Kuchar (20/1)
World Golf Ranking: 7th
Top Masters Finish: T3 (2012)
2014 Scoring Average: 69.74

4. Phil Mickleson (15/1)
World Golf Ranking: 5th
Top Masters Finish: 2004, 2006, 2010 Champion
2014 Scoring Average: 70.57

5. Jason Day (15/1)
World Golf Ranking: 4th
Top Masters Finish: T2 (2011)
2014 Scoring Average: 70.86

6. Ian Poulter (60/1)
World Golf Ranking: 20th
Top Masters Finish: 7th (2012)
2014 Scoring Average: 71.22

7. Zach Johnson (20/1)
World Golf Ranking: 10th
Top Masters Finish: 2007 Champion
2014 Scoring Average: 69.73

8. Henrik Stenson (25/1)
World Golf Ranking: 3rd
Top Masters Finish: T17 (2007, 2008)
2014 Scoring Average: 72.07

9. Justin Rose (30/1)
World Golf Ranking: 8th
Top Masters Finish: T5 (2007)
2014 Scoring Average: 72.07

10. Hunter Mahan (40/1)
World Golf Ranking: 32nd
Top Masters Finish: T8 (2010)
2014 Scoring Average: 70.41

Prediction - Adam Scott is my pick to win consecutive Green Jackets. He has been playing better than anyone in the world for over a year, and this course fits his game very well. He was able to overcome the agony of blowing the 2012 Open Championship, by breaking down the barrier and winning the 2013 Masters. This would put Scott in the company of Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, and Jack Nicklaus as the only men to win back to back Masters.

NCAA Basketball - Pre-Preseason Top 25

We are just 48 hours removed from the UConn Huskies winning the 2014 National Championship Game. Therefore, it is way too early to be figuring out the Top 25 for the 2014-2015 season. But it is still fun to guess. Things are certain to change as the final recruiting dominoes fall into place, coaches make their moves, and trouble finds a player or two. If you force us to project the Top 25 when the next season tips in November, here is what it might look like.

Top 25
1. Arizona (33-5)
2. Kentucky (29-11)
3. Florida (36-3)
4. Wisconsin (30-8)
5. Duke (26-9)
6. UConn (32-8)
7. Louisville (31-6)
8. Virginia (30-7)
9. Kansas (25-10)
10. Wichita State (35-1)
11. North Carolina (24-10)
12. Michigan (28-9)
13. Michigan State (29-9)
14. Iowa State (28-8)
15. San Diego State (31-5)
16. Villanova (29-5)
17. UCLA (28-9)
18. SMU (27-10)
19. Syracuse (28-6)
20. VCU (26-9)
21. Gonzaga (29-7)
22. Stanford (23-13)
23. Dayton (26-11)
24. Texas (24-11)
25. Oklahoma (23-10)

Next Up
Baylor (26-12)
Ohio State (25-10)
Maryland (17-15)
Oregon (24-10)
Seton Hall (17-17)
Kansas State (20-13)
Georgetown (18-15)
Iowa (20-13)
UNLV (21-13)
Xavier (21-13)

2014 NCAA Tournament - National Championship Game Prediction

Ringer's Tournament Record
ATS: 34-32
SU: 43-23

The college hoops season comes to a close on Monday night, when two unlikely but storied programs take the court. UConn and Kentucky have been two of the most successful programs in college basketball history. But nobody expected these two to be playing on the final night of the season coming into the NCAA Tournament. In fact, UConn as a 7 seed and Kentucky as an 8 seed, will combine for the highest seeds to ever play for the National Championship.

There have been plenty of ups and downs for both teams this season. Each of them waited for the right time to play their best basketball though. One could argue that UConn and Kentucky have taken the toughest possible roads to get here. I have not picked UConn to win a game since the Round of 64 when they needed overtime to defeat St. Joe's. I actually had Kentucky making a run to the Elite 8, but they have been underdogs in three of their last four games and managed to win them all in thrilling fashion. The two biggest stars of the 2014 NCAA Tournament have been UConn's Shabazz Napier and Kentucky's Aaron Harrison. Napier has dominated the opposition in just about every game the Huskies have played. Harrison has hit a clutch three in the final seconds in each of the Wildcats' last three games. One of them will have one final shining moment on Monday night to cap off an unbelievable March Madness.

7 UConn (+3.5) vs. 8 Kentucky

How they got here
UConn beat: St. Joe's 89-81 OT, Villanova 77-65, Iowa St. 81-75, Michigan St. 60-54, Florida 63-53
Kentucky beat: K-State 56-49, Wichita 78-76, Louisville 74-69, Michigan 75-72, Wisconsin 74-73

Record vs. Tournament Teams
UConn: 12-5
Kentucky: 8-6

Kentucky began the season as the #1 team in the country. They never lived up to their potential. At certain points in the season there was talk of this team being one of the most over-hyped squads ever. Now they are one win shy of John Calipari's second national title. The highly touted freshmen have learned to play to their strengths and Kentucky is finally looking like the team that many thought was the best in the country. UConn is playing every bit as well as Kentucky though. They battled through some tough American Conference games, but have found their A game at the right time. The Huskies were known for their offensive prowess lead by Shabazz Napier, but their defense has stifled some of the best teams in the country throughout the tournament. This game should be another thriller. I've learned not to count either team out, which makes it extremely difficult to pick a winner. The game will come down to the final minutes in all likelihood. The team that keeps its poise and can come up with a big shot will cut down the nets in Jerry's World. The prime candidates are Napier and Harrison.  Napier is cold-blooded, but why can't Harrison make it four games in a row? When it is all said and done, this group of freshmen starters will do something the Fab 5 couldn't - close the deal. Kentucky will win its second National Championship Game in three years.

Prediction - Kentucky 68 UConn 67