Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Final Power Rankings (17)


NFL Power Rankings
End of Regular Season

NOTE: Previous ranking is noted in the first parenthesis. Current team record noted in the second parenthesis.

1. (1) Denver Broncos (13-3) – #1 seed in the AFC locked up, and Manning holds all the records. He MUST win his second Super Bowl this year.

2. (2) Seattle Seahawks (13-3) – The NFC #1 seed belongs to Seattle, the team with the best defense in the league.

3. (3) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – Great win over Arizona to claim the top Wildcard spot. Something tells me that the winner of San Fran and Seattle (whenever it takes place) will be marching on to the Super Bowl.

4. (4) Carolina Panthers (12-4) – A great defense has carried the Panthers all the way to a first round bye. What can they do in the playoffs now?

5. (6) Cincinnati Bengals (11-5) – Andy Dalton didn’t play well in their final game, but they won the division and host a playoff game this week. It’s time for a Bengals playoff win right?

6. (7) New England Patriots (12-4) – The Pats clinched a bye and are sitting pretty for the playoffs. Of course, they must win without Gronk, which may be hard.

7. (9) New Orleans Saints (11-5) – If only they could play playoff games at home… they likely wouldn’t lose. Instead, they go on the road, where they have struggled.

8. (8) Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) – They should have beat San Diego without their starters, but a loss didn’t change anything about this squad. This team will play at Indy to start, against a team that beat them a week ago.

9. (11) Indianapolis Colts (11-5) – After a mid-season slump, Indy is back to playing solid football. Hilton is making us forget about Reggie Wayne.

10. (10) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) – Big win at Dallas to clinch the division. Really is incredible how Chip Kelly turned it around this year. Coach of the year?

11. (5) Arizona Cardinals (10-6) – They finally lost a game, but it wouldn’t have mattered. They remain the best team not in the playoffs.

12. (19) Green Bay Packers (8-7-1) – Not only did they win the division, but they did it at Chicago (rivals), and did so in the return of Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb. Those guys completely change their playoff outlook.

13. (12) San Diego Chargers (9-7) – Why did I drop them after winning a game and clinching a playoff birth? Because they really deserved to lose to a team full of backups. Not a high note if you ask me.

14. (18) Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) – Almost snuck into the playoffs based on a great finish to the year. Instead, they hope to carry the momentum over to next season.

15. (14) Chicago Bears (8-8) – Heartbreak is what kept the Bears out of the playoffs. And bad defense. They now have a ton of offseason decisions to make.

16. (13) Baltimore Ravens (8-8) – You think they realize yet they made a big mistake paying Flacco as much as they did?

17. (15) Dallas Cowboys (8-8) – Defense didn’t lose the game against Philly, and that’s shocking to me. If Romo would have played, I predict Dallas would have won.

18. (21) New York Jets (8-8) – I really have to give it to Rex Ryan for his coaching this year. I thought they were clearly the worst team in the NFL before the year, or at least one of the worst. 8 wins was shockingly good. He deserved to keep his job.

19. (16) Miami Dolphins (8-8) – The Dolphins will look back on the last couple of weeks with a lot of regret. A win in either week would have meant the playoffs.

20. (17) St. Louis Rams (7-9) – A loss this week wasn’t all bad… it dramatically improved their draft choice (since a lot of teams ended 8-8). And they also own the #2 overall pick thanks for Washington. I see lots of improvement coming.

21. (23) New York Giants (7-9) – The Giants would have been a playoff team if you erase the first month or so. I also think they have a good young player in Jernigan.

22. (20) Detroit Lions (7-9) – Schwartz is gone, which is a good thing. This team needs more discipline and consistency. It won’t happen, but Lovie Smith would be a great coach here.

23. (24) Tennessee Titans (7-9) – Second place in the AFC South. Of course, that isn’t saying much at all.

24. (25) Minnesota Vikings (5-10-1) – Frazier is out, which I disagree with. I would have liked to see him get another year.

25. (22) Buffalo Bills (6-10) – Depending on the offseason, this is a team to watch next year. That is, if Manuel can stay healthy.

26. (26) Atlanta Falcons (4-12) – With Julio back and a good draft position, Atlanta can bounce back. It helps when you have Matt Ryan.

27. (27) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) – Coaching change here, so I’ll be curious to see what direction the team goes.

28. (28) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) – Another coach gone with this team. Again, how will they approach the offseason.

29. (29) Cleveland Browns (4-12) – Another bad team, another fired coach. This one was a little shocking though because it was after only one season.

30. (30) Oakland Raiders (4-12) – Looks like the head coach will return, but there won’t be any talent joining him.

31. (31) Washington Redskins (3-13) – The terrible season earned them the #2 pick… oh wait, they are giving that to St. Louis. At least Shanahan will be gone.

32. (32) Houston Texans (2-14) – After watching them play this year and watching Teddy Bridgewater play on Saturday night in his bowl game, I’d be shocked if they choose anybody else at #1.

By: The Sports Guys

NCAA Top 25 (5)


Meant to post this yesterday… As we head into conference play, this is how the Top 25 shakes out:

NCAA Top 25 – 12/30/13

NOTE: Previous ranking in parenthesis.

1. (1) Arizona Wildcats (13-0)

Arizona will get pushed by teams in the Pac-12, but I fully expect them to take the league crown and earn a top 2 seed come March.

2. (2) Syracuse Orangemen (12-0)

After a slow start against Villanova, Syracuse then showed why it’s one of the best teams in the country. Their combination of defense and offense is top notch, and it will come down to them and Duke in the ACC.

3. (3) Wisconsin Badgers (13-0)

As we enter Big Ten play, Wisconsin is the slight favorite in my opinion. Of course, Ohio State and Michigan State are both right there. I love the consistency however that the Badgers play with, and they shoot it better than those teams.

4. (4) Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0)

They needed a miracle to get past Notre Dame, but they are still unbeaten. We know they can play defense, but it’s their offense that needs to pick up if they want to truly be elite.

5. (5) Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-1)

They added a nice win over Colorado to cap off a great non-conference season. And now the battle begins against the likes of Kansas, Iowa State, and Baylor. Marcus Smart remains the difference in my mind as to why they’ll emerge on top.

6. (8) Michigan State Spartans (11-1)

The Spartans have dealt with some lingering injuries, but they may be getting healthier just in time. I’ll watch them in person on Saturday at IU, so let’s see if they can impress me further.

7. (9) Iowa State Cyclones (11-0)

Played in a small Holiday tourney and took home the title. Their win over Boise State will prove to be a quality win. These Cyclones are fun to watch, and you better start believing in them.

8. (10) Wichita State Shockers (13-0)

The Shockers haven’t played a really hard schedule, but they’ve got some quality wins. Their recent road win at Alabama showed real guts. Can they run the table in their own conference? That will be fun to watch.

9. (11) Oregon Ducks (12-0)

The Ducks are back to full strength with suspensions over to two of their contributors. This makes them extremely dangerous in the Pac-12.

10. (13) Florida Gators (10-2)

Florida doesn’t have the full team I thought they would heading into the year, but their roster is essentially intact finally, and they are playing great basketball. Following their win over Kansas, they added a win over Memphis. I’d have to make them the favorites now over Kentucky in the SEC.

11. (16) Duke Blue Devils (10-2)

Duke is finally starting to gel, and they are finally starting to impress me. They blew out UCLA before Christmas, and Jabari Parker remains the most talented player in the country.

12. (12) Villanova Wildcats (11-1)

The Wildcats finally picked up their first loss, but it came at Syracuse so that’s not so bad. They led by 18 in the first half but played poorly after that. Consistency and shot selection is something they still need work on.

13. (17) Baylor Bears (10-1)

Baylor remains a solid team, but still haven’t looked elite (except in their one game against Kentucky). To me, they seem more like a placeholder in these rankings than a contender.

14. (6) Louisville Cardinals (11-2)

Louisville has had a rough week, and I honestly wanted to drop them lower due to it. They’ve had only two chances to pick up good wins in the non-conference, and they now lost both of them following their loss to Kentucky (the other was UNC). Then it was announced that Behanan is gone from the team and Ware may redshirt this season. Suddenly, the new AAC is wide open.

15. (7) Connecticut Huskies (11-1)

The Huskies finally came down off the clouds. They lost a close game against Stanford, and that really showed how average they can be at times.

16. (T25) Kansas Jayhawks (9-3)

Things are starting to click… wins over New Mexico and Georgetown prove that the freshmen are getting better, the role players are starting to get it, and Bill Self finally has a consistent rotation. Oh, and Andrew Wiggins is actually beginning to impress.

17. (T25) Kentucky Wildcats (10-3)

Finally a quality win when they beat Louisville. The most impressive part of that was that they played most of the second half without Julius Randle. Like Kansas, the team is showing improvement.

18. (15) Memphis Tigers (9-2)

Had another golden opportunity for a big win when they took on Florida, but again they came up short. When will Pastner’s teams start living up to their talent?

19. (19) Colorado Buffaloes (11-2)

Nothing wrong in a close loss to Oklahoma State. This team has serious potential, but they compete in a competitive conference.

20. (20) Iowa Hawkeyes (11-2)

Iowa could finish Top 3 in the Big Ten, or as low as 6. All depends on their defense.

21. (21) San Diego State Aztecs (10-1)

It will be interesting to see how they respond in their next 3 games… at Colorado State, at Kansas, and then Boise State. How good are they?

22. (14) North Carolina Tarheels (9-3)

More inconsistency shown in their loss to Texas. Then, they barely beat Davidson at home (OT win). Also, looks like Hairston won’t play for them this year, which is a huge loss.

23. (22) Missouri Tigers (11-1)

Lost a heartbreaker to Illinois, but bounced back with a great road win at NC State. I really love their guard play, especially Clarkson.

24. (23) UCLA Bruins (11-2)

Bad showing against Duke, but have otherwise played well this season. Moving Anderson to the point guard was a great move by Alford.

25. (NR) Florida State Seminoles (9-3)

Handed UMASS their first loss, and that was after they blew out Charlotte by 40. This team is great the paint and they are playing great right now.

Dropped from Previous Top 25: Massachusetts Minutemen, Gonzaga Bulldogs

Also Considered: Texas, George Washington, Creighton, Illinois, Harvard, Oklahoma, LSU, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Stanford, St. Louis, Arizona State, Utah, Minnesota

By: The Sports Guys

Saturday, December 28, 2013

NFL Picks 17


No need for a recap… Week 16 just set the stage for week 17!

Andrew – 1395 Points (161-78-1)
Greg – 1266 Points (158-81-1) – Winner of Week 16

Let’s get to the core info: Denver must win for #1 seed in the AFC. The same is true for Seattle (as is the NFC West). Seeding in the AFC is all up in the air, as is the last playoff spot (Miami, Baltimore, Chargers, Steelers). Two divisions in the NFC (East and North) come down to two games: Eagles/Cowboys and Bears/Packers. Oh, and San Fran at Arizona might be the best game.

Below are our picks and confidence points for all the games. Play along in the comment section if you want:

Greg’s Picks

16       Carolina over Atlanta
15       Cincinnati over Baltimore
14       Indianapolis over Jacksonville
13       Denver over Oakland
12       New England over Buffalo
11       New Orleans over Tampa Bay
10       Kansas City over San Diego
9          Minnesota over Detroit
8          Pittsburgh over Cleveland
7          San Francisco over Arizona
6          Seattle over St. Louis
5          Washington over NYG
4          NYJ over Miami
3          Chicago over Green Bay
2          Houston over Tennessee
1          Dallas over Philadelphia

Andrew’s Picks

16       Indianapolis over Jacksonville
15       Denver over Oakland
14       New Orleans over Tampa Bay
13       New England over Buffalo
12       Seattle over St. Louis
11       Carolina over Atlanta
10       Tennessee over Houston
9          Pittsburgh over Cleveland
8          Miami over NYJ
7          Detroit over Minnesota
6          San Diego over Kansas City
5          Arizona over San Francisco
4          Cincinnati over Baltimore
3          NYG over Washington
2          Philadelphia over Dallas
1          Chicago over Green Bay

Enjoy week 17!

By: The Sports Guys

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Power Rankings 16


NFL Power Rankings
After Week 16

NOTE: Previous ranking is noted in the first parenthesis. Current team record noted in the second parenthesis.

1. (2) Denver Broncos (12-3) – The flip-flopping of Denver and Seattle continues… Peyton threw 4 more TD’s to take his season total to 51, a new NFL record. They did lose Von Miller for the season though.

2. (1) Seattle Seahawks (12-3) – The offense looked bad, like it did early in the season. What’s worse is they lost at home, and suddenly look vulnerable heading into the playoffs. That could all change in a week though.

3. (3) San Francisco 49ers (11-4) – After a slow start, San Francisco took out Atlanta last night to keep their division hopes alive, along with a chance at the #1 seed. Defense came up big late.

4. (4) Carolina Panthers (11-4) – Huge win taking out the Saints, and now look to be headed towards a division title and 2-seed. That’s impressive for a team nobody thought would even make the playoffs.

5. (7) Arizona Cardinals (10-5) – Like I said last week, this is a lofty ranking for a squad likely to miss the playoffs. They deserve to be there though, over a number of teams obviously.

6. (8) Cincinnati Bengals (10-5) – The Bengals clinched the division and remain in the hunt for the 2-seed depending on what happens in a week. Both sides of the ball were feeling it Sunday.

7. (9) New England Patriots (11-4) – New England exploded and beat down a streaking Baltimore squad that was trying to get into the playoffs. They could actually earn the top seed in the playoffs if Denver loses.

8. (5) Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) – The Chiefs were simply outplayed by the Colts on Sunday. This locks them in as the 5-seed. They must get it done on the road in the playoffs.

9. (6) New Orleans Saints (10-5) – The Saints are picking a bad time to go flat. They’ve put up some duds recently and are now facing a must-win game.

10. (11) Philadelphia Eagles (9-6) – Stayed atop the NFC East by raping the defenseless Bears. Their play on Sunday night was intimidating and sent a message to teams across the league.

11. (13) Indianapolis Colts (10-5) – The Colts looked like the team that started the year and beat the Broncos, Seahawks, and 49ers. Where has that been?

12. (15) San Diego Chargers (8-7) – Hitting their stride at the right time but still need help to make it to the playoffs.  It would be a shame if they missed them, cause they are playing much better than their competition.

13. (10) Baltimore Ravens (8-7) – Ugly performance in a game they had to win. Now they have their work seriously cut out for them.

14. (12) Chicago Bears (8-7) – Don’t know if they should be more embarrassed about their 11 points or allowing 54. I hate to see it, but as a Bears fan I’d feel better about McCown starting this week in a must-win.

15. (18) Dallas Cowboys (8-7) – Romo saved them at the end, and they now play a winner-take-all game against the Eagles. News broke yesterday though that they have to do it without Romo (disk issues).

16. (14) Miami Dolphins (8-7) – Failed to show up in a game they really needed. But with other teams losing also, they still can grab that last playoff spot.

17. (19) St. Louis Rams (7-8) – They found their winning strategy: Run the ball with Stacy and play great defense. Watch out for these guys next year.

18. (20) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) – The Steelers are ending their season well, but the way they started was depressing.

19. (16) Green Bay Packers (7-7-1) – Couldn’t get it done without Rodgers Sunday, but they still have a shot this week at the playoffs. Their showdown with the Bears will determine who wins the NFC North.

20. (17) Detroit Lions (7-8) – First off, Schwartz is an idiot (saying season wasn’t a disappointment). He’s gone for sure. Secondly, how do they lose to the Giants at home?

21. (21) New York Jets (7-8) – Geno did what he’s done all year… he delivers good play just when you don’t expect. I’d actually consider this season a massive win.

22. (22) Buffalo Bills (6-9) – Two in a row now for Buffalo, who have found their stride again late in the season. Could this be a team that will contend next year?

23. (24) New York Giants (6-9) – Took out Detroit on the road to help my Bears… What this served as was an audition for many young players to earn a spot next year. Many passed.

24. (25) Tennessee Titans (6-9) – Funny how football works… Last week, Fitz threw for over 400 yards with 4 TD’s, and the team lost. This week, he threw for 181 and 1 TD, but they won.

25. (23) Minnesota Vikings (4-10-1) – They couldn’t play spoiler this week.

26. (26) Atlanta Falcons (4-11) – Late pick-6 doomed Atlanta. It’s been a forgettable season.

27. (27) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) – You think Jacksonville fans will think their 4 wins were worth it? Depends on who falls to them in the draft.

28. (28) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) – Offense really couldn’t do much on Sunday. This team still lacks an identity.

29. (29) Cleveland Browns (4-11) – Just when I thought they could earn a win, their defense allows Geno Smith to control the game.

30. (30) Oakland Raiders (4-11) – It was announced that Pryor will start the season finale. Thank goodness. He’s decent.

31. (31) Washington Redskins (3-12) – Were in perfect position to ruin the Cowboys’ season, but fell apart at the end. I bet the Rams were happy, since they own Washington’s first pick.

32. (32) Houston Texans (2-13) – One more game to go before they earn that top selection. Although with St. Louis the only other possible team that could pick at #1 now, they will be guaranteed the QB of their choice no matter if they drop to 2 (St. Louis won’t draft one that high with Bradford their man).

By: The Sports Guys