NFL Draft - Round 1

Today we're doing something new... Last night, the NFL conducted the first round of the 2013 draft. It was an interested and exciting night. The Sports Guys watched, but maintained a conversation throughout via texts. Below is that conversation. It includes our reactions to the picks as they transpired.

NOTE: We will be doing our official draft analysis next week after the draft concludes this weekend.

NOTE: We are both Chicago Bears fans, Colts too, and even Broncos fans due to Peyton Manning.

Andrew: As we're watching tonight, let's be sure to stay in touch so we can record our conversation tomorrow on the blog.

Greg: Sounds good. I think there will be lots of trades.

Andrew: I hope! Here we go.

Greg: I just read the guy's lips... Eric Fisher will go #1.

Andrew: The TV analysts are agreeing with you.

Greg: I think either pick (Fisher or Joeckel) is great here. But if I had the pick myself I'm probably picking Joeckel.

Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

Andrew: I would be a little worried because he didn't play against great teams in college. But he's got the tools and upside to be great. Both will be though...

Greg: It's like Luck vs. RGIII last year. But Fisher played against enough good competition so it won't matter. / Now the fun starts. I think Jacksonville will take advantage of the situation and trade this pick. Joeckel was the more coveted tackle.

Andrew: I love the unpredictability this year vs. last year when we could call everything easily. Jacksonville needs lots of help so I'd trade it if I were them.

Greg: Same here.

Andrew: Who would trade up for it you think?

Greg: San Diego, but I doubt it actually happens. San Diego has to trade up for Lane Johnson then.

Andrew: I'm interested to see if the Jets do anything with their two nice picks... Same with the Rams although neither will jump this high. / In fact, the Jets will stay put with theirs.

Greg: Based on the stat ESPN just showed, I'll be shocked if they take Joeckel. They had the lowest sack rate in the NFL last year.

Andrew: They don't have a good QB to protect anyways.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

Greg: Maybe now they draft EJ Manuel at the beginning of the second round.

Andrew: Or Geno if he falls. / I never know what the Raiders are thinking... Who's the fastest player in the draft (haha)

Andrew: Hey, our boy Tom Crean just tweeted and it made the show!

Greg: Raiders have a new GM, they won't be stupid anymore.

Andrew: True, but still.

Greg: He was an assistant GM in Green Bay. / And Al David is dead. So he can't be stupid anymore. / EJ Manuel is better than Geno Smith in my opinion by the way. Smith will be a bust.

Andrew: We will see. I've been impressed with Smith, even his Gruden Camp. Anyways, I like Lane Johnson here if I were them.

Oakland Raiders TRADE the 3rd pick to the Miami Dolphins.

Andrew: The Dolphins, wow!

Greg: That is a shock.

Andrew: Nice move by the Raiders here though.

Greg: San Diego is pissed I bet.

Andrew: This has gotta be for Lane right?

Greg: Yes, for sure.

Andrew: Miami going all out on offense with this move, Wallace and Keller in the offseason...

Miami Dolphins: Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon

Greg: That is shocking!

Andrew: What!!! Jordan?

Greg: That's not that big of a surprise at this spot.

Andrew: Maybe they thought Chip Kelly would take his own guy so they grabbed him first... It isn't all that shocking but with depth at linebacker why trade up?

Greg: I was right in my mock about Miami making the first big reach of the draft.

Andrew: Yep. I didn't see, what did they give up?

Greg: I haven't seen it yet. Miami doesn't have depth at pass rushing with their outside linebackers. / Oh, there it is. 12th and 42nd, not that much in this draft.

Andrew: No, second round is good for the Raiders. I like depth at certain spots in this draft. I like guys on the O-line, and the front seven on defense. Live in the trenches!

Philadelphia Eagles: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

Greg: Lane Johnson is a great fit for the Eagles. I think, so far, this is the best fit by a team's draft pick.

Andrew: Solid pick. Great athletic lineman to go with Kelly's offense. Lane is a good story too with the way he switched positions constantly.

Greg: Fisher going first made Lane a very rich man. If Joeckel goes first I bet Johnson would have fallen out of the top ten.

Andrew: Not so sure, the top two picks could have just been flip-flopped. Plus, they are all rich men!

Greg: Yes but richer. I'm positive of it though, all the mocks before had Johnson 7 or lower. / Ziggy Ansah here for the Lions. Fluker is a darkhorse.

Andrew: It needs to be a defensive player here. There are a few guys I'm okay with.

Greg: Initial grades so far: Chiefs - A. Jags - A. Dolphins - B-. Eagles - A+.

Andrew: I might go lower on Miami with like a C-.

Greg: If they gave up more, then yes, but I don't think they gave up too much.

Detroit Lions: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

Andrew: Solid pick with Ziggy.

Greg: Ansah too raw. Won't be a factor for two years.

Andrew: They needed a pass rusher with Avril gone.

Greg: He will own the Bears with Webb at RT again! Haha.

Andrew: I hope the Bears draft a lineman cause the O-line sucks! But that is still a ways away.

Greg: The line is better with Bushrod (Free Agency).

Andrew: Slauson too.

Greg: But they will draft someone.

Andrew: Ziggy is a great story though...

Greg: Did he just compare himself to Lebron James?

Andrew: No, Susie brought that up.

Greg: This next pick with Cleveland is the first really intriguing pick. Lots of different possibilities.

Andrew: They just submitted their pick early.

Cleveland Browns: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

Greg: Kruger and Mingo, what a combo.

Andrew: Could be scary in a couple years.

Greg: Could be scary now. Mingo is much better currently than either Jordan or Ansah.

Andrew: The Browns need a strong defensive line because of the other three good teams in the division.

Greg: That's a great pick.

Andrew: I like it. A for them. B for Lions by the way.

Greg: Only dumb pick so far is Dolphins. I agree on the grades. B for the Lions is right. Can't wait for the boo birds for the Jets soon. They have to go with Milliner. If he's still there, which he has to be.

Andrew: Haha. I'm ready for another trade. Arizona is intriguing here.

Greg: Eifert is my guess.

Andrew: A little too early for him.

Greg: Arians loves TE's. McShay had Eifert at 6.

Andrew: Well I like Mel more than Todd.

Greg: I like Todd more than Mel. Mel looks too much like a bird.

Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Cooper, OG, UNC

Andrew: Haha. Mel was right on there with Cooper though. He's a solid pick.

Buffalo Bills TRADE the 8th pick to St. Louis.

Greg: B+ for Cards. / Weird St. Louis is trading up here.

Andrew: I figured they would move with their two picks.

Greg: They are talking about Tavon Austin, but I think it's too high for him. I like the trade for Buffalo.

Andrew: I agree it might be too high, but maybe it isn't for him.

Greg: No one else it could really be for. They must have thought the Jets were going to take him.

Andrew: Maybe it is for Dee?

Greg: That would be a strange twist.

Andrew: Buffalo is trading down to take a QB without reaching as much.

Greg: Still a reach in the middle of the first round to take Nassib.

Andrew: They could always trade down again. Moves could be flowing now.

Greg: Austin has to be the pick here, and yes they could.

Andrew: It probably is. Bradford needs somebody to throw it to...

Greg: It's funny by the way that Mel/Tood are similar to you and me respectively.

Andrew: Haha. In some ways I guess.

St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

Andrew: He will be the guy from day one, especially with Amendola in New England.

Greg: Agree. He could be a Wes Welker/Percy Harvin combo. Great fantasy upside.

Andrew: ESPN Chicago thought Austin could fall to the Bears. Too bad!

Greg: ESPN Chicago is stupid. There was 0% chance of that.

Andrew: I agree, but they were hopeful I guess.

Greg: You might have to become a Manti fan. I think that'd be a disastrous pick though, for the Bears that is.

Andrew: Can't wait! / I think the Jets take Dee here. With Revis gone it has to be the pick here.

Greg: It would be stupid not to.

Andrew: I'd go defense agains with pick 13 too.

Greg: If Geno Smith is picked, the stage might get rushed and riots will break out in the street.

Andrew: Haha. They need a QB though since Sanchez sucks and they won't let Tebow start.

Greg: Yes, that's why they can't draft Eifert. There is no one to throw him the ball.

Andrew: Yeah, Rex won with defense before. I load up again with bother of these picks used on D.

Greg: Makes sense to me.

New York Jets: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

Andrew: Yep, it's Dee. Grade A for them there.

Greg: I'm waiting until their second pick before I grade them. / Man, Dee can't speak. And he has no teeth.

Andrew: Yes, call him "Ugly Island."

Greg: Lol, "Ugly Island", nice! / Berman is unwatchable by the way.

Andrew: They should have Michelle Beadle hosting with McShay, Kiper, and Gruden as the analysts. "Shefty" and "Mort" as the insiders. Or Mike and Mike could host and they could use "Stink."

Greg: No way Beadle... Wilbon. And I have no idea what you're talking about.

Andrew: "Stink" is Mark Schlereth's nickname.

Tennessee Titans: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

Greg: Warmack is a wrecking ball.

Andrew: Yes, he's a hoss. Good pick though. / Here comes SD already.

San Diego Chargers: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

Greg: Reach!

Andrew: Darn, I wanted Bears to get Fluker.

Greg: I say C, maybe C+ there.

Andrew: Maybe a slight reach, but like I said, I'm more pissed cause Bears at 20 getting him would have been perfect.

Greg: He wasn't falling that far... in your dreams. With the run of lineman, Eifert could fall to the Bears though.

Andrew: I don't want him all that bad because we signed Bennett. I want linebacker, O-line help, or WR. Although with Austin gone already, I don't want WR this early.

Greg: Gotta take the best player available, not draft by need. There are plenty of depth at those positions.

Andrew: That's why I'm good with trading down slightly.

Greg: Eifert just dominated Milliner (who's really good) and the Bears just hired an offensive minded coach. You're such a fan sometimes!

Andrew: Haha. Or I simple analyze differently than you. I doubt he's there anyways.

Oakland Raiders: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston

Greg: I wanted that guy to fall to the Colts. He's a good player. Reminds me of Asante Samuel.

Andrew: Yeah he's solid. Does his heart injury worry you though?

Greg: A little. But I trust doctors and if he's cleared then no.

Andrew: This part of the draft gets unpredictable. They are talking about Geno here for the Jets. I don't like it for them.

Greg: Me either. I doubt any QBs go before Buffalo picks and it won't be Geno Smith.

Andrew: Jets are taking a while. I bet they are trying to trade down but can't get a buyer.

Greg: Maybe the Bears trade up for Lotulelei?

Andrew: That would be interested but I think they are more likely to move down than up, if at all.

Greg: Berman, shut up. Just get to the pick!

New York Jets: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

Andrew: They went double defense, just like we discussed earlier.

Greg: He's a small defensive tackle. I give them a B for those two picks. I'm with Gruden on Sheldon.

Andrew: Yeah, I'm not into him, but I like the defensive concept. I'm with Gruden too, should have went linebacker there because there are some good ones out there. Or Star...

Greg: How they don't take Star there I don't know. He was dominant in the Pac-12.

Andrew: Carolina pick is in already...

Carolina Panthers: Star Lotulelei, Dt, Utah

Andrew: Star it is. Last year, Carolina hit a home run with Kuechly, now Star?

Greg: Floyd could fall all the way to the Bears now. And yes, that's a heck of job two years now in the first round. That's like Haloti Ngata and Ray Lewis in back to back years.

New Orleans Saints: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

Greg: Just saw Bills trade; they got more for #8 than Oakland did for #3.

Andrew: Yes, great trade for them. I think they are going to take a QB here. / We were silent on Saints, I don't love their pick.

Greg: Vaccaro is a great player. It's an A.

Andrew: I'm also amazed that the offensive Saints have gone defense in the first round 6 straight seasons. / He's a slight reach in my opinion.

Greg: But he will make their team better.

Andrew: Yes but I like trading down if he's gonna be available ten picks later.

Greg: He's the best safety in the draft though. Had to do it.

Buffalo Bills: E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State

Greg: Shocker.

Andrew: Um, Manual? Wow!

Greg: Nassib not getting picked there is crazy. Manuel isn't as shocking a value pick but the team that took him. / Does Pittsburgh take Lacy here? Dallas then Floyd?

Andrew: Pitt needs multiple positions actually, but I hope they go with Lacy. Floyd to Dallas then would be solid.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Andrew: Darn, there goes Jones. That's a good pick for Pitt.

Dallas Cowboys TRADE the 18th pick to San Francisco.

Greg: Dallas has to be jumping for joy. How did they trade that, it makes no sense.

San Francisco 49ers: Eric Reed, S, LSU

Andrew: I'm stunned and confused.

Greg: Wow, especially for that pick. He was the third or fourth best safety in my opinion. I liked Cyprien and Wilcox better. Even Matt Elam. Watched a lot of tape and the Senior Bowl practices and thought they'd be good for the Bears.

Andrew: I guess in Harbaugh I trust. Plus, they made a good point about when LSU has stud corners Reed owned. Could own again with the 49er defense around him.

Greg: He's boom or bust. C- grade there, especially since they lost a pick for that.

Andrew: I concur I guess although I don't hate him, just that spot. / Lots of value out there right now.

Greg: Eifert has to be the Giants pick here. That'd be a great pick for them.

Andrew: Yes to replace Bennett. It would give them another target to pair with their wideouts.

New York Giants: Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse

Greg: I'm dazed and confused by the idiocy gone on.

Andrew: No, Pugh is a decent pick there.

Greg: I'm now worried about what the Bears will do.

Andrew: Me too, because there are so many option. They blew it last year...

Greg: I don't want Teo here.

Andrew: Why? He's solid.

Greg: I don't think he's a first rounder. There are better picks.

Andrew: Floyd still there... Lots of LB's... Eifert there... Pick is in!

Greg: Eifert makes the most sense.

Chicago Bears: Kyle Long, OG, Oregon

Greg: That's stupid. That's an infuriating pick. F!!!

Andrew: I'm actually ticked a little. Dumb, just like Shae last year. But at the same time, it's a major need for us. I say C.

Greg: Not that big of a need. Carimi is better at guard. This guy is a backup!

Andrew: Carimi has been terrible. Our line has been our downfall.

Greg: They signed two lineman in free agency. It was a reach. Worst pick of the draft by far! And it's not even close.

Andrew: Speaking of talking like a fan...

Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Andrew: There Eifert goes.

Greg: I'm not talking like a fan by the way. Gruden hasn't even seen much film on that guy. That's how bad he is!

St. Louis Rams TRADE the 22nd pick to the Atlanta Falcons

Greg: Trade has to be for Sharif Floyd.

Andrew: I can't believe he's still here... BRB

Atlanta Falcons: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

Minnesota Vikings: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

Andrew: I'm back, what I miss?

Greg: Nothing. Floyd to Vikings. Trufant to Atlanta.

Andrew: Atlanta had to go CB I guess. Great pick by the Vikings.

Greg: Trufant would have been there when Atlanta picked. Bad move.

Andrew: Here come Colts. They owned draft last year. They will again.

Greg: I'm worried. I don't want Xavier Rhodes. After what the Bears did, I'm not confident in anything. Bears missed last year and this year.

Indianapolis Colts: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Andrew: True, I'm mad about this year and still about last year. But Long isn't terrible.

Greg: A Kindergartener could've made those picks. I'm happy with Werner to Colts by the way.

Andrew: You defended Shae last year when I went off.

Greg: It was only a slight reach. Long was #37 on some boards. Big reach. He's a developmental first rounder.

Andrew: The defense for Long is that the Bears have a terrible line.

Minnesota Vikings: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

Andrew: Vikings should have went LB there.

Greg: The Bears do have a bad line, but you don't throw developmental guys at it if you want to improve.

Andrew: I said things like that about Shae last year and you defended him.

Greg: But that's not what I though Shae was.

Andrew: Anyways, GB taking Lacy here for sure. Or Ball. They badly need a RB.

Greg: I think Matt Elam from Florida.

Green Bay Packers: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

Greg: Interesting pick. This guy could be a stud.

Andrew: Athletic for sure. Solid pick. Still was thinking RB there but there are other rounds.

Greg: Benson will be back probably so I say safety is a big need.

Andrew: Benson sucks... they could get Ball in the second round. Watch out!

Greg: Just watched Bears GM in press conference. He said they watched Senior Bowl and thought Long was the best lineman on the field. He's a joke as a scout!

Andrew: Yeah, he should stick to free agency.

Houston Texans: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

Andrew: Hopkins is pretty good. They needed a WR badly.

Greg: Reach there too. He was down on most boards.

Andrew: Tavon was lower than where he was taken too. But with few offensive options this year, you have to go after them.

Greg: Drafting by need is stupid.

Andrew: Gotta fill holes somehow if you miss in free agency.

Greg: I hope Denver drafts Montee Ball.

Andrew: That would be nice, but they just got Hillman. I'm just pissed they blew it with Elvis in free agency.

Greg: Hillman not every down back.

Denver Broncos: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

Greg: Interesting pick there. DT is a position of strength for them.

New England TRADES the 29th pick to Minnesota

Greg: Wow, Minny with 3 #1's.

Andrew: I don't like this trade for Minny. They gave up way too much.

Minnesota Vikings: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Greg: That is a bad pick also.

Andrew: Bad trade for this marginal player.

Greg: That's what I mean. Gave up too much for a developmental, risky player in the first round.

Andrew: Pats struck gold.

Greg: As always.

Andrew: I've always said that I'd draft like them. Trade down, get value, get tons of picks, then trade up for sure things since I have picks to play with.

St. Louis Rams: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia

Greg: A++ for Rams so far.

Andrew: St. Louis did well tonight for sure.

Greg: They did the best with multiple picks in the first round. / This is taking too long.

Andrew: Agree, this Dallas pick has been in for five minutes and ESPN is stalling.

Dallas Cowboys: Travis Frederick, OC, Wisconsin

Greg: Another weird pick.

Andrew: Based on need again.

Greg: This is a record for offensive lineman in the first round. Need only based picking is always ridiculous.

Andrew: Not if they are good players too.

Baltimore Ravens: Matt Elam, S, Florida

Andrew: Good pick by the Champs.

Greg: Very solid. I'm out now, later.

Andrew: No Teo or Smith in first round. Interesting... Good night!

By: The Sports Guys

Zurich Classic Pick 5 Challenge

After a great tournament last week that ended in a playoff, the PGA Tour goes to New Orleans, for another laid back, fun event: The Zurich Classic. Players though are starting to get geared up for the Players Championship, which is around the corner. Probably the biggest storyline in this event is that Masters star, Guan Tianlang, is in the field. Let's see what the 14 year old can do as an encore in his second tournament ever.

After a good week last week, Andrew now leads overall 819 to 813. It remains neck and neck. This week, our picks must have won on the tour before, but are not major winners. Exceptions can be if they won a major over a decade ago. Here are our picks:

Andrew's Picks

Rickie Fowler
Ernie Els
D.A. Points
Keegan Bradley
Justin Rose

Greg's Picks

Charles Howell III
Jason Dufner
David Toms
Sean O'Hair
Nick Watney

By: The Sports Guys

Decisions Looming

With the deadline to declare for the NBA days away, and the Spring Signing Period for incoming recruits upon us, we should get some clarity on how things look across the landscape of college basketball next season. There are a few things to keep an eye on over the next few days and weeks:

NBA Decisions

Rumors on Twitter say that both CJ Fair (Syracuse) and Russ Smith (Louisville) will return to school for their senior seasons. They have yet to make that official however. Those decisions would be huge for their teams and their preseason ranking.

Another large decision is Adreian Payne from Michigan State. If he returns, they will likely be a Top 5 team nationally and compete with Michigan for the Big Ten title. If he chooses the NBA, that will hurt them considerably, for he is their only true inside threat (with Nix graduating).

An under the radar team, Baylor, is waiting on decisions from Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson. They are hoping to build off their NIT title. UCONN is postseason eligible once again, and they are waiting to hear what their backcourt of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright are doing. They could be a very dangerous squad if they both return. Colorado should return their core from their NCAA Tourney qualifying team, but that depends on if Andre Roberson is coming back. And it will be interesting to see if Jamil Wilson (Marquette) follows his teammate Vander Blue into the draft or not.

Other decisions to keep an eye on are Doug McDermott, Shane Larkin, and Jarnell Stokes. All of these decisions will affect how successful these teams are next year, and where they will be ranked early on.

Transfers

Switching schools has become a very popular thing today recently and this year is no exception. While many transfers will have to sit out next season (Rodney Purvis, Angel Rodriquez, Trevor Lacey to name a few), some will be eligible immediately. That would change next year's outlook also.

Mike Moser is one of the big names out there making a decision. It seems that he is down to Washington, Oregon, and Gonzaga. While he would help Washington and Oregon out a lot, going to Gonzaga would ensure their ranked status once again, and would help replace what they lost in All-American Kelly Olynyk.

Another decision to keep an eye on is Eli Carter of Rutgers. First, the NCAA has to rule on if he will be able to play immediately next season or not. Then, where will he go? He led Rutgers in scoring this season by averaging around 15 a game. Could be a great get for a team.

Memphis soon-to-be graduates Tarik Black and Antonio Barton are transferring also. They should be eligible immediately depending on their graduating status (looks like they will get this done). What schools will go after these athletes.

Lastly, Tulane big man Josh Davis will transfer and can play right away. He averaged close to 18 points a game along with over 10 rebounds a game last season. He now must decide where to play. Maybe he'll end up on a team in the Top 25.

Freshmen

Really, we're only waiting on one freshman to make up his mind. And that would be the #1 player in the country, Andrew Wiggins. He is down to Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, and Florida State.

Kentucky will be #1 heading into next seasons regardless of if Wiggins chooses them or not. But if he did, people would start talking about an undefeated season.

If he chooses North Carolina or Kansas, I think those teams go from a teen or 20's preseason ranking to a Top 5-10 ranking. They would each go from a contender to a favorite in their respective conferences. North Carolina in particular would be outstanding.

And if he chooses Florida State, they would be more competitive for sure, but I still wouldn't include them in my Top 25. I think a lot of coaches would be happy to seem him choose the Seminals.

The bottom line is, within a week or two much of this will be cleared up. At that point, we'll be able to paint a more accurate picture of the 2013-2014 college basketball season. Stay tuned!

By: Andrew Miller

NFL Mock Draft #2

With the NFL Draft only a few short days away, I’m revisiting the first half of my initial mock draft (March 22), and finishing up the second half. All the major free agent signings are done at this point, and the major trade of the offseason we have been waiting for happened last week; i.e. Darrelle Revis being traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s how I see the draft playing out at this point:


1. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M – The Chiefs draft who I believe to be the most NFL ready, and best overall player on the board to protect Alex Smith’s blind side.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida – The Jaguars are terrible. This would help generate a little in-state buzz and make the team better at the same time.

3. Oakland Raiders: Dee Milliner, DB, Alabama – The front office in Oakland is much smarter than it used to be, and they take the best player for them in this slot, or trade down.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan- An athletic blindside protector, the Eagles and either Fisher or Lane Johnson would be a great fit.

5. Detroit Lions: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU – Must replace Cliff Avril and Kyle Vandenbosche. Ansah is a good start.

6. Cleveland Browns: I originally had Cordarrelle Patterson (Tennessee, WR) here, and I’m going to stick with that pick. His stock has fallen quite a bit on some draft boards, but I think he has the potential to be the most dynamic receiver out of this class. I don’t think he’ll reach that potential in Cleveland, but it is possible.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah – I still think the Cardinals could go with a QB here, even with the addition of Carson Palmer, but I don’t have a good sense of which direction they would go. That leads me to believe they draft a key member of their defense for years to come.

8. Buffalo Bills: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma – Johnson could be off of the board at this point, in which case I think the Bills either trade down or draft Jonathan Cooper a little above slot and solidify their line. With a line as solid as they would have with either of these picks, any QB they have would feel much safer.

9. New York Jets: Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon - I honestly have no idea where the Jets will go with this pick, but with two picks in the first 13, the Jets have a little bit of flexibility. Their needs are so glaring at so many positions, and their only real positions of strength lie on the offensive line. The best available player here, in my opinion, is Dion Jordan.  It makes sense both as an area of need, and from a value standpoint. I think that is the pick here.

10. Tennessee Titans: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas – Best player on the board, good value, position of need.

11. San Diego Chargers: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama – The Chargers really need a left tackle, and will probably overdo a trade up and get one, but if they stick here, Warmack is the pick.

12. Miami Dolphins: My guess is this pick will be traded to Kansas City, who will give up Brandon Albert to Miami in return. However, if they do not trade for Albert, I think the Dolphins take the first real “reach pick” of the first round and draft Johnathan Jenkins, the huge DT out of the University of Georgia.

13. New York Jets (From Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU – The Jets get their two bookend OLB’s for the foreseeable future with their two first round picks. The Jets need to upgrade their aging defense, and adding two pass rushing athletic linebackers like Jordan and Mingo is a great start.

14. Carolina Panthers: Keenan Allen, WR, Cal – Allen is a good fit for the Panthers. He's a bigger, disciplined, solid route-running WR who will work well in that offense. Cam Newton will be pleased.

15. New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri – The Saints would love it if Richardson fell to them. They need a big-bodied DT to clog up the middle and help to get their linebackers free. This would be great for them.

16. St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia – Tavon Austin would be a great option for Sam Bradford to have in the slot, and with Danny Amendola gone, the Rams have a need at that spot. Austin fits it.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia – James Harrison out, Jarvis Jones in. It’s a great fit and great value. Look out AFC north QB’s!

18. Dallas Cowboys: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama – A Larry Allen clone size-wise, Fluker would be a good value pick at a position of need for the Cowboys.

19. New York Giants: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame – Eifert could be long gone by this time, as Todd McShay predicts, but if he’s here, he is a perfect fit in New York, especially after losing Bennett to the Bears.

20. Chicago Bears: TRADE with Buffalo: Buffalo selects Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse. Chicago acquires Buffalo's 2nd, 4th, and 6th round picks.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina – Great get if Cooper falls this far.

22. St. Louis Rams (From Washington): Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama – Drafted to replace the departure of feature back Stephen Jackson.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State – The Vikings chose to let Antoine Winfield go with the idea in mind to draft his replacement. Rhodes is their man.

24. Indianapolis Colts: Bjoern Werner, DL, Florida State – Werner has the flexibility to play 3-4 or 4-3 and is a solid character guy and a good fit for this team.

25. Minnesota Vikings: Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame – With their second pick this round, another upgrade on defense will be done. Teo is a slightly more instinctive version of Chad Greenway and will add a little bit of star power to the defensive side of this team.

26. Green Bay Packers: Matt Elam, S, Florida – Great fit here. Will help solidify the back end of this defense and make teams fear throwing the ball over the middle against the Packers.

27. Houston Texans: Quinton Patten, WR, Louisiana Tech – One of my favorite players in this draft, Patten will thrive opposite Andre Johnson.

28. Denver Broncos: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia – Denver lost D.J. Williams to the Bears in free agency, but they draft a younger, more athletic linebacker that can really cover to replace him. I nearly went with Montee Ball here, but I think Denver can nab him in the second round to solidify their running attack.

29. New England Patriots: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston – The best pure cover corner in this draft, Hayden falls to a team that will really utilize his skills opposite Aqib Talib.

30. Atlanta Falcons: Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State – Thomas Dimitroff knows what Tony Gonzalez has done for Matt Ryan, Escobar is as close to Gonzalez as you can get in a different human being.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford – Jim Harbaugh gets one of his old recruits to replace Delanie Walker and will really make the 49ers offense even more potent.

32. Baltimore Ravens: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington – Ravens lost a ton on the defensive side of the ball, and Trufant is a starter from day 1. This is a solid pick for them.

So that’s how I see the first round. As we all know, things get unpredictable as teams reach, trade, and change their minds. It’s going to be fun!

By: Greg Branda

NFL Schedule Release

Late last week the NFL schedule was released. The season is a long way off, but I thought we could take an early look at what's in store this year. Which teams will have it tough? Which teams have it easy? These questions and more will be answered here. Let's dive in...

Toughest Schedule

Technically, the toughest schedule in the NFL is that of the Carolina Panthers. The combined record of their 2013 opponents a year ago was 138-116-2. The New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, and Detroit Lions are next, but that can be a deceiving and and these teams aren't really contenders (except for maybe the Saints). What I'm looking for is the toughest schedule for a contender...

Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears - These two NFC North teams, and Super Bowl hopefuls, drew games against every NFC East and AFC North team. The only game in there that is somewhat easy is Cleveland, but even they are much improved (and Chicago has them on the road). Think about a schedule with Washington, Dallas, NYG, Philly, Cincy, Pittsburgh, and the defending champs Baltimore. Green Bay has games against San Francisco and Atlanta also; Chicago with New Orleans. Of course they have the rest of their division to compete against too... each other, the Lions, and AD's Vikings. That's tough sledding.

Easiest Schedule

Here, I'm looking at playoff contenders that have it easy (although nothing is easy in the NFL):

Denver Broncos - The Broncos have the easiest schedule based on 2012 records. And I agree it is looks simple on paper. A huge part of that is due to the fact that their division is bad. I would expect a 6-0 record within the AFC West (SD, KC, Oakland). Then, they drew the AFC South which will deliver guaranteed wins against Jacksonville and Tennessee. They also drew the NFC East which will be tricky, but two of those are home games, and remember they already have eight likely wins in the bag. Lastly, one of their two other games is Baltimore at home, a game I'm sure they will be ready to take revenge in. If they went 13-3 last year, I would expect AT LEAST 11 wins this year for sure.

Indianapolis Colts - By the numbers (2012 records), the Colts have the third easiest schedule of all NFL teams, and for a playoff team last year, that's lucky. Like the Broncos, they have some easy wins within the division (AFC South) with Jacksonville and Tennessee. Houston twice is the tricky piece. They also drew the AFC West and NFC West which shouldn't be too bad. Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle will obviously be tough games, but they should handle the other five opponents in those divisions. Plus, of their two other games, one of those is Miami at home. With a schedule like this, getting back to the playoffs shouldn't be overly difficult.

Best Storylines

This section lists five games that are chalked full of background story:

#1 - Peyton returns to Indy. In week 7, Peyton Manning and his Broncos play at his old team, the Indianapolis Colts. It will be emotional in a big way, but it will also be a great game and important game for both squads in terms of playoff positioning.

#2 - Sticking with the Manning theme, Eli vs. Peyton in week 2. Again, it will have some story, but the game itself will be huge. Peyton's team leads 2-0 in this "brother rivalry."

#3 - Andy Reid back in Philly. It will be weird to watch Andy Reid coach for a team not named the Eagles, but it will be even weirder to see him coach against them. But that is what will happen in week 3 this season. It will be fun to see Chip Kelly's offense too.

#4 - Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots... This game is a big storyline for a lot of reasons. First, it renews the rivalry of two of the greatest QB's ever, Manning and Brady. Second, it will likely have an impact on the AFC number one seed. Third, this marks Wes Welker's return to New England. I'm looking forward to it already!

#5 - Revis Island Returns. In a big trade yesterday, the New York Jets dealt Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And yes, the Bucs travel to the Meadowlands this year. He's one of many big names to change teams this summer, but playing in week 1 makes this extra special.

Best Games

This section includes one game each week that I feel is the best matchup. Trust me, picking one game a week is hard... just go check out Week 1 and you'll get my point!

Week 1 - Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers. This matchup features the best two teams in the NFC heading into the season. They played twice last year (once in the playoffs) with San Francisco winning both, even with two different QB's (Smith then Kaepernick).

Week 2 - Nearly went with the Manning brothers playing, but it's gotta actually be the 49ers again at the Seattle Seahawks (part 1). These division rivals are both Super Bowl contenders with great defenses, second year QB's, and fiery coaches.

Week 3 - Houston at Baltimore. Not only will this be a great early test for both squads, but this will mark Ed Reed's return to Baltimore after spending his entire career (11 seasons) there until this season.

Week 4 - New England at Atlanta. These teams hosted their respective conference championship games in the playoffs last season... and both lost. They will both be wanting back there again.

Week 5 - This week, the Seahawks will travel to play the Colts. In this game, we'll see two of the best young QB's in the game play: Russell Wilson vs. Andrew Luck.

Week 6 - NYG at Chicago on Thursday Night Football. These teams will have a lot to prove after each barely missing out on last year's playoffs. Injuries and underachieving were factors, so they need to step up in 2013. The Giants have experience in bouncing back, the Bears will lean on new coach Marc Trestman.

Week 7 - I mentioned that this week marks Peyton's return to Indy already, so I'll pick another game here: Baltimore at Pittsburgh. This is a huge rivalry game that seems to always affect the AFC North outcome. They also play on Thanksgiving later in the year!

Week 8 - The future (RGIII) visits the past (Peyton Manning). Washington and Denver both have huge goals in 2013, so this midseason meeting should be fun.

Week 9 - Chicago and Green Bay, Round 1. One of the longest standing rivalries in football on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field. This game, and their meeting in Week 17, could decide the NFC North.

Week 10 - Tie between Seattle at Atlanta and Dallas at New Orleans. The first matchup mentioned is between two heavyweight playoff teams from last year. The second matchup features two playoff hopefuls that have overpaid QB's. Both should have interesting outcomes.

Week 11 - The Packers travel to New York for a meeting with the Giants. If the Giants are serious are getting back to the playoffs, winning this home game is a must.

Week 12 - Had four great options this week, but I can't pass on Denver at New England. Enough said.

Week 13 - I'll stick with the Patriots as they travel to Houston. These teams played in the playoffs last year and it could happen again.

Week 14 - Matt Ryan vs. Aaron Rodgers... Yes please. Atlanta was the NFC #1 seed last year but Green Bay was the year before. Who wants it in 2013?

Week 15 - Houston at Indianapolis. This will be the second game of this division rivalry in 2013. This may decide who walks away as the AFC South champions.

Week 16 - Tie between Denver at Houston and Atlanta at San Francisco. At this point in the season, these games may determine #1 seeds in the playoffs in the respective conference races.

Week 17 - Washington at NYG. Last year the NFC East came down to the final weekend as Washington won (vs. Dallas). It could be the same this season and this game could be an essential playoff game.

Not mentioned: I failed to mention my predicted AFC North champion, the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are involved of plenty great and important games that just missed the cut. I also didn't mention exciting teams like Tampa Bay, Carolina, Philadelphia, and Detroit. The NFC is deep and these teams will play roles in deciding things, and could make a run to the playoffs depending on how things play out.

Gut Reaction on Division Champs

Some of the picks below are based on talent and who I think will be good. The closer calls I decided on based on the schedules:

AFC East - New England Patriots

AFC North - Cincinnati Bengals

AFC South - Houston Texans

AFC West - Denver Broncos

NFC East - Dallas Cowboys

NFC North - Green Bay Packers

NFC South - Atlanta Falcons

NFC West - San Francisco 49ers


By: Andrew Miller

NBA Playoffs - First Round

It’s been a long, grueling NBA season marked with injured stars (Rose, Bynum, Amare, Granger, Kobe, etc.), long streaks (Heat, Knicks), and some surprises (Warriors, Rockets, Lakers in a bad way). But it’s been fun and the playoffs should be exciting. Today we preview the playoffs, which starts tomorrow.

Of course, the Sports Guys will be competing throughout the playoffs. For every round, we’ll post our predictions. If we predict the series correctly, we get 2 points. If we predict the length of the series correctly, we get an additional 1 point. So without further ado, here are our predictions:

Western Conference

1 Oklahoma City vs. 8 Houston Rockets

Andrew: This is a series I desperately hoped would happen. There will be some major athleticism and scoring ability out on the court. The focus for me is all about James Harden vs. his former team that let him go. How will he play against them? How will his replacement, Kevin Martin, do in the playoffs? The problem for Houston is he can’t overcome both Durant and Westbrook, so guys like Jeremy Lin must step up.

Individual Matchup to Watch: Omer Asik vs. Kendrick Perkins/Serge Ibaka

Why would I pick this matchup with all the other talent on the floor? The inside players will be huge keys because the guards and wings on both teams love to get into the paint. Paint defense will be huge in this series.

Key Players: I’m going with under the radar guys… Chandler Parsons (ability to hit 3’s), Omer Asik (what I said above), Thabo Sefolosha (defense on Harden), Russell Westbrook (can he get others involved.

My Prediction: I could see OKC winning in 5 or 7, so I’ll split the difference and say 6.

Greg: This should be a very entertaining series. The Rockets are a team that shoots the 3 very often, and when they shoot it well, they are capable of beating anyone. This especially concerns me about OKC because this year they have tended to want to outscore opponents as opposed to locking them down defensively.  This matchup also has the obvious story of James Harden coming back and facing his old team with his new one. The Rockets are a young, and very talented team. I still think this series goes to OKC, but it may not be as easy as if it were against the Lakers in this round.

Individual Matchup to Watch: James Harden vs. Kevin Martin

These two will be matched up often and if Martin averages within 10 points of what Harden averages over the course of the series, OKC will win in less than 6 games.

Key Players: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin, James Harden, Jeremy Lin, Francisco Garcia

My Prediction: OKC in 6

2 San Antonio Spurs vs. 7 Los Angeles Lakers

Andrew: When you look at the names it gets you pumped… then you realize Kobe is out, potentially Nash, and the Spurs stars have been injured much of the season also. Who will even be on the court? With that being said, the Spurs always bring it in the playoffs and the Lakers have been playing inspired basketball over the last few weeks. For me, the difference in this series is all about team basketball. The Spurs are known for playing it; the Lakers have struggled doing it all year. I know I picked LA to win it all before the season, but I think they could be going down early.

Individual Matchup to Watch: Tim Duncan vs. Paul Gasol/Dwight Howard

If there is an area that LA has an advantage, it’s inside. How much they can take advantage will determine the series.

Key Players: Steve Blake (particularly if Nash misses games), Jodie Meeks (need his scoring with Kobe out), Tony Parker (needs to be the MVP), Tiago Splitter (help Duncan contain the Laker bigs)

My Prediction: Easy call… Spurs in 5.

Greg: In one of the trendy "upset pick" series of the first round, the perpetually aging Spurs matchup against the new version of the "Twin Towers" in Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard. The Lakers have not played better all year than they are now, and the Spurs have not played as poorly as they are playing now all year. This will be an intriguing matchup to me, but the bottom line is that Gregg Poppovich is a better coach than Mike D'Antoni and he will find a way to get the Spurs out of the first round.

 Individual Matchup to watch: Pau Gasol vs. Tim Duncan

Gasol and Duncan are similar players. Duncan's ability to stay out of foul trouble and get Gasol into foul trouble will go a long way to determining how quickly the Spurs dispatch the Lakers.

Key Players: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Jodie Meeks

My Prediction: SA in 6

3 Denver Nuggets vs. 6 Golden State Warriors

Andrew: This is one of the most intriguing series in the entire playoffs. Denver was supposed to be good, but they have been better than advertised. And as mentioned in our blog lead-in, Golden State has been one of the better surprises of the year.  Both teams have athletes and depth, and this series could be very fast paced. Denver is known for their dunks, Golden State is known for their 3’s (well, Curry is at least).

Individual Matchup to Watch: Steph Curry vs. Ty Lawson

These point guards are counted on for scoring and assisting. Whomever performs better may determine the outcome of the series.

Key Players: David Lee (scoring and rebounding), Harrison Barnes (must match A.I.’s energy), Kenneth Faried (has to be dominant), Andre Iguodala (has more experience than most of his teammates)

My Prediction: Similar to the Thunder, I see Denver winning in 5 or 7, so I’ll say 6.

Greg: This and the OKC/Houston series will be the most entertaining to watch in the first round of the playoffs. These are two young teams with good coaches, who have played above expectations this season. No one picked Denver to finish third in the Western Conference at the beginning of the season. Andrew and I both picked them 6th and 7th, respectively. Denver's home record will play very big in this series, as they have only lost there 3 times all season. The lack of Danilo Gallinari playing will also play big in this series. I think Golden State pulls the slight upset, though these teams are fairly well matched in my opinion.

Individual Matchup to Watch: Stephen Curry vs. Andre Iguodala

These two won't guard one another much, but Iguodala does not have a great playoff history. If he can change that, and Curry has an off series, it will help the Nuggets get to the next round.

Key Players: Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee, Stephen Curry, David Lee, Andrew Bogut

My Prediction: GS in 7

4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5 Memphis Grizzlies

Andrew: Love this series. The Clippers excel on the offensive end while the Grizzlies excel on the defensive end. Both have great big men (Griffin/Jordan and Gasol/Randolph). They also both have an NBA Champ from Detroit on their teams (Prince and Billups). It should be very even throughout. The biggest advantage I see is Chris Paul. Nobody on the court can match his ability.

Individual Matchup to Watch: Mike Conley vs. Chris Paul

How well Conley controls and keeps up with Paul will determine if Memphis can hang.

Key Players: I’ll stick with the big men that I mentioned above… Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph

My Prediction: Clippers in 7.

Greg: The Grizzlies are a bad matchup for the Clippers. The Clippers are too much a finesse, glamorous team. Memphis exposes their flaws, and Vinny Del Negro just isn't that great a coach. Memphis wins this series by grinding it out and forcing LA to be a half court team. When you look at the numbers, especially if LA is forced to play a slower tempo, Memphis looks to have an extremely favorable matchup. If the Clippers can get out and run, that will change.

Individual Matchup to watch: Zach Randolph vs. Blake Griffin

 Z-bo can dominate this matchup with his physicality. It will be up to Griffin to match it, and if he can at least come close, it will help the Clippers overall mentality and could propel them to a series win.

Key Players: Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford, Blake Griffin, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph

My Prediction: Memphis in 6

Eastern Conference

1 Miami Heat vs. 8 Milwaukee Bucks

Andrew: This is the worst matchup of the playoffs, as long as the Heat are healthy. James, Wade, and Bosh have missed games over the course of the last month, but it was likely more precautionary and getting them fresh for a playoff run. Because of that, the Bucks don’t stand a chance.

Individual Matchup to Watch: Monta Ellis vs. Dwayne Wade

Wade has been the Heat’s clutch performer and the same is true for Ellis.

Key Players: Brandon Jennings (must be dynamic), Erson Ilyasova/Mike Dunleavy (whoever guards James better be ready), Chris Bosh (when he plays well the Heat can’t lose), Ray Allen (need his outside shooting)

My Prediction: Heat sweep!

Greg: A more interesting matchup than most might think, as Monta Ellis, Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings are a pretty good scoring trio for the Bucks. However, the Heat are a much improved team from the team that won it all last year, and though they may not give their best effort in this series, it will be more than enough to get past the Bucks.

Individual Matchup to Watch: Ersan Ilyasova vs. LeBron James

If Ilyasova can match up with LeBron at all the Bucks have a chance. They have 5 players who average in double figures, and Ilyasova is probably the best player in the NBA no one has heard about. LeBron will have his way, but if he can be forced to do it on more than the normal amount of shots, Milwaukee could keep it close.

Key Players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, Ersan Ilyasova

My Prediction: Heat in 5

2 New York Knicks vs. 7 Boston Celtics

Andrew: The Celtics are used to being at the top of the standings but this year has been different. They still have some good pieces, but with Allen now on Miami, and Rondo out with an injury, the Celtics don’t have the pieces they’ve had over the last five years. Still, I believe they can give ‘Melo and company a great series. Boston plays better defense than New York, but the Knicks might just have too much firepower on offense.

Individual Matchup to Watch: Paul Pierce vs. Carmelo Anthony

You know both will get their points, but who can end up with more?

Key Players: Jeff Green and Brandon Bass (both need to have huge series on offense), Tyson Chandler (must protect the rim), Raymond Felton (must get all of their shooters going)

My Prediction: If I was more of a man, I’d pick Boston, but I’m going with the Knicks in 7.

Greg: This could be an entertaining series, as the Celtics probably have one last gasp at a playoff run with their current roster. Their 3-point FG defense is atrocious though, and the Knicks shoot that better than anyone else in the league.

Individual Matchup to Watch: Tyson Chandler vs. Shavlick Randolph/Kevin Garnett Chandler has to dominate inside for the Knicks to be as successful as they can be.

Key Players: Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Courtney Lee

My Prediction: Knicks in 6

3 Indiana Pacers vs. 6 Atlanta Hawks

Andrew: My Pacers got into the playoffs easy but haven’t played their best recently. Similar to Memphis, Indiana is a great defensive team that can struggle to score. They must shoot it well to succeed in the playoffs. Atlanta though is similar in a couple ways. First, they haven’t been playing their best recently. Second, they can be stagnant on offense.

Individual Matchup to Watch: David West vs. Josh Smith

Josh Smith has always been tough for Indiana to guard. West will attempt to slow him down, but also challenge him on the offensive end.

Key Players: Lance Stephenson (is much improved for Indiana this year), George Hill (needs to shoot it well in the playoffs), Josh Smith (like I said above, he must dominate), Jeff Teague (has to be a bigtime playmaker)

My Prediction: Pacers in 5

Greg: This, to me, is a joke of a series. Atlanta is always in the playoffs, and is always an underachiever. Indiana is a terrible matchup for them and I think they will be extremely lucky to win one game.

Key Matchup: Paul George/Josh Smith

May not guard one another, but are around the same size, with different games and strengths. If George is able to impose his style on the series (as he has done on this team) the Pacers will walk in this series.

Key Players to Watch: George Hill, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Jeff Teague, Josh Smith, Al Horford

My Prediction: Indiana in 4

4 Brooklyn Nets vs. 5 Chicago Bulls

Andrew: Oh how different this series would be with Derrick Rose… but let’s focus on who will play. Chicago has had a great year, and has a good record against the better teams this year. Brooklyn though is playing their best basketball yet, and Deron Williams has been great. So what gives?

Individual Matchup to Watch: Brook Lopez vs. Joakim Noah

Two of the best and most improved centers in the league will match up and determine the outcome of the series.

Key Players: Kris Humphries (needs to play tough), Joe Johnson (they need his scoring), Nate Robinson (has been great lately), Carlos Boozer (must play big)

My Prediction: Brooklyn wins barely, in 7 games.

Greg: Assuming Derrick Rose doesn't come back for the playoffs, and there's no reason to indicate that he would, the Bulls will likely lose this series.  The only thing that could hurt Brooklyn is their lack of playoff experience. None of their players have had success in the playoffs with this current team. If they get in a close series, some of the Bulls players' experience could carry them to a series win.

Key Matchup: Kirk Hinrich vs. Deron Williams

If Hinrich can force Williams into a lot of long-range 3's and poor choices, which he has been known to be susceptible to, then the Bulls have a great shot.

Key Players to Watch: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Nate Robinson

My Prediction: Bulls in 7

Tell us what you think, and who you agree with. Enjoy the first round!

By: The Sports Guys