NCAA Top 25 (6)

It’s getting tougher doing this poll every two weeks. Conference play is crazy and therefore brings a lot of movement. But here’s my first poll of 2014:

NCAA Top 25 – 1/13/14

NOTE: Previous ranking in first parenthesis.

1. (1) Arizona Wildcats (17-0, 4-0)

We’re finally getting some stability on top. Arizona has started conference play well, and that included a great road win at UCLA, their rivals out West. I doubt it happens, but this squad has potential to end the regular season unbeaten.

2. (2) Syracuse Orangemen (16-0, 3-0)

ACC teams finally understand why the zone at Syracuse is so tough. UNC looked helpless against it, and I’m guessing that will ring true for most teams in the conference. This team is clearly the favorites to win the league.

3. (3) Wisconsin Badgers (16-0, 3-0)

The Badgers haven’t had a blunder yet, even though Iowa came close. I hope they stumble tomorrow night, when they travel to Bloomington to take on my Hoosiers… but I doubt it happens. This team is too balanced.

4. (6) Michigan State Spartans (15-1, 4-0)

MSU has been impressive. They have managed their injuries well despite a tricky start to Big Ten play. I watched them in person at IU last week and they looked extremely good. They backed that up with a win over Ohio State and another over Minnesota (without Payne). My guess is that they’ll only get better.

5. (8) Wichita State Shockers (17-0, 4-0)

They had some scares this week, but they got the job done again and are one of the four unbeaten teams left in college basketball. At this point, one would think they have a serious shot at another Final Four.

6. (10) Florida Gators (13-2, 2-0)

Just like Wichita State, Florida had to claw their way to some wins recently. But this team shows grit, and they continue to improve even without their star recruit Chris Walker (who still isn’t cleared).

7. (12) Villanova Wildcats (15-1, 4-0)

They’ve started hot in the new Big East, and their only blemish this season is Syracuse. They have great shooters on the outside, and know how to score in the paint as well. Creighton is good, but Villanova are my Big East favorites.

8. (4) Ohio State Buckeyes (15-2, 2-2)

Ohio State entered the week undefeated. Now they’ve lost twice. They lost in OT at Michigan State, so I don’t fault them for that, but they get bumped down due to a home loss against Iowa. Their lack of weapons on offense showed up in that game.

9. (7) Iowa State Cyclones (14-1, 2-1)

Their loss at Oklahoma isn’t that big a deal, but the injury to Kane at the end of the game might be. They have a tough schedule upcoming (including tonight’s game against Kansas), so they’ll need a healthy Kane to meet expectations.

10. (21) San Diego State Aztecs (14-1, 3-0)

They answered all my questions over the last two weeks. This team is legit. They won at Kansas, which is just crazy. They added a 3-0 start to conference play, two of which came on the road. They other was against a good Boise State team.

11. (16) Kansas Jayhawks (11-4, 2-0)

Right before conference play this team lost to San Diego State. Since then, they’ve played their best basketball yet. They won at Oklahoma, and then smoked Kansas State at home. Wayne Selden has finally emerged, which is huge for the team.

12. (17) Kentucky Wildcats (12-3, 2-0)

Don’t look now but Kentucky is getting better. The team is learning their roles and how to play together. The freshmen are also getting used to the speed of college basketball. I can’t wait until they clash with Florida, as the conference will likely come down to those matchups.

13. (5) Oklahoma State Cowboys (14-2, 2-1)

A lot has changed since my last poll. First off, Michael Cobbins got injured and is done for the year. Huge blow. Secondly, Stevie Clark is having some off the court issues. Thirdly, the team hasn’t looked good on the court. This all adds up to a big move down my rankings.

14. (20) Iowa Hawkeyes (14-3, 3-1)

Iowa nearly won at Wisconsin, but did win at Ohio State. This team is deep and loaded with firepower. The one thing they lacked was late game execution, which kept them from the tourney last season. They finally seemed to have figured it out.

15. (18) Memphis Tigers (12-3, 3-1)

Memphis is now 3-0 on the road in conference play. That bodes well for their chances in the league. One of those wins was at Louisville, which is an incredibly good win, especially for Josh Pastner who has struggled in big games as a coach.

16. (13) Baylor Bears (13-2, 1-1)

Their lone conference loss was at Iowa State, not a bad thing. But this team continues to be ordinary. I’m waiting for them to do something before I can truly judge them.

17. (NR) Massachusetts Minutemen (14-1, 2-0)

I probably overreacted two weeks ago after their loss to Florida State. But they have found themselves again and are back to their winning ways. Their key is playing their game, and not falling to the level of the competition.

18. (11) Duke Blue Devils (12-4, 1-2)

Just when I thought Duke would start to fly, they have floundered. It’s clear they struggle on the road, which makes sense for a young team. And Jabari Parker has started to look a lot more ordinary.

19. (14) Louisville Cardinals (14-3, 3-1)

Louisville seems to have a problem this year… They can’t beat good teams. In my opinion, they’ve played three good teams this year, and they have lost each game. The good news is that they beat everyone else. They must be tougher.

20. (19) Colorado Buffaloes (14-3, 3-1)

Was set to move them way up the board after they beat Oregon. But then they lost star guard Spencer Dinwiddie and lost to Washington. We’ll likely find out today how bad an injury it is, which could determine how good this team will be moving forward.

21. (NR) Virginia Cavaliers (12-4, 3-0)

Back in the rankings, where they started at this season. Virginia is finally playing their brand of basketball, and that has led to some blowout wins over Florida State and NC State, teams I thought were pretty good.

22. (NR) Cincinnati Bearcats (15-2, 4-0)

Impressive start to AAC play included a road win against Memphis. That win could go a long way in the standings as the season unfolds.

23. (NR) Pittsburgh Panthers (15-1, 3-0)

Only loss this year was to the team ranked at #22 right now (Cincy). Their sixth man did just get injured, so we’ll see how they deal with that.

24. (NR) Creighton Bluejays (14-2, 4-0)

Creighton has also been playing their best basketball to date in conference play, but they too have to deal with injuries. McDermott is day-to-day, which won’t be much of a factor. But Grant Gibbs could miss at least a month, which would be a big loss.

25. (NR) St. Louis Billikens (15-2, 2-0)

They have lost only to Wisconsin and Wichita State this season. Both of those teams are ranked in my top 5, and both were very close games. They have now won 9 in a row, including two straight road conference games.

Dropped from Previous Top 25: Oregon Ducks, Connecticut Huskies, North Carolina Tarheels, Missouri Tigers, UCLA Bruins, Florida State Seminoles

Also Considered: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Xavier, Michigan, Harvard, Kansas State, VCU, California

By: The Sports Guys

NFL Divisional Round Picks

The first weekend of the playoffs was awesome! I still can’t believe that Colts comeback. I also have no clue how players could have played in Green Bay, as cold as it was. But here we are, prepping for the second weekend. Each game has great storylines:

Saints/Seahawks – Harvin will finally play. Offense vs. Defense. Veteran Brees vs. young star Wilson. Plenty of drama…

Colts/Patriots – Another chapter of this great rivalry. This time, Andrew Luck faces Tom Brady though.

49ers/Panthers – Two teams that are very similar… They are led by great defenses, they have young, explosive playmakers at the QB position, and they both played great football the second half of the year.

Chargers/Broncos – Manning tries to overcome his playoff demons, but must overcome the Chargers, a team that’s beaten him before in the playoffs. Plus, San Diego won at Denver last month.

As for our picks, here you go:

New Orleans vs. Seattle

Greg:

Seattle over New Orleans. Seattle dominated in their first matchup this year and it’s simply a bad matchup on both sides of the ball for the Saints… They struggle against Seattle’s defense and can’t stop their running attack very well.

Andrew:

I remember watching this matchup a few years ago, but Seattle was the underdog and the Saints were the powerhouse. Who won? Seattle. So does that mean I’m picking the underdog again… No: I’m picking Seattle again. The defense knows how to stop Drew Brees, and Harvin’s return will make a difference on offense. Seattle marches on and will host the NFC Championship Game.

Indianapolis vs. New England

Greg:

My big upset of the weekend is Indy over New England. Andrew Luck plays great in big games and it doesn’t seem like the Pats year.

Andrew:

Once again, it’s Indy and New England, but Andrew Luck has his chance instead of Peyton. For the record, I think New England is the better team and Tom Brady is the better QB, but I’m taking the Colts. Indianapolis has played their best this year against great teams, hence why they’ve beaten Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle. They also have to be feeling good about themselves after their comeback win, and the way they closed the season. So even though I’m sure to be wrong here, let’s keep riding the Colts.

Carolina vs. San Francisco

Greg:

I know Carolina beat San Francisco back in November, but this is a 49ers team that’s playing much better. Kaep was held to 91 yards passing in that game, which you know won’t happen again. And Carolina still only won by one point.

Andrew:

I must have a thing against the 2-seeds, because I’m picking the 49ers. While I think both teams are similar in make-up, SF just has more playmakers at RB and WR. This will help Colin outplay Cam and deliver the victory in the fourth quarter. The 49ers are also playoff tested and experienced, unlike the Panthers.

San Diego vs. Denver

Greg:

I also doubt San Diego can win at Denver again. Denver is too tough and won’t be held in check like they were in the last matchup. Ryan Mathews is iffy for the game due to an injury, and they need him running wild in order to win. Broncos roll.

Andrew:

This was the easiest game for me to pick. I’m picking Denver. They’ve been the best team all year (in my opinion), and I think it’s time for Peyton to get his second ring. I’m picking Denver in every playoff game the rest of the way, and I don’t care that they lost to each team remaining in the AFC. Peyton will finally shine in the playoffs.

Enjoy the games once again!

By: The Sports Guys

NBA Power Rankings

We're now into 2014 and it's time to look fully at the NBA. We haven't really ranked teams since the start of the season, so here's my first NBA Power Rankings.

NBA Power Rankings: 1/8/14

1. Indiana Pacers (28-6) - Let's see... They have the best record in the league by two games... They have the best point differential in the league by over a full point... And they just got stronger by the return of Danny Granger.

2. Miami Heat (27-8) - Lebron is having another terrific season, Wade is playing with a lot more spirit, and Bosh is actually starring once again. They are also aided by a perfect 8-0 record within their division.

3. San Antonio Spurs (27-8) - This was my preseason top team in the West, and they've been quietly good all season long. The vets continue to get it done, and you get the sense they'll be playoff ready come June again.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (27-8) - I'd likely rank them higher if Westbrook were healthy. The story though is all about Kevin Durant, who is my choice for MVP as we speak. He is scoring at an absurd rate and has upped his game since that Westbrook injury.

5. Golden State Warriors (24-13) - The hottest team in the NBA is hitting their stride and their winning streak has hit double digits. Curry and Thompson are the best shooting teammates I've seen in a long time.

6. Portland Trailblazers (26-9) - This team started hot but could be starting to fade. Aldridge and Lillard are incredible, but I don't love the rest of the roster. They do play great team ball though.

7. Houston Rockets (22-13) - The Rockets are a good team but they have two problems... First, they still have that Asik problem hanging over their heads. Second, they are only 12-11 against the tough Western Conference.

8. Los Angeles Clippers (24-13) - The Clippers are probably better than sixth in the West (which is what they are in these rankings). But Chris Paul is out for a while so I have to place them below the others above. They'll miss him greatly.

9. Dallas Mavericks (20-15) - The Mavericks start the second tier of teams, the ones I don't think are true contenders this year. They should be proud of their season so far though, which is going better than I expected.

10. Phoenix Suns (20-13) - Speaking of better than expected, nobody saw the Suns being this good. In fact, they are ruining their chances of a Top 5 pick their fans would love to have. If the playoff started today, they'd be the 7 seed. Shocking.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-17) - They have some elite talent but they lack discipline on defense and execution in close games. It's the only things holding them back.

12. Denver Nuggets (17-17) - Another team in the playoff hunt, Denver also needs better defense. They only have a .4 point differential despite averaging over 102 points per game. 

13. Atlanta Hawks (18-17) - This team has the inside track to the 3 seed in the East. It may be hard though with some injury issues (Horford).

14. Toronto Raptors (16-17) - The early winner of the Rudy Gay trade is clearly the Raptors at this point. Not only are they free financially now, they are playing better team basketball and are winning more consistently.

15. New Orleans Pelicans (15-18) - Now that Anthony Davis is back, I think they can go on a nice run.  Their loaded backcourt is finally finding their roles, so now they just need to get Ryan Anderson healthy too.

16. Washington Wizards (15-17) - The Wizards generally can beat bad teams (hence a 13-9 conference record). They can't knock off top teams though, which will continually hold them back.

17. Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets (15-21) - Charlotte has improved enough to be a playoff team, but that just shows you how sad it is in the East. MKG has been out for many of their games, but they still rely on Kemba Walker too much.

18. Memphis Grizzlies (15-19) - I think this is a team on the verge... of a rebuild. I think it needs to happen to breathe new life into them.

19. LA Lakers (14-21) - I thought they wasted a golden opportunity to trade Gasol. LA shouldn't try to get too much for him, because he isn't good anymore.

20. Detroit Pistons (14-21) - There are times I watch Detroit and I think they are really good. Then other times I marvel at how bad they are. What gives?

21. Brooklyn Nets (13-21) - They seem to be slowly turning things around (despite losing Brook Lopez) and have won three straight games. They aren't far out of the playoffs.

22. Chicago Bulls (15-18) - They have a better record than this, but they will now play the rest of the season with Rose and Deng, with no replacements.

23. New York Knicks (12-22) - Can Carmelo and company turn it around? They better or major changes are coming.

24. Boston Celtics (13-22) - Funny that they were leading their division for some time. They are 2-8 though now in their last ten games.

25. Utah Jazz (12-25) - Since Trey Burke has returned from injury, the Jazz have played decent basketball and have seriously upped the win total.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-23) - With Deng now on board, this is a team that should improve, along with this low ranking.

27. Sacramento Kings (11-22) - This team has some All-Star talent, but they don't have role players around them, nor the chemistry to play great together.

28. Philadelphia 76ers (12-23) - Worst point differential in the league thanks to a defense that gives up over 111 points per game. The hot start to the season is a distant memory.

29. Orlando Magic (10-24) - For being a team on a rebuild, the Magic play a few veterans a lot of minutes (Nelson, Afflalo, Davis).

30. Milwaukee Bucks (7-27) - Bucks fans should be loving their start so far, as they now have a three game lead for the league's worst record.

By: The Sports Guys

NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks

Usually this weekend is the best weekend of football all year long, and I don't think this one will be an exception. The matchups are very good, and the weather should throw a nice wrench into the games.  These guys can actually earn the absurd paychecks that we don't get.

Here are previews of each game.

Indianapolis vs Kansas City

Greg:

The Colts rolled over the Chiefs two weeks ago in Kansas City. This won't be the same type of game, but KC is dealing with enough nagging injuries to key players (Brandon Albert, Eric Fisher, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston) that it will make a difference in the end and the Colts get their first playoff win of the Andrew luck era.

Andrew:

The Colts will win because Luck is simply better than Smith, and that matters in the playoffs. They also just beat them weeks ago and have finally re-found themselves after struggling initially without Reggie Wayne.

Philadelphia vs New Orleans:

Greg:

Philadelphia over New Orleans. It is very tough for me to pick against Drew Brees, but I have to go with the numbers. Dome teams in away playoff games that are played in under 20 degree weather have a 3-22 record all time, and the Saints have NEVER won a road playoff game. Hard to see the Saints changing that against arguably the hottest team in the NFL in the Eagles.

Andrew:
Saints over Philly. It's true that the Saints aren't great on the road, but Philly hasn't been that good at home this season. Brees is a guy that has won in the playoffs before (including a Super Bowl), and Foles hasn't. I also don't trust Chip Kelly in the playoffs yet because he wasn't good in his biggest bowl games (0-2 in the National Championship Game).

Cincinnati vs San Diego:

Greg:

Cincinnati over San Diego. The Chargers shouldn't even be in the playoffs as they should have lost to Kansas City's second string players. Marvin Lewis has yet to win a playoff game in his tenure but the Bengals are undefeated at home this season. Cold weather, an undefeated home team, a team from Southern California who doesn't belong.... This adds up to a Bengals win.

Andrew:

I'll go with the Bengals because they are more balanced on both sides of the ball and their defense is playing well. Andy Dalton will finally get his first playoff win.

San Francisco vs Green Bay:

Greg:

San Francisco over Green Bay. The 49ers ARE the hottest team in the NFL. They have maybe the best defense in the league, and a playoff tested, balanced, explosive offense. I don't expect the Packers to be able to score many points in the cold weather against the 49ers. Get ready for a 49ers/Seahawks divisional playoff game.

Andrew:

The 49ers easy. They are a bad matchup for Green Bay as we saw last year twice, and this year again. In a cold game, the more physical team will win... and that's San Francisco.

Enjoy the games and STAY WARM.

By: The Sports Guys

Early Look at the NFL Draft

There is a long way to go until the NFL Draft... but it's sure fun to look ahead. Before I dive in, let's look at what needs to happen that can change the outlook of the draft itself:

1. College players declaring for draft or staying in school
2. Injuries
3. Workouts and Combine
4. Coaching Hires for the vacant NFL jobs
5. Free Agency and Trades

The other factor is the playoffs, because that will determine the final 12 draft positions. So in this early "mock", I'll focus on the Top 20 selections that are basically set.

1. Houston Texans select Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville, QB)

This one was easy. Teddy is clearly the top QB in the draft (in my opinion) and Houston drastically needs a franchise quarterback. New coach Bill O'Brien will draft him and fill the other needs later in the draft and via free agency.

2. St. Louis Rams select Jake Matthews (Texas A&M, OT)

Thanks to Washington, St. Louis has a great chance to land an impact player. I believe they'll stick with Sam Bradford a little longer, so getting him some better protection is a must. They also have pick 13 to address another need. Look for a potential trade here too as the Rams may slide down to maximize value.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars select Johnny Manziel (Texan A&M, QB)

Jacksonville needs a leader for the franchise, along with an attraction that can fill seats at their games. Manziel had a great final bowl game and proved to me he's worthy of going this high.

4. Cleveland Browns select Sammy Watkins (Clemson, WR)

Yes, the Browns need a quarterback. But after the top 2, I see a significant drop-off, and I believe they are better off waiting until the second round or later in the first since they own the Colts draft pick. Watkins, Gordon, and Cameron give the Browns three great, young playmakers in the passing game for whoever they end up bringing in.

5. Oakland Raiders select Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina, DE)

Once again, QB is a very real option here, but I believe QB value later is better than reaching here. The Raiders need to improve the defense, and Clowney is the best defensive player available in the draft (and possibly best overall player).

6. Atlanta Falcons select Anthony Barr (UCLA, OLB)

With so many teams above them looking at QB, there is a chance on draft day that some great players fall to them here. My opinion is they simply choose the highest ranked player on the board. Barr represents that in this mock.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select C.J. Mosley (Alabama, LB)

As of today, Lovie Smith is the new coach of the Bucs. Due to that, he'll likely draft a defensive player here. Mosley is versatile and can play in any scheme. I think Lovie would love a great young defensive star to feature.

8. Minnesota Vikings select Blake Bortles (UCF, QB)

They started three different QB's this year, and it wasn't always due to injury. They will be bringing in a new coach, and I think he'll like a new franchise guy at that position. Bortles has been flying up draft boards, and although he isn't playing well in his bowl game I am currently watching, he'll end up being drafted high if he declares.

9. Buffalo Bills select Khalil Mack (Buffalo, OLB)

Adding a pass rusher is always good, particularly one that plays at linebacker. Plus, he plays in Buffalo already, so it makes sense right?

10. Detroit Lions select Marqise Lee (USC, WR)

This draft pick may end up being affected by who comes in at head coach. But in my opinion, they need somebody consistently dangerous lining up in addition to Megatron. I think Lee could help take this offense to another dimension.

11. Tennessee Titans select Taylor Lewan (Michigan, OT)

The Titans have multiple needs, but they really need to get younger and better on the offensive line. I think they should give Jake Locker another year to prove himself, so he deserves a little better protection.

12. New York Giants select Greg Robinson (Auburn, OT)

The Giants have really gone downhill over the last couple of seasons, particularly in the passing game. Eli Manning hasn't been productive, in large part because he has had a porous line in front of him. Robinson has a lot of upside, and I believe he could be a star.

13. St. Louis Rams select Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Alabama, S)

I had the Rams addressing their O-line with the second pick, so I'll have them helping the defense here. They are strong up front already, but the back end of their defense needs work. Ha Ha is clearly the top safety in the draft and is worth a selection here.

14. Chicago Bears select Timmy Jernigan (Florida State, DT)

The Bears simply will take the highest rated defensive player on their board. It will also be at a position of need (which is basically everywhere on D). I guess it also depends on who they sign/re-sign in the offseason. I think Jernigan is a little better fit than Nix, so that's the choice here.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers select Louis Nix III (Notre Dame, DT)

If an offensive lineman they love falls to them here, that's a very real option. But the Steelers usually win by defense, so Nix will be attractive to them I'm sure.

16. Baltimore Ravens select Cyrus Kouandjio (Alabama, OT)

The Ravens will either draft at 16 or 17 (depending on a coin flip vs. the Cowboys), but I went in alphabetical order. Simply put, the Ravens couldn't run the ball this year, and Flacco needed more time to throw. Cyrus can help in both areas.

17. Dallas Cowboys select Stephon Tuitt (Notre Dame, DE)

Tuitt could end up going higher so this could be a steal for the Cowboys. But he would give them great quickness and size off the edge. Their defense needs a lot of help.

18. New York Jets select Eric Ebron (North Carolina, TE)

The Jets need more weapons on offense, so this selection will be whoever they have ranked the highest at one of the skill positions. Ebron is the best TE in the draft, and is an animal in the passing game. This could give Geno a nice target finally.

19. Miami Dolphins select Mike Evans (Texan A&M, WR)

This was the hardest draft choice I made in this mock. I considered a lot of players at a lot of positions. But the bottom line is that Miami came up small the last two weeks of the season as they were trying to clinch their playoff birth. A little more offensive firepower may have gotten them over the edge. Evans gives them that (although Ebron makes more sense if he falls here).

20. Arizona Cardinals select Derek Carr (Fresno State, QB)

This is a pick I doubt happens, but it should. Carson Palmer isn't their long-term answer (cause he's old), so why not take a great prospect and have him start learning from the bench. We have seen this work well for guys like Aaron Rodgers and Nick Foles. In reality, Arizona will likely draft the best available player on either side of the ball. Another real possibility is they look to trade down.

NOTE: After the NFL playoffs, the Sports Guys will combine to bring you a full mock draft of the first round selected in alternate format. We'll know even more then.

By: The Sports Guys