Matchup Predictions for Day 1 of NCAAM Tournament

7.) Rhode Island vs. 10.) Oklahoma: Oklahoma heads into this matchup as heavy underdogs after a tumultuous season. Many did not even expect the Sooners to earn an at-large bid after losing 7 of 8 towards the end of the season. The Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes came to a fitting end against Oklahoma State, who were snubbed  and one of the next four teams who did not qualify for the tourney. Past aside, the Sooners have a chance at redemption against a formidable Rhode Island squad led by E.C. Matthews. Prediction: Oklahoma wins

3.) Tennessee vs. 14.) Wright State: Tennessee enters this tournament with a 25-8 overall record and partial share of SEC regular season title. Tennessee’s SEC tournament hopes came to halt after losing to a hot Kentucky team 77-72. Overall, this was a very successful year for the Volunteers and I expect them to handle Wright State with ease in this opening round matchup. Prediction: Tennessee wins

4.) Gonzaga vs. 13.) UNC Greensboro: UNC Greensboro is never an easy out and they are known for putting up a fight to the top tier teams in the tournament. A few years ago, they pushed Duke to the limit but eventually fell short and this year should be no different. Jody Kuiper and Demetrius Troy are two upperclassmen who are hungry to make a name for themselves in this tourney, but this balanced Gonzaga team has been on a hot streak as of late. After breezing through the WCC regular season and tournament, Gonzaga is in a good position once again. Who would’ve thought after losing Nigel Williams-Goss, Karnowski, Jordan Matthews, and Zach Collins this team is only slightly worse than last year. The emergence of sophomore Rui Hachimura and Killian Tillie have the Bulldogs as favorites to go far again this year. Prediction: Gonzaga wins

1.) Kansas vs. 16.) Pennsylvania: At some point in the future, there is bound to be a 16 seed that upsets a 1 seed. Fortunately for Kansas, they do not worry on their end. Kansas has been dominant and is certainly a favorite to reach the Final Four as they are almost every year. Expect this Bill Self led squad to come out firing on all cylinders. Prediction: Kansas wins

2.) Duke vs. 15.) Iona: In the history of Duke men’s basketball, the Blue Devils have not faired well as a number 2 seed. We will never forget that dramatic loss to then #15 Lehigh in 2012, but this is a different team and a new year. This Duke team is hungry and playing with a target on their backs after falling short in the ACC tournament to rival North Carolina. Last year, after winning the ACC tourney, they looked exhausted against South Carolina so perhaps their most recent loss was a blessing in disguise. I expect Duke and Grayson Allen to come out shooting lights out in this one. Prediction: Duke wins

6.) Miami vs. 11.) Loyola (Chicago): This is my pick for one of the most intriguing opening day matchups. We all know about Miami, but Loyola (Chicago) is a bit of a mystery. They are led by seniors Donte Ingram and Clayton Custer who love to get up and down the floor. This is also their first NCAA tournament appearance in 33 years and I don’t expect them to disappoint. They are winners of ten in a row and I have them pulling off the upset tomorrow against Miami. Prediction: Loyola (Chicago) wins

5.) Ohio State vs. 12.) South Dakota State: This has the makings of another exciting matchup between powerhouse Ohio State and the unknown Jack Rabbits of South Dakota State. This is South Dakota State’s third consecutive NCAA tourney appearance and I expect them to be aggressive from the get-go. SDSU is led by the trio of Reed Tellinghuisen, Mike Daum, and David Jenkins Jr who combined for 72 points and 28 rebounds in their 97-87 victory over South Dakota. This is a dangerous team and they have all the ingredients to pull off this upset. Prediction: South Dakota State wins

8.) Seton Hall vs. 9.) NC State: 8-9 matchups are always difficult to predict and this matchup is no different. Seton Hall is an older group with experience in the tournament, while NC State entered this season as one of the youngest teams in the nation.First year HC Kevin Keatts has his team in the tourney, which is a remarkable achievement. I have NC State pulling off a minor upset in this one. Prediction: NC State wins

1.) Villanova vs. 16.) Radford: Villanova is head and shoulders above this Radford squad and that will be evident in their opening round matchup. Villanova has an experienced and veteran led squad who know how to get it done on the big stage. Prediction: Villanova wins

5.) Kentucky vs. 12.) Davidson: Many have Davidson pulling off the upset in this 5-12 matchup featuring two premier programs. Kentucky, like Oklahoma, has had a bizarre season with many ups and downs along the way. I believe that has prepared them well and they appear to have hit a hot streak as of late. Kevin Knox is beginning to find his groove and even without fellow freshman Jarred Vanderbilt, I expect the Wildcats of Kentucky to move onto round two. Prediction: Kentucky wins

6.) Houston vs. 11.) San Diego State: I believe this will be another exciting matchup of the first day games between these two programs. San Diego State is known to excel on this big stage and the Cougars are a bit of question mark after losing to Cincinnati to finish the year. Prediction: San Diego State wins

3.) Texas Tech vs. 14.) Stephen F Austin: Texas Tech was once in position to be a number 1 seed just a few weeks ago, but have since faded into the background by their standards. I expect them to move onto round 2 in a close matchup with Stephen F Austin. Prediction: Texas Tech wins

8.) Virginia Tech vs. 9.) Alabama: It has been a tale of two seasons for Alabama in Avery Johnson’s first year on the job. After a successful recruiting class coming in, Collin Sexton has certainly delivered and proved his worth. Sexton dominated the SEC tournament and his late game heroics ultimately leaped Alabama into the tourney. I believe Alabama will continue to ride their streaky point guard and come up victorious against this battle tested Virginia Tech squad. Prediction: Alabama wins

4.) Arizona vs. 13.) Buffalo: Arizona is an interesting team in this tournament. Many didn’t even predict them to be in position to play after the NCAA scandal involving HC Sean Miller. Despite the reports and boo birds from opposing crowds, DeAndre Ayton and company have delivered when they need it most. Arizona is a popular pick to reach the Final Four in this tourney, but there is always doubt against a tough Buffalo coached team. Prediction: Arizona wins

3.) Michigan vs. 14.) Montana: Michigan hit a stride down the stretch and especially in the Big 10 tournament. They defeated Nebraska, Michigan State, and Purdue en route to their Big 10 tournament title. They enter this game having won nine straight and are a popular pick to go very deep in this tournament. I have Michigan going all the way to the Final Four this year, so look out for the Wolverines! Prediction: Michigan wins

6.) Florida vs. 11.) St. Bonaventure: Florida is another mystery team in this tournament as you never know which Gator team you will get on any given night.After defeating UCLA in the play-in game, the Bonnies will try to make a name for themselves against a proven Florida team. Ultimately, I believe the Gators will prevail in a hard nosed game. Prediction: Florida wins

 

WCC Semifinal Prediction: BYU @ #20 Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s and BYU square off for a third time this season in what figures to be another exciting matchup between these WCC rivals. BYU has been a dark horse all year and has surprised many by exceeding expectations. Despite losing sophomore star Erik Mika (who nearly averaged a double double last season) and guard Nick Emery due to NCAA investigations, the Cougars have once again solidified themselves as a threat to the Gaels and Bulldogs atop the conference. BYU heads into this pivotal matchup having recently defeated an upstart San Diego team 85-79 who was no pushover. The Cougars were led by G/F Elijah Bryant, Yoeli Childs, and TJ Haws who combined for 62 of the 85 BYU points. 

Despite somewhat of a down year for the young BYU team, this group looks to remain intact for next year. Their big three of Haws, Childs, and Bryant will be back next year and certainly have the makings of an NCAA tournament team. Although BYU is not favored in their semifinal matchup against #20 Saint Mary’s, it is important for BYU to gain experience on the big stage. In their previous two match-ups against the Gaels, BYU first lost 74-64 in an overtime thriller and then again in Moraga 75-62. BYU was able to get out to an early lead in large part to the play of Childs who posted 29 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. For BYU to be successful against this balanced Gaels team, they must limit the attempts in the paint for senior C Jock Landale. Landale had a team high 31 points and 13 rebounds back in December, while shooting 13 of 15 from the field. Those are impeccable numbers and further proves how important Landale is for this Saint Mary’s team. We witnessed in the Gaels loss to Gonzaga how the Bulldogs were able to take Landale out of the game by double teaming him with their plethora of bigs on almost every play. Teams are adapting a similar style when matched up against the Gaels and I believe BYU looks poised to take the route as well. It is essential to keep Childs and Bryant out of foul trouble in this game, otherwise it will get out of hand quick.

Saint Mary’s enters this semifinal matchup having won four of its last five,but most notably a loss against San Francisco who is facing #6 Gonzaga in the early WCC semifinal. The Gaels have been slightly sluggish as of late, especially in their tournament opener against a lowly  and inferior Pepperdine team. Pepperdine possessed a 6-25 record, along with having lost 19 of 20 earlier in the year. Saint Mary’s squeaked by with a 69-66 victory in large part to senior forward Calvin Hermanson’s trio of three pointers late in the game. Although they escaped with a win, Saint Mary’s was off their game from start to finish and there is certainly cause for concern heading into this matchup against a much tougher BYU team. The key for Saint Mary’s is execute and get out to an early lead. BYU is no slouch and can easily convert on turnovers by the Gaels. C Jock Landale must assert his dominance in the paint and prove why he is the WCC player of the year. In addition to Landale, the trio of Naar, Hermanson, and Ford must convert on their shots in this game. We witnessed that trio shoot 16-29 (11-18 from three point range) in their game against Pepperdine. At times, they appear passive and I believe they need to take more shots in this game against BYU. Landale is likely to get double teamed, resulting in more chances for Saint Marys’ wing players to operate and hit clutch shots. Another key player who I believe will shine in this matchup is G/F Tanner Krebs. Krebs is often times forgotten about on this balanced team, but is relied up heavily. Krebs has shot just over 40% from three point range this season and has the capability for a breakout game tonight. Although BYU will be a tough matchup, I expect Saint Mary’s to continue their winning ways in a close one. Saint Mary’s knows that with a loss, their NCAA tournament dreams are likely shattered due to their weak strength of schedule. I don’t believe they will come out with another poor performance like they did against Pepperdine. Final Score Prediction: #20 Saint Mary’s 72, BYU 64

Predicting the NBA Playoff Seeds in the Western Conference

In the Western Conference, the layout is a bit different compared to the East. The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are head and shoulders above the competition, which have led people believe a switch in playoff formatting is approaching. That is for a later debate though. After these two juggernauts: the Spurs, Timberwolves, and Thunder are all very capable veteran led squads that possess the talent to overpower one of the top two teams out West. Followed by these middle of the packets, we have the Nuggets, Blazers, Pelicans, Clippers, and Jazz who will be contending for the final three playoff spots. Here is my breakdown of who I believe will make it and my opening first round match-ups.

Western Conference:

1.) Houston Rockets vs. 8.) Los Angeles Clippers

The Houston Rockets boast one of, if not the most, balanced team from top to bottom in the NBA. The deadline additions of Joe Johnson and Brandan Wright,coupled with free agent acquisition Gerald Green have made it tough for Head Coach Mike D’antoni to manage minutes amongst 11-12 players. All in all, this is a great problem to have because come playoff time depth is everything. The Rockets are tied for 10th with the easiest strength of schedule remaining at .496. In their last 10 games, Houston is 10-0 and currently riding a 13 game winning streak. James Harden is arguably having the best season of his career and looks poised to be this years NBA MVP. The naysayers who doubted Harden could pair with Chris Paul look foolish and this team appears capable of dethroning the Warriors right now. I believe Houston will land the #1 seed in the West matching up against the rival Clippers in the opening round. Meanwhile for the Clippers, they traded two of the franchises most coveted and decorated players in Blake Griffin and Chris Paul  respectively. For them to be in position to even make the playoffs speaks volume to the dedication of the front office and the acquisitions they have brought in. They are looking more balanced in every position and the acquisitions of Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, and Boban Marjanovic (especially last night in a crucial victory over Denver) are proving to be successful. This should be a very entertaining matchup.

2.) Golden State Warriors vs. 7.) Denver Nuggets

The seeding of both these teams may come as a surprise to many, but I don’t know how much I can trust this Pelicans team to maintain their winning pace. For the Golden State Warriors, like Cleveland, seeding is not of the upmost importance. For the Warriors, they are a group of experienced veterans who know how to win on the big stage. Their goal appears to be getting fully healthy come playoff time. Losing two of three to Houston also makes this even more difficult for Golden State to represent the West as its #1 seed. Despite being a potential #2 seed, the road may appear easier as they can avoid the Thunder or Timberwolves in a second round matchup. Look for the Warriors to finish second in the Western Conference this year with a healthy team leading into the playoffs.  The New Orleans Pelicans is a popular choice here, but I do not believe the DeMarcus Cousins less Pelicans can keep up at the pace they are at currently. New Orleans is riding a 6 game win streak, having won 7 of their last 10 games. Anthony Davis has been unreal since Cousins’ absence averaging 33.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game. These MVP caliber numbers have thrusted the Pelicans into the playoffs, but I do not believe this will continue for the remaining half of the season. The Nuggets, though they just loss a heartbreaker to the Clippers, got Paul Millsap back to help anchor their front court. Millsap is a dominant post presence down low when healthy and his experience will help guide this young Nuggets team into playoff contention.

3.) San Antonio Spurs vs. 6.) Portland Trail Blazers

Will the Blazers finally get their revenge on LaMarcus Aldridge? Perhaps, but this matchup features two teams who are led by young stars in the league. Kawhi Leanord has made recent headlines by opting to sit out when all aspects point to him being healthy. Maybe it’s a psychological aspect for Leonard and he needs to get his mind right, but the Spurs will need their star if they have any hope of getting past this matchup and beyond. For Portland, they are led by arguably the best backcourt in all of the league in Lillard and McCollum. These two are the leaders of this young Trail Blazer team and they certainly have what it takes to knock off the always tough San Antonio Spurs.

4.) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5.) Minnesota Timberwolves

Currently, the Timberwolves sit third in the West and the Thunder seventh. A mere two games separates these two teams from the top to bottom in the standings. At any day, there is constant flux in the West. Although this is true, I believe the Thunder will finish their rocky season on a high note and end up clinching the four seed. As of today, Oklahoma City signed G/F Corey Brewer to help add more depth to the wing position in place of the injured Andre Roberson. This decision could prove to be vital for a team that has the offensive weapons to make a run at both the Warriors and Rockets. With this signing, Brewer teams back up with former college coach Billy Donovon from their Florida days. The Thunder have the ability to compete with the top teams in the league in large part to their core four of Westbrook, George, Anthony, and Adams. Adams is the key here as neither Golden State nor Houston has a big man capable of stopping him down low. Time will tell, but the Thunder are a dark horse candidate of mine to make a deep run in the playoffs. For Minnesota, this is new territory for their youngsters. We all knew with the additions of Butler, Teague, and Crawford they would clinch a playoff berth, but it remained uncertain how far they could go. An issue of concern I have with Minnesota is the Butler injury and if/when he returns to action, but also the amount of minutes Thibodeau plays his starting unit. A case of burn out has become evident and for any team to be successful come playoff time, the bench is a key factor in that.

Predicting the NBA Playoff Seeds in the Eastern Conference

While the All-Star break has officially come and gone, it’s never too early to begin predictions for seeding in the NBA playoffs! With a flurry of offseason acquisitions made by many Eastern and Western conference contending teams, here is a breakdown of the teams I predict to reach the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, there are virtually three serious contenders (Raptors, Celtics, and Cavaliers) that have a legitimate opportunity to reach the NBA finals. After that, there is a significant dropdown to young teams who lack experience (Wizards, Bucks, Pacers, Sixers). The latter half of the breakdown of teams in the East comes down to those pushing for that final playoff spot (Pistons, Heat, Hornets). The East is certainly more competitive this year, but time will tell which teams acquisitions at the deadline will put them over the edge.

Eastern Conference: 

1.) Toronto Raptors vs. 8.) Miami Heat

The Raptors have once again proven they are an outstanding regular season team and this year is no different. They have been by far the most consistent and overall complete/balanced team in the East and are on pace for an impressive 58 win regular season. The nucleus of this team led by DeRozan, Lowry, Valuncunias, and Ibaka continues to develop and the offseason additions via free agency and the draft have Toronto celebrating. For the Heat, I believe the addition of Dwyane Wade will be more important than people think. With Wade’s leadership and experience, he will provide this young team with guidance and support. Miami has a relatively difficult remaining SOS, but I expect them to beat out Detroit for that final playoff spot in the East. This young core in Miami will have the chance to face Toronto one more time in the regular season and are currently 1-1 (90-89 W, 115-112 L) against them this year.

2.) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 7.) Indiana Pacers

The Cavaliers have been one of the most controversial, yet intriguing teams in this years NBA. Any team with LeBron James on it garners the attentions of fans and the media and this year has certainly been no different. The Cavaliers appear to have finally turned the table and refocused their efforts towards reaching a fourth straight NBA finals. Last season saw the Cavs finish 2nd behind Boston and we know Cleveland does not put its efforts until playoff time. With this new group of young players in place, Cleveland looks poised to make a return to the East finals and beyond. In their opening round matchup, I have them facing an upcoming Pacers team led by sharpshooter and first time All-Star Victor Oladipo. For Indiana, very few predicted them to be in the playoffs this year and very few will have them winning their opening round series, especially if it’s against the Cavaliers.

3.) Boston Celtics vs. 6.) Philadelphia 76’ers

At the halfway point, the Celtics have overseen expectations in my opinion. Brad Stevens was even quoted as saying, “I’ve said all along that I don’t think we’re quite as good as our record. And I think we have to get a lot better. I still feel that way. After a tough week, sometimes it makes you take even more of a hard look at it”. The Celtics headed into the break having lost 4 of their last 5, most notably in a 121-99 blowout by Cleveland. This was a reality check for the young Celtics, but also a learning experience. Against the top tiers teams (Warriors, Rockets, Cavaliers, Raptors), the Celtics are 4-4 which is no real reason for concern. One of their victories over Houston is in large part to Marcus Smart’s antics, but a win is a win. This potential matchup may be a cause of concern for Boston, as Philadelphia is a big team with Joel Embiid at center and Ben Simmon opting to run the point guard position throughout the game. As good as the Sixers have been this year, I expect the Celtics to prevail in this matchup and imagine what a second round matchup with Cleveland would be like. Exciting to say the least!

 

4.) Milwaukee Bucks vs. 5.) Washington Wizards

This matchup is one of the more exciting ones in the East in my opinion! The Bucks are led by Giannis Antetoukounmpo, who looks poised to be LeBron James’ successor down the road. The Bucks have a very balanced team led by Giannis, a healthy Jabari Parker, and Eric Bledsoe running the point. This Bucks team is one to be feared come playoff time and I would pick them in a first round matchup against the Wizards team who have been inconsistent this year. Milwaukee has the 7th most different schedule remaining in the NBA at .495%, but they have the talent to finish strong. Against the Wizards this season, the Bucks are 2-1 thanks to the play of Giannis, Bledsoe, and Khris Middleton. With a healthy Malcolm Brogdon due back before the playoffs, there is no telling how well this team can play. For Washington, their main focus is getting All-Star point guard John Wall back and healthy in time for the playoffs. Although the Wizards have the easiest strength of schedule remaining in the NBA , it makes difficult without John Wall running the offense.

 

Predicting the Cleveland Cavaliers post All-Star Break

The Cleveland Cavaliers come into the All-Star Break as one of the most controversial, yet resurgent teams in the NBA. The Cavaliers currently sit third in the Eastern Conference with a record of 34-22, as they still have 26 games remaining in the schedule. While most NBA fans would garner the Cavs a disappoint to date, this whirlwind of a season has taken many unexpected turns for this franchise. Amidst all the drama surrounding the LeBron free agency sweepstakes, locker room tensions, and front office; there is still much to be positive about heading into the break if you are a Cavalier fan.

Although the Cavs currently hold a 34-22 record, they are riding a 4 game winning streak. A winning streak of any sorts seemed implausible with the core aging nucleus this team had just a few weeks ago. In addition, Cleveland is 2-0 with the newly acquired talent they received at the deadline. Rodney Hood, George Hill, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr have all come and played with exceedingly positive energy and that has resulted in wins on the basketball court in their two games since being in Cleveland. According to Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue, “I thought it would be a process; it’s still going to be a process. But the first two games I didn’t think they would not be decent. but they exceeded my expectations”. Coach Lue is certainly correct in his approach here. Everyday is a learning experience for this younger Cavaliers roster, but time remains on their side. Many might think 26 games left in an NBA schedule is too little time to develop chemistry, but one can already see a change of energy by observing the bench during games, high fives, and communication from LeBron all the way to the 15th man on the roster. This is a new and improved Cavaliers roster-one that should be feared across the NBA.

At first glimpse, the Kyrie Irving trade that sent Thomas, Crowder, Zizic, and the Brooklyn first rounder to Cleveland looked like a genius move by new GM Koby Altman. While on paper it looked promising, chemistry is a whole other issue and something that cannot be statistically broken down by experts. Chemistry comes when all players, coaches, and staff buy into the system and understand their roles to the maximum capacity. The likes of Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Jae Crowder, Kevin Love, and of course LeBron James are all veteran savvy players who know what it takes to make it far into the playoffs. In my opinion from an outsider perspective, this Cavalier roster didn’t work well because the ego of all these players outweighed their desire to win. Thomas, LeBron, Wade, etc all wanted to be the “guy”, thus creating tension and controversy in the locker room. Perhaps this is what led Kyrie Irving to request a trade out of Cleveland? Regardless of the past, this Cavaliers roster must focus its attention on the season at hand and remain in the moment. LeBron aspires to be looked up to by his teammates, whereas with Thomas, Crowder, etc they all viewed him as “another guy”. These younger and more athletic players are and will continue to fit into this team seamlessly. While many experts and fans believed the Cavaliers were outsiders to even make it to the conference finals, these acquisitions jettison them to now being favorites in the East and even competing with Golden State in my opinion.

Overall Standing Predictions for Cleveland: I expect Cleveland to finish 2nd in the East with a 54-28 record, right behind Toronto. We know Cleveland doesn’t care too much about what seed it gets in the playoffs, as long as their current roster is completely healthy and rested. This Cavalier team is a roster with the perfect combination of young, hungry players mixed with veteran savvy talent who know how to win on the big stage. For Hood, Clarkson, Hill, and Nance Jr going forward, it’s all about continuing to develop chemistry with their other teammates and understand the role they each play. If this team sticks to the basics, the future will certainly reward them. It’s an exciting time to be a Cavs fan again in the present and future.

Previewing #12 Gonzaga @ #11 Saint Mary’s Matchup

Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s face off in the premier matchup of the WCC. This showdown features the likes of two top15 teams, which is a first for the conference. Gonzaga comes into McKeon Pavillion ranked as the number 12 team in the country led by an overall balance of talent. For the Gaels of Saint Mary’s, the rely primarily on C Jock Landale, a Wooden Award watch list finalist. Landale has been a constant plug in this offense, averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds a game. This is truly remarkable considering he was getting limited minutes off the bench in his sophomore campaign for Saint Mary’s. These two teams have a different approach, but both rely on their stout defense to help them win ball games. This game is certainly going to grab your attention so make sure to tune in.

Gonzaga comes into this marquee matchup having won 6 of its last 7 games, the one loss being to the Gaels at home in late January. The Bulldogs have not disappointed this season, when many thought they would after losing 4/5 of its starting lineup from last season. Gonzaga lost Williams-Goss, Karnowski, Collins, and Jordan Matthews; who were all key components in their championship run last year. The only returning starter this year is PG Josh Perkins, who once again has been unstable in his play this year. One positive for the Gonzaga squad this year is that they have many players who can produce on any given night. This years lineup is led by a trio of big men in Killian Tillie, senior Jonathan Williams, and Rui Hachimura. Gonzaga can also go to redshirt freshman Jacob Larsen in the event that one of these big men get into foul trouble, which provides Mark Few with adequate depth in the lineup. For Gonzaga to be successful, their big men must stay out of foul trouble when guarding C Jock Landale. If the likes of Hachimura, Larsen, Williams, and Tillie can form some type of rotation on the Gaels center, there is a good chance the Bulldogs come out victorious in this matchup.

When these two teams faced off in Spokane, Saint Mary’s won largely in part to the play of Landale who scored 26 points and had 12 rebounds. Another key component was how poorly Gonzaga shot from three point range. The Bulldogs rely heavily on the triple and when that shot isn’t falling, they mightily struggle. In all four of Gonzagas losses this season, they have shot abysmal from three. Against Florida (10-31=31%), vs. Villanova (6-22=27%), vs. San Diego State (9-29=31%), and against Saint Mary’s in their first matchup 6-22=27%). That stat line must change if the Bulldogs hope to be victorious on the road in this hostile Saint Mary’s environment. Perkins, Norvell Jr, and senior Silas Melson must cone out firing on all cylinders. This will be an exciting matchup between two of the nations most dominant and consistent teams.

For Saint Mary’s, its about taking it one possession at a time and playing the slow pace they are accustomed to. This team thrives on using up much of the shot clock and getting it into the post for C Jock Landale to operate. Saint Mary’s has a plethora of shooters to pair with the big man down low in the likes of Calvin Hermanson, Tanner Krebs, Emmett Naar, and Jordan Ford. In their last game against Gonzaga, these four combined for 40 points and they need a similar stat line to come out victorious in this one. C Jock Landale must also stay out of foul trouble, because Saint Mary’s does not have the type of depth in the front court that Gonzaga possesses. If Landale gets into foul trouble, potentially Evan Fitzner or Jordan Hunter will see an uptick in minutes. Both are shaky bets and it is key for the Gaels to keep their senior sensation out of foul trouble. Saint Mary’s hopes to build on their momentum and keep their current 19 game win streak (longest in the nation) afloat. The winner of this game will likely move into the AP Top 10 and for the Gaels that would be the first in school history.

I expect this game to be a back and forth battle, ultimately coming down to the final minutes. With Gonzaga’s depth and eagerness for a rebound win, I predict the Bulldogs to pull out this victory on the road in Moraga. My prediction: #12 Gonzaga 76, #11 Saint Mary’s 68

 

Super Bowl Prediction

 

A tale of two stories for these two super bowl contending teams. The New England Patriots are in all too familiar territory as they have reached the Super Bowl in three of the past four years (including this most recent one). Brady and Belichick’s resume speaks for itself and they will once again look to lift the Lombardi trophy and keep it in Foxborough. In last years Super Bowl matchup, we witnessed one of the greatest comebacks of all time led by future hall of famer and esteemed QB Tom Brady. Similar to the Falcons last year, this Eagles team is on a roll led by their arduous defense and the high-caliber play of QB Nick Foles. Folks has provided the Eagles with glimmers of hope all playoff long. The Eagles have been doubted consistently in nearly every postseason game, but they have defied all odds by defeating the previous NFC champion Atlanta Falcons and the Case Keenum led Minnesota Vikings.

Once again, the Eagles are the heavy underdogs in this one and rightly so. The Patriots on paper are the superior team, but the Eagles’ superior defense has been hot all season and postseason long. For the Eagles to pull off the improbably victory, Nick Foles must continue his terrific pace and not settle for mediocre passes. An area where New England struggles primarily is their run defense and the Eagles have a plethora of backs to make some noise. Led by former Patriot LeGarrette Blount, Corey Clement, Jay Ajayi, and Wendell Smallwood; the Eagles have no shortage of running backs to throw at the New England defense. I believe the Patriots come out victorious in this one as Brady and company are too difficult to bet against. I fully expect the Patriots to be crowned Super Bowl champions for the second straight year. Prediction: Patriots 27, Eagles 17

NFL AFC/NFC Championship Predictions

Last week was a major disappointment on my end in terms of predictions. Many of the games score were not foreseen happening, but hopefully this week will turn in better results. For the Steelers/Jaguars game, no one could have predicted a combined 87 points. In their WildCard game against the Bills, the Jaguars only put up a mere 10 points and won 10-3 over Buffalo. On paper, if anyone told me that Roethlisberger would throw for 469 yards with 5 touchdowns against this Jaguars defense, I would have expected a Pittsburgh victory by a wide margin. Contrary to expectations, the Blake Bortles led Jaguars pulled off the upset of the playoffs as he threw for 214 yards and 1 touchdown. While Bortles did not make any flagging mistakes, he did just enough to put this team in position to win. RB Leonard Fournette led the way with 109 yards and 3 touchdowns providing the offense with a much needed spark to prevail over the Steelers. While the Patriots surprised no one with their victory over the Titans, the Vikings/Steelers game still lingers for Saints fans. I still cannot fathom an explanation as to how Marcus Williams missed that tackle. The rookie certainly won’t forget that play for the rest of his life, but he and the Saints must look forward and progress towards next year. As the divisional round is wrapped up, here is a look towards the Championship round in the AFC and NFC.

AFC Championship Game:

Almost everyone, including Jaguar fans, is surprised to see Jacksonville in the AFC title game and for good  reason. This team has been one of the lowliest franchises in the previous nine years, but their rebuilding efforts have finally paid off. From the years 2011-2016, the Jaguars held a combined record of 22-74.The front office focused its efforts intently on upgrading the defensive side of the ball with the additions of Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, Barry Church, AJ Bouye. and Calais Campbell. This defense boasted the number one overall defense in the 2017 regular season and that impressive play has continued into the postseason thus far. Many experts and fans are picking the Jaguars to falter in this one, largely in part to the inconsistent play of the Jaguar offense led by QB Blake Bortles. Bottles has been surprisingly decent in the Jaguars two postseason games against Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Jacksonville must rely on its defense to once again carry this cinderella team if they hope to advance to the Super Bowl. For New England on the other hand, this is familiar territory. The Patriots have reached the AFC Championship game the last seven seasons, which is an impeccable streak for any franchise. The Patriots are once again back led by the likes of Brady and Belichick. The story surrounding the Patriots right now is the injury to Tom Brady’s hand. The media has certainly overplayed his injury making it sound like he may not play, but the likelihood of that is close to zero in my opinion. There is absolutely no way Brady is missing this conference championship game at home. Brian Hoyer is not capable of leading this Patriot team to victory over this stout Jacksonville defense and both sides know that. A key matchup to look forward to is Gronkowski being matched up against CB Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey is a physical corner and arguably the best in the league. We all know what Gronkowski is capable of doing and the numbers he an put up on a weekly basis, so this should be an intriguing matchup to look forward to. While the Jaguars have the momentum, I do not foresee them upsetting this formidable Patriot team. Prediction: Patriots 30, Jaguars 17

NFC Championship Game:

In last weeks divisional round matchup, I picked the Falcons and Saints to come out victorious and face off in this NFC Title game. While both teams certainly choked late (Saints especially..still can’t believe that), the Vikings and Eagles deserve all the credit they have earned to this point. Who would have predicted three of the four QB’s in the AFC/NFC Championship games to be Bortles, Foles, and Keenum? If anyone says yes, they are in fact not being honest. Many people forge that both Foles and Keenum were teammates with the Rams dating back to the Jeff Fisher era in 2015. Fast forward to now Jared Goff beat both of them out for the starting job with the Rams, but Keenum and Foles have continued their respective careers in high honor. Although the Eagles possess the number one seed in the NFC and home field advantage, the Vikings are on a mission as the Super Bowl will be held on their home turf in February. Aside from the Jaguars, the Vikings boast one of the leagues most consistent and stout defenses. In addition to that, Case Keenum has been playing out of his mind this season and has shown no signs of letting up. Both the Eagles and Vikings have a plethora of weapons on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, but I believe this game will come down to the play of the quarterback. In last weeks game against the Falcons, QB Nick Foles threw for 246 yards and zero touchdowns. That statistic will not be good enough to overcome this Vikings defense and I do not have faith in Foles putting up better numbers than he did last week. I expect this game to be close thanks to the running game of the Vikings early on, but I do not envision an Eagles victory in this one. Prediction: Vikings 21, Eagles 13

 

NFL Divisional Round Predictions

While it looked like 4/4 of my predictions last week were going to be correct, it took a Kansas City Chiefs second half epic collapse to make that unsuccesful. As usual, the Andy Reid-Alex Smith combination comes up short in the Wild Card round. This is the second time in the four playoff outings for the Chiefs that they have blown a wide margin lead late in the game, the most notable being in 2013 to the Colts. The Chiefs blew an 18 point halftime lead and were outscored in the second half by a margin of 19-0. As frustrating as this game was to watch, the Titans deserve all the praise for mounting this improbable comeback. The questions for QB Alex Smith and Head Coach Andy Reid as surely underway, but that is a topic for another time. Here, we will dissect the divisional round matchup and look to improve on that 3/4 mark from last week.

AFC Divisional Round:

Titans Head Coach Mike Mularkey’s future was hanging by a thread at halftime, but to his defense his team came through ultimately buying him another week. Marcus Mariota was the core reason why the Titans are still alive in the playoffs largely in part to his miraculous twelve point fantasy play which still seems unreal! RB Derrick Henry who drew the start due to the injury to DeMarco Murray capitalized with a 156 yards one touchdown performance. His career day helped the Titans capture their first playoff victory since 2003. On the other hand, the Patriots are no Kansas City Chiefs. Amidst all the rumors and controversies surrounding the Patriots management, I do not expect that to trickle down to the field. This Patriots team and its players know how to get the job done come playoff time and I do not expect this game to be close, regardless of how many more trick plays Marcus Mariota has up his sleeve. The Titans have been known to struggle against opposing offenses tight ends, leaving Rob Gronkowski as the beneficiary in this matchup. The high-flying Patriots offense will look to exploit this Titans defense behind the likes of Brandin Cooks and Rob Gronkowski. Prediction: Patriots 34, Titans 16

The Steelers and Jaguars face off in a rematch of their Week 5 Matchup that saw the Jaguars completely dominate all fazes of the game. QB Ben Roethlisberger threw an astounding 55 passes, while only completing 33 of them. Roethlisberger also threw an unanticipated 5 interceptions, where two of them were returned for touchdowns. The Steelers must rely more heavily on their WR’s in this matchup, as LeVeon Bell was exploited in their last meeting between these two teams. Bell had 15 carries for 47 yards in a disappointing effort all around. While Antonio Brown had a stellar performance in Week 5, Juju Smith-Schuster is a player to keep an eye out on this divisional round matchup. He was no targeted very much in Week 5 as he was still coming into his own as a focal point player in the Steeler offense. For the Steelers to be successful, they must rely heavily on Brown, Smith-Schuster, and TE Jesse James. CB Jalen Ramsey will most likely covet Antonio Brown for most of the game, leaving Smith-Schuster and the other WR’s for ample opportunity. I expect this game to be a battle of defenses with Pittsburgh ultimately reigning supreme. Blake Bortles had an abysmal performance through the air last week and these frigid temperature conditions on the road on Pittsburgh, I do not foresee that improving anytime soon. Prediction: Steelers 20, Jaguars 13

NFC Divisional Round:

Had you told me Carson Went was fully healthy and the Eagles were the #1 seed in the NFL playoffs, this matchup would be completely different. The Eagles are led by veteran QB Nick Foles, who does not possess much experience in the playoffs. Folks has stumbled as of late in the Eagles previous matchups leading up to the postseason. For the six seeded Atlanta Falcons, they are in familiar territory as they head to Philadelphia with the NFC Title Game on the line. Both the Falcons offense and defense looked the best of any WildCard team last weekend as they pulled off the improbable 26-13 win over the three seeded Los Angeles Rams on the road. The experience of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Devonta Freeman will look to extend their playoff dreams in hopes of avenging last years brutal Super Bowl loss to New England. I have the Falcons coming out victorious in this one over the Carson Wentz-less Eagles. Atlanta is clicking at just the right time as they have won four of their last five games. Prediction: Falcons 24, Eagles 16

In my opinion, this is the premier matchup of the divisional round between these two NFC foes. This matchup is a rematch of Week 1 that saw the Vikings prevail 29-19. Both teams have drastically changed since then. For the Vikings, QB Sam Bradford as at the helm and engineered a masterful victory for the Vikings at home in Week 1. Similarly, the Saints had Adrian Peterson as their starting RB as he faced his former team for the first time. Fast forward to now, the face of the Vikings is journeyman QB Case Keenum, while the Saints are led by the star duo RB’s of Mark Ingram and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara. Additionally, the Saints defense is a key component to this game. Statistically, this defense is on the rise and it was evident in their WildCard matchup against Carolina. The Minnesota defense is ranked #1 in the league and with the crowd noise in their favor, it will be very difficult for this Saints team to overcome. As good as the Vikings have been this season along with their extra motivation to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium, I strongly believe the Saints will pull of the upset. QB Drew Brees knows and understands how to operate in these big time games. The Saints also play in a dome, which helps work to their advantage as well. This one can go either way, but something tells me the Saints hang on in Minnesota. Prediction: Saints 24, Vikings 21

NFL WildCard Weekend Predictions

AFC Wild-Card Round: 

For the Kansas City Chiefs, this has been a season of two tales. They began the 2017-2018 season with five straight wins, but losses quickly piled up as they only won one game through Weeks 6-13. Since then, Kansas City has turned a corner winning their final four games (three of those coming against divisional opponents). This talented Chiefs is extremely unpredictable, but with the offensive weapons this team possesses there is extreme appeal in the matchup. On the other hand, the Tennessee Titans come into Arrowhead Stadium seeking their first playoff win since 2003. Tennessee hasn’t made the playoffs since 2008, but I do not foresee them making a deep run in this postseason. With Marcus Mariota coming off a subpar year where expectations were high for the third year QB, I expect the Chiefs defense to fully take advantage of Mariota here. For the Titans, starting RB DeMarco Murray is dealing with a third degree tear in his MCL. That means backup Derrick Henry will be in line for a heavy workload. The Titans simply don’t have enough offensive weapons as Kansas City does. I expect a high scoring affair in this one, but ultimately I believe the Chiefs will prevail in this one. Prediction: Titans 17, Chiefs 28

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter their first round matchup against the Bills as a favorite in large part to their tremendous defense. Led by a strong secondary of Ramsey, Bouye, Colvin, and Church the Bills offense will certainly have little room for error in what I believe will be a low scoring matchup. While the Jaguars possess the leagues most stout defenses, Buffalo is not far behind and this game will come down to how each team performs on the offensive side of the ball. With Blake Bortles helming at QB, there is always unpredictability. Luckily, with a talented group of wide receivers and Leanord Fournette at RB the Jaguars don’t have to solely rely on the play of Bortles. For Buffalo, it is of the upmost importance that RB LeSean Mccoy is out there playing and at full strength. If he is indeed a no go and right now that looks like it will be the case after missing multiple practices this week, I don’t believe the Bills have enough to pull out a victory in Jacksonville. A lot of this matchup is contingent upon McCoy playing, but I believe Jacksonville squeezes out a hard fought victory. Prediction: Jaguars 17, Bills 14

NFC Wild-Card Round:

The Rams come into this postseason game having surpassed most everyones expectations. Projected to finish with only 4 wins by many experts, the Rams finished their impressive 2017 campaign with 11 wins. Winning their first NFC West division crown since 2003. Led by the resurgence of QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley, the Rams look poised to make this an intriguing matchup against the defending NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons. I predict this to be the most intriguing first round matchup with the experienced Falcons edging out the LA Rams on and game winning field goal. Though the Rams had one of their best seasons in franchise history, I believe the Matt Ryan led Falcons-with their experience and talented offensive weapons will survive this matchup and successfully pull of the upset. Prediction: Rams 24, Falcons 27

 

This will be a very exciting game featuring two NFC South teams that know each very well. The Saints and Panthers played each other two times in the regular season, both resulting in wins for New Orleans. The Saints won in Week 3 34-13 and again in Week 13 31-21. Both teams have changed dramatically since then and I fully expect another contested game between these rivals. Both the Panthers and Saints finished with identical records at 11-5, but New Orleans will have home field advantage after winning both regular season matchups against the Panthers. The Saints have certainly amped up their offense in comparison to last year. The resurgence of Mark Ingram and breakout of Alvin Kamara has the Saints back in familiar territory. I believe the Saints offense led by star QB Drew Brees will prove to be too much for this Carolina defense who has struggled as of late. The Saints are a very dangerous team and have the personnel to make a deep run in this years playoffs. Prediction: Saints 31, Panthers 17