Bracket Busting

The last two days have been full of filling out brackets for March Madness, and trying to decide when and where the big upsets will occur this year. Here are some of my BOLD predictions for the 2012 NCAA Tournament:

1. (14)Belmont over (3)Georgetown. This is my upset pick for the Midwest bracket. Belmont can shoot the ball lights out when they are on, and have shown that they can play with elite teams. This is a team that took Duke to OT just a couple of years ago in the first round, and lost a 77-76 heartbreaker at Cameron Indoor earlier this year. They are 4th overall in the NCAA in points per game and 17th in FG%. A scary first round matchup for Georgetown, a team that has struggled in the early rounds of the tourney the last two years.
 
2. (11)Texas over (6)Cincinnati. This probably won't be a very popular pick with my fellow blogger Hoody, but this will be a fun matchup to watch in the East bracket. A very young Texas squad that played a brutal Big10 schedule this season will challenge this very good Cincy group. This team lost close games to Mizzou and Kansas, and split with other tournament teams Iowa State and Kansas State. Most of their best work was at home, but like I said before, this is a young team that has grown dramatically this season. This could be one of the more physical matchups of the first round.
 
3. (13)Davidson over (4)Louisville. We already know they are a good team, boasting a win earlier in the season against Kansas. Now Davidson draws the BigEast tournament champion Louisville Cardinals in the first round. Louisville just finished off the most physically demanding tournament in the country, and top that off with traveling across the country to play in Oregon? I think we may see a sluggish performance from Rick Pitino's squad. They've been guilty before (remember the 31 point loss at Providence earlier in the year?). Davidson doesn't shoot the ball as well as I'd like from an upset team, but they do manage to score it quite often (12th in PPG) thanks to being a good rebounding team (19th in RPG).
 
4. (13)New Mexico State over (4)Indiana. This is the upset that I think is most likely to happen. This is a fun team to watch. A very fast tempo New Mexico State offense will give Indiana lots of trouble. 11th nationally in PPG, 6th in RPG, and 31st in FG%, this is a very talented squad that can get up on you in a hurry. If Indiana doesn't defend the perimeter and doesn't have an excellent rebounding game, not only could this be an upset, but I think it could potentially be a blowout. After you win this game in your bracket, remember, you heard it here first.

Good luck to all of you in your brackets. Here's to a great 2012 NCAA Tournament!

-Shuskey

 

 

NASCAR 2012

The Daytona 500 has come and gone (although it took it's sweet time), and the 2012 NASCAR season is underway. Defending series champion Tony Stewart is looking to defend his title, but Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, and others plan on holding the trophy and ending Smoke's reign. There are some compelling storylines and everybody thinks their driver is gonna be crowned the next Sprint Cup Champion, but here are a few drivers I'll be following this season, and why:

1. Danica Patrick- Say what you want about her ability, or whether or not she "earned" her place in Sprint Cup, the girl is here to stay. She's a marketing goddess and trust me, Stewart-Haas Racing will make a fortune selling #10 GoDaddy.com merchandise. And to all my Dale Jr fans out there, don't be surprised if "Little E" gets a little competition in the Most Popular Driver race. Don't underestimate the power of the female vote (or the male vote for that matter). And for all the haters out there, be honest with yourself... The girl can drive a little.
2. Jimmie Johnson- After a 5-year reign as NASCAR's champion, we will get to see how the 48 team does at bouncing back. I expect this team to come back very strong this year after last year's disappointing finish (only disappointing for a team that has won 5 championships in a row). JJ and Chad Knaus will have their work cut out for them (especially after the post-Daytona penalties), but I assure you they are up to the challenge.
3. Carl Edwards- Can Carl come back after a disappointing end to 2011? What a heartbreaking way to lose a championship. Can Carl rebound and challenge for a title in 2012, or will we see a slide similar to that of Denny Hamlin who came oh so close in 2010?
4. Kyle/Kurt Busch- Have the Busch boys learned their lesson this time? Can they keep the emotions under control and avoid the meltdowns that cost each of them so dearly in 2011? We shall see...
5. Brad Keselowski- This guy is my dark horse to win it all this year. In the second half of the season last year, he was lights out. I think becoming "the guy" for Roger Penske this year will be extremely motivating for NASCAR's "Twitter King."

After the way the Daytona 500 played out, one would think "how are they gonna top that?" Trust me, after 20+ years of watching NASCAR these boys will find a way. 2012 is already shaping up to be an exciting year of racing. Boogity Boogity Boogity! Let's go racin' boys!

Bracketology by Shuskey

College basketball. As soon as you think you've got it all figured out, it smacks you right in the face. March is quickly approaching and so is the "madness" it brings with it. So I'm here to talk #1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, and why they may not mean much. Here goes: #1- Kentucky. Unbelievable young talent. This team could be the best young team John Callipari has ever assembled. And unlike some of his teams before, this team is truly interested in defending the basketball. It may not show in the final boxscore every night, but ask any opposing player who has tried to drive through the paint against them. As good as this team is though, the question is will the youth that makes them so much fun to watch be the downfall? We've seen this story play out for Coach Cal a few times before... #2- Syracuse. I honestly can't find many holes in this team. Yeah, they've let a couple of sub-par teams hang around in games this year, but speaking of defense, this team can be lights out. Quite possibly the most tested team of my #1 predictions, weathering a schedule in the BigEast that will probably include 8-9 tournament teams. Probably my favorite #1 seed this year. #3- Duke. Say what you want about this pick, but as of right now it's for them to lose. Head to head wins against UNC, MSU and Kansas have them in this spot for now. Still one meeting in Cameron Indoor with arch-rival UNC, and the ACC tournament (FSU, UVA), but for now this spot belongs to Duke. Unfortunatly for my Blue Devils, they will probably be the weakest #1 seed, and possibly the weakest #2 seed as well, if they end up there. This is one of the worst defending teams Duke has ever fielded. And they aren't exactly playing an elite schedule in the ACC this year. Other than UNC, FSU, and Virginia, the conference is pretty weak. The major factor for the Dukies will be freshman Austin Rivers, and the play of the big men. If the Plumlees don't start playing up to their size, it could be a short month for the Blue Devils. #4- Michigan State. Arguably the best conference in the country. The BigEast may get 8-9 teams in, but the B1G won't be far behind. And this Sparty team has been blistering in conference play. Losses to UNC and Duke early in the season don't mean much for a Tom Izzo coached team. After finding their identity, this team has been hot. And was I the only one that caught the Ohio State game? Possibly the best defensive performance I've seen all season long. And remember this, this Sparty offense finds a way to win against some of the best defenses in the country. A balanced attack, and one of the best late season coaches of all time, Michigan State is my 2nd favorite #1 seed this year. Longshot NCAA Tournament winners: UNC- If they learn how to defend the perimeter, and find a little offense from out there, this team will be unbeatable. Kansas- They have the Player of the Year (in my opinion). Don't underestimate how far one guy can take a team... And the rest of his team is pretty doggone good. Murray State- Ever tournament has it's Cinderella. I like these guys. Wisconsin- Holy defense Batman. And defense wins... You know the rest. Enjoy the rest of the season. I'll be back with more after Conference Tournaments conclude. -Shuskey

Championship Week...Who you got?

Ok folks it is a clash from the past, however this time the big game does not feature the huge names of Young, Rice, Sanders, Hanks,Taylor, Hampton and Simms but a much different look for both teams.  The 49ers are built on a much improved and feared Defense.  In the 90s when these teams met we would look for a big splash from the 49ers west coast style, but this year we will look to see if the 49ers BIG D can stop Eli Manning and the game changing WRs from the Giants.


I usually give the edge to Defenses, but in this case I am going against the norm and picking the Giants.  I think we have all underestimated the surge the Giants D has performed over the past few weeks.  They man handled the Cowboys in the final regular season game, totally embarrassed Matty "Ice" Ryan and totally took Rodgers out of his game.  So I only can expect the same when this D goes up against Alex Smith.


I believe that the first half will be close, but in the end Manning will pull away from the 49ers D and begin to prove that his name should be put with the best in the league.  I don't think the 49ers  will be able to move the ball as easily as they did in the 4th quarter last week against the Saints and I think Smith will be under pressure all day and that will force him to make several mistakes.  Let's not get it all hyped up about how the 49ers out played the high powered Saints.  Lets remember the Saints had some costly turnovers deep inside their own territory that gave the 49ers the early 17-0 lead.  If the Giants hold on to the ball I think they will run away with this game and move on to another Super Bowl.  Giants 31 49ers 17.



 Over the years these teams have seen one another in the playoffs.  The last time they met the Ravens put a beat down on the Patriots and left them wondering what just happened.  I do not see this happening for the second time.  I know the Patriots D does not play well and all the hype around there is no way that the worst Defense not only in the AFC but one of the worst in the NFL can advance to the Super Bowl, well let me introduce you to a guy named Tom Brady.  Ladies and gentlemen this man is on a mission this year and I don't see him being stopped.  The Patriots offense has more weapons then it has in the past and the Ravens do not have enough offense to keep up.  If the Patriots can score 24 (which we all know they will) then I think that will be more than enough. 


We all know that the Ravens are going to try and pound the ball on the ground for as long as they can, but if that only transitions to field goals and not touchdowns then they will be in trouble.  I can see Rice having about 140 yards on the ground but I can not see Flaco putting up the kind of numbers to keep pace with the Patriots.  The Ravens D is great and we all know that, but do they have enough to stop all the weapons on the other side of the ball.  I do not think so.  I love Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, but lets face it, they are getting older and they do not much up well with all the skill position players on the Patriots offense.  So here we go folks, its a REMATCH.  Patriots 34 Ravens 24.

Tebow, Defense, and the NFL Playoffs

Another weekend of NFL football has come and gone, and we all learned some very valuable lessons as we move into the AFC and NFC Championship games. (1) Tim Tebow. Welcome to the playoffs kid. A place that Tom Brady has ruled for a decade now. There's no doubt that Tebow is a winner, and I believe the Broncos watch the playoffs from home without him, but on Saturday he was in the wrong place at the right time. After a 45-10 slaughter in Foxboro, Tebow time has officially ended for this season. But I'll say this; The kid is a true leader, and you'll be hard pressed to find a player working harder this offseason. He'll be a better QB next year, as long as Elway and the brass in Denver give him a solid threat at WR. (2) Defense wins championships. But occasionally the offense needs to help out. And Alex Smith did just that this weekend. The last 4 minutes of that game was a straight slugfest, and Smith stood toe to toe with the NFL's Ali, Drew Brees. Not once, but twice Smith lead his team down the field for a game winner, and showed the poise and determination of a playoff veteran while doing it. But as my buddy Lee Corso would say, "not so fast my friend..." Had his defense not forced three turnovers in the first quarter, and spotted him a 17-0 lead, things may have been a lot different. I'll give Smith the credit he deserves, but a lot of credit needs to go to the terrific D that San Fran has played all year long. Without that defense, they also may be watching these playoffs from the couch. (3) Aaron Rodgers. In case you're wondering, Tim Tebow has more playoff wins this year than he does (sorry, had to do it). Talk about a guy who needed his defense... Or maybe a receiver to catch and actually HOLD ON TO a ball. I think we all overrated this team quite a bit. Deep down, we all knew that the defense (or lack thereof) was gonna catch up to them. And it doesn't help that Eli and the Giants offense are red hot, while thier defense has been smothering of late. (4) For the same reason the Packers went down to the G-Men, I think the Patriots will go down to the Ravens: Defense wins championships, and it's easier to struggle from the offensive side of the ball. Tom Brady will face the most intense pass rush he's faced all season, and the best coverage (LB's, CB's, and S) as well. I think Baltimore will disguise a lot of things and be able to outsmart Belicheck and Brady in a relatively low scoring game. As for the NFC, it's almost a draw. I think we're in for two exciting games this weekend. That being said, here are my early predictions... Ravens 23 Patriots 20 49ers 27 Giants 26 Enjoy the games!!

Tebow

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 Ok so I am back already, but all ESPN wants to do is debate about Tim Tebow. Is there really anyone out there that thinks he is this great QB? Well if you do then you need learn what the position of QB means. I understand that he plays with great passion and intensity, but who in the NFL doesn't play with that? For some reason the media has made Tebow this Icon that he doesn't need to be. I will give him credit for winning football games in great fashion, but I will not say that he is a good QB. His completion percentage is under 50% in almost every game. Come on people he was third on the depth chart at the beginning of the season for a reason. Micheal Vick was a much better passer and more dynamic as a runner then Tebow will ever be and every reporter has always bashed his QB skills so what makes Tebow so much better? Here is an idea....why don't we just back off of Tebow and let him have a year or two to develop and then make the argument if he is a going to be a good QB in the NFL.

BCS..Can it be fixed?

Talking about the BCS is like watching the movie Groundhog Day.  Every year everyone argues about the same thing over and over.  So lets only hope that maybe this year the  BCS committee gets it right and fixes the BCS rules.  Lets first take a look at how Virginia Tech even got into the Sugar Bowl.  Really, come on, they got absolutely destroyed in their conference championship game (for the second time by Clemson) and the voters still put them in.  Okay I know what some of you are thinking is that well the SEC already had two teams so who else could they select.  Let me introduce you to Kansas State.  The Big XII had the 2nd toughest conference of the year and they only get one school in.  Someone tell me how the ACC got two schools in when most of the year you could argue that some of the mid major conferences were just as tough.  We need to get away from this money scandal that favors the big boys.  The NCAA is just as corrupt as the players taking money or whatever from a booster.

Next lets talk about Alabama.  I know that there is a great argument that Bama and LSU are the two best teams but if you dont win your division or conference how do you play for the title.  I would be willing to bet if you switch the roles where OSU was ranked 2nd and Bama was ranked 3rd and Bama beats the brakes off Oklahoma on national tv that Bama jumps to number 2.  Its all about the SEC and the BCS favors teams from there every year. If I am so wrong then someone tell me why LSU backed in 2006 when Michigan and Ohio State had the same argument. 

Here are some ideas on how to fix it.

1.  Create 8 team playoff.  The NCAA still can have the bowls and call them the same.  Just now the bowls will be played earlier instead of all on the same day where it is hard to watch anyway.

2.  Eliminate the automatic qualifier

3.  Allow more than two teams from the same conference in the BCS.  The whole point is to see the best teams play and not a team who got smacked in their own conference championship by a team that wasn't even gonna get a bid to the BCS.

4.  Add a plus one game.

5.  Your ideas?

Only time will tell, but lets hope that the meetings that are going to take place in the next few days will give us some better answers.