NHL Playoff Predictions

The NHL Playoffs are here and here are my predictions.

But first, here are the matchups.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Colorado
vs
4. Minnesota

2. St. Louis
vs
3. Chicago

1. Anaheim
vs
4. Dallas

2. San Jose
vs
3.  Los Angeles

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Boston
vs
4. Detroit

2. Tampa Bay
vs
3. Montreal

1. Pittsburgh
vs
4. Columbus

2. New York
vs
3. Philadelphia

Predictions:

WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

1. Colorado Avalanche over 4. Minnesota Wild, 4-3
3. Chicago Blackhawks over 2. St. Louis Blues, 4-1

1. Anaheim Ducks over 4. Dallas Stars, 4-2
2. San Jose Sharks over 3. Los Angeles, 4-3

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

1. Boston Bruins over 4. Detroit Redwings, 4-2
2. Tampa Bay Lightning over 3. Montreal Canadians, 4-3

1. Pittsburgh Penguins over 4. Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2
3. Philadelphia Flyers over 2. New York Rangers, 4-3

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

3. Chicago Blackhawks over 1. Colorado Avalanche, 4-1
2. San Jose Sharks over 1. Anaheim Ducks, 4-3

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

1. Boston Bruins over 2. Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-2
3. Philadelphia Flyers over 1. Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

3. Chicago Blackhawks over 2. San Jose Sharks, 4-2

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

1. Boston Bruins over 3. Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1

STANLEY CUP FINALS

1. Boston Bruins over 3. Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2


The Boston Bruins will be celebrating in Boston!

Bracket Formula

Bradley Stewart created a bracket formula using a variety of statistics.  Last year the formula correctly picked Florida Gulf Coast into the Sweet Sixteen.

The formula's bracket has correctly picked the following upsets:

First Round:

Dayton over Ohio State
Harvard over Cincinnati
Tennessee over Massachusetts
Stephen F. Austin over VCU

Second Round:

Dayton over Syracuse
Connecticut over Villanova

Sweet 16:

Connecticut over Iowa State.



The formula's picks for the two Elite Eight Game's today are Connecticut and Michigan to both win.

Looks Can Be Decieving

The major Conference Tournaments start this week.  There are many teams who need to win to make the dance, while there are many teams that don't need to win and their still in.  But all you can do to try and get in the tournament is win.  Just keep winning.  So here are my sleepers for the conference tournaments.  Watch out!


American Athletic Conference

Southern Methodist Mustangs
Houston Cougars


ACC

Maryland Terrapins
Clemson Tigers
NC State Wolfpack

Big 12

Oklahoma State Cowboys
Baylor Bears
Texas Tech Red Raiders
West Virginia Moutaineers

Big Ten

Penn State Nittany Lions
Indiana Hoosiers

Pac-12

Oregon Ducks
Stanford Cardinal
California Golden Bears

SEC
The SEC is very inconsistant so I will break down which teams could get to where.  These are how far sleepers could get.

Semi-Finals
South Carolina Gamecocks
LSU Tigers

Finals
Arkansas Razorbacks
Vanderbilt Commodores
Ole Miss Rebels



Predictions

These are my conference tournament championship predictions.

American Athletic Conference

Louisville over Memphis

ACC

Duke over Maryland

Big 12

Oklahoma State over Baylor

Big Ten

Ohio State over Wisconsin

Pac-12

Arizona over Stanford

SEC

Florida over LSU

Experts' Pre-Conference Tournament Final Four Picks

This will be the last final four pick updates until the actual bracket comes out.

After Syracuse's three losses in four games, all three experts do not have them in the Final Four.  The only teams that are in all three experts' Final Four are Arizona and Florida.  Kansas is in Bradley Stewart's and Joe Smeltzer's final four.  Duke is in Joe Smeltzer's Final Four, Bradley Stewart says "Duke would definitly be my number five."  Ryan Stewart included two teams that neither Joe Smeltzer and Bradley Stewart had in theirs.  Those teams are the defending national champions Louisville and shocking Iowa State.  When asked about why he included the Cyclones, Ryan said "Because they score a lot of points and rebound like men."  Joe Smeltzer who included Wichita State in his earlier picks, dropped them.  None of the experts, included the 31-0 Shockers.

College Basketball's Rivalry Week Predictions

College Basketball's Rivalry Week Predictions

By: Bradley Stewart

Here are my predictions for the key games this upcoming week.

Monday:
#7 Kansas 76, Kansas State 69

Tuesday:
#3 Florida 95, Tennessee 69
#22 Ohio State 63, #15 Michigan 61

#19 Texas 77, Oklahoma State 61

Wednesday:

#25 Pittsburgh 71, #1 Syracuse 70

#8 Duke 86, North Carolina 69

Thursday:

Northwestern 59, #9 Michigan State 56

#21 Wisconsin 62, Minnesota 53

Friday:

#2 Arizona 79, Arizona State 63

Saturday:

#3 Florida 93, #14 Kentucky 81

VCU 64, #12 Saint Louis 57

#20 Memphis 73, #24 UConn 57

#17 Virginia 67, Clemson 53

Mid-February Bold Predictions:

Virginia wins the ACC outright over Syracuse

Michigan State loses three more games in the Regular Season

The SEC has two teams in the First Four

Duke ties Syracuse for 2nd in the ACC

Pac-12 has 7 teams make the tournament

Wichita State gets at-large bid, not an AQ

Super Bowl XLVIII Reaction/Recap By: Joe Smeltzer

By: Joe Smeltzer

For the first in their franchise history, the Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champs. They did it by deleting the Denver Broncos, 43-8. You all watched the game, so I'm not gonna get into great detail about the recap. All you need to know is that Russell Wilson played great, so did the Seahawks defense. Peyton Manning played poorly, so did the Broncos defense. The rest was a blowout. I have never seen a better defensive performance in my life. Congrats to Seattle. To Pete Carroll, Paul Allen, Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson and the rest of the Seahawks organization,  congrats. You did good.

Experts' Mid-season Final Four Picks

Our experts have compiled stats, and have come up with their mid-season Final Four picks.

Arizona, after their loss to California, is the only team that all three experts included in their Final Four.  Wichita State, one of the last two undefeated teams in the country, only has one expert supporting them.  Joe Smeltzer included them because "They're good.".

Ryan Stewart was the only one not to include the other last unbeaten, Syracuse, claiming "That Jim Boheim can't coach in the tournament." Ryan also added " Their 2-3 zone won't work against good coaches.  And that's why Duke put up 90 on them."

Both Bradley and Ryan Stewart included the 19-2 Florida Gators.  Joe Smeltzer wouldn't budge on why he didn't like Florida in the Final Four, saying that "We have different opinions.".

While Ryan Stewart and Joe Smeltzer both had Michigan State in the Final Four, Bradley Stewart didn't.  When asked about it he said "Michigan State is definitely a Final Four team, but I think Michigan State, after losing two out of their last three games, hasn't proven themselves fully yet. But, I would have them the next team on that list, along with Duke."  

Kansas, along with Wichita State, was picked only once.