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. 

Super Bowl XLVIII Preview/Prediction

By: Bradley Stewart

This is the type of Super Bowl the Football Gods have dreamed of.  The best defense against the best offense.  Wilson vs Manning.  Sherman vs Thomas. This is going to be great.

Analysis

Advantages for Broncos:

No 12th Man :  Seattle's 12th man has caused the most false starts since 2010.  But since it isn't in Seattle, the Broncos O-Line, doesn't have anything to worry about.

Experience:  The Broncos team is older than the Seahawks.  There is no question about.  For the Broncos : Welker, Mannning, and Prater.  While for the Seahawks : Wilson, Lynch, Sherman.  The Broncos team overall has played more games which could be huge.

Peyton Manning:  Obviously the best QB in the league.  Especially this season, 5,467 yards, 55 TD's, and a QB rating of 115.1, will make you say "Wow!".

Underrated Rushing Game:  When people think of the Broncos, they think of Peyton Manning immediately.  While Kowshon Moreno was a 1,000 yard rusher, with 10 touchdowns.  Don't overlook Moreno or Montee Ball.

Richard Sherman:  After Sherman's rant after the NFC Championship,  the undecided rooters turned to the Broncos. I'm sure Peyton Manning would love to light him up after that. (See other section for more)

Receiving Core:  The Broncos' receiving core is ridiculous.  Wes Welker, Julilus Thomas, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker.  Too many capable hands to compete against a good secondary.  Except some big plays.

Defense:  Everyone criticizes the Broncos' defenses, but for good reason.  They rank 27th in the NFL in Passing Yards.  But in the past 4 games, the Broncos have given up 17 points or less, while stuffing the run.  Remember LaGarrette Blount? 4 touchdowns to nothing.

Russell Wilson:  Wilson hasn't been the same since Week 13.  Throwing 5 interceptions in the pass six games.  He has been sacked 7 times in the playoffs, and we know Denver likes to rush the passer.


Advantages for Seahawks:

Defense:  This is going to be the sixth time the #1 defense has faced the #1 offense in the Super Bowl. The defense is 4-1.  Also, the Seahawks defense doesn't give up points, they have given up more than 20 points only three times all season, while holding offenses to under 14 points, eight times.

Percy Harvin: The king of the PUP-List is scheduled to make a return in the Super Bowl.  Harvin adds even more to this dynamic offense.  If Harvin plays except Sweeps and Hail Marys.

Receiving Core:  Seattle's receiving core may look bad against the Bronco's all-star core, but don't mark me wrong.  Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin are both 50+ catch receivers, while coming up big in the playoffs.  And don't forget about Percy Harvin.

The Odds: Denver is favored to beat the Seahawks.  And over the past four seasons, the underdog has won the Super Bowl every time, and five out of the past six.  While adding that the Seahawks are 17-5-1, when the spread has been against them in the past three seasons.

Jerseys:  I know this sounds crazy, but it's not.  The Broncos are wearing orange jerseys.  In the Super Bowl, the Broncos are 0-3, while wearing their orange jersey.  While Seattle is wearing white tops with blue pants, a combo where they are 2-0 at this year, including a 23-0 win over the Giants in Met Life Stadium.

Richard Sherman:  Richard Sherman wants to prove that he is as good as he is saying.  Expect a big day from him.  Win or lose.

Weather:  The Seahawks are built to blizzards, monsoons, droughts, etc..  They can handle anything.  It is going to be snowy in New Jersey.  The Broncos are built on Manning, who is 4-7 in under 32 degree weather.  Remember snow.



Betting Odds: Denver -2.5
Above Odds: Denver 8, Seattle 7
Advantage: Denver Broncos

Overview

There is nothing really big going on publicity about this Super Bowl.  Except Richard Sherman.
Here's what I think:

He's disrespected.  People can think what they want, but nothing is ever going to change the fact that he is a smart and competitive guy.  This is football we are talking about, not tennis.  Trash-talking is apart of the game.  The game was still going on in his head.  He was pouring out his emotions.  Crabtree gave him crap, so he gave it back.  He is the best cornerback in the league.  He does backs up what he says with facts, unlike Skip Bayless (Sherman's own words).  Get off his back.  If you can't handle trash-talk, get out of the game.  Most of the people I've talked to say "This is why I hate Seattle." or "That's why I'm rooting for the Broncos.".  I can't help but thinking, "Be quiet."  If Erin Andrews hadn't interviewed him he wouldn't have said that.  Get off his back.  There is trash-talk in every football game, and the only reason people care about this one is that he is playing in the Super Bowl.  Everyone who knows him says he was a nice guy.  Which is why I am rooting for him, to prove Bayless and his haters wrong.

Prediction:

Here is the box score of my prediction:

As you can see, the 1st Quarter is dominated by field goals.  In the 2nd Quarter Manning's touchdown pass to Thomas, makes it 13-3 Broncos.

The Broncos are up 10 at the half.  But here comes the Seahawks.  A 20-yard touchdown run from Marshawn Lynch and a Steven Hauschka field goal makes it a tie game going into the 4th Quarter.

Instant classic!  Manning hits Welker, early in the 4th Quarter.  This gives the Broncos a 20-13 lead.  Another Steven Hauschka field goal makes it 20-16 with under 5 minutes left.  A Knowshon Moreno turnover, lets the Seahawks get the ball back.  Russell Wilson drives down the field, and with under 1 minute left, Russell Wilson hits Percy Harvin, to make it 23-20.

But the game is still not over.  Peyton Manning drives down the field.  But instead of trying to kick a chip shot field goal, the Broncos try and win it.  But they fail.  Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champions!

This is happening.

While this is happening.

And That's All I Got To Say 'Bout That!