Brad-ketology

Brad-ketology

By: Bradley Stewart

I can hardly believe it is here folks!  This is the final week of the Regular Season and here is my third  bracket of the season.  Most teams only have two games remaining before their conference tournaments  and for teams on the bubble, they are must wins.  Here is an in-depth look of my bracket (I am picking who will make the NCAA Tournament and what seed they will get):  

Number One Seeds: Kansas, Villanova, North Carolina, and Gonzaga are on the top line of this bracket.  Another loss will bump Gonzaga to a two seed, but for now they remain safely a one seed.  UNC has been dominant as of late and as long as no other top ACC team can beat them, they will remain a one.  Villanova and Kansas are both safely on the one line, but a bad stretch could knock them off.  

Teams that could still receive a one seed: Kansas, Villanova, North Carolina, Gonzaga, Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, and Louisville

Butler: Butler was able to upset Villanova for the second time this season last week.  The win gave them 5 RPI Top-25 wins.  The Bulldogs have a Top-10 RPI and a Top-15 Strength of Schedule to go along with a 22-6 record.  With their strong resume and more potential opportunities to strengthen it, the Bulldogs could rise to a two seed.

Butler’s Seed Range: 2-4

Bubble Watch: The Vanderbilt Commodores have rejoined the conversation of a potential Tournament spot and I have them currently playing in a play-in game.  Vanderbilt has a Top-3 Strength of Schedule, which can only get better as they play at Kentucky and vs Florida, four top-50 wins, and wins against ranked Florida and South Carolina teams.  The Dores’ find themselves in a good spot, benefiting from a weak bubble.  Should they defeat Florida or Kentucky and win a couple games in the SEC Tournament, they should be in the field of 68.

Teams that are currently on the Bubble (Could fall out of field or climb into field): Arkansas, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, California, Marquette, Vanderbilt, Wichita State/Illinois State (whoever does not win the Missouri Valley), USC, Seton Hall, Michigan, Providence, Rhode Island, TCU, Kansas State Ole Miss, and Wake Forest

To Look at the FULL BRACKET CLICK HERE

To Look at the FULL BRACKET CLICK HERE

Vanderbilt is the Closest .500 Team To Make the Tourney

Vanderbilt basketball is a year removed from getting absolutely demolished against Wichita State in the play-in round of the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores struggled to start the season with their two key players from last season leaving to go to the NBA in Wade Baldwin IV and Damien Jones.  Vanderbilt found themselves in the midst of a four game losing streak in the middle of conference play, but is 6-3 since then.  They now sit at 14-13, but a strong, last push could potentially slide them into the tournament.  Vanderbilt has four games remaining in the regular season.  They have three crucial road games against Tennessee and ranked Florida and Kentucky.  They just beat no. 21 South Carolina.  If the 'Dores finish the year 3-1 and make the semi-finals in the SEC Tournament, which is in Nashville, they would make a strong case to make the tournament.  Currently, Vanderbilt has a top 50 RPI and has the number one non-conference strength of schedule and a top 5 strength of schedule overall.  They have four top 50 wins, meaning possible wins against Tennessee, Florida, and Kentucky, along with the SEC tournament could help their case.  It's a long shot, but at least it's a shot.

Duke Is Back

Duke found itself in a hole midway through January having lost three of four, including a loss the failure that is NC State basketball in Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Coach K decided to take away the player's jerseys and their rights to the locker room.  The message stuck and Duke was able to comeback for a two point win over Wake Forest.  Then Duke handled #20 Notre Dame in Jeff Capel's last game as head coach.  Coach K came back and was able to knock off Pittsburgh.
Duke then faced off against North Carolina in a rivalry game.  The Blue Devils played well the entire game and shot 50% from three in the eight point win over their rival.  Duke survived a squeaker against Clemson on Saturday.
Duke is on a five game win streak and appear to back on the college basketball landscape.  They look like the team that was ranked in the preseason number one in the country.  Only time will tell if Duke's mid-season changes have a major impact on their ultimate success.

MLB 2015 Playoff Picks

At the start of the season, I picked the Cubs and Pirates to play in the NL Wild Card game.  I also picked Chicago to win the World Series, so I will keep that pick.   The playoffs will be dominated by 'blue' teams, or teams with blue as their secondary color.  In fact the only team who isn't a 'blue' team is the dangerous Pittsburgh Pirates, but let's be honest the Bucs haven't done anything against Jake Arrietta this year.

Houston 5, New York 3

Chicago 2, Pittsburgh 1

Bracketology: College Football Edition Week 2

If I were on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee these are the teams I would select to put into the playoffs:

1.  Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
2.  Alabama (1-0)
3.  Baylor (1-0)
4.  Notre Dame (1-0)
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5.  Michigan State (1-0)
6.  TCU (1-0)
7.  Oregon (1-0)
8.  USC (1-0)
9.  Auburn (1-0)
10. UCLA (1-)

2015 PGA Championship Predictions/Preview

The 2015 PGA Championship begins this morning and it should create a exciting finish.  Here are some headlines that you should look out for:

Is Tiger Back?

I am one of the few people who have continued to stay with Tiger Woods through his struggles, in that I have believed that he can compete and I am rooting for him every time he goes out.  With Tiger coming off his best tournament of this season, posting three scores in the 60s, I fully expect Tiger to be in contention at Whistling Straits.  Tiger won't be in the lead at the 2015 PGA Championship, but he will be three or four shots back, enough to continue his confidence into his next tournament.  

Projected Score:

Tiger Woods: -8

Boom or Bust:

Jordan Spieth enters as the favorite to win the PGA Championship and for good reason.  Spieth has played in 25 tournaments in 2015.  He has won five of those tournaments and has finished outside of the Top-10 in only seven times in his twenty-five tournaments.  The reason he is my Boom or Bust player, is because in the two PGA Championships Spieth has competed in, he has missed the CUT in both.  Spieth has given us no reason to believe he will miss the Cut again, and has given us many reasons to believe that he won't miss the cut again.  He is still my boom or bust player for this week. I wouldn't be surprised to see him make the cut, but not be in contention entering Sundays round.  But as he as told us before, don't bet against him.

Projected Score:

Jordan Spieth: -12

A First Time for Everything:

I have watched Hideki Matsuyama and have been impressed with his game.  No golfer born in Japan has ever won the PGA Championship, or any major for that matter.  Hideki has played well in the bigger tournaments this year, finishing fifth, fifth, eighteenth, and eighteenth in the Masters, Memorial, US Open, and The Open Championship respectively. One thing I have noticed with Matsuyama is his one bad day.  He always seems to start off well, but can't finish it off.  I expect Hideki Matsuyama to be in contention heading into Sunday, and maybe even be in the lead, but he will stumble.  Japan's first major winner will have to wait until 2016.

Projected Score:

Hideki Matsuyama: -9

He's Baaaack:

Rory Mcilroy is coming back after suffering what sounded like a pretty big ankle injury, when he described it.  I feel like the hype is getting too-large.  I will keep this section short, because it is hard to say what going to happen with Rory.  He won't finish first, but he won't be completely out of it heading into the weekend.

Projected Score:

Rory Mcilroy: -10

7 Top-10's, 0 Championships:

Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, and Dustin Johnson have finished in the Top-10 in majors this year a combined seven times.  Yet none of the aforementioned have won a major championship ever.  Dustin fared well at Whistling Straits in 2010, and was going to be headed into the playoff, but grounding his club in the 'bunker' may have halted the "Dustin Era".  Jason Day finished well in 2010, only four strokes back, but he has yet to win a major.  He may have won it at the US Open had it not been for his sickness.  Rickie didn't place in the Top 50 in 2010, but this Rickie is a new Rickie.  Fowler has finished in the Top-10 in his past two starts.  He has fared well at the Masters and was doing well in The Open, until faltering down the stretch which has been his calling card.  Expect Rickie to be in the hunt, but not be able to finish it off.

Projected Score:

Dustin Johnson: -14

Jason Day: -12

Rickie Fowler: -11

El Nino:

Sergio Garcia has a knack for collapsing down the stretch in tournaments.  Garcia always puts himself into contention, but has yet to be able to win a major.  Garcia has finished in the Top-20 in every major this year, but has yet to win any tournament this year.  Expect more of the same at Whistling Straits.

Projected Score:

Sergio Garcia: -11

Sleepers/Busts/Typical:

Sleepers (Players to Watch out for):

Jim Furyk

Louis Oosthuizien

Martin Kaymer

Zach Johnson

Busts (Players to expect a worse outing from):

Phil Mickelson

Henrik Stenson

Typical (Expect a typical, Top-20):

Justin Rose

Adam Scott

So Close Yet So Far:

My final section will be about Bubba Watson. Bubba lost in a playoff in 2010.  His long game poses well on Par-5's.  Bubba has won two tournaments this year, including the Travelers.  Watson has finished second in his past two tournaments and appears to be playing his hottest golf of the year.  However in the past two major championships, Bubba Watson has missed the Cut.  This could hold him back, but Bubba knows this golf course and it fits well with his game, as shown in his near 2010 win.  Expect Bubba to come back this week.

Projected Score:

Bubba Watson: -14

Champion:

I am picking Bubba Watson to defeat Dustin Johnson in a playoff at this years 2015 PGA Championship.  Bubba's prior experience in major playoffs, not only at Whistling Straits, but at Augusta and Dustin's tough experience on Sundays in majors, Bubba will win his third major championship.  

Projected Leaderboard:

1. Bubba Watson -14*

2. Dustin Johnson -14

3. Jordan Spieth -12

3. Jason Day -12

5. Rickie Fowler -11

5. Sergio Garcia -11

Anything can happen in major championships and Boom player could Bust or a Bust player could Boom.  You'll have to watch to find out.

NFL Mock Draft

Here are my picks as if I was the team picking.  (No trades)