And now...the 2013 NBA playoffs!!

NBA Playoff time!

The NBA playoffs are nearly ready to kick off so time to make the predictions.....

I did not get to even finish my pre-season picks and only did the Eastern Conference ...not bad predicting playoff teams....only missed out on Philadelphia who are replaced by Milwaukee.

Well here we go...

Eastern Conference

Miami (1) vs Milwaukee (8)

Though the Bucks were able to get a couple of wins against the Heat during the season....this is not the season...it is the post season!! They may come close in a game or two.

Miami to take series 4-1

Brooklyn (4) vs Chicago (5)

This one will be a lunch pail series and probably one of the toughest of the first round. Even without Derrick Rose, the Bulls stand an even chance if they can grab one in Brooklyn. I think they will.

Chicago sneaks by 4-3

Indiana (4) vs Atlanta (3)

The Pacers will have this series to get more consistent for the next round.

Indiana 4-2

NY Knicks (3) vs Boston (6)

Knicks would like to think they will get through easier this season, you never know with the Celtics, they are seasoned and battle tested. Gonna go with the Boston hoodoo!!

Boston 4-3

For the conference final..I'll go Miami vs Indiana with Miami advancing.

Western Conference

Oklahoma City (1) vs Houston (8)

Houston could give the Thunder fits in a couple of games but OKC will pull it out in the long run.

OKC 4-1

LA Clippers (4) vs Memphis (5)

This series will be brutal again this season and the winner may be exhausted come the next round.

LA Clippers 4-3

Denver (3) vs Golden State (6)

This one will be the most entertaining series of the first round but the Nuggets should prevail.

Denver 4-2

San Antonio (2) vs LA Lakers (7)

Sorry Laker Nation but you just are not consistent enough this season and will struggle over a seven game series. The Kobe Factor would not have made it much better so no excuse there.

San Antonio 4-2

Conference wise...I'll give the nod to the Spurs over the Thunder in seven...

For the title, I'll have to give it to Miami ultimately barring injury ... so Miami over San Antonio for the title in six games.

NCAA Championship pick...

For the title...

Michigan vs. Louisville

The Championship Game of the 2013 NCAA Men's basketball tourney is set to tip off in a couple of hours with Michigan going in as slight underdogs to Louisville.

The Wolverines have had some last second heroics along the way and will hope their shooting touch holds up against the Cardinals. Louisville has used a stifling defense and clutch offense to advance through the rounds.

Overall, Michigan is a relatively young team and though they beat the tough Syracuse zone in the Final Four, they may be due for an off night. Louisville will need consistency on the offensive end to pull it off. 

Ultimately I think I will go with the old adage of good defense beats good offense.

Louisville to win title by 8

Final Four predictions...

Down to Four

There are four teams left in the 2013 NCAA Men's Tournament and by the end of the night...we will have our Championship game set. Both matchups should be entertaining so I suppose I'll make my predictions.

Wichita State vs. Louisville

At the start of the tourney, I picked a Louisville-Miami final...well Miami fell by the wayside but the Cardinals are in the hunt. Wichita State has had a great run and will be looking to pull off the upset. Overall I think Rick Pitino will get the Cards to the title match.

Louisville by 7

Michigan vs Syracuse

Syracuse has been brutal on defense through the tournament but were prone to lapses during the regular season. Michigan may have the answers to the Orange zone with their shooting from the outside, a decent inside game and a premier point guard. I think the Orangemen may fall just short...

Michigan by 4

Back with Championship pick in a day or so... 

Finals Series gets underway tonight...

NBL Grand Final Series Rematch up soon

The 2012-2013 NBL Grand Final series will pit Perth against New Zealand in a rematch of last seasons' title series with New Zealand seeking a third consecutive title. 

The evergreen C.J. Bruton will be the emotional leader for the Breakers and lead the charge once again. During the regular season, Perth won three of the four meetings but will start the series minus the scrappy Damian Martin who is a three time NBL Defensive Player of the year. 

Overall the series should be exciting ...prediction wise, I am predicting a close series but looking for New Zealand to pull it off.

Finals Series Prediction:

New Zealand Breakers 2-1

Sunday's Regional Finals

Last two Final Four spots available

Sunday's games could easily be mistaken for the Final Four instead of the battle to get there...let's pick 'em...

Michigan vs Florida

Both teams have strengths but both have been inconsistent at times....Florida by 9

Duke vs Louisville

Duke won early in the season but they have had big shooting games recently and if they hold to form...they are due for a let-down...Louisville by 6

Back with Final Four picks later in the week...

Two tickets to Final Four up for grabs...

Regional title predictions

Two regional finals are set for Saturday....

My picks for the day...

Syracuse vs Marquette

Marquette returns to Final Four after winning by 3

Wichita State vs Ohio State

Ohio State by 6

Sweet 16 has four games left....

Four Spots left

After a shocking day prediction wise, I will jump in with my final Sweet 16 picks....can't get much worse than yesterday's 1-3 effort!!

Oregon vs Louisville

Louisville by 13

Michigan vs Kansas 

Kansas by 7

Michigan St. vs Duke

Duke by 3

Florida-Gulf Coast vs Florida

Riding Cinderella!! Gulf Coast by 4

Back with regional final picks tomorrow....

We are at 16!!

NCAA Sweet 16 picks

The 2013 NCAA tournament has reached the Sweet 16 and we will have a final four by the end of the weekend. I survived relatively well last Sunday going 6-2 on the day with North Carolina and Minnesota being the losses.

Ok...here we go for the first four games of the weekend that still has a couple of Cinderella's alive.

Marquette vs Miami Fla.

The Hurricanes seem destined.....Miami by 8

Arizona vs Ohio State

Ohio St. by 10

Syracuse vs Indiana

Could be a tough one for the Hoosiers....Indiana by 3

LaSalle vs Wichita State

LaSalle by 2

Short but sweet ...back tomorrow with the other four games....

Meanwhile in Australia......

The Semi Finals of the 2012-2013 NBL season got under way yesterday with both Perth and New Zealand picking up easy wins. Expect both the two to meet in the Final as they have been the dominate forces throughout the season.

Picks for Sunday games

Eight more tickets for Sweet 16

Saturday proved to be another day of wild ones in the 2013 NCAA tourney with Marquette escaping again and Gonzaga not surviving.

Ok, straight into the picks for Sunday...

Iowa St. vs Ohio St.

Ohio St. by 7

Temple vs Indiana

Indiana by 11

North Carolina vs Kansas

What the heck...going on a limb...UNC by 9

Minnesota vs Florida

Upset!! Minnesota by 3

Florida - Gulf Coast vs San Diego St.

Gulf Coast does it again by 5

LaSalle vs Ole Miss

LaSalle by 1

Illinois vs Miami Fla.

Miami by 10

Creighton vs Duke

Duke by 7

See you later in the week....

Current Record: 31-13

And now there are 32

Predictions for Round of 32 Saturday

Compared to some, I had a reasonable Friday in NCAA Tourney Predictions going 11-5 for the day. Though there were a couple of "who'd have thunk it" results for the day...particularly Georgetown getting beaten and to a lesser extent Kansas State getting upset.

Anyhoo...here we go with Saturday's picks.

VCU vs Kansas

Here we go...could be a Rams run again this year...not really classed as a big upset anymore...

VCU by 4

Memphis vs Michigan State

Mich St. by 8

Colorado St. vs Louisville

Louisville by 14

Harvard vs Arizona

Harvard rolls on by 3

Oregon vs St. Louis

St. Louis by 8

Butler vs Marquette

Marquette by 2

Wichita State vs Gonzaga

Gonzaga by 5

Cal vs Syracuse

Syracuse by 10

Current Record: 27-9

Day 2 NCAA ...

Back for Day 2 predictions

I kicked off my 2013 Tourney picks with a 12-4 day so going into day 2...looking for more of the same..my pick of New Mexico for the Final Four in one bracket is truly dead but I'll soldier on.

Albany vs Duke

Do not think I'll be up at 2am for this one....Duke by 14

Ole Miss vs Wisconsin

Wisconsin by 7

Temple vs NC State

NC State by 8

Pacific vs Miami

And now in basketball...it's all about The U!! Miami by 15

Cincy vs Creighton

Will be a gritty one!! Creighton by 7

LaSalle vs Kansas St.

K-State by 5

James Madison vs Indiana

Indiana by 21

Colorado vs Illinois

Colorado by 4

Florida-Gulf Coast vs Georgetown

G'town by 17

Iona vs Ohio State

Ohio State by 22

Villanova vs North Carolina

UNC by 9

Northwestern St. vs Florida

Florida by 16

Oklahoma vs San Diego St.

San Diego St. by 4

Iowa State vs Notre Dame

Iowa State by 2

Western Kentucky vs Kansas

Kansas by 18

Minnesota vs UCLA

Minnesota by 7

Current Record: 16-4

Back with more tomorrow...enjoy the games..

Bracket kicks off today!!

The Madness begins

The 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball tournament kicks into full swing overnight (2am) here in Australia with sixteen games on tap for the first day. Before I crash with the alarm set...I'll throw in my picks for the day. They may actually contradict some of my bracket picks but winging it!!

Valparaiso vs Michigan State

Michigan State by 14

Bucknell vs Butler

Butler by 3

Wichita State vs Pitt

Pitt by 7

New Mexico St. vs St Louis

St. Louis by 8....go Cody Ellis...Perth in da House!!

St. Mary's vs Memphis

Upset...St. Mary's by 2

Davidson vs Marquette

Marquette by only 5

Southern vs Gonzaga

Gonzaga by 17

Oregon vs Oklahoma St.

Oregon by 4

NC A&T vs Louisville

Loisville by 22

South Dakota State vs Michigan

Michigan by 8

Belmont vs Arizona

Arizona by 12

Cal vs UNLV

Cal by 6

Missouri vs Colorado St.

Missouri by 7

Akron vs VCU

VCU by 13

Harvard vs New Mexico

New Mexico by 24

Montana vs Syracuse

Syracuse by 20

Back with more tomorrow....

Let the Madness Begin...for 2013!!

Predicting Louisville-Miami Final

After a night of exhaustive research, soothsaying, head against wall banging and various other activities of frustration....I present my 2013 NCAA Mens basketball bracket. 

So...this year....I am predicting a Louisville-Miami final in Atlanta.

First Four games

North Carolina A&T (19-16) vs Liberty (15-20)

Liberty pulled a major surprise to get into the dance from the Big South conference and A&T benefited from upsets to win the MEAC tourney title.

NC A&T by 14

Boise State (21-10) vs LaSalle (21-9)

The winner of this one gets a date with Kansas State. Both teams have shown flashes but LaSalle may be a bit more polished at the moment.

LaSalle by 6

Middle Tennessee (28-5) vs St. Mary's (Ca) (27-6)

This one would fit as a normal bracket game and could be the best of the First Four games. The winner has a solid chance against Memphis in the main draw.

St. Mary's by 3

LIU-Brooklyn (20-13) vs James Madison (20-14)

Indiana looms on the horizon for the winner of this one.

JMU by 8

Midwest Region

I'm going with Louisville to get by Michigan State in this one.

West Region

Picking a Big 10 rematch with Wisconsin losing again to Ohio State.

South Region

Calling an upset in this region...picking VCU to do it again  over Georgetown.

East Region

Giving Miami the edge over Indiana in the regional final.

Once the Final Four starts... I'll take Louisville over Ohio State and Miami over VCU.

Champion

Most will do a double take when they see the Miami Hurricanes as NCAA Champions ... in basketball.

Back with more picks through the rounds....