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

Title Time!!

NCAA Title Tilts are on!!

The 2011-2012 NCAA mens and womens championship games are set with Kansas facing Kentucky later today in New Orleans for  the mens title and Notre Dame meeting Baylor for the womens crown in Denver on Tuesday.

Kansas vs. Kentucky

Not many predicted Kansas to be here in the pre-season. Most looked at it as a rebuilding year for the Jayhawks after losing the Morris twins and others. They have hit a hot streak at the right time of year after losing to Baylor in the Big 12 tournament. 

Kentucky has lived up to the hype but several experts are saying there could still be a loss of focus by the young team. The Wilcats have been shaken not too long ago when losing the SEC championship game to Vanderbilt.

Kentucky beat Kansas on a neutral court back in November but the Jayhawks would like to think they have improved since then. This game is also a championship rematch coaching wise with Bill Self facing off against John Calipari just as they did in 2008 when Kansas topped Calapari's Memphis squad. 

There is temptation to pick the upset here. Instead I''ll go with Kentucky surviving a major scare to grab the crown.

Kentucky by 7

Notre Dame vs. Baylor

Notre Dame returns to the Women's NCAA championship game to face another Big 12 opponent this season. After losing to Texas A&M in the title game last season, the Irish face an even tougher foe in undefeated Baylor.

In November, Baylor was too strong down the stretch for Notre Dame in their win over the Irish. This time they will have to keep their composure if they want to end the season a perfect 40-0. Expect them to do it.

Baylor by 8.

Final Four picks!!!

Four will become two

The 2012 NCAA season has reached the Final Four in New Orleans with Louisville battling Kentucky for the right to represent their state in the Championship game and Kansas squaring off against Ohio State for the other berth.


My bracket was busted long ago and none of my picks for the Final Four made it through after North Carolina and Baylor were beaten last weekend. Oh well, there’s always time to start working on my 2012-2013 predictions!! 


Now on to this weekend’s predictions, may as well try to end on a positive note!!


Louisville vs. Kentucky


This one is bigger than the normal bragging rights tilt which Kentucky won 69-62 on New Year’s Eve.


Form is out of the window for this one, though conventional wisdom says Kentucky should win but Louisville is looking UConn-ish this season.


I have predicted their demise a few times this season so now I will probably put a curse on them by giving the nod to the Wildcats.


Kentucky by 9


Ohio State vs. Kansas


This one is another rematch with Ohio State hoping to reverse a 78-67 loss at Kansas in early December. After losing to Michigan State in the Big 10 title game the Buckeyes have picked themselves up and powered through the tourney. 


The story is the same for Kansas who have advanced after losing to Baylor in the Big 12 title affair.


This time around, the game will be closer and I will have to give the slight edge to Ohio State on a neutral court.


Ohio State by 4


I will have a quick look at the NCAA Women’s Final Four tomorrow along with preparing my pick for Monday night’s championship game.

Elite Eight picks...

Final Four spots available!!

I had a decent day, prediction wise yesterday with only NC State not getting through from my picks. Oh well…today I will give my picks for all four regional championship games.

Here we go:

West Region:

Florida (7) vs. Louisville (4)
Louisville is healthy and the Cardinals have shown it in this UConn like run through the Big East tourney and the NCAA field thus far. This matchup is also a teacher versus pupil game with Rick Pitino facing off against his former player Billy Donovan. 


I will give an edge to “teacher” in this one…Louisville by 8.

East Region:


Ohio State (2) vs. Syracuse (1)
This region went to form in the end with a 1 vs. 2 for the ticket to NOLA. But Syracuse may have survived as long as they can without being exposed. Ohio State has been brutal inside and has gotten good results from beyond the arc.


Ohio State by 3 in a close one…

South Region:


Baylor (3) vs. Kentucky (1)

Hmm….I will predict the end of the line for Kentucky here. 


Baylor by 5.


Midwest Region:

Kansas (2) vs. North Carolina (1)

Carolina is hurting … Kansas has overachieved…Roy Williams vs. former school … this one has a bit of everything…not to mention a few “Duke” fans I know who would love to shut me up if Carolina loses!! Well, in spite of it all. Look for the ‘Heels to roll on. 


Carolina by 7.

Back later in the week with my Final Four picks….remember I predicted Carolina over Baylor for the title!!!

Fridays Sweet 16 picks....

Sweet 16 Day 2

(Gotta be better)

Oh well….none of my picks from yesterday won so I will have to soldier on for Friday’s games….with the East and the West regionals down…we move now to the South and Midwest.


South Region:


Xavier (10) vs. Baylor (3)
Baylor should win this one but will need consistency…Baylor by 10
Indiana (4) vs. Kentucky (1)
Kentucky gets revenge by 3


Midwest Region:


Ohio (13) vs. North Carolina (1)
North Carolina by 11
NC State (11) vs. Kansas (2)
Upset here…NC State by 6


Today’s picks have to be better!! LOL!!!

NCAA Regional Finals

Regional Finals Day Two

We are now two games away from knowing the final four teams in the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. After two exciting games on Saturday where I was wrong on both counts, UConn and Butler booked tickets for Houston next weekend.

In today’s games…..

EAST REGIONAL Final:

Kentucky (4) vs. North Carolina (2)

Back in December, North Carolina escaped with a two point (75-73) win over Kentucky and will be looking for another tough game this time around. Both teams have improved but look for Carolina to use its front line advantage to pull this one out by 6.

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL Final:

VCU (11) vs. Kansas (1)

Kansas is heavily favoured and on a roll but may be a bit too cocky when facing giant killers VCU. There was a lot of trash talking from the Jayhawks in the Richmond game … is that wise when you have to face another team from the same city?? Though the Rams had a loss to Richmond during the regular season, it does not equate an automatic Kansas win. Gut tells me VCU by 4.

Tourney Record: 40 right – 22 wrong

NCAASweet 16, Day 2.

Sweet 16 part deux

The Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament concludes on Friday with games in San Antonio, Texas and Newark, New Jersey. My Thursday picks fell by the wayside with only Florida advancing. Similarly my Final Four picks are gone with the exception of North Carolina. For Thursday’s games I went 1-3 pick wise.

Fridays picks…

SOUTHWEST REGION:

Richmond (12) vs. Kansas (1)

The city of Richmond will have a strong fan base in San Antonio with the hometown Spiders and VCU both playing there. First up, Richmond clashes with Kansas. This one could catch Kansas looking ahead but the Jayhawks will hold on and pull away late by 11.

Virginia Commonwealth (11) vs. Florida State (10)

VCU may be able to hang on against the tough Seminole “D”. Rams by 5.

EAST REGION:

North Carolina (2) vs. Marquette (11)

Former title game opponents square off in regional semis in this one. Carolina has had some close calls but this one may be easier. UNC by 12.

Kentucky (4) vs. Ohio State (1)

Kentucky has a solid run going but Ohio State is out to live up to the hype. Hmm….I’ll call and upset …Kentucky by 3.

Ok, back in a day or so with Regional final picks….

Current Record: 36 right – 20 wrong…

NCAA Basketball kicks off!!!

NCAA Basketball is Back!!!

The excitement returns in earnest this week after a smattering of games over the last week or so.

Firstly, I will not openly be anti-Duke this year!! Not necessarily a fan but now have family there so good luck to Josh Hairston and Coach K’s Blue Devils, except maybe in your two games versus the Tar Heels!!!

Do not be surprised to see the ACC take its third NCAA tile in a row come April 2011. May not necessarily be the Duke squad though. North Carolina is looking for blood after a sub par season by lofty Tarheel standards.

Elsewhere around the country, Michigan State looks solid again and should go deep into the post season. Ohio State will be good, Kansas will be solid, and Kansas State may be better than their in state rivals.

As the season progresses look for St. Mary’s, CA and Gonzaga to pop up as always from the West.

Inevitably there will be mid major and small conference surprises so look out big time programmes, it only takes one game to change a season.

My Current NCAA Top 10

1. Duke
2. Michigan State
3. North Carolina
4. Pitt
5. Kansas State
6. Kansas
7. Villanova
8. Ohio State
9. Florida
10. Syracuse

The season cranks up big time tonight on ESPN….can’t wait!!!

Half of Kansas Contingent ….. Gone!!!

The highly fancied Kansas Jayhawks were shocked by little known Northern Iowa

69-67 in the latest upset of this years NCAA tournament. The Northern Iowa Panthers looked like the favourites down the stretch as they calmly made their shots and free throws to preserve the win.

Meanwhile, the Kansas St. Wildcats put away the pesky Brigham Young Cougars

84-82.

It was a day that also saw the surprising Washington Huskies top New Mexico 82-64, Kentucky blow out Wake Forest 90-60, Tennessee ease by Ohio 83-68, Baylor trip Old Dominion 76-68, and Butler eek out a 54-52 win over Murray St.

The other big one of the day saw St. Mary’s send Villanova packing 75-68.

Today’s action reminds me of something a wise man (my grandfather) once said to me when I complained about having to show up for a game against a fellow baseball team in younger years, after getting our hats handed to us, he simply said, “that is why you play the game, you just never know when surprises are gonna happen and teach you a little humility”.

As for my predicting, ouch, I had a 2 right, six wrong day!!!!

There is always tomorrow!!!