My NCAA Bracket- Regrets and Predictions for the Thursday Games of the Sweet 16

Today we are going to take a look at my NCAA bracket as the Sweet 16 schedule has been set. It has been such an amazing tournament so far with wonderful upsets and a bunch of overtimes. The great thing about the tournament is that we get to see the heart and passion of these under dogs beat the wonderfully skilled teams. We get the upsets in the early rounds and a premier brand of basketball from this point on. Enjoy!

My entry into the the ESPN Tournament challenge is currently ranked 195th out of the some 11 million entries. I have 550 points, 40 behind the leader. Below is a look at my bracket.

Looking at my bracket, I can't say I have many regrets so far. If I had to choose one, it would probably be the against the grain mindset. This may seem ironic since I picked 3 of the 4 favorites to make the final four but picks like KSU over Kentucky and GW over Memphis were selections that I chose to go against the greater population. While these were simply first round match ups, with my impeccable 20-20 vision, they were obvious picks. 

Predictions for Thursday

Stanford #10 vs. Dayton #11

Let's start with the double digit seed Sweet 16 matchup. Stanford versus Dayton deems two of the the three cinderellas remaining in the tourney. For me the selection is simple, I believe Stanford moves on based on their inability to stop Chasson Randle and Dwight Powell. The Flyers, I'm anticipating, are spent and their magic has run out. As amazing of a run as Dayton has put together my instincts tell me that Stanford's talent will overcome the heart of the Flyers. This may seem ridiculous as the Flyers have defeated Syracuse and Ohio State, two teams who arguably sport much more talent than the Cardinals but one must remember that both squads struggled a lot down the stretch. Therefore, I believe Stanford wins 70-64.

Wisconsin #2 vs. Baylor #6

The streaking Bears take on a Wisconsin team that is back in their best form. What people forget is that the Badgers began the year on a tear ranked among the top 3 teams in the country. They hit a rough stretch during the Big Ten slate of games but found themselves during the tournament. Their counterparts have struggled all year despite having NBA caliber talent and high expectations. They are finally beginning to show their true potential. Wisconsin needed a huge 2nd half to escape the 7 seed Oregon Ducks while the Bears coasted past Creighton and McDermott. Baylor's newly implemented zone has posed problems with their superior length. Wisconsin, though, has the shooters to stretch the zone and cause problems. On the other side, Baylor should be able to crush the Badgers down low. Wisconsin does have Frank Kaminsky, a 6' 11 big man, but he does not compare to both Isaiah Austin and Corey Jefferson. I believe both teams will be able to score the ball tonight and this game will come down to getting defensive stops. In the tournament, I'm going to roll with the team that is going to force their opponent to shoot 3s. This team is Baylor. Baylor takes down Wisconsin by 5 and advances to the Elite 8.  70-65 Bears.

Florida #1 vs. UCLA #4

The other game in the South region pits Florida vs. UCLA in what I believe is the one team stopping Florida from winning a National Championship. Call me crazy but if Florida beats UCLA they have a  relative cake walk into the final four. Many will argue that Michigan State and Arizona/Louisville could pose problems in Texas but I truly believe the Gators, if they surpass UCLA, win will it all. But hold on. The Bruins pose major match up problems for Florida. Everyone knows about the senior experience of the Gators especially their Point Guard, Scotty Wilbekin, but UCLA has their own 6 foot 9 point guard who is a walking triple double. Wilbekin will have trouble guarding Kyle Anderson all day long. In addition, the Bruins best wing player, Jordan Adams, is a flat out scorer who could overcome Florida's tough defense. Finally, the Wear twins, the two big men for the Bruins,   have the ability to stretch the floor with their excellent mid range game. This could pull Patric Young away from the basket opening up driving lanes for Anderson and Adams. As much as I'm touting the Bruins, I cannot pick against my Gators. They simply have the experience and coaching to counter anything the Bruins can do. I think the Gators win 70-68.

Arizona #1 vs. SDSU #4

The last game of the night touts the best defensive team in the country against the remaining power house from not one of the Power 6 conferences. SDSU's best player is a Guard, Xavier Thames. Thames is an unbelievable senior player and the Aztecs sport a tough inside game but this simply isn't a good matchup for them. SDSU goes through stretches where they struggle to score which against Arizona is not a good flaw to have. If Thames is struggling, the entire team struggles. Because of this problem, Arizona will end up reeling off a huge run that they will be able to hang on to for the game. The Wildcats match up pretty evenly down low with Kaleb Tarczeswki and freshman phenom Aaron Gordon but on the perimeter is where the Wildcats will overmatch San Diego State. Nick Johnson is a Wooden Award Candidate for player of the year in the NCAA and his back court mate T.J. McConnell will be too much for the aforementioned Thames to handle in a solid victory by the Wildcats. Arizona wins 61-52. 

All-NCAA Team. The best 5 compilation of college basketball players in 2014

ALL-NCAA TEAM
Today I thought I would write an interesting article inspired by Bill Simmons "Book of Basketball"  in honor of the upcoming Conference and March Madness Tournaments. I am going to create my All-NCAA team, key word team. This is different than the All-Americans or simply the 5 best players in college basketball. For example, the 3 best players in college could all be Small Forwards but the 2nd or 3rd may not make the team. In addition, this is a winner take all, Space Jam kind of game. This team is defending our country from aliens. I am choosing the team that will work well together and will defeat any other combination of 5 college basketball players.

PG- Kyle Anderson (UCLA) 14.9 PPG, 8.6 REB, 6.8 AST, 49% FG, 1.8 STL, 3.2 TO (Sophomore)
Others receiving consideration: Russ Smith (Louisville), Shabazz Napier (UCONN), Marcus Paige (UNC)

A 6' 7 facilitating Point Guard was just too good to pass up. His 3.2 TO per game worry me a little as I want my team taking care of the ball to maximize my shots but his ability to rebound and spread the ball around is just unmatched by any other point guard in the country. There's not much to say about Anderson besides his facilitation and his length. These two things were more important to me than the other 3 guards ability to score. Finally, if we decide to press, play a pressure style defense, or even a zone, I love his length and his defensive capability.

SG- Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati) 20.3 PPG, 4.5 REB, 2.6 AST, 43% FG, 85%, 2.1 TO (Senior)
Others receiving consideration: Gary Harris (Michigan State), Juwan Staten (West Virginia)

While Kilpatrick is a true Small Forward, he gets bumped up to the Shooting Guard position for the sake of McDermott. Don't worry, Kilpatrick can definitely handle this. In fact, I'm pretty sure he'd play Center if I asked him to. If you ever have a chance to read about Kilpatrick, take the opportunity. I've never heard a bad thing said about him and he is talked about as an uncanny leader. Throw in the fact that he can get you 20 points, rebound the ball, and even facilitate a little and I'm thrilled. Also, Kilpatrick can lock down your best player at about every position besides the Center. I love everything about Kilpatrick which is why he is the Team Captain of the this squad. Late game, we can throw the ball to him  to either hit the big shot or ice the game with Free Throws. Kilpatrick is the real deal and the fact that he got left off the Wooden Award Candidates is a sick joke. His Bearcats are ranked 15th in the country and are very capable of a late tourney run.

SF- Doug McDermott (Creighton) 26 PPG, 7.0 REB, 52% FG, 89% FT, 1.9 TO (Senior)
Others receiving consideration: CJ Fair (Syracuse), Andrew Wiggins (Kansas), TJ Warren (NC State), Melvin Ejim (Iowa State)

When I first thought of the idea to create an All-NCAA team, McDermott didn't make my team. You must be thinking, what was I thinking. This dude is the best player in College Basketball, he scores 26 points per game, and has Creighton, who would be no better than .500 in the league, ranked 13th in the country. Why didn't he make my initial team? I've seen McDermott play and he is truly unbelievable but two things bothered me. He seemed to get his points by volume shooting. This was my original thought that turned me away from him. Just like Carmelo Anthony, I thought that McDermott was just shooting 20 times a game to get his points. But after the research, I saw that his 52% Field Goal percentage was the highest on my list of players besides the center position. This really changed my opinion. The other thing that worried me was that the entire offense runs through McDermott. Now you are questioning me again. Doesn't the offense always run through the best player? Yes, but for McDermott it usually consists of him posting up or holding the ball for extended periods of time. I didn't like that in the college game especially on this team where I am preaching unselfishness and team play. At the end of the day though, I figured the best player in the game deserved to make my team and his 26 points aren't going to hurt us in the end. Oh, and by the way, McDermott is a 4 year starter. That doesn't hurt given all the late game experience he has gained from that.

PF- Jabari Parker (Duke) 18.8 PPG, 8.9 REB, 48% FG, 2.4 TO (Freshman)
Others receiving consideration: NONE

Jabari Parker is the best power forward in the country but am I saying that no one is close. There are players that could have garnered consideration but to be honest none really contested with Parker. McDermott could qualify as a PF so I guess him but ultimately Parker is far and away the best power forward in the country. He is going to bring the effort, the rebounding, and can add on a little scoring if needed. On this team, I don't need everyone to score their 20. Rather, I'm looking for the little extra and that is exactly what this Freshman adds on. His presence down low and his ability to stretch the floor when needed in addition to his great rebounding are all factors that led to Jabari receiving the PF spot on this team.

C- Jordan Bachynski (Arizona State) 11.2 PPG, 8.4 REB, 55% FG, 4.2 BLK (Senior)
Others receiving consideration: Joel Embiid (Kansas), Julius Randle (Kentucky)

To be honest, the casual college basketball fan has probably never heard of the big man from ASU but now you have. Is Bach the best center in college basketball? Absolutely not, but he is going to complete my team by doing what I believe is most important, protecting the rim. Looking at the numbers, he is on average with Embiid for points and rebounds but clearly surpasses him at the rim. Randle's scoring and rebounding are better but once again his defense does not match that of Bachynski.  In addition, Jordan can finish at the rim so he is not an offensive liability. Besides the shot blocking ability, the second most important factor that I considered was Bachynski, a senior, versus the two Freshmen, Randle and Embiid. If Bachynski picks up two early fouls, I trust him to not foul and I can keep him in the game. I feel much differently with Randle and Embiid who will play with the same reckless abandon whether they have 0 or 4 fouls.

Coach: Mike Krzyzewksi (Duke)
Others receiving consideration: Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), John Calipari (Kentucky)

Who else would you want coaching this team besides Coack K. His 4 national championships and 11 final fours are a great number but more importantly all this guy does is win. It was a pretty simple decision and throw in the fact that he already coaches the only freshmen on this team and you have icing on the cake. Boeheim received consideration because he is of equal ability as a coach but I would rather have this team in man to man than a 2-3 zone. For me a hot shooting team can beat any zone no matter how good the players, I'm not going to take that risk. And finally, John Calipari. Personally, I don't think Calipari is that great of a coach but he has actually had a team built with a bunch of superstars so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt of knowing how to coach with 5 superstars. In the long run though, Coach K is leading my All-NCAA team to victory.

Post-Game analysis:
What scares me about this team is that only one of them, Jabari Parker, is ranked in the top 10 and both UCLA and ASU aren't ranked. What brings me back down to earth is that I have a nice balance of 3 seniors, a sophomore, and a freshman. I know that I'm getting scoring from somewhere and I can rebound the ball as well as protect the rim. The only issue my team has is distribution. While I have some solid passers, I don't have an excellent assist man at the 2 spot because of Kilpatrick's shift to the shooting guard position. Nonetheless, I'm confident that my team would beat any grouping of 5 men in college basketball

Toughest decision/Biggest regrets:
The point guard and center position were the hardest positions for me to choose from. Kilpatrick, McDermott, and Parker as the core 3 were simple selections but passing up two national champions at the PG spot (Napier, Smith) was tough but they just didn't fit the mold of the team. They are some times erratic with the ball turning it over and shooting bad shots. I couldn't risk that when this team should be getting the highest quality of shot every time down the floor. The Center spot was tough because I love Randle and Embiid but the freshman aspect and inability to be as supreme defenders as Bachynski were too much to keep them off the team. My final regret or decision was not including anyone from the top 3 teams in the country. I need winners on my team and those guys simply win. The thing is that those top 3 teams are built as a team where each player compliments the other which is exactly the mold that I attempted to build with my All-NCAA team.

ALL-NCAA TEAM:
PG Kyle Anderson
SG Sean Kilpatrick (Captain)
SF Doug McDermott
PF Jabari Parker
C Kyle Anderson
Coach: Mike Krzyzewski

NFL Divisional Round Saturday Predictions

New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks: 4:25 p.m. Saturday

       In a clash of opposites, Drew Brees and company will travel cross country to face what seems to be an unbeatable Russell Wilson at Century Link field. I'm sure everyone knows how good the 'Hawks are at home evident by Wilson's lone career loss at home coming a few short weeks ago. While this may seem promising for the visiting Saints, I don't think they should read too much into it.

       Week 13 this season marks the last time these teams met and it was very ugly for New Orleans. They were blown out 34-7 as Drew Bree's road struggles continued. On the road this season, Drew Brees has completed 10% less of his passes compared to at the SuperDome. He's thrown for 500 less yards with 28 more pass attempts. The most telling stat is his 27 touchdowns at home compared to 12 on the road while totaling 9 interceptions away from home while just three in New Orleans. This is a scary stat for New Orleans fans who are hoping their team can take down the king of the NFC.

        Although Brees managed to get over his road woes in the playoffs last week against the Eagles, he will be facing a much tougher defense this weekend. That augmented to the fact that the 'Hawks have a very efficient offense is what will prove too much this weekend. Marshawn Lynch will control the game against a mediocre run defense. While the Saints will limit Seattle through the air, it won't be enough to hold Seattle from advancing to the Championship Game.

                                                   

                                                                                              X-Factor: Jimmy Graham 

     While this pick may seem obvious, the x-factor is in fact obvious. The Saints best chance of staying in/winning this game is Jimmy Graham having his biggest game of the year. This is a lot to ask because Graham has already had a 10 catch, 179 yard, and a touchdown performance this season.

Final Score: Seahawks-30 Saints-17




Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots: 8:10 p.m. Saturday

     Andrew Luck and the Colts needed a spectacular comeback last week to escape the Chiefs and are granted with a trip to a cold New England. This matchup pairs the Future of the NFL versus the face of the league for the past decade. You can't ask for much more than Brady versus Luck but this game will actually be decided on the other side of the ball.

   
The Colts own a bottom 5 rush defense but fortunately for them the Patriots have serious troubles rushing the ball. On the contrary though, the Patriots may be on to something. In the regular season finale, LeGarrette Blount ran for 189 yards and 2 scores on the Patriots' way to a 14 point win over the Bills. With the loss of Gronk many people thought New England's season was over but there is a chance that the Pats have new hope. No matter how much the NFL leans towards the Quarterback, the Super Bowl Champion seems to always represent the team that got production from their running game and defense. This screams Patriots for me. With a shaky defense and a struggling offense all season it seems to be coming around for Brady and Co.

X-Factor: Griff Whalen/Da'rick Rogers

     You are probably saying who? Indy came into the season with their Wide Receiver depth chart as such. 1. Reggie Wayne 2. TY Hilton 3. Darius Heyward-Bey
      Well things have clearly changed with the injury from Wayne and lack of production from DHB. Whalen and Rogers sport the 2 and 3 slots for the Colts. If you know anything about football, you know that Belichick will shut down TY Hilton who had a monster week against the Chiefs. Coverage will lean towards Hilton and all types of schemes will focus on shutting him down. While this may seem problematic, this does open up opportunities for the 2 and 3. Therefore, Whalen and Rogers production will determine the outcome of the game.

Final Score: Patriots-34 Colts-27

My Thoughts on the NFL's Week 6

1. Thad Lewis and the Bills put up a valiant effort but it wasn't enough to stop a Cincinnati team that may be just good enough to claim the AFC North Divisional Title. It's simply going to come down to who wins the divisional games and the Bengals look like they are that team right now.

2. Is Brian Hoyer that good? Browns are 3-0 in games Hoyer played in (now out for the season) and are 0-3 with Weeden at the helm. They have young talent in Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron but Weeden is the problem and definitely not the answer. Look for the Browns to use their top picks to find that Quarterback. 

3. The Detroit Lions are sitting at a silent 4-2. They have done this all without a truly healthy Calvin Johnson. When he returns at full strength this team could make a playoff push. I think it'll come down to the Bears and Pack but we'll have to wait and see. Which leads me to my next thought. 

4. Green Bay's offense took 2 major hits (Cobb and Jones both suffered knee injuries) and looked awful but Baltimore looked even worse. A combined salary between Rodgers and Flacco of $230 million dollars and we got an abysmal performance. Both these teams look mediocre (both 3-3) but definitely have the potential to make the playoffs. 

5. The Chiefs keep on rolling. It took 24 unanswered points but the Chiefs are now 6-0 after their 24-7 victory today. I'd say the promising thing for the Raiders is possibly that they've found their QB. 7 points you might think I'm crazy but Terrelle Pryor has some talent and his new handcuff, Denarius Moore, goes along well with him. Look for the Raiders to build around Pryor in the draft.

6. Cam Newton appears back in form. He totaled 4 touchdowns in a rout of the Vikings and has now won 2 straight. Meanwhile the defense has looked stellar in their past 2 performances. I'd say this team is rebuilding but the Falcons have been terrible and the Bucs don't have a win so as it stands the Panthers are 2nd in the division. Prayers out to AP whose son was just killed.

7. The Jets came out with a major letdown allowing Pittsburgh to notch its first W of the season. Pittsburgh still has a chance in this weak division but I wouldn't say its a great one. As for NY, I'd say they're not a playoff team but Geno is definitely their guy.

8. The Eagles have won 2 in a row and are all of a sudden in 1st place at 3-3 (Dallas and Washington are playing right now). The Bucs have the talent but not the Quarterback. Although he played excellent today, you can't win a SuperBowl with this guy. Right?

9. Cheering when your starting QB gets hurt. Stay Classy, Houston. 2 comments on the QB situation here. T.J. Yates came in and threw a pick sick totaling 5 straight games with one. 2nd, Vince Young tweeted that he's ready to come back and play and would love to for his home state. No chance Houston signs VY but I personally would love to see it. St. Louis though looked very impressive in the blowout win. They are definitely building and should end up around 8-8 this year. Promising for the Rams.

10. Denver didn't look impressive nor did they cover the spread but they got their 6th straight win and are now tied atop the division with aforementioned Kansas City. Knowshon Moreno is thriving with all these running lanes but Denver is vulnerable. The Jags received their participation ribbons in a valiant effort as well as giving the rest of the league game tape on how to exploit the corners. 2nd yr wideout Justin Blackmon came up with 14 catches for 190 yards.

11. Tennessee's lone touchdown came off the flukiest of plays. (The kicker was hurt so the punter who's the usual holder had to kick so the Seahawks brought in a new holder who muffed the snap then tried throwing the ball got stripped and the Titans took it to the house.) Besides this absurd play, Seattle's defense looked stout and Russell Wilson improved to 11-0 at home.

12. Tom Brady is still very very good. While he hadn't thrown a touchdown in the past two games, in the final 5 ticks of the game on Sunday, Brady pinpointed a pass to the rookie Kenbrell Thompkins to secure a win and a 5-1 record. The Patriots gutted one out and still don't have Gronk back. This team could be really good. The Saints took a rough loss but are still running away with the division.

13. My final thought is that Vernon Davis is also very very good. While Davis only totaled 1 catch for 10 yards in the second half, his monster 7 for 170 in the 1st was all that was necessary. San Fran doesn't look like the team that got to the Super Bowl last year but are still a healthy 4-2. They need to find their mojo and get back to hard nosed football. 

NFL Week 1 Reaction to Key Games

Here's my Week 1 Reaction to the Key or Important games.

Ravens vs. Broncos (49-27 Denver) 

The opening game of the NFL season debuted on Thursday night with the reigning Super Bowl Champs heading out to the Mile High City to compete in a rematch of last year's dramatic AFC Divisional playoff game. The Ravens looked good, holding a 17-14 lead at the half but it all went south from there. Peyton Manning ended up throwing for 7 touchdowns on the way to a bashing of the Ravens. Manning with his new weapons Wes Welker and Tight End Julius Thomas each had 2 touch downs and Demaryius Thomas added a pair of his own. The Broncos offense looked unbelievable and is why I can't see them not winning the AFC crown. They have 6 cup cake games against the Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders. A 13-3 or 14-2 record is in their future. The only question I have for them is come playoff time when it is time to grind out games. Who's their running back? Remember these 2 things. Once everyone went to bed, the Ravens started coming back because Denver started running the ball. Also, Denver ran 23 times for only 65 yards. That's not going to get it done come playoff time.

As for the Ravens, they just looked abysmal. Flacco actually played solid but between Dallas Clark and Ed Dickson's drops and Jacoby Jones freak injury, Flacco had no chance. Marlon Brown stepped in well as the 2nd wide out but Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce were ineffective. The defense couldn't cover or tackle especially the secondary. Their poor performance could force rookie Matt Elam into the lineup as well as rookie linebacker Arthur Brown. But with all the bad, I saw some hope for the Ravens. Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil each recorded a sack and as I mentioned above, the Broncos only rushed for 65 yards on 23 carries. The Ravens with Ray Lewis would be fine but going forward I'm not sure exactly what is in store for Baltimore. I believe they will murder the Browns but after that we'll have to wait and see.

Falcons vs. Saints (23-17 New Orleans)

All the hype going into the game was about Sean Payton's return after his Bounty Gate suspension. All the talk of the Saints offense getting their mastermind play caller back was great but what should truly be acknowledged is the addition of Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator. Set as a predicted shootout, Rob Ryan's defense allowed only 17 points in a spectacular effort. If before the game you told me Matty Ice would have the ball down 6 in the redzone on the last drive, 10 out of 10 times I would've said the Falcons would have come out victorious. Give credit to the Saints, they held and showed me two things. They improved magically over the offseason on defense. Their record setting defense (bad records) had greatly improved. And two. Bold prediction. The New Orleans Saints will win the division. The Saints just have their mojo back.

The Falcons will be fine. They should easily grab a playoff spot and it wouldn't shock me if they won the division. They have a stupid good offense and Roddy White was hobbled the entire game. The Birds will be fine just fine.











Packers vs. 49ers (34-28 San Francisco)

In a great sunday afternoon shootout, we saw Colin Kaepernick completely dominate the Green Bay defense. This time, though, he did it with his arm rather than his legs. Kaepernick threw for 412 yards and three scores and showed us again why Anquan Boldin was Joe Flacco's favorite target. Boldin could not be stopped. He quickly ridded all doubt that he would be able to fill in for the injured Michael Crabtree. Kaep also seemed to find a new connection with TE Vernon Davis. After not targeting Davis much in the 11 games they played together last season, Kaepernick found him for 2 scores. The defense was put to the test against Aaron Rodgers but faired alright. Especially rookie safety Eric Reid who picked off Rodgers and did well in his first career game.

The Pack will also be alright. People are really sleeping on the Bears who I think will be a solid squad this year but with that being said, Rodgers will claim the division title. They simply have too many weapons to be stopped. They totaled 28 points against arguably the best defense in the league. All I have to say is good luck Washington.






Eagles vs. Redskins (33-27 Eagles)

The score doesn't really tell the real story of this game. The Eagles ran an NFL record 51 plays in the first half with Chip Kelly's new up tempo offense. While I think there was a major over reaction to the Eagles success, I still think the Eagles may establish themselves as a very dangerous team. People saying they'll win the division now or McCoy will lead the league in rushing are nice thoughts but I think at least for now are a little quick on the trigger. The defense played great in the first half but struggled when RG3 shook off the rust. Also, Vick came up hobbled a few times and there's a slim chance he starts all 16 games this season. Would it surprise me if the Eagles won the division? Absolutely not. A weak division and a good looking offensive scheme. But talk to me at the quarter mark and I'll update my thoughts on the BirdGang.

Woah. The 'Skins defense looked horrible. They got thrashed by McCoy, Vick, and Bryce Brown. RG3 looked mediocre at best. And Alfred Morris struggled early and often. I can't see this team returning to the post season. You might say, and rightfully so, isn't that an overreaction. It may be but I believe all 3 teams in the NFC East made nice additions in the offseason and Washington did not. My prediction, the Redskins will finish LAST in their division.

Who's Ready for Some Football?

I'm finally back. After a nice hiatus, I am ready to talk some football.
In today's article, I'll be breaking down 2 teams that I think will surprise you this season and 2 teams I think will disappoint you this season.

SURPRISE
1. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs acquired former Number 1 pick Alex Smith this offseason for a second round pick. The extremely efficient Smith will be a major upgrade from the abysmal Quarterbacks the Cheifs had last year. Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn combined for an impressive 2-14 record (sarcasm) and earned their team the Number 1 overall selection. Quite a nice thing to do. With that pick, the Chiefs selected Offensive Tackle Eric Fisher out of Central Michigan. This pick will solidify whichever side of the line the Chiefs choose to place him on. May I add that Jamaal Charles will be fully healthy minus the ankle injury he just turned in the pre season. Nothing more than a minor injury. Complement Dwayne Bowe, Charles, Alex Smith with a defense that sent 4 pro bowlers to Hawaii last season and you have major room for improvement. The Chiefs also get to play the weak Chargers and Raiders twice this season as well as the Browns and Jaguars for finishing last in the division. To put the cherry on top the Chiefs signed former Eagle Head Coach Andy Reid to be their main man. Reid is an excellent offensive coach and could form this KC team into a very effective offensive squad. Don't be surprised when the Chiefs make an enormous improvement from last year's season.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got off to a very solid 6-4 record last season before losing 5 out of their last 6 games. Although finishing 7-9, the Buccaneers fell 7 times by only one score. This shows that while they may have been an immature team inept at finishing games, they were close in almost every game they participated in. Given they had a new coach, new schemes, and an inexperienced Quarterback this is not only understandable but it is actually promising. With a year under their belts, maybe the the Bucs win some of those close games and make a push for a playoff spot. Doug Martin was the breakout star last year for them and should continue as their game breaking back. The Bucs also made major improvements in solidifying their secondary. Adding lock down corner Darelle Revis will be an incredible advantage to the rest of the Buccaneer defense. Playing with second year safety Mark Barron and newly acquired Dashon Goldson behind Revis the Buc front 7 will have plenty of time to pressure the quarterback. The Bucs play in a tough division but definitely have the pieces to compete for a playoff bid this year.

DISAPPOINTMENT
1. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins may have been in my surprise section if not for some bad reports from camp and the recent loss of Tight End Dustin Keller. In the offseason, the Phins got speedster Mike Wallace from Pittsburgh and Middle Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe from the Ravens. Reports from the Dolphins training camp say that Wallace isn't as impressive as they had hoped and that he isn't quite on the same page as young Quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill should make improvements this season but just lost his security blanket to a season ending knee injury. Tannehill and Keller looked like they were on the same page in the pre season which was important for Tannehill who has yet to have any tight end take the pressure off with short dump off passes. Shifting to the defense, the Dolphins aren't a very good defensive squad and I don't think Ellerbe makes them that much better. Check Bart Scott or Adalius Thomas if you want proof that playing with Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis is what makes you a good Raven linebacker. Don't be surprised if the Dolphins finish worse than their 7-9 record last season.

2. St. Louis Rams

The Rams ended last season 7-8-1 and I don't see much potential for them to improve. The Rams now compete in the tough NFC West while 2 years ago it was the laughing stock of the NFL. The Seahawks and 49ers are the top two teams in the NFC and the Cardinals added Carson Palmer making them a decent team. Just playing within the division I can't see the Rams even going 3-3. 2-4 would be a success for them. St. Louis added an exciting receiver Tavon Austin in the draft but I can't see him making the impact that he's projected to make. While Danny Amendola was hurt for St. Louis most of the time he was there, he was still their best receiver and now they no longer have him. They also let veteran Running Back Steven Jackson go and didn't really add any important pieces on defense. Expect St. Louis to be back in the top 5 of next year's draft.

NBA Mock Draft Picks 6-10

Here goes my next 5 selections for the mock draft.

Disclaimer: Many sources have said that the Cavaliers are probably going to pick Nerlens Noel Number 1 overall. With that being said, I'm still sticking with my pick and hoping they select Otto Porter.

To recap the Top 5 as predicted by Sportacular Sports
1. Otto Porter
2. Trey Burke
3. Nerlens Noel
4. Ben McLemore
5. Victor Oladipo



6. New Orleans Pelicans 

The newly named Pelicans have one piece set. That's their big Center from Kentucky, Anthony Davis, who they selected with the first overall pick last year. He didn't quite live up to the hype but produced a solid first year. In an attempt to build on their team, the Pelicans can get better in a lot of places. I actually like their backcourt in Grevis Vasquez and Austin Rivers. I think it might be smart to hold on to Eric Gordon because he can fill the stat sheet but it might not be a bad idea to move him for some role players. So, I think the Pelicans might be set...for now..with the guards and will try to solidify their front court. While this forward from UNLV may go at 3 to the Wizards, the Pelicans will gladly select ANTHONY BENNETT with the 6th overall selection. Bennett can possibly develop at the 3 position but also bang with the bigs down low when needed. He is a nice versatile option that will help build this young team.

7. Sacramento Kings

Wow, did the Kings have a season in flux last year. First off, they didn't know where they'd be playing next season. Next, they were just awful. And finally, they traded their top draft pick from last year's draft in Thomas Robinson. The Kings, for some reason, are terrible. They actually have some pieces that you would think could place them at least in the middle of the West. Demarcus Cousins, even with the character issues, is a stud center. Tyreke Evans is electric. And the bench players can fill it up from outside. The Kings, I believe are going to take another big man to compliment Cousins down low and take away some double teams. Their man will be ALEX LEN out of Maryland. Residing from Maryland, I watch Len play often and I personally would hate this pick if I were a Kings fan. Len plays soft down low and can't really dominate a game. He's being purely picked by potential and will enter the season recovering from a broken bone in his foot. Nevertheless, the Kings grab Len with the 7th selection.

8. Detroit Pistons

Like the Kings, the Pistons actually have a few nice pieces. After a decade of dominance, Detroit has been awful for the past few years. With Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, the Pistons will look to strengthen their guards. Which is why I think they'll take MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS out of Syracuse. MCW, as they nickname him, is my pick for the steal of the draft and possibly the best player in the entire draft class. Yeah I said it. Carter-Williams stands at an enormous 6-6 for a point guard and has tremendous vision. In a draft class lacking in star power, I think Carter-Williams could be the guy. It may take him a few years to develop a more consistent jump shot but I believe he has the ability to be great. The NBA is becoming more dependent on athleticism than basketball skills this day and age and that is exactly what MCW presents.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

The T-wolves are just never healthy. They have guys like Kevin Love (all-star) and Ricky Rubio but they never ever seem to be on the floor together. Kevin Love, when healthy, is actually one of the best big men in the league. He gets the team 20 and 10 every night and can even stretch the floor with a trey ball. Rubio is the same but different. He obviously is a point guard who is an excellent facilitator. But he has two problems. He can't stay healthy and he has no one to facilitate to. Therefore, Minnesota will look for a strong wing. So for the second straight pick, a long name will be selected. KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE out of Georgia. He fits the team's need and can knock down the deep ball. Pope has great potential but will he fill out is the question.

10. Portland Trailblazers

As the draft progresses, we see that the better teams have the better pieces. The blazers have Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard, big man LaMarcus Aldridge, and a bunch of other solid complementary pieces. I think Portland has two options at the number 10 spot. First, they could go for another big man and push Aldridge to the 4 or select a big wing like the Timberwolves a slot before. If Minnesota does select Caldwell-Pope then I believe the Trailblazers go big man at #10. So, in the final pick of today's mock draft, the Portland Trailblazers select CODY ZELLER out of Indiana. This may be a reach at 10 but my argument for why this is a reasonable pick is this. The scouts and critics say Zeller should stay an extra season at Indiana to develop his game. While I totally agree with this, Zeller is still going to be able to develop his game in the pros. So essentially he may be wasting a year in the NBA but that doesn't mean he won't be a great player when he does become fully developed. Only about a quarter of all NBA drafts have an impact on their team in their rookie season. So I think Zeller will develop into an energy guy who can aid the team.