Weekly Picks...A shortened edition

Hello all. Welcome to my shortened edition of picks. As we all know, this is the last week of college basketball's regular season. I am excited for the week of conference tournaments where teams like Stetson shock Florida Atlantic, Drake wins the MVC or South Florida beats UConn.

Anyway, enough emotional babble. Let's see some picks, right?! C'mon guys! Let's go!

Wednesday--March 1

DUKE at Florida State-- In Durham, Duke beat FSU by one point. One! Duke is still rolling, though. They will win this one by a few. Call it Duke by three.

Colorado at KANSAS-- Kansas will gain some momentum heading into the Big 12 tournament with a big home win. Colorado will need to win a game in the conference tournament to solidify a spot in the tourney. Kansas by four.

Kentucky at TENNESSEE-- Tennessee is a better team. Kentucky has seen an improvement lately in their style of play, but it still has major flaws. Tennessee is home, so I'll take the Vols by six.

Thursday-- March 2

Wisconsin at MICHIGAN STATE-- It's so hard to win on the road in the Big 10. Michigan State is more talented, but they are a team I've tagged as a potential tournament bust. State by eight.

MEMPHIS at UAB-- Memphis will be able to keep running with UAB. I like this matchup, as UAB is the only real challenge to Memphis in the Conference USA. Memphis by three.

UCLA at Cal-- UCLA is the best team in the Pac-10. Cal will put up a good fight, but the Bruins are the superior pack of bears. UCLA by five.

Friday--March 3

Seton Hall at PITT-- It's Carl Krauser's senior night. Hopefully he doesn't pull another 3-for-16 shooting night. Pitt by eight.

Saturday--March 4

ILLINOIS at Michigan State-- Illinois is so good. Michigan State just gives me the willies. Illinois wins by three.

West Virginia at CINCINNATI-- West Virginia seems like they are vulnerable. Cincinnati needs this win a lot more. 'Nati by three.

Wisconsin at IOWA-- Wisconsin might be playing themselves out of the tournament if my predictions are accurate. This is another really tough road game for the Badgers, so maybe the Committee will see the difficulty in their games and give them a break. Iowa by four.

UNC at DUKE-- Duke will win this game on every screen ESPN shows it. Duke is a better team this year, but UNC is hitting its stride with their youngsters. Next year, Duke won't have it so easy. Expect a good one. Duke by two.

Friday--March 5

Florida at KENTUCKY-- Florida is garbage. They're 5-5 in their last 10. Kentucky needs it more. Kentucky by six.

OKLAHOMA at Texas-- It's the Bruce Greer Birthday Upset Special. Yes, March 5 is my dad's birthday. Yes, I am picking Oklahoma over Texas. By how many? Say, three.


Well that will do it until conference tournaments. I will come up with some awards for a post later in the week, I promise.

Winners: 98-50
Spread: 68-80

George Steinbrenner? Ha!

Just some thoughts in the absence of too many weekly picks:

-It's a good thing Steinbrenner is so confident in his Yankees to win the World Series. With that rotation, I don't know if he should be confident they can even win the division. Wait until July to see who is still starting for the Yanks. If Aaron Small, Chien-mien Wang and Shawn Chacon pitch well, then all the power to 'em. Let's see if they can duplicate last year's miraculous second half. Plus, Randy Johnson isn't getting any younger.

-The Red Sox will not win 90 games this year. I'm sorry. Curt Schilling throws more meatballs than Emeril Legazzi after his show got canceled. Mike Lowell will hit a nice .230 and Josh Beckett will enjoy his first, second and third rehab stints in Pawtucket before topping out at 10 starts for the Sox.

-The Indians are my early pick to win the World Series. They came close last year and added some veteran starting pitching to their staff. Watch out for Andy Marte. He will be playing third by July and producing like a young Chipper Jones.

-Will Ozzie Guillen just shut up? Please, just keep your mouth shut and go home. Nobody cares what you think. A-Rod will do what he wants. Your team cheated their way to the World Series and played one of the worst offensive teams in the history of the Fall Classic. I'm surprised AJ Pierzynski hasn't done anything to alienate the 263 White Sox fans left on the planet. Oh, but wait, they just won the Series, so they have what, a couple thousand fans now? Just like the Red Sox the year before, thousands of "huge, relieved" fans came out of the woodwork when they won the Series.

-That being said, the White Sox will still be good. My early thoughts lead me to a 92-95 win season. Closer to Opening Day, I will probably increase that number.

-Does anyone care about the National League? They haven't won a game in the World Series in two years and the AL has won the last eight All-Star games. The Mets will probably manage to lose 75 games despite their lineup. The Cardinals supporting staff of Pujols isn't getting any younger. Man, I am furious today.

Anyway, those are some quick thoughts on the Major Leagues. More when it gets closer to the season.

ps Did I already tell Ozzie Guillen to shut the hell up? No? Ozzie, shut your friggin' pie hole. You are not entertaining anymore, just annoying. Go away.

Weekly Picks: Shortened Edition

Sorry for the wait, folks. I know some of you out there are nervous about me and my absence. Fear not, faithful readers, for I am suffering from a rare, acute illness otherwise known as laziness. I will pick winners just from Thursday to Sunday this week. (Huzzah for Tennessee, by the way, who beat Florida 76-72 to complete a season sweep and show the world that Florida IS NOT THAT GOOD.)

Season records:

Winners-26-16 last week to bring the total to 86-43
Spread- 24-18 to bring the season tally to 58-71

Thursday--February 23rd

GEORGE MASON at Hofstra--This is a huge game in the CAA. The battle for the beans. The fight for the right to party come Selection Sunday. George Mason will win this game because they are one of the hottest teams in the country, carrying an 8-game winning streak into tonight's game. George Mason, in a close one, by 2.

VILLANOVA at Cincinnati--Cincinnati is coming around and Andy Kennedy is making headway as a top coaching prospect for teams with vacancies this summer. Villanova, in my opinion, is the best team in the country. They will handle the Bearcats rough defense and score more than Cincinnati will. That is how you win, isn't it? The argument seems foolish--and it is--but 'Nova will win because they are just too good. Villanova by 5.

Friday--February 24th

East Tennessee State at LIPSCOMB--The last time these two teams played, Lipscomb won by two in a thriller. This time, Brian Fisk and Eddie Ard will bring the pain. LIPSCOMB by 5.

Saturday--February 25th

SYRACUSE at Georgetown--I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Hoyas' victory over Rutgers might be even bigger than their win over Duke. They were sliding out of the top 25 and back onto the bubble with three straight losses. Syracuse needs this game and they are very hot right now. It's hard picking against Georgetown at home, but I have a feeling about this one. Syracuse by 4.

Arkansas at TENNESSEE--Coming off the huge win over 'Bama, Arkansas will hit a brick wall when they reach Knoxville. Tennessee just proved that they are the studs of the SEC. This will be one heck of a game. Tennessee by 2.

Michigan at OHIO STATE--The Buckeyes are playing good basketball right now. Michigan is coming off an emotional win so we'll see if they can keep the energy high on Saturday. I don't think they can in this rivalry game. State by 5.

Louisville at WEST VIRGINIA--Louisville is playing their way out of the NCAA tournament, despite the deceiving tally of 17 wins. West Virginia is far superior to the Cardinals in every aspect and now David Padgett is out for the season. See you next year, Louisville. West Virginia by 9.

NORTHERN IOWA at Southern Illinois--Northern Iowa is a tough team and looks like a Sweet 16 candidate. Southern Illinois is struggling and squarely on the bubble. This will be a good game, like every other MVC matchup. Northern Iowa by 3.

Kentucky at LSU--Yes, I am picking against the university that hails from my birthplace, Lexington, Ky. Nonetheless, LSU is a better team AND they have the Wildcats at home. Kentucky, I think, is in the tournament, so a loss here isn't too bad. LSU by 4.

Boston College at NC STATE--How about NC State stinking up the joint against UNC? Maybe I was wrong about the Tar Heels...nah, they are still garbage. Boston College is too. Heck, the ACC should just give Duke the conference tournament bid now and avoid the embarrassment of having one of the worst conference finals in ACC history. NC State by 6.

Nebraska at TEXAS A&M--I like these teams. I really do. But I think a loss to A&M here puts Nebraska out of the tournament. In fact, I think they are probably done anyway. Texas A&M by 5.

MARQUETTE at Notre Dame--Marquette can beat anyone in the Big East at this point. They are playing solid ball. Notre Dame will probably have a chance to win this game and blow it. Just shocking if you ask me. Marquette by 1.

Iowa at ILLINOIS--Picking this game is hard. These are two good teams with legitimate shots at making a run in the NCAA tournament. Illinois wins, because they are home, by 3.

Providence at PITT--The Panthers do not lose at home. Providence has been playing well lately, but they blew their chance of beating Pitt this year in the second half of the game in the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Pitt by 7.

Creighton at MISSOURI STATE--This is another huge MVC game. The loser of this game is in serious trouble of not making the tournament. State wins by 3, but Creighton will still find a way to get in the tourney.

Kansas at TEXAS--I think Texas could very well lose this game. Kansas plays without fear and some serious athleticism. They could cause Texas trouble. But the Longhorns are home and making a push for a 1 seed. Texas by 4.

Sunday--February 26th

MICHIGAN STATE at Indiana--Indiana's season went from shocking group of upstart, energetic players to disenfranchised, timid losers. And it's not Mike Davis' fault. Michigan State by 5.

VILLANOVA at UConn--I don't know why, but I have that feeling again. UConn will be at home, yes, but they don't have the guard play to keep with 'Nova. Cats by 3.

Florida at ALABAMA--Ronald Steele will be the best player on the court. Oh, slam! Florida just got served! 'Bama by 3.

CAL at Washington--Both good teams. Cal needs it more. Cal by 4.



That concludes another edition of Weekly Picks. To reiterate: The ACC is trash, Florida stinks, Villanova and Duke are clear and away the best teams in the country and I am a very lazy person.

JG Poll: Feb. 20-26

Here is my new JG Top 25:

1. Villanova
2. Duke
3. UConn
4. Memphis
5. Gonzaga
6. Illinois
7. Texas
8. Pitt
9. Tennessee
10. George Washington
11. Ohio State
12. NC State
13. Kansas
14. West Virginia
15. Washington
16. Florida
17. UCLA
18. BC
19. Iowa
20. Oklahoma
21. Michigan State
22. LSU
23. George Mason
24. Nevada
25. Northern Iowa

I don't think North Carolina is worthy of a ranking. I think Boston College is still garbage and will lose in either the first or second round of the tournament regardless of their seed. Florida dropped because they haven't played well lately. Georgetown played themselves out of the rankings with three straight losses.

George Mason played well on the road and earned a ranking. Nevada is a very good team that will cause trouble in the tournament. Northern Iowa is ranked here because there is no one else to put in that 25th spot. They barely beat Bucknell at home, and it took a crafty clock operator to give them the chance to win.

Tune in later today for my picks of the week.

Projecting the Seeds and the Final Four

With Selection Sunday just four more Sundays away, I thought I'd do something risky for a change: I'm going to predict the top 32 teams in the tournament by seed. To top it all off, I will project Final Four teams, a title game and a champ'een. So, here goes nothin':

Atlanta Washington DC Minneapolis Oakland

Duke Villanova Memphis Connecticut Pittsburgh Tennessee Gonzaga Texas Florida Ohio State West Virginia George Washington Iowa Illinois UCLA Boston College Georgetown NC State Michigan State Oklahoma LSU North Carolina Kansas Washington California Colorado Northern Iowa Wisconsin Seton Hall Wichita State Southern Illinois Michigan

Here are some teams that will probably find themselves somewhere between a 9 and a 13 seed that will cause the aforementioned clubs some problems:

ARIZONA 15-9 RPI: 20 SOS:5 A club that was supposed to be good at the beginning of the year and has struggled all season. Really dangerous in the tournament.

GEORGE MASON 20-5 RPI: 27 SOS: 87 Would create havoc against 5 and 6 seeds.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 18-8 RPI: 28 SOS: 60 They come from the Missouri Valley and they will compete with fire and heart, not unlike Captain Planet.

MISSOURI STATE 17-7 RPI: 29 SOS: 42 Sometimes when we touch, this 10 seed is too much.

CREIGHTON 17-7 RPI: 30 SOS: 58 Even without Nate Funk for the majority of the season, the Blue Jays still compete harder than their pro baseball dopple gangers.

NEVADA 19-5 RPI: 32 SOS: 97 Just beat Louisiana Tech for a huge conference win. Nick Fazekas is crazy delicious.

CINCINNATI 17-9 RPI: 33 SOS: 8 They got a big win at Syracuse. They have scorers and kids that just like to play. Unfortunately, the name across their chest will probably hurt them in the end.

MARQUETTE 16-8 RPI: 36 SOS: 29 They can play with the big teams in the Big East. Hell, they beat UConn. Watch out for them as a nine, ten or 11 seed. Trouble's a-brewin'.


Here is my Elite Eight if the tournament started today, and the seeds were in the order I projected:

Atlanta Regional Final: 1 Duke vs. 6 LSU
Washington Regional Final: 1 Villanova vs. 3 Ohio State
Minneapolis Regional Final: 4 UCLA vs. 2 Gonzaga
Oakland Regional Final: 1 UConn vs. 2 Texas

Yeah, you gotta have some upsets. Believe me, I do. LSU stunned Pitt in the Sweet 16. Michigan State beat Memphis. Texas beats UConn. UCLA sneaks into the Final Four.

Final Four: 2 Texas-1 Duke at 6pm EST and 1 Villanova-4 UCLA at 9pm EST

Championship: Duke-Villanova

Winners: Villanova

Boy, that UConn-'Nova game really convinced me of Villanova's potential. This is just some rampant prediction, so just enjoy it as such.

Villanova 69, UConn 64

As Mike Patrick would say, "Holy Toledo!"

Man oh man, the 'Cats of Villanova are just nasty. They operate at full octane for about 35 minutes a game, and when they are on, they are downright tough.

Kyle Lowry and Allan Ray put on a show last night, each picking a half to dominate. Randy Foye had a tough night-- 3 for 10 shooting, just 10 points-- but it didn't matter as Ray and Lowry combined for 43 points and seven steals.

'Nova was everywhere. UConn couldn't put the ball on the floor during the big Villanova runs or they'd lose it. The Wildcats just ran, ran and then ran some more.

UConn was able to start the second half well, going on a 13-0 run to open up a 12-point lead. During that stretch, the Huskies controlled the pace of the game and used their inside presence to their advantage. But foul trouble and stubborn coaching allowed 'Nova to get back in the game and play at the tempo they wanted.

Jim Calhoun is one of the best coaches around, no doubt about it. He is arguably one of the top three or four college coaches of all-time. But last night, his old fashioned, New England stubbornness lost the game for UConn.

He goes by the principle that if a player has two fouls in the first half, he will sit the remainder of the half. In the second half, if the player collects a third foul, he will sit until the clock reaches single digits and then maybe, just maybe, he will return.

Last night, Marcus Williams, debatably the best ball handler and point guard in the country, committed his second foul with 6:25 left in the first half. He sat the rest of the period, leaving freshman Craig Austrie as the default point guard. Austrie is good, don't get me wrong, but in that atmosphere and that kind of pressure, he is in trouble.

Why is he in trouble? Because Austrie and Williams are the only two legitimate ball handlers on the team. Rashad Anderson and Denham Brown combined for five turnovers last night, often dribbling to the wings without paying attention to the collapsing guards returning from the 1-2-2 press.

Calhoun isn't the only coach who practices this, but Williams committed his third foul with 18:07 left in the game, and immediately sat. Not that Williams had a great game-- six turnovers while just five of 13 shooting-- but he is the team leader and primary floor general. Without him on the floor, UConn looked lost. The guards of Villanova were too quick for Josh Boone, Rudy Gay or Hilton Armstrong to be dribbling towards the corners without being aware of the crashing guards.

Villanova had 13 team steals, 13! If they win the turnover battle, they will sink their opponents. The outside shooting brought 'Nova back in the game in the second half. The slashing ability of Kyle Lowry gave them the lead in the first period. The combination of a hot-handed Allan Ray with baseline jumpshooting virutuoso Will Sheridan will devastate any team 'Nova plays.

I would not want to be the coach that prepares for Villanova in the tournament. If Kyle Lowry is penetrating at will, Randy Foye and Allan Ray are shooting, slashing and dishing, and Will Sheridan and Jason Fraser get going down low, this team might very well win the NCAA title (and that's without me even mentioning Mike Nardi, one of the best point guards in basketball). The keys for 'Nova come tournament time will be maintaining the high level of pressure and intensity on defense, taking smart shots, creating scoring chances off the dribble and getting the big men involved. If they can avoid foul trouble and health problems, this 'Nova team could hustle and heart its way to a national title.

What a game. I hope we see the same in Storrs in less than two weeks. Last night was one of the best games I've seen in a while-- and I've seen a whole lot of college basketball. The speed of Villanova was just electric, but let's see how they do on the road without the energy of the Wachovia Center behind them.

I love this here game of basketball. Or "Baskabawl" as Dicky V. would say.

JG Polls: February 13-19

A few teams lost but most of 'em won.


1. UConn
2. Duke
3. Villanova
4. Texas
5. Memphis
6. Gonzaga
7. Tennessee
8. UCLA
9. Pitt
10. George Washington
11. Florida
12. Michigan State
13. West Virginia
14. Illinois
15. NC State
16. Iowa
17. Ohio State
18. Georgetown
19. Washington
20. Northern Iowa
21. Kansas
22. Creighton
23. Michigan
24. North Carolina
25. Wichita State

You see, I rate teams based on how good they are, not by the names across their chests. Tennessee is the real deal and the best team in the SEC. I have no respect for the ACC except for Duke and NC State. The Big East and Big Ten are the best conferences in the country. Third best? The Missouri Valley.

Hate it or love it, that is my top 25.

Third Edition of Weekly Picks

I'm back and arguably better than ever. After a glorious start to winners/losers predictions, I have slowed down slightly. My totals are as follows:

Game Winners: 60-27
Covering My Spread: 34-53

See how hard it is to pick a spread and then have it covered?

Anyway, on to my picks and then I will post my rankings.


MONDAY--February 13th

UCONN at Villanova--I just think UConn has too much size and depth for the 'Cats. It will be a good one though. UCONN by 4.

KANSAS at Oklahoma State- Best wishes to Eddie Sutton, who was injured this past week in a car accident. His team is struggling and Kansas is on fire. KANSAS by 6.

Louisiana Tech at NEVADA- I love Nick Fazekas. He is great. And that is why Nevada will run away with the WAC after this win. NEVADA by 3.

TUESDAY--February 14th

Alabama at SOUTH CAROLINA- This is the kind of game that makes my spread covering look so bad. SOUTH CAROLINA by 2.

Creighton at WICHITA STATE- Huge game for both teams and a really tough week for Wichita State. They should win at home in this MVC showdown. STATE by 3.

WEST VIRGINIA at Seton Hall- It doesn't get any easier for the rest of the way for the Pirates. After losing by 42, yeah read it again, to UConn, they need to get back on track ASAP before their tournament resume becomes worthless. Tough break. WEST VIRGINIA by 5.

Wake Forest at DUKE- This one's a no-brainer. Skip Prosser wants to leave and Duke has the nation's best player and coach. DUKE by 7.

MARYLAND at Clemson- Huge game for both teams. Maryland needs to resurrect their season if they want to reach the tourney. Same with Clemson. I like the TERRAPINS by 3.

Michigan State at IOWA- Iowa is the best team in the Big Ten. Michigan State has the most talent. This will be a good one. IOWA by one.

WEDNESDAY--February 15th

Minnesota at MICHIGAN- Michigan is coming off a really tough week and Minnesota is coming off a big road win. MICHIGAN will win because they need to, and they'll take it by 4.

Florida State at NC STATE- NC State is the only other good team in the ACC after Duke. Florida State doesn't really win close games and this time won't be any different. NC STATE by 5.

Hofstra at UNC-WILMINGTON- This is a huge game for the CAA crown. There is a three-way tie atop the conference and this game could be the difference. I like NC-WILMINGTON at home and I like them as the conference champs. UNCW by 3.

South Florida at NOTRE DAME- Finally, the Irish can breathe. This shouldn't be an awfully tough challenge for Notre Dame, but don't sleep on the fiesty Bulls. NOTRE DAME by 4.

St. John's at RUTGERS- And suddenly, St. John's is terrible. They will continue losing with a nice, 4 point loss to RUTGERS at the RAC.

Cincinnati at SYRACUSE- And the mighty wall came tumblin' down. Syracuse by 5.

PITT at Providence- PC will provide two worthy characters in Herbert Hill and Randall Hanke to guard Aaron Gray. But Pitt's depth is too much for the up-and-coming Friars. Pitt by 3.

Nebraska at IOWA STATE- The Cyclones need to take their fury out on someone and Nebraska is in town. It won't be a bad game either. IOWA STATE by 3.

Georgia at KENTUCKY- The definition of overrated plays host to a decent Georgia team. Kentucky is at home and really needs this one. UK by 7.

OHIO STATE at Wisconsin- Huge game for Wisconsin. They have to win to stay on the bubble. If they lose, they will start sliding down the wrong end of the proverbial bubble and maybe out of consideration. OHIO STATE by 2.

OKLAHOMA at Colorado- Two overrated teams collide in Boulder for the ultimate throwdown. Or just another lackluster Big 12 snoozer. Oklahoma by 3.

THURSDAY--February 16th

Miami at BOSTON COLLEGE- I picked Miami a few times and I just don't know why. Forget about them. Boston College by 7.

GEORGETOWN at Marquette- Look for the Hoyas to rebound after the tough loss to West Virginia. GEORGETOWN by 5.

Arizona at CAL- Huge game for both teams as they prepare for their February and March runs at a tournament bid. CAL by 1.

FRIDAY--February 17th

Akron at NEVADA- I love the idea of a "BracketBuster" weekend. Nevada wins because a) they are home and b) Akron will have traveled very far. Great reasoning huh? Nevada by 3.

PROVIDENCE at Cincinnati- The Bearcats are falling fast and hard. PC is growing up. Expect it to be sloppy but PC wins by 3.

SATURDAY--February 18th

DEPAUL at St. John's- I am picking against the Red Storm for the rest of the season. DePaul by 3.

Bucknell at NORTHERN IOWA- Oh baby! The matchup of the little guys. The Cinderellas meet in one ultimate contest. Northern Iowa by 3 in a thriller.

Iowa State at OKLAHOMA- This should be a tight affair, but I like Oklahoma at home. Sooners by 5.

Kentucky at SOUTH CAROLINA- Say goodbye to a tournament bid, UK, this game will puncture that bubble. South Carolina by 4.

Florida at ARKANSAS- This week's upset special. Arkansas is good. Florida is overrated. And I smell a tournament bid for the Razorbacks. Arkansas by 3.

UConn at WEST VIRGINIA- I got a fever. And the prescription is more Gansey. 'Eers by 3.

Michigan at MICHIGAN STATE- The Spartans are too good at home and too good period for a struggling Michigan club. MICHIGAN STATE by 4.

TENNESSEE at Alabama- The Volunteers are straight nasty. Too bad they will lose against a weird team in the first or second round. TENNESSEE by 6.

NOTRE DAME at Seton Hall- I don't know why, but I like the Irish in this one. ND by 3.

George Mason at WICHITA STATE- What a great matchup! I love these mid-majors duking it out on national tv. STATE by 5.

Louisville at SYRACUSE- The Orangemen are better than Louisville. That is reason enough to pick them at home. 'Cuse by 4.

PITT at Marquette- Pitt will roll into the Big East tourney. This is the second stop. PITT by 7.

SUNDAY--February 18th

Georgetown at VILLANOVA- Recovery Central in Philly. What a game. 'Nova by 3 in a fantastic Big East game.

UNC at Wake Forest- I guess this is kind of a rivalry. UNC will handle things though. UNC by 4.

Arizona at STANFORD- Another good game. Stanford will do the damn thang because they are home. STANFORD by 3.

Indiana at IOWA- Indiana stinks. Iowa is good. Iowa by 9.

Miami at DUKE- The guard play will keep Miami competitive but Duke is too good. Duke by 8.

UCLA at USC- The clamps will be on the basket when USC shoots. UCLA plays great D and wins big games. UCLA by 5.

Some great games on tap folks. Enjoy!

The JG Poll for February 6-12

This is my top 25 based on my perception of these teams:

1. UConn
2. Duke
3. Villanova
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. Memphis
7. Illinois
8. West Virginia
9. Michigan State
10. Gonzaga
11. UCLA
12. Tennessee
13. Pitt
14. George Washington
15. Georgetown
16. NC State
17. Iowa
18. Ohio State
19. LSU
20. Boston College
21. Michigan
22. Kansas
23. Northern Iowa
24. Washington
25. Colorado

Teams that are ranked by AP and ESPN that shouldn't be:

North Carolina, Oklahoma and Indiana.

Gonzaga isn't deserving of all their credit by the sports writers in the country. Memphis doesn't play anyone. George Washington doesn't either. BC and NC State are disrespected because the ACC is awful and doesn't deserve much respect at all. 'Nuff said.

Weekly Picks: Second Edition

So after a solid 32-11 start in picking winners, I feel confident heading into this week's picks. I'm a day late so I will just ignore last night's games and just do Tuesday through Sunday.

Anyway, I heard Dicky V. will be in town for Thursday night's Pitt-West Virginia game, which will be televised on ESPN at 9 p.m. Who's doing the play-by-play for WPTS-Pittsburgh, Pitt's campus radio station? None other than yours truly. Hey, maybe I'll meet Dick back in the media room, that would cool huh? I will keep you posted.

To the picks, and perhaps my demise after a good start:

Tuesday--February 7

TENNESSEE at Kentucky- Tennessee is the hottest team in the SEC and Kentucky just keep falling (in looooove, in love, with-a you...a little Alicia Keys for you). This game will be a close one, Tennessee by 3.

St. Joseph's at VILLANOVA- Remember when St. Joe's was great? Phil Martelli was the nation's hottest coach but now his club is 10-9 and about to get slaughtered. Villanova by 15.

MISSOURI at Baylor- Two of the country's most scandalous programs meet in a Big 12 showdown. While one team will obviously pay their players to beat the other team, who will probably play with no more than seven or eight dressed players, several of them soon to be wanted for murder. Inappropriate? Yes. Funny? Naturally. Missouri by 10.

Wichita State at NORTHERN IOWA- I love the MVC. My dad watched it growing up and now they are arguably one of the better conferences around. Look for the Panthers of Northern Iowa to rebound (pun intended) after a tough loss. Northern Iowa by 6.

PROVIDENCE at DePaul- DePaul doesn't have an answer inside for Randall Hanke. Providence is battling to make the Big East tournament, which would be nice considering they were expected to finish somewhere between 14th and 16th in the conference. Providence by 4.

DUKE at North Carolina- This will be a good game, I hope. But like the Steelers, you can expect Duke to have the officials on their side. Duke by 8.

Wednesday--February 8

ALBANY at Hartford- Look for Albany to get a key road victory led by Jamar Wilson. Hartford is struggling again, so this one shouldn't be too tough for Albany. Albany by 11.

South Carolina at FLORIDA- The Gators were just nasty against Kentucky and I don't see any reason why they won't win at home against a floundering South Carolina team. It's scramble mode in Columbia. Florida by 8.

SETON HALL at South Florida- Seton Hall is scorching hot, led by D-Nasty himself, Donald Copeland. South Florida couldn't buy a win at this point, especially if they can't be DePaul at home. Seton Hall by 7.

COLORADO at Texas A&M- I really didn't know who to pick in this game. I have a feeling it will be close, with both teams looking to get back on track after tough losses. Colorado by 1.

Indiana at WISCONSIN- Nobody, except Penn State apparently, can win on the road in the Big 10. Both of these teams are struggling, but Indiana just doesn't have the same capabilities without DJ White. Wisconsin by 5.

NC State at MIAMI- Upset special. Miami has some great guard play that should help them at home. NC State is coming off a big win against Maryland, so expect a little bit of a letdown. Miami is a tournament team in my eyes at this point. Miami by 3.

Rutgers at NOTRE DAME- Possibly the two teams with the worst luck in all of college basketball meet in South Bend for a thriller. This is a good game between two teams that are desperately trying to salvage their seasons. Douby will light it up but Notre Dame will get that elusive Big East win. Notre Dame by 4.

BOSTON COLLEGE at The Powerhouse formerly known as Wake Forest- Boston College will win this game, despite doing everything possible to lose it. Wake Forest is the definition of power conference trash. Boston College by 7.

Kansas at NEBRASKA- Nebraska's basketball team is arguably better than their football team! Kansas is playing a lot better now but this is a tough road contest. Nebraska will win a tight game by 3.

Arkansas at LSU- This is one of the best games this week in my opinion. Two very good teams that should be in the tournament meet in Baton Rouge for a, as Al Michaels would, "YOOGE" game. LSU wins by 5 because they are home.

Syracuse at UCONN- Oh, hey Syracuse...this is awkward. Shouldn't you be good? You kind of stink against good teams. UCONN is going to mop the floor with the Orangemen. UCONN by 13.

AIR FORCE at San Diego State- Great game. Air Force is quietly one of the best teams out west and San Diego State offers a formidable challenge. Look for a close one, but Air Force wins on the road by 4.

Thursday--February 9

Ohio State at MICHIGAN- Hello rivalry. Wrong sport, but still a good matchup. Michigan will win at home after losing big to Iowa. Ohio State will be fine, but it's just too tough to win on the road in the Big 10. Michigan by 5.

George Mason at VCU- Big time game for two teams bound for their conference championship. Perhaps a preview? VCU wins by 4 at home.

St. John's at GEORGETOWN- The Hoyas are unstoppable at home. They've got lots of momentum and the Red Storm just lost to Providence. Georgetown wins by 9.

West Virginia at PITT- Pitt draws first blood in their return to the Petersen Events Center. West Virginia will win in Morgantown, but Pitt has too much riding on this game to lose it. Pitt by 3.

Stanford at CAL- "YOOGE" game. Stanford is catching some February heat and Cal is a good team in general. Cal's big fella Powe looks a lot like Ike Diogu. Cal by 4.

USC at WASHINGTON- Oh no! Both teams are in caps :-(. I don't know who he picked...Well, USC is always in caps, but Washington isn't. The Trojans are climbing back into the Pac-10 race, but Washington needs this game more. Huskies by 7.

Friday--February 10

Stetson at MERCER- Their combined records at 11-32, but you gotta love the trio of Skogen, Brown and Emerson on Mercer. This will be a good game just like the last matchup, when Mercer won by 1 point. Mercer by 3.

Saturday--February 11

IOWA at Indiana- Iowa has a three-man wrecking crew that is going to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament. Brunner, Haluska and Horner are all good players. Indiana is struggling. Iowa by 3.

South Florida at LOUISVILLE- How huge was that Taquan Dean three-pointer against Notre Dame? Too bad the Cards lost to Cincinnati in a rivalry game. South Florida is just not ready to actually win Big East games. They can compete most certainly, just not win. Louisville by 9.

LSU at Florida- Yeah, I'm picking LSU. I don't know why, I just have a hunch. LSU by 3.

DUKE at Maryland- Duke will be wearing their special, black-and-white striped jerseys to this game even though it's on the road. Duke by 7.

VILLANOVA at DePaul- Villanova has too much experience. DePaul will be good next year I think, but this year is a learning experience. 'Nova by 9.

Southern Illinois at CREIGHTON- Another big game in the MVC. With Creighton at home, it's hard to pick against them. Creighton by 4.

UCLA at Washington- UCLA is a good team. Washington is a good team. Game on. UCLA by 2.

Nebraska at TEXAS- Oh baby, another good game! Texas will handle their business at home. I love their new setup with Paulino in the starting lineup. I think I said that last week. Texas by 11.

Iowa State at KANSAS- Last year this game was incredible. Iowa State got hosed on some calls and eventually lost to an overrated Kansas team. This year, Kansas actually has to work for respect, and they'll get it with a tough home win. Kansas by 5.

UCONN at Seton Hall- This will be a tough test for UCONN on the road against a very gritty team. But UConn isn't the most talented team in the nation for nothin'. UConn by 9.

Stanford at GONZAGA- Blah blah blah, ADAM MORRISON, blah blah blah. Gonzaga by 6.

Sunday-February 12

SIENA at Rider- The other school in the beautiful town of Princeton, N.J., will lose a tough home game against a very mediocre Siena team. Siena by 8.

ILLINOIS at Ohiop State- Big time game between two big time teams. Illinois will win. Why? Dee "Holy S---, did he really just make that?" Brown, that's why (oh, I like his reasoning). Illinois by 5.

MARQUETTE at Rutgers- This will be a great game. Marquette is a good team and Rutgers is so tough at home. It's hard picking against the old A-Ten mop ups, but why not? Marquette gets a HUGE road win by 3.

Cincinnati at PITT- Pitt will win with their depth and all-around better teamwork. Cincy is a decent team, but there just seems to be too much going on off the court to allow them to really excel on the hardwood. Pitt by 5.

SYRACUSE at St. John's- It's hard picking against St. John's twice in one week, but Syracuse has to win some games. Syracuse by 3.

WEST VIRGINIA at Georgetown- Fantastic game on tap for Big East and college basketball fans. This will be a gritty one. West Virginia by 4.

North Carolina at MIAMI- Again, I really like Miami. UNC is good for a young team, but Miami has that guard experience that really helps down the stretch. Miami by 5.

Alabama State at ALABAMA A&M- The thrilla in Huntsveel (Huntsville, Ala.). Obie Trotter arguably has the best name in all of college basketball. Look for A&M to light it up with their three big scorers. A&M by 5.

That'll do it ladies and gents. Look at my rankings posted above. Tell me what you think. See you soon.

After one week: Winners 32-11; Spread 16-27.

Super Bowl

And the final is...21-10 Steelers. Good game all around. It had some great ebbs and flows while the momentum swung back and forth. I believe the Seahawks crushed themselves. They outplayed the Steelers, honestly, for 75% of the game, BUT the Steelers got it done when it counted.

Congratulations to the Steelers and their fans for their Super Bowl victory.

I voted for Hines Ward for Super Bowl MVP because he had the best statistics out of all of the players. I always vote for the best player on the winning team, even if a player in a losing effort plays amazingly.

Roethlisberger made some big mistakes but managed the game well. Antwaan Randle-El made the best pass of the game. His trick pass to Hines Ward was the best play of the game. That play combined with Willie Parker's 75-yard line run pushed the Steelers over the edge.

It was a better game then the score indicated and I can say that I'm satisfied with the way it played out.

To finish, congratulations to Pittsburgh and the Steelers. Big win, great city, great fans. Congrats.

Weekly Picks Change

Well folks, we're almost through two weeks of predictions. UConn-Seton Hall is at 8pm EST tonight (Saturday) and Gonzaga-Stanford is at 9pm EST. Before these games, my record for winning picks is 22-12 this week and 44-23 overall. That's a great record, but it's only for when I pick winners. I will look back on the last two weeks and change the record to whether or not my line was covered.

For example, if I predicted Pitt by three over West Virginia, and Pitt won by 3 or more, I would be right. But if West Virginia won or lost by two or less, I'd be wrong and mark it as an incorrect pick.

Sound good? I like telling myself I pick well, and I actually do well picking the winners, but not the scores as much. I will keep the winner-prediction record AND the spread record. From now on, there will be two records posted and I will correct last week's post.

Thanks and keep reading!

Super Bowl Thoughts

Well, the Rolling Stones are blasting on the television next to me, but I can't stop thinking about the actual game. The Seahawks should be winning the game at this point. The Steelers are lucky for the penalty on Darrell Jackson and the Roethlisberger touchdown ruling.

First off, the petty penalty on Jackson could cost the Seahawks the Super Bowl in the long run. Tell me that same exact play has gone without a call 99 times out of 100. I will not argue whether or not it was a push-off, as it clearly was, but how often is that small of a push called? Especially on a receiver? Just a tick-tack call that hurts the Seahawks.

The Seahawks have done nothing to help themselves despite the Steelers looking just bad offensively. Like John Madden said, the Steelers just don't seem to have much a plan and they aren't taking control when they have the pill. Roethlisberger looked nervous most of the half. The Steelers have done incredibly well thus far considering the fact that they've been outplayed and look timid so far.

The ball did not cross the plane from vantage point on the Roethlisberger touchdown. Mike Holmgren is obviously fuming about it and I can't blame him. Even the nose of the ball seemed just, just shy on the goal line. Roethlisberger, to his credit, sold it so well that there was no way they'd overturn the call. The call in the first place by the side judge should have been short of the end zone.

At this point, the Seahawks have created an environment in which it's up to them if they want to win. They are in control of their own destiny, if you really want a sports cliche. They have to finish off their drives and keep attacking. The Steelers offense hasn't done anything, but don't expect that to last.

The second half is going to be good. The Steelers will be more effective on offense, I guarantee it. The Seahawks better execute penalty-free or they will lose this game. It's going to be close. The 'Stones are over, so it's time for more football! Catch you all at the end of the game!

Prediction Friday

Well, I know everyone and their grandmother has a prediction for Sunday's Super Bowl. And so do I. But before getting into it, let's sit back and reminisce about the past, shall we?

Last time the Steelers were in the Super Bowl...

Their quarterback was Neil O'Donnell. He threw two mammoth interceptions to cost Pittsburgh the game.

Their running back was Bam Morris, perhaps the greatest name ever. In Super Bowl XXX, Morris ran for 73 yards and one touchdown.

This year the Steelers return to the SuperBowl and...

Ben Roethlisberger is their new quarterback. He is young and talented, is this the dawn of an NFL legend? Probably not, but he will probably win a few Super Bowls, if not at least one.

Their running back(s)? Well, I guess Willie Parker is their running back, but it is uncertain if he will be successful or not. We still don't know which "Fast Willie" will show up on Sundays.

Jerome Bettis is the other back. He gets more carries in the red zone than anywhere else, and why not? Dude pounds the ball in and scores touchdowns. That's his job and he does it well.


I don't know why I'm rambling, but here are my statistical projections for the Big Game:

QBs
Hasselback: 18-30, 250 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions...sacked twice.
Roethlisberger: 18-25, 220 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions...sacked four times.

RBs
Alexander: 30 carries, 145 yards, two touchdowns.
Parker: 18 carries, 70 yards.
Bettis: 12 carries, 25 yards, one touchdown.

WRs:
D. Jackson: 5 catches, 70 yards.
Jurevicius: 5 catches, 60 yards, one touchdown.
Engram: 4 catches, 40 yards.

Ward: 7 receptions, 100 yards.
Wilson: 5 catches, 70 yards, one touchdown.
Randle-El: 2 catches, 20 yards.
Miller: 4 receptions, 30 yards.

There will be one special teams touchdown from the Steelers.

A game-winning field goal by Seahawks kicker Josh Brown halfway through the fourth quarter will give the Seahawks their first ever Super Bowl ring.

Final score: Seattle 27, Pittsburgh 24.

MVP: Shaun Alexander