3 NCAA Tournament 3rd Round Locks

BY: NEIL BRASLOW

2012 NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORD : 5-1

East Region: KANSAS STATE (8) OVER SYRACUSE (1) – After clearly being outplayed for the entire game against UNC Asheville, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim claimed “I think the better team won.” As long as the refs call a somewhat competent game, Kansas State beats the Orange who will be without Fab Melo for the remainder of the tournament. Syracuse was out of sync before he was ruled ineligible, and they are even more unorganized without him. Kansas State pulls the upset.

South Region: VCU (12) OVER INDIANA (4) – Indiana looked great Thursday night against New Mexico State. They shot 7 for 13 on 3 pointers and 59% overall. However, they will not be able to repeat that kind of shooting performance against VCU. New Mexico State had a ton of size so Indiana ran them around for 40 minutes and tired them out. VCU is too athletic for Indiana to succeed with that kind of game plan. VCU continued their tournament magic against an extremely talented Wichita State team on Thursday. Similar to Butler last year, until they lose, keep picking them. VCU pulls another upset.

West Region: MARQUETTE (3) OVER MURRAY STATE (6) – Murray State has been a great story this year. Entering the game at 31-1, they have been nearly flawless all year. However, they have not played a game against a single team left in the field. They will finally be put to the test against an athletic and talented Marquette squad that looked awfully good while crushing BYU by 20 points. Expect Murray State’s journey to come to an end against a superior team. Marquette wins.

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Ohio State vs. Gonzaga Breakdown

By: Chuck Hilston

Upsets, upsets, upsets! Friday has truly been a day of surprises, with parties sure to be raging for days on end in Athens, Ohio, Norfolk, Virginia, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (Lehigh). With attention now turning to the second round, people are starting to look for other upsets in the bracket, at least for watching or betting purposes.

One matchup that has been getting quite a bit of press for this reason is the 2^nd seeded Ohio State Buckeyes against the 7^th seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs. Many signs seem to be pointing in this direction. Gonzaga is a team that seems to always pull upsets and make a tournament run in March, and that showed no signs of stopping late Thursday evening as they absolutely throttled West Virginia in their own backyard. Ohio State also, while decent hasn’t been living up to their lofty preseason expectations, dropping seven games which dropped them off the one seed line, and looking lethargic for a good amount of their first round game against Loyola.

Because of all of these reasons, it’s becoming a very trendy 2^nd round upset pick. However, the Buckeyes won’t be caught sleeping by the Bulldogs, as they’re hearing these exact same things from every prognosticating station around the country. An upset isn’t out of the question by any stretch of the imagination though. This isn’t head coach Mark Few’s first rodeo, and the talent he has at Gonzaga isn’t typical of a team that would be called mid-major.

There are 2 very intriguing matchups in this game, which will play a major role in deciding the outcome. The first is Jared Sullinger, who faces an imposing challenge going up against the 7 foot Robert Sacre, who practiced what he preached when imploring his Gonzaga team to be tough and physical in the opening round game against West Virginia. While Jared has faced many other tough physical challenges throughout the rugged Big Ten play, this poses a unique challenge as to be effective Sullinger will have to hit some shots as he can’t just dominate all day in the post. I think that the more interesting matchup though will be of the team’s two gritty point guards, Aaron Craft of the Bucks and Kevin Pangos of the Zags. Other than bearing resemblances in appearance, the two play remarkably similar games, with Craft having an edge defensively and Pangos being a better shooter, particularly from behind the arc.

Buckeye fans definitely shouldn’t be making any reservations to head to Boston next weekend until the clock strikes zero on this one. Obviously Ohio State has an overall height edge and has a deeper bench which will have its benefits, but if they play anything like they did on Thursday, the offseason looms. Being a diehard fan of the Buckeyes, I’ve watched almost every game that they’ve played this year. One thing that I’ve noted is that while they have been very consistent wire to wire, they seem the lack killer instinct, though maybe they’ve just been saving up for games like this. I think the X factor here is Buford, as looking at games where he has been on, and looked like a surefire first round pick, the Buckeyes blew the doors off Duke and came back from a double digit deficit to knock of Sparty in East Lansing. On the other hand, a cold shooting performance, similar to the one against Kentucky last year, could spell a trip to the offseason one round earlier.

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Andy Pettitte Returns to Yankees

BY: CHRIS GAMBLE

In the unlikeliest of scenarios Andy Pettitte has signed a minor league deal with the Yankees for a reported $2.5 million. This signing has huge implications for the Yankees moving forward. With Andy being brought back it creates a logjam at a position that was already jammed. Right now, there was one spot in the rotation being fought over by Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia. Adding Pettitte to the mix might mean the Yankees were hedging their bets in case Kuroda falters in the American League, Ivan Nova can’t repeat last season’s success, or that the velocity on Michael Pineda’s fastball is in fact gone.

The Yankees almost certainly won’t break camp with Pettitte in their rotation as he has been out of baseball for over a year now and will need time to build up arm strength. However, adding Pettitte might mean the Yankees will put a pitcher or two on a thin market to try and get some youth, most likely a position player or two in case Raul Ibanez breaks down (or is he already broken?).

The fifth starter battle is still in effect so Hughes and Garcia are still expected to try to break camp as the fifth starter. However, once Pettitte is up to full strength it is a wild card. Nova and Hughes still have options. There is also a spot in the bullpen that would need to be filled and Hughes has had some success out of the pen. I just don’t know if the Yankees would hinder Hughes’ development by making him pitch a year in the pen.

Right now there are thousands of possibilities. Adding Pettitte, who is 40, gives the Yankees an experienced arm and playoff-proven pitcher. It also muddles things up a bit and puts added pressure on the younger pitchers to pitch well if they want to make this club.

Adding Pettitte might not necessarily mean the Yankees are upset with the progress of their young starters like Pineda, Nova, Hughes, or guys like David Phelps, Adam Warren, Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, or D.J. Mitchell. Andy Pettitte is a Yankees legend and the Yankees told him the door would be open anytime he wanted to come back. Pettitte went down to Tampa to help out in camp and felt the itch. He retired off an excellent, though injury marred year and probably felt he could do it one more year. For all Andy has done for the organization the Yankees owed him the chance to see what he has left. If it’s nothing then it is no loss. If it is something then they gain a proven veteran with New York Yankee playoff experience. It was a win-win for all involved. Amazingly, the Yankees entered this offseason with questions surrounding their pitching. Now, they have pitching to spare at almost every level. What a difference a couple of months make in the Bronx.

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3 More NCAA Tournament Locks

BY: NEIL BRASLOW

2012 NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORD : 3-0

East Region: NC STATE (11) OVER SAN DIEGO STATE (6) – North Carolina State is a trendy pick but for good reason. The Wolfpack have won 4 of 5 entering the contest with the only loss coming in controversial fashion against North Carolina in the ACC Tournament. North Carolina State is likely to be a team on a mission. Often teams that squeak into the field come out playing on fire, and I expect that is what NC State will do. After losing 3 straight in February San Diego State has won 6 of 7 coming into the game, but several of those games were close or OT wins against weaker teams. Expect NC State to handle this one comfortably.

Midwest Region: SOUTH FLORIDA (12) OVER TEMPLE (5) – Don’t pick against USF because they played in Dayton on Wednesday. Remember VCU played in Dayton last year and made it all the way to the Final Four. The Bulls were tough every game after conference play began. An impressive win against Cal on Wednesday night proved that they deserved to be in the field. They have steadily improved as the year has progressed. Temple on the other hand is losers of 2 of 4 entering the game including a bad loss to UMass in the A10 Tournament. Expect USF to keep the momentum going and knock off the Owls.

East Region: MEMPHIS (8) OVER ST. LOUIS (9) – Memphis is probably the worst seeded team in the entire tournament. They have won 11 of 12 entering this game including destroying opponents on the way to another CUSA Tournament title. St. Louis lacks a marquee win or anything that makes them jump out on paper. The Billikens could have easily been seeded much worse than a #9 seed. In a match up of a vastly underrated team and an overrated team, expect Memphis to easily get by St. Louis.

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March Madness Fantasy Baseball - AL Edition

BY: MATTHEW ENDER

Continued from National League breakdown, below is the American League “March Madness Inspired” division breakdown. Hopefully some Cinderella's make runs deep into the tourney...otherwise my Cinderella picks below have no hope!

American League East

· Top Seed – Jose Bautista, TOR

This is the most stacked division in baseball, so coming up with a “top seed” was tough. But at the end, position scarcity/eligibility and consistency took the prize. In a relatively weak year for OF and 3B alike, the fact that Bautista can fill either was a major perk. The 97 HR and 197 RBI over the past 2 years didn’t hurt either. Bautista also made huge strides in his BA/OBP last year from 2010, raising them 42 and 69 points respectively. It still amazes me this guy has been in the majors since 2004 but completely failed everywhere he was before Toronto. Must be something in the water up there…Or maybe it’s the Lebatt Blue. 

· Cinderella Story – Daniel Bard, BOS

Here’s a guy who can become a Cy-Young candidate or be sent back to a set-up role by the end of May. But isn’t that risk what you want in a Cinderella? He’s known for his fastball as a setup guy but his changeup is very deceptive and keeps batters off-balance, especially lefties. The fact he could do that as a set-up guy to lefties makes me think he’s got the ability to become a breakout star. His current 311 ADP translate to “last round pick” territory, and even if he falters as a starter, he is useful as a reliever. His BB/9 has decreased from 4.0 in 2009 to 3.0 in 2011, proving he has learned to control his fastball. If he flops, he cost you nothing, so where’s the risk? Unless you’re a Yankees fan, take him and see what happens.   

· Bracket Buster – Desmond Jennings, TB

I don’t have a problem with Jennings. I think he’s going to be productive and eventually an absolute stud. But this year, he is NOT worth a 5^th round pick, which is where he is currently going. He should be in the big leagues for good now, but it remains to be seen how fast he can adjust to the pitching. In 287 plate appearances last year, he had a .259 BA and .356 OBP. Can he improve those? Will it be at the expense of his HR totals (hit 10 last year)? A lot of question marks and that isn’t something you want with your 5^th pick. The only guarantee is his speed, virtually a lock for 40 SB which will equate to a minimum 80 R -- everything else is a toss-up…

American League Central

· Top Seed – Miguel Cabrera, DET

This year can be legendary for Cabrera, potentially putting up numbers that would make  Albert Pujols drool. Not only is Cabrera durable (30 missed games over the past 8 seasons combined), he is the most consistent pure hitter in baseball. And now you’re adding protection behind him with Prince Fielder? To put that into perspective, Cabrera has averaged a .332 BA/34 HR/111 RBI line since 2009 with no protection in the lineup (unless you consider Jhonny Peralta a threat?). Now you add a similar pure hitter in Fielder and pitchers are forced to pitch to Cabrera. He’s a legitimate threat to win the triple crown and fantasy MVP this year.

· Cinderella Story – Brennan Boesch, DET

In case you can’t tell, I’m all-in on the Tigers this year…Boesch is still being moved around the lineup this spring, but I think you can expect to see him in the 5-6 hole, batting behind Cabrera and Prince Fielder. His current ADP of 223, which puts him in “late-round flier” category, but trust me when I tell you this guy will hit .280 with 20 HR and 100+ RBI. His season last year was cut short by a freak thumb injury and he’s entered spring training with a clean bill of health. Last year, without Prince in the lineup, Boesch hit 16 HR and 54 RBI in just 428 at-bats. Give him another 150 AB’s and the added luxury have batting behind the two beasts, and you’re looking at very good production out of your 20^th round pick. And just to sweeten the pot, Boesch turns 27 in April.

·         Bracket Buster – Carlos Santana, CLE

This was the toughest pick considering there were few players from this division going in the Top 50…the ones that were are great players/low risk (Prince, Cabrera, Verlander), so I am picking Santana by default. As discussed with Buster Posey in my NL Breakdown (here), catcher is actually somewhat deep this year. You can get decent value for little-to-no cost, so spending your 3^rd-4^th round pick on Santana here just doesn’t make sense. Santana played 155 games last year between C, 1B, and DH, which gives him an added boost…But not enough to warrant 3^rd round territory. He hit 27 HR and had 79 RBI in a weak lineup but hit a measly .239, including a .201 BA vs RHP. Although I think he is trending upward, I don’t think reaching this high for a catcher is a good strategy.

American League West

· Top Seed – Albert Pujols, LAA

The perennial-MVP candidate, Pujols is entering a new league, city, and environment. If it was anyone else, I’d say that carrries some risk, but this is “The Machine”. He’s so good that I don’t think a write-up of anything is necessary. 30 HR, 100 RBI, .300 BA --- take him and keep moving.

· Cinderella Story – Jemile Weeks, OAK

At a weak and shallow 2B this year, getting production could be tough. However, spending a 15^th round pick (current ADP of 150) to get 40 SB and 80 R is well worth the price. Unlike older brother Rickie, Jemile doesn’t have much of a power stroke but his high BA, run totals, and SB can help make up for that. My only concern for him is his inexperience and lack of supporting lineup. However in the 15^th round, it’s not going to hurt you if you have to cut him loose after a slow start. Take the chance and see where it goes.

· Bracket Buster – Josh Hamilton, TEX

Great guy, not great value. Hamilton is currently going in the 3^rd-4^th round, way too high for a guy who has missed 143 games over the past 3 seasons. He is a monster when healthy, but that doesn’t say much. The lineup around him is dangerous, and it only seems to fill him when he’s out and keep chugging along.  If we were to stay healthy this year, it’s conceivable he gives Miguel Cabrera a run for the triple-crown title, but that is a BIG IF. I’d rather not spend an early round pick on a what-if, and instead go for someone like teammate Adrian Beltre (going an average of 2 picks after him).

Well, that wraps up each division in baseball…now get back to the bar to catch the tip-off of tonight’s game of the madness…for the record, I am picking Ohio and Texas as 2 upsets for Friday. I’ll be back late next week with a recap of my 10-team mixed points league draft (customized scoring which is heavy to pitchers)…Until then, comment away and don’t forget to rub my tummy while doing it…after all, I am the Mini Buddha!

Mini Buddha – Fantasy Guru

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March Madness: Will You Be Working?

Majority of fans know what today is, the beginning of March Madness. While most of us wish we had off work, the reality is we are all sitting at the computer come tip off. We all sit patiently waiting for the games to start with our brackets at our desk. So next time you think you are slacking on the job, remember this fact. There are an estimated 2.5 million other workers that are doing the exact same thing. While at your desk, you will spend an average of 90 minutes at work focusing on the games. Companies will pay somewhere in the $200 million in wages to these dedicated fans, checking their iPhones for updates etc. Challenger, Gray &Christmas, a workplace consultant states that while most fans will pretend to be working, the reality states you will be distracted by the craziness.

So why not make this a holiday! While this won't fly with your boss, dedicated fans could think in advance. Each year make this a floating holiday. Isn't it better to be at a bar watching consecutive games with your buddies? Brackets in hand, beer taps flowing and best of all, you’re surrounded by big flat screens with up to the minute scores. While you’re checking your brackets to see how you’re doing, others will be in the work place slaving away. If bosses only knew how much their productivity will be going down, maybe they would consider it. While most of you think I am crazy for saying that, think of how many people took off the Monday after Superbowl this year. Why should this be any different?

Doesn't everybody look ahead at the schedule to take off the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for traveling and getting ready to spend time with the family? Well think of the first day of March Madness in the same light. Get yourself situated at your local bar, meet with your friends to get a good spot, and spend the afternoon with no worries, no problems, just basketball. 

It might be too late to consider taking off work for these games, but it's always something to keep in the back of your mind come next year. Don't forget to fill out your brackets, as this is one of the most exciting tournaments in the world. Good luck to us fans staying at work today! And to the people who took off work today to celebrate, you’re the fans we look up too. 

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Will Ohio State Stay On Track?

BY: JULIA CHONGARLIDES

The Ohio State Buckeyes will play the 15^th seed Loyola of Maryland on Thursday night. These teams have never met in the NCAA Tournament nor have played each other this season. The Buckeyes are coming into this game as the 2^nd seed in the East Region with their star sophomore Jared Sullinger, many think this game will result with an Ohio win. So they think.

But Sunday’s loss to Michigan State might affect the Buckeyes’ confidence come Thursday. Ohio failed to clinch their third consecutive Big Ten Tournament Championship by a measly 4 points. Will lack of confidence and the fact that the team is beginning finals week affect their play? Or will fatigue set in after their 3-day stretch in the Big Ten Tournament?

Loyola is coming off three straight wins in the MAAC Championships a week ago and needless to say their confidence is up and legs are well rested. Will Loyola have it in them to pull the upset? Or will their past repeat itself? The Greyhounds only NCAA Tournament appearance resulted with a lost to Arizona 81-55 in 1994.

Loyola’s leading scorer is Erik Etherly, a junior from Virginia, who is averaging 13.5 points per game while Ohio State’s leading scorer is averaging 17.6. And, of course, its Jared Sullinger, did I even have to tell you? Some might argue that Ohio State has an actual record in the NCAA Tournament 47-26 with one National Title in 1960, but will that matter when both teams are fighting on the hardwood?  I’m sure Sullinger won’t let the unthinkable happen being that he is considered for the CBSSports.com National Player of the Year.

It all boils down to what team comes ready to play. Or do you think the Buckeyes are just better than Loyola? Tip off is at 9:50pm at the Consol Energy Arena in Pittsburgh. 

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March Madness Fantasy Baseball

BY: MATTHEW ENDER

This is the time of year where sports become the focal point of the world. My wife hates me, my friends start ignoring my calls, and even my mom goes on vacation to avoid me. Productivity at the workplace declines, co-worker camaraderie goes through the roof, and money is thrown at every game imaginable. Oh, and there’s also that little March Madness thing. While I understand all focus is on the “big dance” (and rightfully so, unless you’re this idiot), if you’re looking for a little break from the 12 vs. 5 seed upset theory and want to prepare for your fantasy baseball draft, you’ve come to the right place. In spirit of the time, I will make this a “tourney-inspired” breakdown of each division, picking a Top Seed, Cinderella, and Bracket Buster. This is for the National League only…American will be released on Friday.

National League East

· Top Seed – Roy Halladay . PHI
A logical pick, this guy seems to be the #1 pitcher in baseball every year for the better part of a decade. The whole “don’t fix what’s not broken“ applies here. Over the past 4 years, Halladay’s “worst number” has been 233 IP, 17 Wins, 1.13 WHIP, 2.79 ERA, 206 K’s and 1.4 BB/9. Those are the WORST of his 4 year totals since 2008. Even if all of those numbers are in 1 year, he is still a Top 3 SP in baseball. The absolute safest pick of the draft, don’t hesitate to take him.
· Cinderella Story – Brandon Beachy, ATL
This up-and-comer has become somewhat of a tournament darling this off-season. After posting a 10.7 K/9 rate over 25 starts last year, he’s a favorite among “high-upside, low-cost” picks this year. Although there are some question marks about his innings cap as well as durability, but his current 114 ADP is well worth the chance to see if he can make it close to 200 IP. However, his draft stock has been soaring so don’t get caught up in reaching too high for him, because after all, he is just a “Cinderella”.
· Bracket Buster – Jose Reyes, MIA
His move to Florida has been looked at as a positive given the guys behind him in the lineup, but Reyes is exactly the type of second round pick who could completely destroy your team. You’re drafting him with the hopes of another .300 BA, 100 R, 40 steal campaign, which at SS could win you a championship, but the durability issues have to make you nervous. He hasn’t played a full year since 2008, and you don’t know how he’ll handle the “dome” down south. His hamstrings have given him fits in the past, and playing in an air-conditioned stadium could cause them to flare up at any point.

National League Central

· Top Seed / Bracket Buster – Ryan Braun, MIL / Joey Votto, CIN
I’ve already expressed my major concern for Braun -- click here if you missed it. He’s going as Top 5 pick overall so I had to include him as a “top seed”, but I really am leaning towards “buster” for him. However, Votto is the true “chalk” pick this year. Since his rookie year in 2008, he has averaged 28 HR, .405 OBP, 96 RBI, and 90 R. Entering his prime, he’s a lock for those numbers again this year with a potential increase in RBI as the guys surrounding him in the lineup are starting to get on base more.
· Cinderella Story – David Freese, STL
Aren’t all these picks about high reward with low risk? This guy has been a serious threat when healthy, but that hasn’t been often. Only 97 games played in the regular season last year, he toyed with fantasy owners and Cardinals fans alike, producing when the opportunity arose but then hitting the DL. His HUGE playoff line (.397/5 HR/21 RBI) could be more of a tease, but maybe he can rise to the occasion and attempt to replace the black-hole sized gap in the Cards lineup (see Pujols, Albert). Worth a mid-to-late round pick to see if he can stay healthy, but make sure to hedge your bet with another option at 3B just in case!

National League West

· Top Seed – Matt Kemp, LAD
This wasn’t an easy choice for the selection committee as Troy Tulowitzki and Clayton Kershaw were snubbed, but Kemp has triple-crown potential that just cannot be ignored. You know by now that I have a thing for the Age-27 batters, and Kemp fits the bill. Coming off one of the best all-around seasons in MLB history, the thought that he could actually IMPROVE on that is scary. Proving to be as durable as anyone, Kemp has only missed 11 games over the past 4 years combined, so you avoid the risk that comes with someone like Tulo. His only potential downfall could be the lack of supporting cast in the Dodgers lineup, but James Loney is also 27 this year…I’m just sayin’.
· Cinderella Story – Michael Cuddyer, COL
Here’s a guy who has been “ownable” in every league over the past 3 years and helps your team, but never a real star…until now. At Age 32, he may not be poised for a breakout MVP-type season, but he could make a splash in Coors batting behind CarGo and Tulo…can we now call him Cudo? Ehhhh? We’ll work on that. His power has been there in his career, and playing in Colorado can only improve that. I am setting his floor at .275/20 HR/90 RBI --- well worth his going rate of 93 ADP.
· Bracket Buster – Buster Posey, SF
I love this guy, I really do. However, coming off major reconstructive surgery on his knee as a catcher is a huge red flag. Will he be ready for Opening Day? Will he be able to play every day? 4-5 times a week? Will the lack of a lineup around him hinder his potential? A lot of question marks for the projected 4^th catcher off the board/60^th pick overall. For the first time in 10+ years, the catcher position is deep. Not studs, but serviceable catchers are aplenty this year, so do you really want to burn a 5^th-6^th round pick for a question mark when you can wait 10-15 rounds and still get production? Pass on Posey and pick Yadier Molina or Jesus Montero 10 rounds later, you’ll thank me after the season.

As stated above, expect to see the AL breakdown on Friday…maybe even with a little commentary on the first day of games in the tournament. Feel free to barrage me in the comment section -- I’m a glutton for insults.

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3 Under the Radar NCAA Tournament Locks

East Region: KANSAS STATE (8) OVER SOUTHERN MISS (9) - Great to see Larry Eustachy back in the NCAA Tournament with Southern Miss. Last time we saw him was in the picture above. Historically, #9 seeds actually have an advantage over #8 seeds. However, this match up is completely one sided. Kansas State has two wins over Missouri, a win against Baylor, Alabama, Texas, and Long Beach State. Southern Miss does have wins against Memphis and Colorado State, but they cannot compete with Kansas State. They lost 4 of 7 coming into the tournament and looked awful in the CUSA Tournament against a tired Marshall team. Look for Kansas State to steam roll the Golden Eagles.

Midwest Region: VERMONT (16) OVER LAMAR (16) - Lamar comes in on fire since the infamous Pat Knight rant. They have not lost a game since. However, they come into the game with a 8-9 road record. Vermont on the other hand comes in at 10-6 on the road. In a game where not much is known about either team, the ability to play on the road will be key. In addition, Vermont has won 14 of 15 while Lamar has only won 6 straight since the Knight rant. If you are looking to put some money on the game to keep it interesting, play the public fade and go with Vermont. The public's money will be on Knight.


East Region: COLORADO (11) OVER UNLV (6) - Forget the numbers. UNLV is simply not the same team away from home. Yes, UNLV has an impressive win against UNC at home around Thanksgiving. But they also have a pathetic loss at TCU. Colorado on the other hand comes off a Pac 12 tournament title. If you have seen them play, they have talent. Do not believe the talking heads on TV. The PAC 12 is good enough to win a game in the tournament and UNLV does not play at the same level outside of Vegas. Go with Colorado in this one.

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Is March Madness Worth All The Crazy?

BY: CHAD SMITH

First let me say I am completely bias when talking about March Madness… I DO NOT LIKE IT! Also let me apologize to any person that actually does like college basketball and is a real fan. So with that said I am just going to come out and say it. March Madness is OVERATED! All of a sudden March hits and everyone and their mother claims to be the best bracketologist ever, when in fact they haven’t watched a minute of regular season college basketball. Everyone gets so wrapped up in their bracket that it’s all they talk about and all they want to talk to me about. Here’s a little secret… I DON’T CARE!!! I don’t watch a minute of college basketball in the regular season I’m sure as hell not going to devote any time to it now. Another annoying aspect of March Madness is that the only thing ESPN talks about is college basketball (They only show basketball highlights September through June anyway but March is a whole different level). I’m all for seeing highlights of what is happening around the world of sports but I do not need a 10 minute break down of each game. I actually want to see what is happening in NFL free agency, the NHL, some overrated NBA dunks, preseason baseball, and pretty much anything but soccer.

I can tell you how the tournament is going go and save you pointless hours of one of the most over rated event in sports; 1. There will be one Cinderella story that flames out in the sweet sixteen or in the Elite Eight and everyone will celebrate them like they won the tournament, 2. A number one seed will lose in the sweet sixteen, 3. Two or three games will come down to a final shot, 4. (This is my favorite) Every game will go like this; Shot, shot, shot, bad time out, commercial, shot, shot, bad time out, commercial and you can repeat that sequence for the rest of the game, and lastly 5. The last two minutes are the only part of the game that matter. Sorry for the spoiler.

So I know the comments are coming about how idiotic this article is, and saying I don’t know what I’m talking about think about these things for a second: how much college basketball did you watch this year? And if you couldn’t bet on it would you pay attention to it? No cue the comments.

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Manning to Denver, Tebow to Miami

BY: NEIL BRASLOW

After Peyton Manning signs with the Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow is going to be traded to the Miami Dolphins. John 3:16 states that Tebow must not sit on the bench. Jesus Christ wants Tebow to play, and thus, he will request a trade and ask to play for a different team.

Where better to play than in Florida? The Dolphins already honored Tebow and the Florida Gators during the 2011 regular season when Denver visited Miami. Imagine how many tickets the Dolphins could sell with Tebow at quarterback. Each week of the NFL regular season the Dolphins could honor a different game from the 2006 and 2008 University of Florida National Championship schedules. For example, if the Dolphins play the Patriots at home in October, the Dolphins could honor the October 5, 2008 victory over Kentucky 63 to 5. Rob Gronkowski could come out at halftime and maybe even do a little dance with Timmy (assuming Grownkowski isn’t hurt of course).

“Sun Life Stadium” has gone through more name changes over the years than it is possible to keep track of. With Tim Tebow at quarterback, I can envision it now: “Pat Robertson Field at Miracle Water Stadium.” The Dolphins would once again be on the map and relevant for the first time since Dan Marino retired. A year or two from now after Urban Meyer quits again, maybe they could even hire him to coach the Dolphins. It would be a dream come true for Gators fans everywhere.

In all seriousness, as if it was not clear before, John Elway has no faith that Tim Tebow can be the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos. If Elway ends up signing Manning, and I would put my money on Peyton landing there, what are the Broncos going to do with Tebow? Move him to running back?

Mike Klis of the Denver Post checked in with a source close to Tebow, who indicated that Tebow remains "philosophical" about the organization being in the Manning hunt, but won't comment on the matter until "after the smoke clears." Not sure what that means. If there are any priests or ministers reading this article, I would appreciate a translation.

The other likely landing spot for Tebow other than Miami would be the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Blaine Gabbert only entering his second NFL season, are the Jaguars really ready to give up on him already? The Dolphins have an obvious need at quarterback. With Manning inching closer to either Denver or Arizona, where are they going to turn? Matt Moore? Matt Flynn? David Garrard? Do Dan Marino’s sons play football?

Similar to Denver, Miami has been trying to fill a void left by a legendary quarterback for years. For the first time, Denver is on the verge of doing that by signing Manning. For Miami, the next best option may be trading for Tebow. He would bring immediate excitement to a once proud franchise that now struggles each week to avoid local TV black outs.

So Dolphins fans, how would you feel about Tim Tebow as your next starting quarterback? As a football fan, I know I would certainly enjoy it.

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NL West Preview : The Comeback of Buster Posey

BY: ZAC CORDOVA

Overview:

 Don’t let me get in my zone! Sorry, but I’m on my third article in two days and starting to feel it. Now onto the strange, strange NL West. I say that because year after year, I expect Colorado to realize their massive talent and take control of the division, but they never do. The D-backs took this division last year, thanks to a career year from SP Ian Kennedy and the Craftsman (Cause he has a lot of tools!) Justin Upton. Outside of Michael Cuddyer, no team really made a big free agent splash. Youth should be the theme of this division in 2012 with high profile prospects such as Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt, and Giants 1B Brandon Belt expected to take their respective jobs from day one. Perhaps the biggest addition in the division is Giants C Buster Posey returning from a nasty leg injury suffered May 25. Even with the star power in LA of SP Clayton Kershaw and OF Matt Kemp, I see this division as a three team race between Colorado, Arizona, and San Fran. On that note…

Three Players who could swing the division:

Giants C Buster Posey- One of the only two offensive threats the Giants possess (along with the Kung Fu Panda). How Posey comes off that nasty leg break will determine whether the Giants have enough offense to win some ball games. While it is impossible to discount a team with pitching both at the front end with Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner, and back end in Affeldt and Wilson, if Posey cannot hit like he was during his Rookie of the Year campaign, the Giants are done. Though it seems like he has been around a while, Posey has yet to play a full seasons worth of games (160)

Diamondbacks RP J.JPutz- The D-backs have quietly transformed their weak bullpen, into perhaps the strongest in the division. If Putz and co can help shorten the game, it takes some of the load off of the D-backs questionable back end of the rotation. Everyone who plays fantasy baseball knows the volatility of closers, and there is perhaps no greater example in baseball than JJ Putz. His Era from 06-07=1.80, from 08-09= 4.50, and from 10-11= 2.50.

Rockies OF DexterFowler- The oft-maligned outfielder has the speed and on base ability to thrive at the top of the order, but his high strikeout totals and poor base stealing have always brought much criticism from writers and managers alike. No one is expecting him to turn into a .300, or even a .285 hitter, but if he can limit the K’s and pick his spots stealing bases, he can see himself on base a lot, looking at a great heart of the order in Tulo, Cargo, and Cuddyer to drive him in.

Win Loss Predictions:

Arizona 89-73

Colorado 87-71

San Francisco 87-71

LA Dodgers 81-81

San Diego 66-96

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