Super Bowl XLVI Preview & Prediction

Preview

Super Bowl XLVI is a rematch of four years ago. The New York Giants came into the playoffs hot, but were underdogs to the elite New England Patriots. The Giants won that game in spectacular fashion. This year is surprisingly similar. The Giants finished the regular season with a 9-7 record and had to win five straight must-win games to reach the Super Bowl. The Patriots finished the regular season with an conference-best 13-3 record. In the playoffs, they demolished the Broncos and held on against the Ravens to reach their fifth Super Bowl in 11 years.

I am going to break down each team in this matchup.

New York Giants

Offensive Philosophy: The Giants like a balanced attack. When the running game is working well, the passing game opens up even more for quarterback Eli Manning. The two main guys rushing the football will be Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Bradshaw is a tough, speed back who has gotten the bulk of the work this season. Jacobs is an aging bruiser. The Giants would love to have one more big game out of him. The passing attack has seen a variety of weapons utilized. Hakeem Nicks was the top receiver coming into the season, but the emergence of Victor Cruz has been crucial to the Giants success through the air.

Offensive X-Factor: Giants offensive line. Eli got hit a lot in the NFC Championship game against the 49ers. He may have still made some big plays, but they have to do a better job protecting him. The more time they give him to throw, the better the chance of receivers getting open. They also need to open up good lanes for the rushing attack to provide a quality balanced attack.

Defensive Philosophy: In their previous Super Bowl win and their regular season win over the Patriots, the Giants pressured and blitzed Tom Brady time and time again. Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Mathias Kiwanuka are salivating at the opportunity to get him. The secondary will look to mix coverages to confuse the Patriots as well.

Defensive X-Factor: Jason Pierre-Paul. JPP talks a big game, but he has the play to back it up. In only his second year in the NFL, Pierre-Paul became an All-Pro. Now, he has opportunity to show the world his talent on the biggest stage. Will he be able to walk the talk?

New England Patriots

Offensive Philosophy: The Patriots offense is obviously all about Tom Brady. Brady is an elite quarterback who makes all his weapons look great. His top wide receiver is the always consistent Wes Welker. The Patriots have loved to use their two tight ends, Ron Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, in a multitude of ways this year. The weakness of the offense is the rushing attack. Granted they haven't had to do it a lot this year. When they do rush the football, their main man is BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Offensive X-Factor: Ron Gronkowski. Gronkowski had a record-setting year as a tight end. His versatility makes him a matchup nightmare. The problem is that he is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. He has been limited in practice all week, but he is expected to play. The question becomes how well he can play. If he is ineffective, the Patriots passing attack will suffer in a big way.

Defensive Philosophy: The Patriots defense has been much maligned this season for being downright awful at times. This is especially true of their pass defense. The bottomline is that the Patriots offense typically scores so much that it alleviates some of the pressure off the defense. The glue that has held this defensive unit together through thick-and-thin this season is Vince Wilfork. The 325-pound defensive tackle is still a beast up front.

Defensive X-Factor: The Patriots secondary, particularly Julian Edelman. As I have already mentioned, the Patriots secondary was quite bad this year. In fact, they finished dead last in the NFL. They are going to have their hands full in the matchup. They will likely try to mix matchups and looks to confuse Eli. The most troublesome matchup for the Patriots will be Victor Cruz in the slot. Cruz has had an excellent season to say the least. The Patriots defender most likely to cover him though is converted wide receiver Julian Edelman. Edelman got moved to defense to help out the Patriots in pass coverage. This is an insult to Cruz, and he will be looking to prove it. The Patriots secondary better be ready with a plan.

Prediction

Tom Brady has seemingly willed the Patriots to this point. Eli Manning and the Giants are red hot coming into the big matchup. I expect another close matchup between these teams. I picked the Giants to win the Super Bowl before the playoffs began, and they have done nothing to make me doubt them. They have the clear edge on defense, which I think will give them the slight advantage on the scoreboard. Giants 27 Patriots 24

NBA Friday: Separating the Contenders from the Pretenders

Boston Celtics 91 New York Knicks 89

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen helped the Celtics secure a much needed win at home. The Knicks fall to 8-15 on the season. Questions and complaints continue to circulate about this dysfunctional team.

Orlando Magic 102 Cleveland Cavaliers 94

The Magic had trouble closing out the end of January (they went 2-6), but picked up their second win in two February games. Dwight Howard had 19 points and 16 rebounds in the win. We will have to see the Magic are back on track as it appears.

Miami Heat 99 Philadelphia 76ers 79

The Heat pounded the 76ers behind big games from Wade and LeBron. LeBron has had a MVP first-half of the season to lead the Heat. The loss drops the 76ers' home record to 12-3. While that is still impressive, this game showed the 76ers to be more of pretenders than contenders.

Oklahoma City Thunder 101 Memphis Grizzlies 94

Kevin Durant closed out another impressive win for the Thunder. Their record now stands at a league-best 18-4 (9-1 at home). Each game makes the Thunder look more and more like serious contenders. On the other hand, the Grizzlies have been a disappointment so far this season. Many people liked their talent for a short season, but they have been mediocre to this point.

Indiana Pacers 98 Dallas Mavericks 87

The Pacers are playing like contenders right now. They won in Dallas for the first time in eight years. Their ten road victories are tied for the most in the league. Paul George nailed seven three pointers and scored a career-high 30 points. The defending champion Mavericks continue to struggle. Right now, they are looking a lot more like pretenders than contenders.

Los Angeles Lakers 93 Denver Nuggets 89

The Lakers have had their struggles on the road, but got a quality win in Denver to improve their road record to 3-7. Kobe didn't have his best game, but his solid effort combined with those of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum were enough to secure the win. The Nuggets are trying compete against the top tier of the Western Conference, but lack a true star. They might be regular season contenders, but that is a recipe for a postseason pretender.

Egyptian Soccer Riot Reveals Ugly Side of the Beautiful Game

Soccer is the most beloved sport in the world. It brings people together to watch in amazement what is commonly known as the beautiful game. People love the game, and it is a passionate sport. Unfortunately, that passion can boil over and become pure madness. That is what happened on Wednesday in Port Said, Egypt. Thousands were on hand to watch a soccer match between two of Egypt's favorite clubs, Al-Masry and Al-Ahly.

Following the game, a riot broke out between rival fans. Fans tried to flee the scene, but hundreds were trapped in a long, narrow corridor. Fans bearing knives, clubs, sticks, and rocks came at the players and each other with the intent of death. Other people were crushed to death and suffocated in the corridor. At least 74 people wear killed and hundreds more injured. The riot police did little to stop what was taking place. Reports state that state police with helmets and shields stood in line formation watching what was unfolding, while doing nothing. Government officials had told them not to intervene.

Many people have reacted to this tragedy by blaming the instability of the Egyptian government, which is currently under police and military rule following the ouster of longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak. However, the fans are just as much to blame for the political unrest. Organized fans have formed groups called ultras. These groups have played significant roles in rebellions and protests against military rule.

This is an instance of where the world of sports and politics have become intertwined in a way that they weren't meant to be. Soccer is the world's game. A beautiful game played by people of all ages, no matter their skin color, or how rich or poor they might be. This riot is ugly. This riot cannot be tolerated. I don't know what is being done or by whom, but something must be done. For the sake of the lives lost and injured. For the sake of the beloved game. For the sake of the millions around the world who play, love, and cherish it. This world must not sit by and watch as this injustice takes place. Something has to be done to make a difference.

Noles and Tide Roll on National Signing Day

Top 5 Class of 2012 Recruiting Classes

1. Alabama - The freshly crowned national champions look to be loaded up for more runs at the title for years to come. The incoming class features 28 commits. 13 of those are ESPNU Top 150 recruits. The Crimson Tide's top recruits include Landon Collins (#1 safety), Eddie Williams (#2 athlete), Cyrus Jones (#4 athlete), and Chris Black (#2 wide receiver).

2. Florida State - No team had a better National Signing Day then Florida State. Their 2012 class currently has 18 commits, 9 of which are ESPNU Top 150 recruits. The Seminoles' defense looks to be beefing up in a big way. Not only did they get the #1 overall ranked recruit in defensive end Mario Edwards, but they made headlines when Eddie Goldman (#1 defensive tackle) committed to come to Tallahassee as well. With more top recruits verbally committed, things seem to be headed in the right direction for Florida State.

3. Texas - Coming off a disappointing season, Texas still managed to bring in a solid recruiting class. They signed 27 commits. 11 of them are ESPNU Top 150 Recruits. The Longhorns' class is headlined by the #2 overall player, Jonathan Gray (#1 running back), and Malcom Brown (#2 defensive tackle). Texas will look to get back to winning form behind some of these young players.

4. Florida - Just like Texas, Florida is coming off a disappointing season, but that didn't stop the Gators from signing a solid class either. Their class features 21 commits (8 ESPNU Top 150 recruits). The Gators' top two recruits hail from North Carolina, the top offensive lineman recruit, D.J. Humphries (#1 offensive tackle), and Jonathan Bullard (#4 defensive end). Florida is looking to bounce back next year as well.

5. Georgia - Georgia rounds out the top five classes, which are all from southern universities. The Bulldogs signed 17 commits, 5 of which are ESPNU Top 150 recruits. The top man coming to campus is Keith Marshall (#2 running back). He will likely be looking to run through holes created by another of Georgia's top recruits, John Theus. The Bulldogs are looking to stay competitive in what is a brutally tough top tier of the SEC.

Top Story of the Day

Dorial Green-Beckham - Where DGB would sign was probably the top story coming into the day. The Missouri native had almost every top school offering him a scholarship to come play. The big deal with DGB is that he was the top uncommitted prospect coming into the day and the #1 ranked high school wide receiver (#3 overall). All he did in high school was set the national career receiving record with 6,353 yards. Today, the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Green-Beckham stood at a podium in his high school gymnasium before a crowd of 1,500 people, about 20 television cameras, and a national television audience watching on ESPNU. Much to the delight of everyone in attendance, DGB announced his decision to stay home and play at the University of Missouri. As his family explained afterwards, it was always where he felt the most comfortable. The signing was huge for Mizzou, who becomes a member of the SEC on July 1. Before Wednesday, the Tigers stood on the outside of the ESPNU Top 25 classes looking in. They fully realized that eight other SEC teams were already in the Top 25, including three in the Top 5. The signing of DGB shows that Mizzou is ready to compete in the SEC. They might still have a long ways to go, but this signing was a big step in the right direction.

"You've Gotta Be Kidding": Latest NCAA Rankings Are A Joke

http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/

Maybe when the college hockey pollsters hit the off-season, they could work for Gary Larson's "The Far Side" comic strip. Perhaps that really is their plan, because they appear to be practicing with the latest USCHO.com rankings.

Thing is, nobody really seems to be laughing.

For the sake of example, let's look briefly at two teams benefiting from the polls "playing favorites," and contrast it with a team that plays a near-perfect weekend...only to fall further from the top.

The most obvious team benefiting from the good graces of the NCAA polls is "The" Ohio State University. OSU has failed to win a game in eight tries, going 0-4-4 in its last eight games. Over the weekend, they found themselves with a loss and a tie against recently-unranked Lake Superior State. The problem isn't so much the fact that Ohio State dropped a whopping four points in the polls--that, I can agree with.

It's the fact that they are still ranked 10th--meaning that they have gone winless in eight games, while still being ranked as a top-tier team. That's pathetic.

Second, look at Notre Dame. Now, I must commend the pollsters, because when UND lost twice to Western Michigan at the beginning of 2012, the Irish dropped from #3 to #7. Again, the problem comes when Notre Dame (2-4 in their last six games) is still ranked 8th in the country. I'm a tad more comfortable with UND's ranking than the Buckeyes, but seriously? You barely have to win a game anymore in this country.

So long as you were at one time back in October ranked higher than 13th.
Either that, or you happen to be a big-name program.

Take a smaller program now. One that has deserved to fall in the polls, but gets screwed over even when it wins. Welcome to Lake Superior State University. The Lakers have deserved to fall in the polls in their last couple weeks. That's okay! (notice I am giving the pollsters some credit). But explain this one to me:

LSSU shuts out #6 Ohio State 1-0. LSSU "ties" Ohio State 4-4, and wins the shootout.
(Recap: LSSU takes 5 out of 6 points from a top-tier team).

And then the Lakers receive less votes to be ranked than they did the previous week.
WHAT?!?!?!?
Oh yeah, and they got passed by Michigan State. Who, by the way, was swept over the weekend.
You've got to be kidding me.

Make your own judgments on the NCAA polls. The numbers speak for themselves.  You can talk "power rankings" and crap all you want. But the results go to show that rankings are being based less and less on how much a team wins.

They're becoming based on who the pollsters WANT to win.

Busting Out the BracketBusters

142 teams. 71 games. 16 conferences. The matchups for the 10th Annual BracketBusters event were announced last night. For those of you who don't know what this is, I will explain. In college basketball, there are six power conferences (Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, SEC, and Pac-12). These are considered to be the best collegiate conferences in the country. What happens with the BracketBuster games is that the best teams from the non-power conferences play each other to help show which teams are better than others. The best of these games are aired live on national television. The games will be taking place on Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18.

Here are the Top 5 BracketBuster games (all on February 18) in my opinion:

#16 St. Mary's @ #9 Murray State - 6:00 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN2

St. Mary's is in control of the WCC. With an overall record of 21-2, the Gaels are 10-0 in conference play with two wins over BYU and one over Gonzaga. Murray State is the only undefeated team left in the country, but the Gaels will be their toughest opponent so far. This game should give us a better indication of whether or not the Racers can finish off the perfect season and/or make a tournament run.

Long Beach State @ #12 Creighton - 10:00 PM EST, ESPN2

Long Beach State is 9-0 in conference play. The 49ers used a tough non-conference schedule to prepare for big games such as this one. Creighton has had an impressive season so far. They have non-conference wins over San Diego State and three Big Ten teams. They also currently sit atop what is a very deep and talented Missouri Valley Conference. This is an intriguing matchup all-around.

Nevada @ Iona - 4:00 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN2

Nevada stumbled out of the gates by losing their first two games, but have won eighteen out of nineteen since. The Wolfpack are led by a solid guard combo of Deonte Burton and Malik Story. Iona is tied atop the MAAC standings with Manhattan and Loyola (MD). I'm not sure what gave the Gaels the edge to receive this matchup, but the bottomline is that they got it. Iona likes to run an up-tempo offense, so this should be a high-scoring affair.

Wichita State @ Davidson - 12:00 PM, ESPN/ESPN2

Wichita State currently sits in second place in the Missouri Valley Conference. Their only two conference losses were to first-place Creighton and in triple overtime at Drake. The Shockers most convincing win came in their beatdown of UNLV at home. The Davidson Wildcats are the favorite to win the Southern Conference. Their best win this season is clearly an upset of Kansas in Kansas City. This game will help determine whether that was a fluke and which of these teams is a contender.

Drexel @ Cleveland State - 11:00 AM, ESPNU

Drexel started off the season slow with a 2-4 record. Since then, the Dragons have won fifteen of sixteen and are tied for second in the Colonial Athletic Conference. While Drexel seems like a long shot for at an at-large bid for the tournament, a big road win here could give the momentum they need going into their conference tournament. Cleveland State opened up play with the first major upset of season, a win over a then #7 ranked Vanderbilt team. The Vikings currently lead the Horizon. Both these teams are defensively minded, so expect a low-scoring grinder in this one.

Here is a listing of all of the nationally televised games: http://espnbracketbusters.com/site/about/tv-schedule

Here is a listing of all of the rest of the games: http://espnbracketbusters.com/site/about/tv-schedule?id=12

Why are the Knicks Mellowing Out?

The New York Knicks have lost nine out of ten. Since bringing in Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks are 21-31 (including the playoffs). They are currently in tenth in the Eastern Conference. They have Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. In Mike D'Antoni's system, the two were supposed to thrive and lead their team to the top tier of the East. That simply hasn't happened.

So who's fault is it? Is it D'Antoni's fault? I mean he is the coach. The one who is supposed to be the motivator. However, he didn't want Melo brought in, but no one listened to him. No one listens to him now either though. This is a team without a leader both on and off the court. Stoudemire is in one of the worst slumps of his career. Melo isn't leading the team to wins. Is it one of their faults?

I don't have a definite answer right now. Someone has to go, and I think D'Antoni will be the victim. Will it make a difference? I am not sure. In a shortened season, there is little time to waste. Right now, this team would settle for a victory. They're not so much worried about whether or not they can win a championship.

For more information, check out ESPN's Stephen A. Smith's podcast, where he explains his frustration with his New York Knicks: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=7520568

Aussie Final was Unmatchable

The Australian Open men's final featured #1 Novak Djokovic and #2 Rafael Nadal. I will break down the action from the epic battle.

Set 1: Nadal 7-5, 80 minutes

In the first set, play went back and forth as both players got into a rhythm. Nadal served well, and Djokovic missed on some returns. The first set lasted only two minutes less than the entire women's final. A little premonition of things to come.

Set 2: Djokovic 6-4, 66 minutes

Nadal rallied by saving three set points in two different games to come within 4-5, but choked on his 40-15 advantage and doubled-faulted to end the set. The momentum began to swing Djokovic's way.

Set 3: Djokovic 6-2, 45 minutes

Djokovic dominated Nadal on his serves in the third set. Nadal tried to play defensively, but Djokovic took advantage. The set was never really in doubt.

Set 4: Nadal 7-6, 88 minutes

Everything seems to be going Djokovic way as he is up 4-3, but Nadal refuses to quit. With the aid of the crowd and a ten-minute rain delay, Nadal battles back. After he wins the set, he falls to his knees in triumph, but this match isn't over yet.

Set 5: Djokovic 7-5, 74 minutes

Djokovic's body seemed to be breaking down throughout the set, but a crucial backhand miss by Nadal breathed new life into him. Despite the exhaustion both must have been experiencing, the two go on a 32-shot rally. Nadal wins the battle, and Djokovic collapses on the court. However, Djokovic rises to his feet and appears to have one more push left in him. Nadal returns one into the net to make it 6-5 Djokovic. From there, Djokovic takes care of business and buries the winner.

This match, lasting a total of 5 hours and 53 minutes, might be one of the greatest of all-time. The win gave Djokovic his fourth Grand Slam win in the last five. The loss dealt Nadal his third consecutive major final defeat. This is the type of match the sport of tennis needs. If you didn't get to watch it, I would encourage you to watch a replay or at least the highlights. This was a battle for the ages. It was won by the best player in the sport right now, Novak Djokovic.