Ahhh! It's that time of year again. Spring is on it's way, the weather starts to let up a bit and the smell of freshly printed brackets looms in the air. Yep, it's definitely March Madness. Unfortunately, due to my work load right now, I couldn't give you some massive bracket picking blowout like I did last year, but I can supply you with my first round picks right now as well as some links to my 9 brackets I made on ESPN's website. Yes, I know I have a problem. From my realistic thoughts, to my coin flip shenanigans you will be able to view both on the blog later today.
Speaking of coin flips, I did one where I flipped every game of the tournament in hopes of proving this year would finally be the year where flipping a coin would be better than actually picking. If there is a year that a coin flip could win a bracket pool, it would be this year. There isn't one team I feel comfortable saying is the favorite, so madness will inevitably ensue. With that, I invite you to enjoy these first round picks and Happy March Madness!
Upset picks are bold and italicized
Mid-West first round winners:
Louisville
Missouri
Oregon
St. Louis
St. Mary's
Michigan State
Creighton
Duke
West first round winners:
Gonzaga
Wichita State
Ole Miss
Kansas State
Belmont
New Mexico
Notre Dame
Ohio State
South first round winners:
Kansas
Villanova
VCU
Michigan
Minnesota
Florida
San Diego State
Georgetown
East first round winners:
Indiana
NC State
California
Syracuse
Butler
Marquette
Illinois
Miami
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
My 2013 MLS Preview
It's official, we've completed the 'March to Soccer'. Spring is just around the corner, all the new jerseys have been unveiled and most importantly, MLS training camps are over. A lot has changed in the league since the 2012 campaign. MLS figure head David Beckham left for PSG, Landon Donovan took some time off and there were a whole bunch of moves. That being said, all the changes have made this season one of the more open ones in recent memory. I think every club has a chance of making it to the postseason and I'm confident the US Open Cup landscape will change a fair amount. With MLS games starting tomorrow, let's take a look at my five bold predictions and how I think the league will finish this season.
Neil Rosan's five bold MLS predictions
5. The West will be totally wide open - Let's face it. Nearly every team that made the playoffs in the West last season lost a huge chunk of their team in the off season. LA lost Beckham, Salt Lake lost huge components and Seattle lost Montero. This undoubtedly opens the door for teams like Dallas and Portland to make some noise this season. Don't be surprised if Salt Lake or Seattle miss the playoffs this year because of what they lost.
4. Toronto FC will not finish last in the East - That's right, I said it. TFC had a terrible start last year and they went on to loss 21 matches in total. I credit some of that to losing Captain Torsten Frings at the start of the year. Frings is no longer with the team, but I have a feeling with the amount of youth this team has they will come out of the gate stronger and have fewer injuries. That combined with how bad the Revolution are, I think they will finish a good 5 points above the Revs.
3. Caleb Porter will look really good at Portland - Portland didn't have a great season, but now that they have head coach Caleb Porter, I think they will improve tremendously. He has made a lot of good looking off season moves. Valencia will prove to be the biggest move, but defender Mikael Silvestre will also play a key role as a new signing. I think Porter will bring a good coaching style to the Timbers and they will defend the Cascadia Cup while they make it a race for the fifth playoff spot out West.
2. There will be two new teams in the US Open Cup Final - Sporting Kansas City and Seattle squared off for this piece of silverware this past year, but I don't think either will make it back. Though the US Open Cup has been an after thought for some time now, I feel that the new found popularity in the league will put more stress on a club winning a trophy. Since winning a league is so hard, more teams will focus their efforts on this competition which means less repeats in my book. Does this open the door for the Redbulls to finally win something? I won't go that far.
1. Houston will make it to a third straight MLS Cup... and win - I wasn't going to make a prediction about a Champion, but I guess it kind of came out anyway. This club, coached by Dominic Kinnear, have been almost unstoppable in the playoffs and I think that continues this year. I also think after two years of finishing runner up, the Dynamo are going to come out with a new fire and want to show the league they have what it takes. They may not have the best record when all is said and done, but this team gets dangerous in the Fall and everyone should watch out.
How the MLS will finish:
East
1. Sporting Kansas City - They lost Kei Kamara, but they still got the players to lead this conference. It will be close, but Sporting will pull it out in the end.
2. Houston Dynamo - These guys will continue on their form and get hot late. They will have a better start than last year and will be near the top all year.
3. Chicago Fire - After the addition of Fernandez last year, they became a much better team. I also think Nyarko comes into fruition this year which makes this team very different.
4. New York Red Bulls - They will be cursed by streaks once again. At times they will look like the best team in the league, but under perform a few games later. They will once again to enough to stay in the playoff race.
5. Columbus Crew- The Crew will do just enough to get into the playoffs. Striker Federico Higuain and Goalie Andy Gruenebaum will take this team to the next level and could continue to rise next year.
**************
PLAYOFFS
**************
6. DC United - For some reason, I don't have a lot of faith in this team. I know they came close to going to MLS Cup last year, but I think the teams around them have gotten better.
7. Philadelphia Union - This is kind of a risk pxutting this club this high, but I think the coaching staff will get it together and this team will have a bit of success.
8. Montreal Impact - After a stellar Inaugural season, Montreal will have a slump in the second. They will compete, but won't be good enough to finish games.
9. Toronto FC - Like I said before, the youth will lead this team to a better season than last year's.
10. New England Revolution - I don't like a single thing about this team.Maybe that dislike is bleeding over, but I don't think they have what it takes to do a lot this season.
West
1. San Jose Eathquakes - This team lost the least in the off season Chris Wondoloski will continue his scoring run as the rest of his teammates replicate a season close to last year's.
2. Seattle Sounders - This team lost some players, but I think they gained what they needed in the off season. It won't be a strong second place finish, but it will happen.
3. Los Angeles Galaxy - They will have trouble finding their bearings at the beginning of the season, but it will come together down the stretch.
4. Vancouver Whitecaps - They made it to the playoffs last year and I think they will do enough this year. They had a lot of good talent show up and I think the likes of Jay Demerit lead the team to glory.
5. FC Dallas- Brek Shea may be gone, but this team is sticking around. Players like David Ferreira and Kenny Cooper will put this team in the playoffs.
************
PLAYOFFS
************
6. Portland Timbers - They will come close with Caleb Porter, but this team still isn't ready. Just give the Timbers a year and they will be ready to be a club that makes it to the playoffs annually.
7. Real Salt Lake - I know this is a little harsh, but this team lost so much and the rest of the conference is is getting better. By the looks of it, Salt Lake won't be the same for a while.
8. Colorado Rapids - Not much going for the Rapids this year. I feel like they will be in the race early, but they won't be able to score enough goals to stay in it.
9. Chivas USA - Do I even have to explain myself? This club is a mess!
Thanks for reading!
Neil Rosan's five bold MLS predictions
5. The West will be totally wide open - Let's face it. Nearly every team that made the playoffs in the West last season lost a huge chunk of their team in the off season. LA lost Beckham, Salt Lake lost huge components and Seattle lost Montero. This undoubtedly opens the door for teams like Dallas and Portland to make some noise this season. Don't be surprised if Salt Lake or Seattle miss the playoffs this year because of what they lost.
4. Toronto FC will not finish last in the East - That's right, I said it. TFC had a terrible start last year and they went on to loss 21 matches in total. I credit some of that to losing Captain Torsten Frings at the start of the year. Frings is no longer with the team, but I have a feeling with the amount of youth this team has they will come out of the gate stronger and have fewer injuries. That combined with how bad the Revolution are, I think they will finish a good 5 points above the Revs.
3. Caleb Porter will look really good at Portland - Portland didn't have a great season, but now that they have head coach Caleb Porter, I think they will improve tremendously. He has made a lot of good looking off season moves. Valencia will prove to be the biggest move, but defender Mikael Silvestre will also play a key role as a new signing. I think Porter will bring a good coaching style to the Timbers and they will defend the Cascadia Cup while they make it a race for the fifth playoff spot out West.
2. There will be two new teams in the US Open Cup Final - Sporting Kansas City and Seattle squared off for this piece of silverware this past year, but I don't think either will make it back. Though the US Open Cup has been an after thought for some time now, I feel that the new found popularity in the league will put more stress on a club winning a trophy. Since winning a league is so hard, more teams will focus their efforts on this competition which means less repeats in my book. Does this open the door for the Redbulls to finally win something? I won't go that far.
1. Houston will make it to a third straight MLS Cup... and win - I wasn't going to make a prediction about a Champion, but I guess it kind of came out anyway. This club, coached by Dominic Kinnear, have been almost unstoppable in the playoffs and I think that continues this year. I also think after two years of finishing runner up, the Dynamo are going to come out with a new fire and want to show the league they have what it takes. They may not have the best record when all is said and done, but this team gets dangerous in the Fall and everyone should watch out.
How the MLS will finish:
East
1. Sporting Kansas City - They lost Kei Kamara, but they still got the players to lead this conference. It will be close, but Sporting will pull it out in the end.
2. Houston Dynamo - These guys will continue on their form and get hot late. They will have a better start than last year and will be near the top all year.
3. Chicago Fire - After the addition of Fernandez last year, they became a much better team. I also think Nyarko comes into fruition this year which makes this team very different.
4. New York Red Bulls - They will be cursed by streaks once again. At times they will look like the best team in the league, but under perform a few games later. They will once again to enough to stay in the playoff race.
5. Columbus Crew- The Crew will do just enough to get into the playoffs. Striker Federico Higuain and Goalie Andy Gruenebaum will take this team to the next level and could continue to rise next year.
**************
PLAYOFFS
**************
6. DC United - For some reason, I don't have a lot of faith in this team. I know they came close to going to MLS Cup last year, but I think the teams around them have gotten better.
7. Philadelphia Union - This is kind of a risk pxutting this club this high, but I think the coaching staff will get it together and this team will have a bit of success.
8. Montreal Impact - After a stellar Inaugural season, Montreal will have a slump in the second. They will compete, but won't be good enough to finish games.
9. Toronto FC - Like I said before, the youth will lead this team to a better season than last year's.
10. New England Revolution - I don't like a single thing about this team.Maybe that dislike is bleeding over, but I don't think they have what it takes to do a lot this season.
West
1. San Jose Eathquakes - This team lost the least in the off season Chris Wondoloski will continue his scoring run as the rest of his teammates replicate a season close to last year's.
2. Seattle Sounders - This team lost some players, but I think they gained what they needed in the off season. It won't be a strong second place finish, but it will happen.
3. Los Angeles Galaxy - They will have trouble finding their bearings at the beginning of the season, but it will come together down the stretch.
4. Vancouver Whitecaps - They made it to the playoffs last year and I think they will do enough this year. They had a lot of good talent show up and I think the likes of Jay Demerit lead the team to glory.
5. FC Dallas- Brek Shea may be gone, but this team is sticking around. Players like David Ferreira and Kenny Cooper will put this team in the playoffs.
************
PLAYOFFS
************
6. Portland Timbers - They will come close with Caleb Porter, but this team still isn't ready. Just give the Timbers a year and they will be ready to be a club that makes it to the playoffs annually.
7. Real Salt Lake - I know this is a little harsh, but this team lost so much and the rest of the conference is is getting better. By the looks of it, Salt Lake won't be the same for a while.
8. Colorado Rapids - Not much going for the Rapids this year. I feel like they will be in the race early, but they won't be able to score enough goals to stay in it.
9. Chivas USA - Do I even have to explain myself? This club is a mess!
Thanks for reading!
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