redsox151946

I'm not too familiar with the NCAA matchup procedure-tell me if there are any matchups that can't happen.

Note-teams, seeds are the same as in my previous entry-they're put in a bracket in this entry
East:

1 Ohio State
16 Texas Southern/Bethune-Cookman

8 Utah St.
9 Marquette

4 St. John's
13 Oakland

5 Kentucky
12 Missouri St.

6 Kansas St.
11 St. Mary's

3 Louisville
14 Fairfield

7 Cincinnati
10 UCLA

2 BYU
15 Vermont

West

1 Duke
16 Morehead St.

8 UNLV
9 Old Dominion

4 Syracuse
13 Belmont
 
5  Xavier
12 Boston College/Alabama

6 West Virginia
11 UAB

3 Texas
14 Long Island

7 George Mason
10 Illinois

2 Notre Dame
15 Bucknell

Southeast

1 Pittsburgh
16 Northern Colorado

8 Missouri
9 Tennessee

4 UNC
13 College of Charleston

5 Georgetown
12 Clemson/Richmond

6 Villanova
11 Virginia Tech

3 Florida
14 UNC-Asheville

7 Temple
10 Georgia

2 Purdue
15 Long Beach St.

Southwest

1 Kansas
16 McNeese St./Florida Atlantic

8 Florida St.
9 Washington

4 Arizona
13 Princeton

5 Connecticut
12 Butler

6 Vanderbilt
11 Gonzaga

3 Wisconsin
14 Cleveland St.

7 Texas A&M
10 Michigan St.

2 San Diego St.
15 Kent St.

Bracketology as of today:
1 seeds: Ohio State, Kansas, Pittsburgh, Duke

2 seeds: BYU, Notre Dame, Purdue, San Diego St.

3 seeds: Texas, Wisconsin, Louisville, Florida

4 seeds: UNC, Syracuse, St. John's, Arizona

5 seeds: Georgetown, Connecticut, Xavier, Kentucky

6 seeds: Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Villanova, Kansas State

7 seeds: Temple, Texas A&M, George Mason, Cincinnati

8 seeds: Utah St., UNLV, Missouri, Florida St.

9 seeds: Washington, Old Dominion, Tennessee, Marquette

10 seeds: UCLA, Illinois, Michigan St., Georgia

11 seeds: Virginia Tech, UAB, St. Mary's, Gonzaga
 
12 seeds: Missouri St., Butler; Alabama, Clemson, Richmond,Boston College play-in
 
13 seeds: College of Charleston, Oakland, Belmont, Princeton

14 seeds: Cleveland St., UNC-Asheville, Fairfield, Long Island

15 seeds: Vermont, Bucknell, Long Beach St., Kent St.

16 seeds: Morehead St., Northern Colorado; McNeese St., Florida Atlantic, Texas Southern, Bethune-Cookman play-in

(disregarding regions)

---

 1 seeds: Ohio State, Kansas, Texas, Pittsburgh
 
2 seeds: BYU, San Diego St., Notre Dame, Duke

3 seeds: Florida, Georgetown, Wisconsin, Villanova

4 seeds: Louisville, Connecticut, Purdue, Syracuse

5 seeds: UNC, Arizona, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

6 seeds: Utah St., St. Mary's, West Virginia, Missouri

7 seeds: Kentucky, Tennessee, Xavier, Baylor

8 seeds: UNLV, UCLA, Temple, Florida St.

9 seeds: UTEP, Georgia, Richmond, Washington

10 seeds: George Mason, St. John's, Illinois, Minnesota

11 seeds: Cincinnati, Marquette, Wichita St., Alabama

12 seeds: Clemson, VCU, Michigan St, Old Dominion, Memphis, Kansas St.

13 seeds: Oakland, Princeton, Valparaiso, Coastal Carolina

14 seeds: College of Charleston, Fairfield, Vermont, Belmont

15 seeds: Bucknell, Florida Atlantic, Kent St., Murray St.

16 seeds: Montana, Long Island, Northwestern St., Texas Southern, Long Beach St., Hampton





1 Ohio State
16 Montana/Long Island

8 UNLV
9 Washington

4 Connecticut
13 Oakland

5 Texas A&M
12 Clemson

6 West Virginia
11 Marquette

3 Florida
14 Fairfield

7 Baylor
10 Illinois

2 Notre Dame
15 Kent St.


1 Kansas
16 Northwestern St./Texas Southern

8 UCLA
9 Richmond

4 Louisville
13 Princeton

5 Vanderbilt
12 VCU

6 Utah St.
11 Alabama

3 Wisconsin
14 Belmont

7 Kentucky
10 Minnesota

2 Duke
15 Bucknell


1 Pittsburgh
16 Hampton

8 Temple
9 Georgia

4 Syracuse
13 Coastal Carolina

5 Arizona
12 Michigan St./Old Dominion

6 St. Mary's
11 Cincinnati

3 Georgetown
14 College of Charleston

7 Tennessee
10 George Mason

2 BYU
15 Murray St.


1 Texas
16 Long Beach St.

8 Florida St.
9 UTEP

4 Purdue
13 Valparaiso

5 UNC
12 Memphis/Kansas St.

6 Missouri
11 Wichita St.

3 Villanova
14 Vermont

7 Xavier
10 St. John's

2 San Diego St.
15 Florida Atlantic

(disregarding regions)

---

1 Ohio State
16 Northern Colorado/Long Island

8 UNLV
9 Florida St.

4 Connecticut
13 Oakland

5 Texas A&M
12 St. John's

6 West Virginia
11 Clemson

3 Florida
14 Fairfield

7 Marquette
10 Richmond

2 Notre Dame
15 Col. of Charleston


1 Kansas
16 Northwestern St./Texas Southern

8 UCLA
9 Cincinnati

4 Louisville
13 Wichita St.

5 Kentucky
12 Princeton

6 Utah St.
11 George Mason

3 Syracuse
14 Belmont

7 Vanderbilt
10 Washington

2 Duke
15 Bucknell


1 Pittsburgh
16 Hampton

8 Baylor
9 Temple

4 Wisconsin
13 Kent St.

5 Arizona
12 Illinois/Cleveland St.

6 St. Mary's
11 Colorado St.

3 Georgetown
14 Coastal Carolina

7 Tennessee
10 Alabama

2 BYU
15 Murray St.


1 Texas
16 Long Beach St.

8 Minnesota
9 UTEP

4 Purdue
13 Valparaiso

5 UNC
12 Southern Miss/Kansas St.

6 Missouri
11 VCU

3 Villanova
14 Vermont

7 Xavier
10 Georgia

2 San Diego St.
15 Florida Atlantic



Conference Breakdown:
 
America East-1   Big East-11       Big 12-6           Horizon-2                   MEAC-1                      Ohio Valley-1        Southern-1            SWAC-1
ACC-4                  Big Sky-1          Big West-1        Ivy-1                         Missouri Valley-1        Pac-10-3              Southland-1          WAC-1
Atlantic Sun-1     Big South-1      Colonial-2        Mid-American-1       Mountain West-4        Patriot-1                   Summit-1     West Coast-1
Atlantic 10-3       Big 10-5           C-USA-2          MAAC-1                    Northeast-1                 SEC-6                     Sun Belt-1

The Sox' move of acquiring Lackey surprises me as they'd already signed Marco Scutaro and were pursuing Matt Holliday and/or Jason Bay. Lackey's contract (if 5 years/85 million goes through) would add a significant amount to the payroll (17 million/year) that could've been spent on keeping Bay or acquiring Holiday as an alternative. Here, instead, they got Lackey. Assuming the Sox aren't getting Bay/Holliday now (that would be the best possible scenario), was this a good move? Would you rather have Lackey, a strong ace/2/3 starter or a middle-of-the-order left fielder?

   These would be the expected lineups:
w/ Lackey                                                                               w/ Bay or Holliday
Batting                                                                                   Batting:                                
 
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF                                                               1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B                                                               2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, C                                                                 3. Victor Martinez, C
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B                                                                4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH                                                                    5. Jason Bay/Matt Holliday, LF
6. J.D. Drew, RF                                                                       6. David Ortiz, DH
7. Marco Scutaro, SS                                                                7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Jed Lowrie, 3B (don't really know who's going to play here,        8. Marco Scutaro, SS
if Beltre signs then he's #6 or 7 hitter)                                       9.  Jed Lowrie/Adrian Beltre, 3B                                             
9. Josh Reddick/Jeremy Hermida, LF                                                                                       


Pitching:                                                                               Pitching:

1. Josh Beckett                                                                      1. Josh Beckett
2. Jon Lester                                                                         2. Jon Lester
3. John Lackey                                                                      3. Clay Buchholz
4. Clay Buchholz                                                                    4. Daisuke Matsuzaka
5. Daisuke Matsuzaka (the highest paid #5 starter ever)            5. Tim Wakefield

Where will the top 3 free agents go?

            I think Jason Bay will stay with the Red Sox (I hope so). He's a good player the Red Sox want to keep and will offer him enough money. Matt Holliday will definitely leave the Cardinals. Obviously, the Yankees are the first team that comes to mind when thinking about free agents. Plus, the Yankees released Matsui and Damon and don't have a left fielder ready for the majors that can step in and perform for their expectations. Lastly, John Lackey will go to the Dodgers. He's already familiar with LA, and the Dodgers are lacking an ace completely (Chad Billingsley? Clayton Kershaw?). The Dodgers will probably be willing to spend the money as well with two NLCS exits in a row.

Now the Sox have signed Marco Scutaro, at least they have a SS. But now they probably won't make a push for Lackey as signing Scutaro and trying to keep Bay will be enough for the winter (in major signings)

I know the season's half over and I'm a little late...but here are my NFL predictions (postseason included).

AFC

East:
1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills

North:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Cleveland Browns

South: (How is Indianapolis South?)
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Houston Texans
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars

West:
1. Denver Broncos
2. San Diego Chargers
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Kansas City Chiefs

NFC

East:
1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. New York Giants
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Washington Redskins

North:
1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

South:
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Atlanta Falcons
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

West:
1. Arizona Cardinals
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. St. Louis Rams

AFC Playoffs:

4. Denver Broncos
5. Houston Texans               5. Houston Texans
                                                                                      1. Indianapolis Colts                             AFC CHAMPIONS:
                                         1. Indianapolis Colts
                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                               2. New England Patriots
                                         2. New England Patriots
                                                                                       2. New England Patriots
                                         3. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Cincinnati Bengals



NFC Playoffs:

4. Arizona Cardinals
5. New York Giants                5. New York Giants
                                                                                     1. New Orleans Saints                               NFC CHAMPIONS:
                                          1. New Orleans Saints

                                                                                                                                             1. New Orleans Saints
 
                                          2. Minnesota Vikings
                                                                                      3. Philadelphia Eagles
                                          3. Philadelphia Eagles                                     
3. Philadelphia Eagles
6. Atlanta Falcons

                          

         
                                                                    SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS:

                                                                        New Orleans Saints

                        

Although it's a little late...Here are my 2009-2010 NBA Predictions:

Eastern Conference:

Atlantic Division:

1. Boston Celtics
2. Toronto Raptors
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. New York Knicks
5. New Jersey Nets

Central Division: 1. Cleveland Cavaliers2. Chicago Bulls3. Milwaukee Bucks4. Detroit Pistons5. Indiana Pacers

Southeast Division: 1. Orlando Magic
2. Atlanta Hawks
3. Miami Heat
4. Washington Wizards
5. Charlotte Bobcats


Western Conference:

Southwest Division: 1. San Antonio Spurs2. New Orleans Hornets3. Dallas Mavericks4. Houston Rockets5. Memphis GrizzliesNorthwest Division:

1. Denver Nuggets2. Portland Trail Blazers3. Oklahoma City Thunder (yes, i know it's a long shot)4. Utah Jazz5. Minnesota TimberwolvesPacific Division:
1. Los Angeles Lakers2. Phoenix Suns3. Los Angeles Clippers4. Golden State Warriors5. Sacramento KingsWhy does more than half of the NBA make the playoffs and why does each round have best-of-7 serieses? NBA, NHL, and the BCS need a better playoff system.

Eastern Conference:

1. Boston Celtics
8. Washington Wizards               1. Boston Celtics    
                                                                                   1. Boston Celtics
4. Chicago Bulls                  
5. Toronto Raptors                   4. Chicago Bulls
                                                                                                                          Eastern Conference Champs:Orlando Magic
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 
6. Atlanta Hawks                      6. Atlanta Hawks
                                                                                   2. Orlando Magic
2. Orlando Magic
7. Miami Heat                        2. Orlando Magic


Western Conference:

1. Denver Nuggets
8. Oklahoma City Thunder    1. Denver Nuggets

4. New Orleans Hornets                                                 1. Denver Nuggets
5. Dallas Mavericks              4. New Orleans Hornets
                                                                                                                         Western Conference Champs: Denver Nuggets
3. San Antonio Spurs
6. Portland Trail Blazers       6. Portland Trail Blazers
                                                                                2. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Los Angeles Lakers
7. Phoenix Suns                 2. Los Angeles Lakers





                                        2009-2010 NBA Champions: Denver Nuggets


Most of it probably will be wrong..., but these are my predictions. Feel free to leave your predictions.