2015 March Madness: #8 NC State vs #9 LSU

We love a good #8 versus #9 matchup. It’s often one of the most difficult picks you’ll have to make on your bracket.

The ACC was top-heavy this season. Virginia and Duke lead the way, but there are a few other teams that could win a few games in the NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky was the cream of the crop in the SEC, but there were plenty of teams playing for at-large bids this season. LSU was a bubble team, but unlike Texas A&M, they received an invite to the tourney.

How will LSU’s low-post offense do against NC State’s smaller lineup?

Who do you think will win? We help you fill out your bracket.

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2015 March Madness: #8 Cincinnati vs #9 Purdue

This is the first of many NCAA Tournament games we are picking to help you fill out your bracket.

The Big Ten was the arguably the strongest conference from top to bottom in the country. They have seven teams representing them in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Purdue was a bubble team and I strongly believe they deserved a spot in the Big Dance.

The American Athletic Conference wasn’t as strong, but Cincinnati made it through the season with a lot of adversity.

Can Cincinnati score enough points to win games in the NCAA Tournament?

How will Purdue handle Cincinnati’s elite perimeter defense?

Who do you think will win? We help you fill out your bracket.

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2015 March Madness: Which Bubble Teams Didn’t Get In?

There are 351 Division-I teams in college basketball eligible for the postseason 2015 NCAA Tournament. Obviously, not every team can get an invite.

These teams were all on the bubble, but failed to make it into the field of 68.

There were some big upsets in conference tournaments and they took spots away from teams that deserved a nod. I was surprised a few times during the Selection Show, but I feel good about the field overall.

Did Indiana and Purdue do enough to get into the Big Dance?

Here is a list of bubble teams which had their bubble burst.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays were a popular pick to make a big leap in 2013, but they ended up finishing in last place in the AL East that season. Expectations leveled out last year and they finished a few games over .500. After acquiring Josh Donaldson in a trade and signing Russell Martin, Toronto is expected to once again contend in the AL East again. Can they pull it off or will they fall flat on their faces again?

Injuries plagued Toronto’s potential resurgent season in 2013 and they were already dealt a huge blow when they learned their young pitching phenom Marcus Stroman tore his ACL. He will miss the entire season. Which one of Toronto’s many young pitching prospects will take his spot in the starting rotation?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Toronto Blue Jays.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers hoped to make it out of Spring Training without too many injuries. They were already given bad news this offseason when they heard top prospect Jurickson Profar would miss another season after needing another surgery on his left shoulder. The worst news was yet to come.

The Rangers found out their ace Yu Darvish would be on the shelf for the season after getting a second opinion that he needed Tommy John surgery. He was shutdown back in August after injuring his elbow. They thought he could avoid Tommy John surgery with extra rest this offseason.

The Rangers had postseason aspirations last season, but lost 95 games due to all the injuries to key players. Can they get back to the postseason in 2015?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Texas Rangers.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays come into the 2015 season with a new general manager, manager and a load of new faces in the clubhouse. Tampa Bay is going through one of the many issues a small market team goes through. They can’t afford to keep their homegrown talent and must turnover their roster to remain competitive.

After recent success near the top of the AL East, it looks like they could be headed for some lean years. The farm system they relied on for so many years is no longer stocked with can’t-miss prospects. How soon can the new general manager turn things around?

Can the Rays young starting rotation keep the team afloat during the transition?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Tampa Bay Rays.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals had a rough offseason. They had to mourn the death of Oscar Taveras while trying to conduct business. They didn’t sign any high-priced free agents, but they did make a big trade with the Braves (which I’ll discuss later).

The Cardinals have a nice mix of veterans and youth. Matt Holliday, Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina are the leaders in the clubhouse while Kolten Wong, Michael Wacha and Matt Adams are the future of the franchise. St. Louis looks set to contend for the next decade. They never seem to be in rebuilding mode. They just retool and win championships.

Can St. Louis hold off Pittsburgh and win their third-straight NL Central division title?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the St. Louis Cardinals.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Seattle Mariners

The Mariners were one game away from making the postseason last year. Robinson Cano brought his winning pedigree over from New York. The signing turned out to be one of the best last offseason, even if he did bring a hefty price tag.

The AL West is loaded once again (the Houston Astros actually look like a professional baseball team this season). The Rangers and A’s might not be as strong, but the Angels are all expected to run away with the AL West. Can Seattle take the crown from Los Angeles?

Seattle has turned into quite a sports town. The Seahawks own the city and the Sounders have helped transform the entire U.S. into caring about soccer more than just every four years. Can the Mariners piggyback on the overwhelming rabid Seattle sports fanbase and turn Safeco Field into a strong homefield advantage?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Seattle Mariners.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: San Francisco Giants

The 2014 World Series champions got hot at the right time. They won one of the Wild Card spots and battled their way through the playoffs. Madison Bumgarner’s ring should be a little bigger than the rest of the team’s rings, since he was so dominant in October.

The Giants lost long-time third baseman (and postseason hero) Pablo Sandoval to free agency. Boston threw a lot of money at him and it was a smart long-term decision to let him walk. He’s had weight issues in the past, so spending nearly $20 million a season on him doesn’t sound like be a smart fiscal decision.

Tim Lincecum is in the last year of his deal. Can he bounce back from a few rough seasons in a contract year?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the San Francisco Giants.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: San Diego Padres

San Diego was quite busy this offseason. Yonder Alonso and Jedd Gyorko are the only starters from last season that will be in the starting lineup for San Diego. They’ve traded a lot of youth to acquire players like Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers, but they now have a team that could make the postseason.

The Padres are in the unfortunate position of being in the same division as the Dodgers and the defending World Series champions, the Giants. San Francisco doesn’t look as opposing, but the Dodgers might be the best team in the Majors. The road to a postseason berth will be a difficult one.

Can San Diego contend this season or will they face the same growing pains the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays faced after completing so many offseason trades?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the San Diego Padres.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off back-to-back postseason appearances, but have yet to win the NL Central. Manager Clint Hurdle knows winning the division is more important than ever. Pittsburgh would avoid a Wild Card play-in game. They lost to the eventual World Series champs (San Francisco) in the WC play-in game last season.

The Buccos might possibly have the best young outfield in the Majors. Andrew McCutchen is a perennial MVP candidate, Startling Marte is an all-round offensive and defensive weapon and Gregory Polanco hopes to repeat the numbers he had in the minors before last year’s call-up. All three are under the age of 28 and should be stars in Pittsburgh for a long time.

Can the Pirates hold off the Cardinals and win their first division title since 1992?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies got old in a hurry. In a span of four years, they went from a World Series contender to possibly being one of the worst teams in the league. They signed all their stars to lucrative long-term contracts during that time. The worst-case scenario played out and they are all nearly immovable in a trade.

Manager Ryne Sandberg took over after Charlie Manuel was fired mid-season in 2013. He’s great with younger talent, but he might not be able to keep his job during the transition. They need to move the big contracts for a few decent prospects, but dumping money is more important.

Can the Phillies find a trade partner for Ryan Howard?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Philadelphia Phillies.

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