NBA Mock Draft Edition 1

1. Orlando Magic Nerlens Noel, C
The Magic nee some help down in the low post. So they pick up Noel, a guy who has the talent to go first even if he misses most of the year with his ACL injury.
2. Charlotte Bobcats Ben McLemore, SG
Charlotte is one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA so they need the sharpshooting McLemore here.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers Anthony Bennett, SF
It hasn't been since the days of King LeBron that the Cavaliers have had a quality wing player. They pick up Bennett, a fantastic rebounder who can score in the low post.
4. New Orleans Hornets Trey Burke, PG

Shabazz Muhammed

The Hornets are looking for the next Paul and they should find him here with Burke, a speedy guard who can hit the three.
5. Sacremento Kings Alex Len, C
The Kings pick up Len here, a seven-footer from Maryland to form a dominant frontcourt duo with Demarcus Cousins.
6. Phoenix Suns Shabazz Muhammed, SF
Shabazz going here may be a little bit of a stretch but the Suns really need scoring and that is exactly what the young Muhammed brings.
7. Washington Wizards Otto Porter, SF
With John Wall and Bradley Beal it is clear that the Wizards' backcourt is stacked. Now, Washington works on their frontcourt by drafting Georgetown product Otto Porter.
8. Detroit Pistons Kelly Olynyk, C
Olynyk improved mightily last year and has quietly turned into one of the NBA's brightest prospects. If Andre Drummond doesn't work out, Olynyk would be the perfect developmental player.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves Victor Oladipo, SG
A psychical, athletic defender, Oladipo should be the perfect combo to Ricky Rubio at point guard.
10. Philadelphia Sixers Michael Carter-Williams, PG
Carter-WIlliams, a 6-6 point guard should fit in perfectly with the Sixers. He should be the perfect passer to Jrue Holiday's scoring.
11. Portland Trail Blazers Mason Plumlee, PF
The Blazers got a steal picking up Damian Lilliard last year to be the star of their backcourt. Now, they continue to work on their frontcourt by adding Plumlee to play alongside Lamarcus Aldridge.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder C.J. McCollum, SG
James Harden is now, of course, dominating in Houston so the Thunder pick up McCollum to be their future shooting guard.
13. Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert, C
Gobert, a 7-1 center from France should help an inconsistent Jazz froncourt and could be the heir to another big post player, Al Jefferson.
14. Dallas Mavericks Steven Adams, C
Most of this Dallas team is old so they might want a more developed player than Adams. Though Adams, a seven-footer who showed a lot of potential for Jamie Dixon at Pitt last year could fall here.
15. Milwaukee Bucks  Giannis Adetokoubo, SF
The Bucks should pick up a talented Greek forward here in Adetokoubo to help an average frontcourt.
16. Boston Celtics Dario Saric, PF
Kevin Garnett could be done soon along with Paul Pierce so the Celtics pick up a Croatian talent in Dario Saric.
17. Atlanta Hawks Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG
Atlanta looks like they could be entering a complete rebuild and their first piece to the puzzle should be Georgia's athletic shooting guard.
18. Atlanta Hawks Shane Larkin, PG
Although Larkin is a little small and could be a very big risk here at 18, the Hawks should take a chance on the scoring threat Larkin here.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers Cody Zeller, C
Zeller really hurt his NBA draft stock in this year's NCAA tournament. He doesn't have much of a mid range game, has a small wingspan and struggles against tough opponents. He will drop, the question is, how far?
20. Chicago Bulls Gorgui Dieng, C
Assuming Derrick Rose comes back and is his old self the Bulls focus on their post. They pick up Louisville's Dieng with this pick.
21. Utah Jazz Tim Hardaway, SG
The Jazz' backcourt isn't getting any younger and Alec Burks is inconsistent meaning they should hop on the fantastic shooting Hardaway.
22. Brooklyn Nets Lucas Nogeira, C
The Nets' get some much needed help from a seven-footer in Nogeira a talent from Brazil to help with some depth.
23. Indiana Pacers Deshaun Thomas, SF
Indiana gets some scoring help on the wing with the extremely talented Thomas who can score no matter at small forward or at power forward.
24. New York Knicks Tony Mitchell, SF
The Knicks may have Carmelo but they need some depth at small forward and power forward after Rasheed Wallace retired. They pick up Mitchell, a North Texas product.
25. LA Clippers Erick Green, PG
Chris Paul gets a quality backup with Green here who can score everytime he touches the ball, which he did while at Virginia Tech.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves Myck Kabongo, PG
Kabongo showed a lot of talent in his two years at Texas so the T-Wolves get some backourt help with him here.
27. Denver Nuggetts Jamaal Franklin, SG
Depth behind Andre Iguodala and Wilson Chandler is needed in Denver and he has the potential to be a future star in the Mile High City.
28. San Antonio Spurs Jeff Withey, C
Tim Duncan isn't a young player anymore meaning the Spurs should pick up Kansas star shot-blocker Withey here, who has too develop more on the offensive end.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder Lorenzo Brown, PG
Russell Westbrook's injury should show how little depth OKC has behind him. Brown struggled this year but he has enough talent to become a future star at the next level.
30. Phoenix Suns C.J. Leslie, PF
Lets see what Leslie, another NC State product like Brown, can do in the NBA. The Suns will test him out with the 30th pick here.

College Football Preview 2013-2014: 1. Alabama Crimson Tide

1. Alabama Crimson Tide


It isn't too difficult to describe how dominant Alabama was in 2012-2013. They dominated going undefeated with factories over Michigan and Notre Dame along the way. Now after two straight National Titles the quest for a three-peat begins with the return of QB A.J. McCarron and sophomore superstar Amari Cooper. With Nick Saban on the sideline dominance should be a very regular thing in Tuscaloosa.

T.J. Yeldon

Backfield: A.J. McCarron returns for his senior season after forgoing the NFL too win his third title for the Tide. McCarron could well be a Heisman candidate this year as he proved his ability to make smart decisions and fantastic accuracy. With a ton of talent surrounding him McCarron shouldn't have a lot of pressure on him meaning even greater strides this season. Sophomore back T.J. Yeldon should get the bulk of the carries with Eddie Lacey now in Green Bay.
Yeldon showed his ability to elude defenders and some breakaway speed. Though, it will be interesting to see if he can have the same impact as an every down back. Freshman Derrick Henry arrives from Florida with a chance to be a game breaker when given the carries. Sophomore back Kenyan Drake should also be a factor for the Tide this season.

Receiving: Sophomore Amari Cooper returns with the chance to be one of the best and scariest receivers in the nation. He has great speed and knows how to break a secondary. Senior Kevin Norwood is also back to be a target for McCarron. Although Norwood doesn't have breakaway speed nor is the most talented he is very effective. Junior stud Christion Jones should also be a very important player for this Tide offense. He has the potential to be one of the SEC's more electric receivers. If healthy senior Kenny Bell should also be a playmaker. Though with the play style of 'Bama nobody but Cooper should really get a ton of targets. Junior tight end Brian Vogler should be an important piece to the puzzle replacing Michael Williams.

Offensive Line: Barrett Jones, D.J. Fluker and Chance Warmack are all gone but Alabama's line is always steady. Junior Cyrus Kouandjio has the potential to be an All-American tackle. He is huge standing at 6-6 and is 310 pounds providing a brick wall to protect McCarron. Senior Alex Steen should lead the way for Alabama's ground attack. He has proven too be amazingly effective pushing along strong and massive SEC defenders. Though this year's line isn't as fantastic as last year's historical line it should still be a big reason that Alabama wins the 2013-14 championship.

Defensive Line: The Crimson Tide's defensive line should still help win the battle in the trenches even without Jesse Williams and end Damion Square. Senior end Ed Stinson should still add some pressure from the edge. Despite being 6-4, he is pretty quick and spends a lot of time in opponents backfields. Junior Brandon Ivory is the leading candidate to replace the important Williams at the nose guard position. The nose guard really sets the stage for the rest of the defense so Ivory has too be a major factor if he does indeed start there.

C.J. Mosley

Linebackers: Senior C.J. Mosley decided to forgo the NFL for one more year to help the Tide win another championship. He was an All-American a year ago and he makes plays from sideline to sideline. And, like most of this Tide team he is an excellent tackler. Junior Adrian Hubbard, a 6-6 outside linebacker from Georgia should also make important tackles for this team. Another linebacker, Xzavier Dickson, should play an important role in keeping this Alabama defense in great shape. There is also great depth in this linebacker core thanks to the return of middle linebacker Trey DePriest.

Secondary: The Crimson Tide secondary continues to be one of the best in the nation. Shutdown defender Dee Milliner is now a New York Jet but their is still a lot of fantastic defensive backs. Safety Vinnie Sunseri is a little small but is still a hard-hitter and fits the mold of a Tide defender: gritty and psychical. Another safety, sophomore Landon Collins could have a breakout year with more snaps. Senior Deion Belue should replace Milliner's role as the best cornerback on this team. Belue is a cornerback who embraces contact and is extremely athletic hanging with receivers down the field. Expect some good things from improving senior Nick Perry.

It is time for the Crimson Tide to win their third straight national championship and fourth in five years. Maybe after McCarron graduates, some other teams might have a shot at winning the title. Or maybe this historical run of success should just keep on going.

Steals and Busts of First Round

Steals of the first round:

Shariff Floyd

Shariff Floyd, DT Drafted 23rd overall to Minnesota
Many believed Floyd would go 3rd overall to the Oakland Raiders. But, Floyd dropped like a stone. The Panthers didn't take a chance on him at 14 instead going with Utah's Star Lotulelei. It was clear the Vikings wanted a defensive linemen in this draft and they couldn't resist the talented Floyd. Floyd gives an interesting mix to Vikings' star Kevin Williams. Williams is more of a run stopper and is experienced and smart. Floyd is more of a pass rusher, not a run stopper, as he specializes in getting into the backfields of opposing teams. Floyd has the potential to be one of the most effective players in this draft.

Tyler Eifert, TE Drafted 21st overall to Cincinnati
The Bengals got a huge playmaker in former Notre Dame star Tyler Eifert, who many thought could job all the way into the top 10. Eifert has amazing hands, as he proved last year, catching inaccurate passes from freshman Everett Golson. He is also a big imposing threat that is very hard to take to the ground. Eifert should continue to help the still very young Andy Dalton develop. And, other than many first round play makers doesn't have any type of discipline issues and should be a consistent threat for years to come.

Bjoern Werner, DE Drafted 24th overall to Indianapolis
It was clear that the Colts really needed a pass rusher to help an inconsistent defense. Werner, a huge, athletic end who had a fantastic year for Florida State last season. Werner is a clear cut NFL end. He is six feet, three inches, 266 pounds and has the speed to rush opposing quarterbacks from the perimeter. He also has great finesse moves using his superior athleticism to sneak past linemen, that he proved in the ACC. He should be a big contributor from the beginning in Indianapolis.

Dee Milliner, CB Drafted 9th overall to New York Jets
It isn't every draft that you find a big, shutdown cornerback like Milliner, who, of course, is from Alabama. A few days after trading off their star Darrelle Revis to Tampa the Jets come back and draft Milliner. Milliner's size and strength will enable him to be a starter right from the opening snap of the season. With his ability to make plays on the defensive side as well Milliner should well be the best defensive back in this year's first round.

Busts of the first round:

E.J. Manuel, QB Drafted 16th overall to Buffalo
No, it wasn't Geno, Ryan Nassib or Matt Barkley who was the first QB taken. The Bills made Manuel their franchise quarterback with their 16th pick and fits the role of today's modern-day NFL QB: a massive, mobile, read-option ready player. Though, Manuel doesn't have enough playmakers around him to develop into his full potential. Manuel could end up being a bust or maybe the Bills made the pick of the first round.

Barkevious Mingo, DE Drafted 6th overall to Cleveland
Mingo has a ton of pure potential but their are some issues with his as well. Mingo can play both end and outside linebacker and has great speed coming off the edge. Though, this LSU talent could have some real issues adjusting to the talented offensive lines of the NFL.

Justin Pugh, OT Drafted 19th overall to New York Giants
I don't think I was the only one surprised when the Giants choose Pugh, an offensive tackle from Syracuse with the 19th pick. Sure Pugh is smart and productive and was one of the better tackles available at that point, but he has some issues as well. He has short arms which clearly isn't a good thing for a tackle, isn't very athletic and struggled against some pretty weak pass rushers in the Big East.

Spring Football '13: Oregon without Kelly

Marcus Mariota

The time finally came that all Oregon fans dread. Chip Kelly, the mastermind behind Oregon's flash offense left to become the head coach at Philadelphia. Oregon did hire offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich as head coach quickly after Kelly left so it doesn't appear that things should be too different this season. But, is Oregon still a perennial title threat or will the loss of their beloved head coach hurt them this season?

Oregon Ducks

The Ducks still have the talent to be a National Title contender with who they have back. Helfrich has his starting quarterback returning in redshirt sophomore Marcus Mariota who proved to be efficient though sometimes mistake prone in his first year as starter. And, the explosive and dangerous De'Anthony Thomas is back. He can score every time he touches the ball and is the perfect playmaker for the Ducks' offense. Thomas will get the bulk of the carries now that senior stud Kenjon Barner graduated. Freshman Thomas Tyner, the top prospect of Oregon's 2013 class will also keep this Ducks' offense running and running. But, if Oregon wants to run many plays in just a minute they need protection for Mariota. This is where the loss of guards Nick Cody and Ryan Clanton may end up costing the Ducks. Although there is still enough speed to score 50 a game and rack up 323 yards per game on the ground last year (3rd in the nation). What happens if teams blitz, or force Mariota to throw, where he has potential, but isn't a proven threat? Junior Colt Lyerla is a very speedy tight end and can stretch the field with his fantastic hands. Although many may be quick to simply point out the talent in the backfield Oregon has just as much talent in their receiving core. Seniors Josh Huff and Daryle Hawkins can both stretch the field with speed and great hands. This will keep teams guessing which is what this fast-paced, electric, up-tempo attack is all about. Chip Kelly's smarts still stay in the form of his disciple Helfrich meaning things shouldn't be drastically different. So don't worry Oregon fans, your team should still be a BCS bowl team. But, even with all his success Kelly never managed to win a championship while in Eugene. Helfrich's goal isn't too win, it is to dominate, and wear teams down with their offense until the big games, hit like the Pac-12 championship and BCS bowl games.

To see a full preview of Oregon's 2013 season, view my College Football Preview 2013-2014 coming out this spring.

NFL Final Mock Draft

1. Kansas City Luke Joeckel, OT
Kansas City sticks with Joeckel to protect their new QB Alex Smith instead of Eric Fisher.
2. Jacksonville Ezekiel Ansah, DE/LB
Jags find their franchise pass rusher in the explosive Ansah who they choose over Oregon stud Dion Jordan.
3. Oakland Shariff Floyd, DT
The Raiders go with the smart pick here choosing Floyd a pass-rushing tackle who will replace Tommy Kelly, who was released.

Dion Jordan

4. Philadelphia Dion Jordan, LB
Chip Kelly's old Oregon linebacker is chose here because the Eagles need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball.
5. Detroit Eric Fisher, OT
If Fisher, a Central Michigan talent drops here to number five the Lions need to pick him up, as he would be the best available player.
6. Cleveland Dee Milliner, CB
It is a real possibility that the Browns go with Geno Smith here but Cleveland really needs an improved secondary so they choose shutdown Milliner here.
7. Arizona Lane Johnson, OT
The third tackle goes off the board early, at seven, as Arizona picks up Johnson to improve an inconsistent offensive line.
8. Buffalo Ryan Nassib, QB

Ryan Nassib

Yes that is right. Neither Geno Smith nor Matt Barkley are the first quarterbacks off the board the Bills pick up Nassib, who was the QB of Doug Marrone at Syracuse.
9. New York Barkevious Mingo, LB
Rex Ryan needs some talent on the defensive end. The Jets pick up the high risk-high reward Mingo here to gain some physicality on the outside.
10. Tennessee Chance Warmack, OG
Tennessee needs a new guard in this draft and since Warmack is the best available they should pick up this Crimson Tide beast.
11. San Diego Jonathan Cooper, OG
The Chargers have a terrible line so they choose Cooper to improve the interior of it.
12. Miami D.J. Fluker, OT
Jake Long is now a Ram so Miami replaces him with Fluker, who should help protect franchise quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
13. New York Tavon Austin, WR
New York is really lacking offensive explosiveness so they should use this pick, obtained in the Darrelle Revis trade, on Austin.
14. Carolina Sheldon Richardson, DT
The Panthers have a huge hole here so they should use it on Richardson, the top tackle available here.
15. New Orleans Jarvis Jones, DE/LB
Jones is sliding down many boards but the Saints need some new pass rushers to get to the quarterback in their 3-4 defense.
16. St. Louis Kenny Vaccaro, S
The Rams' secondary is absolutely atrocious. Vaccaro has the talent to go higher so the Rams should be happy picking him up here.
17. Pittsburgh Bjoern Werner, DE
Pittsburgh needs some new pass rushers so they should use it too pick up Florida State end Werner here.
18. Dallas John Cyprien, S
FIU's safety Cyprien has been rising steadily over the past month and the Cowboys' secondary really needs him.
19. New York Xavier Rhodes, CB
New York has some holes on their defense especially in the back even after re-signing Aaron Ross. Rhodes has been dropping so the Giants pick him up here.
20. Chicago Tyler Eifert, TE
Chicago loves their tight ends and they need a consistent weapon for Jay Cutler to use.
21. Cincinnati Eric Reid, S
The Bengals would love if Kenny Vaccaro or Cyprien were to drop here but they should settle for Reid, a fantastic safety from LSU here.
22. St. Louis DeAndre Hopkins, WR
The Rams need some targets for Sam Bradford. They pick up the explosive Hopkins over Justin Hunter here.
23. Minnesota Sylvester Williams, DT
Kevin Williams is turning 33 so the Vikings pick up another Williams here, in UNC's Sylvester.
24. Indianapolis Star Lotulelei, DT
Lotulelei keeps on dropping but the Colts need some real help on their line. Though, if Rhodes or another quality cornerback is available here GM Ryan Grigson won't hesitate to pick him up here.
25. Minnesota Cordarelle Patterson, WR
Minnesota might choose the safer pick here in Justin Hunter but Patterson has loads of potential. Discipline and experience is an issue but Patterson should go here.
26. Green Bay Justin Hunter, WR
Greg Jennings is in rival Minnesota, so the Packers should pick up the fantastic though injury prone Hunter here.
27. Houston Keenan Allen, WR
Andre Johnson won't play at his high level forever so the Texans should pick this pick with an eye towards the future.
28. Denver Datone Jones, DE/DT
Although not an amazing pass-rusher the Broncos should pick up Jones here to solidify their front seven.
29. New England Desmond Trufant, CB
Don't think about 2013. In 2014, Aqib Talib may be gone so the Pats pick up a leader here in Washington stud Desmond Trufant.
30. Atlanta Jamar Taylor, CB
Taylor and Trufant could switch here but Atlanta should loves picking up a rising Taylor.
31. San Francisco D.J. Hayden, CB
If it wasn't for Hayden's scary injury this season Hayden would be a sure-fire first round pick. He should still go in the first round to a Niners team with a weakened secondary.
32. Baltimore Arthur Brown, LB
Brown may be falling but the Ravens would love to pickup a leader to replace Ray Lewis. Brown, from KSU, should be that guy.

NBA Playoff Predictions: West

Ty Lawson

West

First Round

1 Oklahoma City vs. 8 Houston
James Harden returns to Oklahoma City with a dangerous Houston team behind him. Even if he has a great series and gets some help from guys like Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons it will be tough to pull the upset against a deep Thunder squad.
Oklahoma City in five

2 San Antonio vs. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
Two teams who struggle with transition square off in this one. We always say San Antonio's championship window is closed until they go out and get one of the highest seeds out West. The war in the post should be evident as the Lakers finally are getting the Dwight that they wanted when they traded for him this offseason. It will be interesting to see if Howard and Pau Gasol can continue their hot play against the experienced Tim Duncan. If they do, who knows LA could go on a little run. But, the Spurs shouldn't let that happen.
San Antonio in seven

3 Denver vs. 6 Golden State 
The Denver Nuggets are ready to show that they can hang with the big boys in these playoffs. They get the surprising Golden State Warriors who can shoot the lights out when Stephon Curry and Klay Thompson are on their game. They need to have an amazing shooting series in order to keep Golden State in games against a team that run all over them if they don't play smart. This one could be a close series, or it could be all Denver.
Denver in five

4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5 Memphis Grizzlies
The high-flying Clippers look forward to a deep playoff run but first they have to get through a scary Memphis team. It will be tough for LA to score against a Memphis team that plays fantastic defense and is tough all around. I'm very worried about the weak free throw shooting Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan that will hurt them in close games.
Memphis in six

Semis

1 Oklahoma City vs. 5 Memphis
This one could be a true battle. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol will wage war against Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka. Both Randolph and Durant can stretch the floor and can also do damage in the post. The team that gets bigger contributions from the rest of their team can win the series. My money is on Oklahoma City who has Westbrook, Kevin Martin and Kendrick Perkins to rely on.
Oklahoma City in seven

2 San Antonio vs. 3 Denver
The Spurs could have real issues against the Nuggets' transition defense led by Javale McGee, Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson. The Nuggets are fantastic at home meaning they should likely win the games there. The Spurs play well but not fast enough to shut down Denver.
Denver in six

Conference Finals

1 Oklahoma City vs. 3 Denver
Speed and talented youth collide in this one with a chance in the Finals on the line. Denver is without Danilo Gallinari who could have been the perfect defender against Durant because both are very mobile. Westbrook and Lawson square off with Westbrook going off. Though Faried's powers done low and great shooting ends the Thunder's season earlier than expected.
Denver in seven

 Denver wins Western conference 
 
 

NBA Playoff Predictions: East

LeBron James

East

First Round
 
1 Miami vs. 8 Milwaukee
Imagine that Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis dominate in this series. The Heat should still win, maybe even sweep Milwaukee.
Miami in four

2 New York vs. 7 Boston
Are the Knicks, who many consider the biggest threat to Miami in the East, ready to handle the strain and pressure of the playoffs? They have a MVP candidate in stud Carmelo Anthony, experience in Jason Kidd and Tyson Chandler and a lot of depth. Now it is time they have enough to beat a Boston team who has had a home in these playoffs over the years. The Celtics have been resting Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to prepare for a run but no Rajon Rondo means the Knicks move on.
Knicks in six

3 Indiana vs. 6 Atlanta
The Hawks will look for one last playoff run before Atlanta moves into complete rebuild mode. They will need a lot from Josh Smith in order to beat an Indiana team that has proven they can beat quality teams out East. Atlanta should have issues handling Paul George who uses his large frame to bully opposing guards down low and can hit shots consistently on the perimeter. The question for Atlanta is whether they have the size to handle Roy Hibbert down low. They don't.
Indiana in five

4 Brooklyn vs. 5 Chicago
Brooklyn will play in their first playoff game since moving to Brooklyn. Luckily, they get a Chicago team without Derrick Rose and a pretty banged up Joakim Noah. The Nets have been on a tear since firing head coach Avery Johnson. Deron Williams must be his old self in this series in order to score against a Bulls team that plays shut down defense. Even if Chicago plays fantastic defense they need a difference-maker on the offensive end. Carlos Boozer has shown he can play in the playoff s and he'll have to in order to handle these Nets.
Brooklyn in seven

Semis

1 Miami vs. 4 Brooklyn
The first round shouldn't give Miami too many issues, so they should consider this match up their first series in these playoffs. The key of this series should be in the paint. The Nets have depth and talent down low, headed by Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries. Though, Brooklyn must prove that they can shut down Chris Bosh and high-flying center Chris Andersen. The team that is better in the post could end up helping themselves to the conference finals.
Miami in six

2 New York vs. 3 Indiana
With Miami snatching up one spot in the conference finals this one should decide the other. New York used their sharpshooting to handle the Celtics but they should run into a Pacers team that be just as dominant from deep. George goes off and Kidd struggles to contain the faster and more aggresive George Hill who should be healthy in this series.
Indiana in seven

Conference Finals

1 Miami vs. 3 Indiana
The Pacers, a team that hasn't had true playoff success in a while meets up with the Heat, who we all know is the reigning champ.  LeBron shows up in a big way throughout this series and Indiana struggles to contain Miami's amazing transition offense. The Pacers should give Miami their toughest match up in this year's Eastern Conference but the Heat should still end up winning the East.
Miami in six

Miami wins Eastern Conference

NBA Draft: Viewing the Top Prospects

Ben McLemore

The NBA Draft may be 70 days away but it is never too early too think about the NBA's next set of stars. Here are some of the players that should go off the board early:

Nerlens Noel, C
Although the last team we saw Noel play he was being carried off the court, he still should go in the Top 5. Noel, is a less developed Anthony Davis on the offensive end but he can block nearly every shot near him. He could miss all of the 2013-14 NBA season but his potential is so high that a team like Orlando could take him to build a powerful frontcourt duo with Nikola Vucevic. Even with this injury Noel will be a very interesting prospect in the near future.

Alex Len, C
Noel will likely be the first center off the board in this next year's draft, but Len should likely be the second. Len is huge standing at seven feet tall and has the potential to do damage at both sides of the court. Len is a beast on the boards which should help various teams with that issue. Len may not go in the Top 5 but a team like Sacrmento could use him too be a more consistent factor than Demarcus Cousins. Or maybe, he could go too Washington who knows Emeka Okafor nor Nene are long term options.

Ben McLemore, SG
McLemore had a dream redshirt freshman year at Kansas constantly hitting big three-pointers and making explosive dunks. Charlotte has the best at the Number One and they would love to have McLemore, who will improve their weak shooting from the perimeter. McLemore also has the perfect size for a NBA shooting guard standing at 6 feet, 6 inches so he should have no match up issues. We officially know McLemore will be heading pro after this season and he will be a very effective scoring threat at the next level.

Anthony Bennett, SF
Bennett had an amazing year, scoring constantly and being a beast on the offensive and defensive glass. He should be a fantastic prospect for a lot of NBA teams, including Cleveland who hasn't found a quality wing since the days of LeBron. Bennett could also end up with a team like Philadelphia though the chances of him falling that far (Philadelphia could end up with a pick around 10) are very rare. No matter what way we look at it Bennett could be a very productive player for years to come.

Trey Burke, PG
After two years of explosive plays at Michigan, Burke will now take the next step after officially announcing his intentions to go pro, which didn't surprise anyone. NBA teams should love Burke's great shooting range, fantastic ball-handling and ability to attack the rim. He should end up in the lottery to a team like Dallas who can't rely on Darren Collison. Maybe, Burke could go to New Orleans who thinks Burke could well be the next Chris Paul.

Other Top Prospects
Otto Porter, SF
Shabazz Muhammed, G/F
Michael Carter-Williams, PG
Victor Oladipo, G/F
Kelly Olynyk, C
Mason Plumlee, C

Spring Football '13: New Offense at Texas

Spring Football 2013 Report (viewing the top storylines of college football this spring)

Johnathan Gray

After an average 22-16 record the past couple of years, the Texas Longhorns are ready to switch things up. The Longhorns will make a transition back into a spread offense next season, one that has been compared to the crazy, up-tempo attack at Oregon. But, will it turn the Longhorns, who will have 19 starters back next year, back into a national title contender or hold them back?

David Ash

David Ash showed significant improvement in his sophomore year and looked pretty comfortable in this new offense in the spring scrimmage. The goal of this new offense is too keep opponents on their heels and run enough plays to eventually tire out the defense. Even if Ash improves mightily in the passing game Texas shouldn't stray far from their ground game that carried them through much of last season. They will have speedy back Johnathan Gray back to run wild in this offense engineered by Major Applewhite. The offense should also free up other speedy players not named Gray such as explosive Daje Johnson. This speed means a lot more points and a lot more successful possessions for a team that struggled constantly on offense last season. The key though, as usual, hinges on the quarterback position with Ash. Although Ash is not known for his scrambling ability, as most spread quarterbacks are, he can break a few when give some open space. If he be a factor on the ground it could take the pressure off Gray, who will be a workhorse this next year. The scariest player in this new offense? Tyrone Swoopes, the explosive freshman who could replace the terrible Case McCoy as backup to Ash. Swoopes showed great promise in the team's spring scrimmage, and the coaching staff has a ton of confidence in him. Ash will be the starter, unless he gets struck by an injury, but Applewhite should be creative in getting Swoopes the ball. Although Swoopes is a quarterback he also could be used in some time of screens and in Wildcat-like formations. The talent on this Texas roster favors this new look offense. With players like Swoopes, Gray, Johnson and Mike Davis running wild this could be a truly magical year for these Longhorns.

To see a full preview of Texas' 2013 season, view my College Football Preview 2013-2014 coming out this spring.

Spring Football '13: Expectations for Johnny Football

Spring Football 2013 Report (viewing the top storylines of college football this spring)

Johnny Manziel

To say it was a dream season for Johnny Manziel last year would be a huge understatement. After winning the Texas A&M QB job last year the redshirt freshman exploded, leading the Aggies to wins over Alabama and Oklahoma, while winning the Heisman along the way. So after that crazy year what should we expect from Johnny Football in 2013?

Manziel showed us the definition of a mobile quarterback last year, running and jumping and skipping all over the place. But, he still had a fantastic passing season as well and his decision making should improve with more experience. Last season, Manziel did have one of the SEC's best receivers in Ryan Swoope who was explosive and had great hands. But, Swoope graduated this off season and should be a key contributor for a team in the NFL. This means Manziel must find a new favorite target. The top contender will likely be sophomore Mike Evans or maybe junior Malcome Kennedy. He will also have senior tight end Nehemiah Hicks to rely on this year. So, let's say the targets are as good as they were last year, what about the opponents Johnny Football will see in the SEC? Not just the SEC, the SEC West, that is filled with Alabama, LSU and the greatly improved Ole Miss Rebels. We all know that the Crimson Tide will be likely the toughest opponent this year thanks to a still dominant defense. The secondary should be lethal once again, especially if sophomore Landon Collins has the breakout year I expect him to have. But, hey, Manziel beat the Tide last year on the road as a freshman. And, he had great first halves against Florida and LSU last year before a tough end to the game. Another factor to keep in mind for this year is who will be protecting Manziel when he is running around in the backfield. Studs Luke Joeckel and possibly Jake Matthews will be gone, but the line still should be solid and Manziel does most of his work outsid the pocket. It will be tough for Manziel to have the year he had last year. But, maybe, just maybe if he can find a top target he could have an even better year. That means a second-straight Heisman award and a National Championship for Johnny Football in 2013.

To see a full preview of Texas A&M's 2013 season, view my College Football Preview 2013-2014 coming out this spring.

National Championship Prediction

Trey Burke

After a year filled with upsets, buzzer-beaters, coach firings and craziness here they are: the final two teams playing for a championship. It will be the Louisville Cardinals, motivated by their tragic loss of Kevin Ware against the Michigan Wolverines, a team who can't stop scoring. The Cardinals managed a close win over Wichita State yesterday thanks to a huge game from Luke Hancock. They will continue to need contributions from their bench without their sixth man Ware. Russ Smith has had an amazing tournament. He can score on a dime, with his ability to attack the rim and hit shots on the perimeter. The Wolverines also have their hands full trying to defend Peyton Siva who is just as dangerous with the ball in his hands. Meanwhile, Michigan has their fair share of players who can score. It begins with sophomore Trey Burke, the Wooden Award winner. Burke is speedy quick and has fantastic handles. He has also shown his ability to hit shots from deep (see the Kansas game) and always finds the open man. The Wolverines have done a great job using ball-screens with freshman Mitch McGary to free up Burke to make plays. McGary is really the reason that Michigan finds themselves here. He has been dominant the past couple of games. We always knew he would go after every loose ball and is a great rebounder, but he is scoring a ton this tournament, which has been huge considering the struggles of Jordan Morgan. John Bellein also possesses an array of great three-point shooters with Tim Hardaway and Nik Stauskas. The key to this match up could come down to if Burke and the rest of the Wolverines' against Louisville's press. Burke played well against Syracuse and he has a lot of talent surrounding him. If the Cardinals can't force Michigan to commit a bunch of turnovers this one could be a comfortable win for Michigan. Louisville also needs a better game form Gorgui Dieng, who struggled against Wichita to shut down McGary in order for Rick Pitino to snatch up a championship. This one should be a fast-paced, up-tempo battle to find the champion. It comes down to turnovers and whoever wins the war in the paint.
Louisville, 72 Michigan, 68

Starting Lineups
Louisville
G Peyton Siva
G Russ Smith
F Luke Hancock
F Chane Behanan
C Gorgui Dieng

Michigan
G Trey Burke
G Nik Stauskas
F Tim Hardaway
F Glenn Robinson
C Mitch McGary

NFL Mock Draft

1. Kansas City Chiefs Luke Joeckel, OT
Kansas City finally got their franchise quarterback (or so they think) in Alex Smith. They should grab Joeckel to help protect him.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars Ezekiel Ansah, DE/LB
Hopefully this year the Jags find their franchise pass rusher after failing with Derrick Harvey and Tyson Alualu. Ansah could well be their guy.
3. Oakland Raiders Sharrif Floyd, DT

Eric Fisher

Tommy Kelly was released, so the Raiders should be looking for a defensive tackle to fill in for him. Floyd is the best available considering Star Lotulelei.
4. Philadelphia Eagles Eric Fisher, OT
The Eagles could easily go after Geno Smith here to take over for Michael Vick, but their offensive line was just as big as an issue.
5. Detroit Lions Dion Jordan, DE
The Lions need a pass rusher bad, and Jordan is the best available. There shouldn't be much question about this one if he is available.
6. Cleveland Browns Dee Milliner, CB
The secondary continues to be a huge concern for a Browns team trying to find a defensive identity.
7. Arizona Cardinals Chance Warmack, G
Arizona's offensive line is pretty spotty and with Fisher and Joeckel gone they should pick up huge guard Warmack here.
8. Buffalo Bills Geno Smith, QB
The Bills cut Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kevin Kolb shouldn't be much better meaning the Bills need Geno Smith. 
9. New York Jets Xavier Rhodes, CB

Tavon Austin

The Jets could well trade Darrelle Revis or Antonio Cromartie which means they should pick up the best cornerback available, in Rhodes.
10. Tennessee Titans Jonathan Cooper, G
Yes I have two guards in the Top 10. The Titans need to continue to improve this weak offensive line.
11. San Diego Charger Jarvis Jones, OLB
The Chargers should pick up Jones, the best player available at this point to fill in for free agent Shaun Phillips.
12. Miami Dolphins Lane Johnson, OT
Without Jake Long the Dolphins should pick up Johnson, who should be the best tackle available here.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaners Tavon Austin, WR
Wide receiver has been a big hole for the Buccaners over the years so they should snatch up the playmaker Tavon Austin.
14. Carolina Panthers Sheldon Richardson, DT
The Panthers struggled to stop the run near the end of last year. Richardson, a bulky tackle from Missouri should help fix the issue.
15. New Orleans Saints Barkevious Mingo, DE
Pass rushing has been a huge issue for a weak Saints' defense over the years. Mingo, a player who can play on the line and at linebacker should give them sacks immediately.
16. St. Louis Rams Cordarelle Patterson, WR
Danny Amendola is currently in New England. The Rams should pick up Patterson to fill that spot.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers Star Lolutelei, DT
Star could slide due to his heart condition. If the Steelers pick him up here it could well be the steal of the draft.
18. Dallas Cowboys D.J. Fluker, OT/G
It appears the Cowboys believe in Romo at QB. This means they should draft Fluker to help protect him.
19. New York Giants Bjoern Werner, DE
Werner could go higher but he disappointed at the combine. The Giants won't miss Osi Umenyiora thanks to selecting the Florida State talent.
20. Chicago Bears Alec Ogletree, LB
Brian Urlacher and Nick Roach are both gone meaning the Bears need help at 'backer. Ogletree should fill Urlacher's role if D.J. Williams struggles.
21. Cincinnati Bengals Arthur Brown, LB
With the Bengals likely moving Rey Maualuga to strong side linebacker it could open room in the middle that Brown could fill.
22. St. Louis Rams Kenny Vacarro, S
The Rams secondary has been terrible over the years. They should use this pick on the hard hitting Vacarro if he is still available.
23. Minnesota Vikings Justin Hunter, WR
Even with the team adding Greg Jennings this offseason the wide receiver position should continue to be a big issue. Hunter, a strong, explosive wide out from Tennessee should fill that role.
24. Indianapolis Colts Slyvester Williams, DT
Cory Redding has proven he can be a beast in the middle but he is aging meaning the Colts should use this pick too grab a future tackle.
25. Minnesota Vikings Daton Jones, DE/DT
The Vikings defensive line was a big weakness for the team a year ago, so they should go out and grab Jones, a pass rusher you should play a lot at tackle but can also rush in from the edge.
26. Green Bay Packers Tyler Eifert, TE
The Packers don't really need a tight end as they will have Jermichael Finley returning. But, Finley has been injury prone and inconsistent at times opening the door for Eifert to go here.
27. Houston Texans DeAndre Hopkins, WR
Andre Johnson won't be here in Houston forever so the Texans should invest in a future top wide out. Hopkins, an explosive threat from Clemson could be that guy.
28. Denver Broncos Margus Hunt, DE/DT
The Broncos do not have fantastic pass rusher Elvis Dumervil anymore so Denver should use this pick to gain massive end/tackle Hunt from SMU.
29. New England Patriots Kawann Short, DT
One of the biggest questions for the Patriots over the years has been the defensive tackle position. This year they should pick up Short, a guy with the size to fit in perfectly in New England's system.
30. Atlanta Falcons Desmond Trufant, CB
Atlanta might be the cornerback position away from being the best team in the NFC. They need Trufant, a fantastic coverage guy from Washington with no Dunta Robinson.
31. San Francisco 49ers Matt Elam, S
Donte Whitner was attrocious at times for San Francisco last year and Dashon Goldson is now gone. This means the safety position is the biggets priority for this San Francisco team.
32. Baltimore Ravens Keenan Allen, WR
Anquan Boldin is now a 49er which means the Ravens will need another target for QB Joe Flacco. Allen is speedy and has great hands meaning Baltimore should pounce on him with the last pick of the first round.

Final Four Picks

4 Michigan vs. 4 Syracuse

Tim Hardaway

Trey Burke will have his hands full dealing with the Syracuse zone in this one. Burke, who has struggled with turnovers against strong defense hopes he can dish out the ball to sharpshooters Nik Stauskas and Tim Hardaway. With the Syracuse zone forced to move out to cover Stauskas and Hardaway, it may open up opportunities for Mitch McGary in the paint. Meanwhile, the 'Cuse offense will rely heavily on Michael Carter-Williams and C.J. Fair to beat Michigan. Carter-Williams has the size advantage on Burke and he should use it all to attack the rim because he is not as agile as Burke. Even if the Wolverines are able to shoot the ball the way they did against Florida, depth could be an issue late in the game. Other than forwards Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford and guard Spike Albrecht, Michigan does not go very deep into their bench. On the other, the Orange have a ton of players who can contribute in big ways. Brandon Triche, a four-year starter, is in his first Final Four. He can shoot if given the opportunity and gives the team an important leader.  They have also explosive forwards including James Southerland and Rakeem Christmas. A worrying fact for the Wolverines? John Bellein is 0-9 against Jim Boeheim in his career including an 0-1 mark at Michigan. Even with possibly one of his most talented teams he still should have serious issues against Syracuse's zone. This one could come down to the point guard war between Carter-Williams and Burke. The sophomore who performs better should give his team a spot in the national championship. My prediction: Carter-Williams. He doesn't have to deal with the most difficult zone in the nation.
Syracuse, 66 Michigan,62

1 Louisville vs. 9 Wichita State

Peyton Siva

The hottest team in the nation entering the tournament meets up with Cinderella in a very interesting match up in Atlanta. Wichita has beat squads thanks to a gritty, efficient offense. They have relied heavily on big men Cleanthony Early and Carl Hall who haven't been intimidated no matter who they face. Early, particularly has been dominant, scoring effectively and rebounding at an incredible rate. Though, he won't have an easy task against Gorguei Dieng. Dieng won't score a lot but he is one of the best defenders in the nation. Although, the Shockers are great in the paint they could have some issues against Louisville with their aggressive press. Even with great senior guard Malcolm Armstead, turnovers could come often for Wichita. He has too be smart on offense but defense should also be very important. He has too shut down speedy guard Peyton Siva and Russ Smith, who is on fire this tournament. With the paint filled with dueling forwards shooting should be key for the Cardinals. Smith and Siva both are good shooters but they also need some contributions from Luke Hancock and Wayne Blackshear on the perimeter. If they continue their hot shooting and force the Shockers' to make mistakes this one could turn into a very comfortable victory. But, never underestimate Gregg Marshall and the rest of these Shockers. They could easily shock Louisville if Ron Baker and Early keep up their level of play.
Louisville, 70 Wichita State, 60