So who's going to win the Super Bowl?
Posted: 2012-01-31
So who's going to win the Super Bowl? Better yet, who's going to cover? There are a lot of factors to examine carefully when trying to determine who has the edge. One of the simplest to examine, and very revealing, is defense. Defense wins championships, of course, and when we look at the defensive merits of the Giants and Patriots, it's a mixed bag. Both ranked in the bottom half of the league in points allowed with the Giants 25^th and the Pats were second worst in yards allowed. On the other hand, both defenses have been strong down the stretch. The Giants are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 playoff games, and the Under is 8-2 in the Giants last 10 playoff games. The Patriots are 12-6 over the total, including a 7-1 run over in the playoffs.

A College Basketball Year
Posted: 2012-01-15
There are four seasons packed into a college basketball year: Non-conference play, conference play, conference tournament time and postseason action (NIT and March Madness). Each has unique attributes. Non-conference action starts off the year where teams are getting acquainted with new personnel and facing many schools they've never played before. Conference action finds teams battling for positioning against teams they face two or three times every year, while tournament time in February and March focuses on winning the conference title, having a winning season, and positioning their team for an invite to various dances. 

The Importance Of Defense
Posted: 2012-01-02
There has been a lot of focus on offense the last few years in NFL. Two years ago the Saints and Colts were dynamite offensive teams with below average defenses and met in the Super Bowl, and last year the incredible Green Bay offense bested the Steelers dominant defense for the title. Many shrugged off the importance of defense, but that was more of an aberration: Don’t understate the importance of defense this time of the NFL season with so much at stake.

Basketball Momentum Swings
Posted: 2011-12-27
Next time you watch a college of pro basketball game, watch what happens when a player at home makes a great block or dives out of bounds to save a loose ball. The fans will erupt at the player's effort. This all-out effort on the court can be contagious, and you'll often see that player run down the court, followed by teammates who will copy his all-out effort at both ends of the floor. The crowd noise will grow even louder, which can result in momentum for the home team. This is why opposing coaches are so quick to call a time out when they see the home team and crowd going wild – they want to stem that momentum before the game gets away.

We'll get 'em on our court
Posted: 2011-12-21
You'll hear professional and college athletes say things like this all year, be it in basketball's post or regular season. College basketball teams often play twice against conference opponents during the regular season, with each team splitting a game between their home court and the opponent's. Other times, teams can meet on a neutral court during tournament play and sometimes teams meet a third time in February and March during tourney time.