Golden State's 8-game winning streak ended last night in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder has been rolling lately, but the Warriors were far enough ahead of everybody else in the rankings to hold on to the top ranking for the 8th week in a row. Here are this week's full rankings:
|
|
|
|
|
Rec
|
Proj
|
|
|
TW
|
LW
|
Team
|
Rating
|
W
|
L
|
W
|
L
|
PO Seed
|
|
1
|
1
|
Golden State
|
-9.83547
|
31
|
6
|
67
|
15
|
W1
|
|
2
|
5
|
Atlanta
|
-7.2589
|
32
|
8
|
64
|
18
|
E1
|
|
3
|
2
|
LA Clippers
|
-5.89185
|
26
|
14
|
54
|
28
|
W3
|
|
4
|
4
|
Portland
|
-5.00182
|
30
|
10
|
56
|
26
|
W2
|
|
5
|
6
|
Houston
|
-4.40833
|
28
|
12
|
53
|
29
|
W4
|
|
6
|
3
|
Dallas
|
-4.3942
|
28
|
13
|
53
|
29
|
W5
|
|
7
|
8
|
San Antonio
|
-3.45915
|
25
|
16
|
49
|
33
|
W7
|
|
8
|
10
|
Memphis
|
-3.25379
|
28
|
11
|
53
|
29
|
W6
|
|
9
|
7
|
Toronto
|
-2.75201
|
26
|
13
|
52
|
30
|
E2
|
|
10
|
9
|
Phoenix
|
-2.47356
|
24
|
18
|
46
|
36
|
W8
|
|
11
|
12
|
Milwaukee
|
-1.984
|
21
|
19
|
46
|
36
|
E5
|
|
12
|
13
|
Oklahoma City
|
-1.81617
|
19
|
20
|
43
|
39
|
|
|
13
|
11
|
Chicago
|
-1.70191
|
28
|
13
|
51
|
31
|
E3
|
|
14
|
14
|
New Orleans
|
-0.88606
|
19
|
20
|
42
|
40
|
|
|
15
|
15
|
Washington
|
0.32215
|
27
|
13
|
48
|
34
|
E4
|
|
16
|
17
|
Detroit
|
0.40299
|
15
|
25
|
37
|
45
|
E7
|
|
17
|
18
|
Denver
|
0.64944
|
18
|
21
|
38
|
44
|
|
|
18
|
16
|
Indiana
|
0.99155
|
14
|
27
|
35
|
47
|
E8
|
|
19
|
19
|
Utah
|
1.16369
|
14
|
26
|
33
|
49
|
|
|
20
|
20
|
Cleveland
|
1.19659
|
21
|
20
|
41
|
41
|
E6
|
|
21
|
24
|
Charlotte
|
1.85257
|
14
|
26
|
34
|
48
|
|
|
22
|
21
|
Sacramento
|
2.2794
|
16
|
23
|
33
|
49
|
|
|
23
|
22
|
Boston
|
3.44591
|
13
|
25
|
30
|
52
|
|
|
24
|
25
|
Brooklyn
|
3.49251
|
18
|
22
|
34
|
48
|
|
|
25
|
27
|
Miami
|
3.54387
|
18
|
22
|
35
|
47
|
|
|
26
|
23
|
LA Lakers
|
3.88965
|
13
|
28
|
28
|
54
|
|
|
27
|
26
|
Orlando
|
4.51625
|
15
|
28
|
30
|
52
|
|
|
28
|
29
|
Minnesota
|
8.65603
|
5
|
33
|
14
|
68
|
|
|
29
|
28
|
New York
|
9.61831
|
5
|
36
|
15
|
67
|
|
|
30
|
30
|
Philadelphia
|
10.3908
|
8
|
31
|
17
|
65
|
|
The Atlanta Hawks are the team most likely to dethrone the Warriors at the top, with 11 wins in a row right now, and the streak is completely legit. 8 of those games were on the road, including wins at Portland, Detroit, the Clippers, and last night at Toronto. Tonight they are headed to Chicago, and a win would complete a sweep of Eastern Conference contenders over the past few weeks.
Houston moved back into the top 5 this week despite losing at Orlando, which is one of the worst teams in the league, but they atoned by beating Oklahoma City by 11 the next night. The Rockets face Golden State twice this week, so this will test how good the Rockets really are.
Playoff Picks
First Round
(1) Hawks over (8) Pacers
(2) Raptors over (7) Pistons
(3) Bulls over (6) Cavaliers
(4) Wizards over (5) Bucks
(1) Warriors over (8) Suns
(7) Spurs over (2) Trail Blazers
(6) Grizzlies over (3) Clippers
(5) Mavericks over (4) Rockets
Second Round
(1) Hawks over (4) Wizards
(3) Bulls over (2) Raptors
(1) Warriors over (5) Mavericks
(7) Spurs over (6) Grizzlies
Conference Finals
(1) Hawks over (3) Bulls
(1) Warriors over (7) Spurs
NBA Finals
(1) Hawks over (1) Warriors
NFL Playoff Odds
Odds of Making Super Bowl
1. New England - 67.1% (+22.1)
2. Seattle - 64.8% (+11.7)
3. Green Bay - 35.2% (+21.0)
4. Indianapolis - 32.9% (+22.3)
Odds of Winning Super Bowl
1. Seattle - 38.5% (+7.8)
2. New England - 31.1% (+8.5)
3. Green Bay - 18.4% (+4.2)
4. Indianapolis - 12.1% (+8.4)
The big winners this week were in the AFC, where Indy gained big by pulling off the only upset of the weekend, and the Patriots gained the benefit of not having to host Denver this week.
My Picks
Conference Championships
New England 28, Indianapolis 21
Seattle 24, Green Bay 18
Super Bowl
New England 27, Seattle 24
Since Denver, my original Super Bowl pick, didn't make it, I have substituted the Patriots in that position to upset the Seahawks and prevent them from being the first team since the Patriots in 2005 to win 2 straight championships.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
Indiana at Charlotte - Hornets by 1
Philadelphia at Detroit - Pistons by 12
Atlanta at Chicago - Hawks by 3
Golden State at Houston - Warriors by 3
Portland at Memphis - Grizzlies by 1
Washington at Brooklyn - Wizards by 1
Minnesota at Denver - Nuggets by 10
LA Clippers at Sacramento - Clippers by 6
College Basketball
Tulsa at South Florida - Golden Hurricane by 2
(4) Duke at (6) Louisville - Cardinals by 2
Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan - Eagles by 10
Marquette at Xavier - Musketeers by 12
Rutgers at Minnesota - Golden Gophers by 16
SF Austin at Abilene Christian - Lumberjacks by 11
Texas A&M at LSU - Tigers by 5
William & Mary at Towson - Tribe by 5
Tulane at Houston - Green Wave by 1
Saint Louis at Dayton - Flyers by 23
North Florida at Stetson - Ospreys by 10
Furman at the Citadel - Bulldogs by 6
East Tennessee State at VMI - Keydets by 4
Radford at Winthrop - Eagles by 3
Purdue at Penn State - Boilermakers by 1
Vermont at UMBC - Catamounts by 8
NC State at Florida State - Wolfpack by 5
(2) Virginia at Boston College - Cavaliers by 16
Miami (FL) at (12) Notre Dame - Fighting Irish by 12
(13) Wichita State at Evansville - Shockers by 1
(17) VCU at Duquesne - Rams by 14
UCF at Memphis - Tigers by 19
American at Lafayette - Leopards by 6
Holy Cross at Lehigh - Mountain Hawks by 7
Northern Kentucky at USC Upstate - Spartans by 11
Lipscomb at Kennesaw State - Owls by 1
Fordham at La Salle - Explorers by 17
Yale at Brown - Bulldogs by 7
Mount St. Mary's at LIU Brooklyn - Blackbirds by 4
Ohio State at Iowa - Buckeyes by 5
Eastern Illinois at Morehead State - Eagles by 8
New Hampshire at Binghamton - Wildcats by 8
Stony Brook at Maine - Seawolves by 10
Florida at Georgia - Bulldogs by 3
UNC Wilmington at Hofstra - Pride by 15
Rhode Island at Massachusetts - Minutemen by 1
(22) Baylor at Kansas State - Bears by 5
Northern Colorado at North Dakota - No Nicknames by 4
Miami (OH) at Buffalo - Bulls by 22
Chicago State at UMKC - Kangaroos by 11
NJIT at Dartmouth - Big Green by 7
UTEP at UTSA - Miners by 8
Green Bay at Detroit - Phoenix by 2
Indiana State at Drake - Sycamores by 1
Bryant at Central Connecticut State - Bulldogs by 7
Georgia State at Appalachian State - Panthers by 9
(1) Kentucky at Alabama - Wildcats by 17
(3) Gonzaga at Loyola Marymount - Bulldogs by 22
Michigan State at (14) Maryland - Terrapins by 4
TCU at Texas Tech - Horned Frogs by 2
East Carolina at SMU - Mustangs by 21
Colgate at Navy - Raiders by 1
Ball State at Bowling Green - Falcons by 5
Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh - Panthers by 4
Syracuse at Clemson - Orange by 2
Samford at Mercer - Bears by 7
UNC Asheville at Campbell - Camels by 3
Middle Tennessee at Louisiana Tech - Bulldogs by 14
Lamar at Northwestern State - Demons by 4
Vanderbilt at Mississippi State - Commodores by 7
Drexel at Delaware - Blue Hens by 5
Savannah State at Maryland-Eastern Shore - Hawks by 18
Florida A&M at Morgan State - Bears by 20
Bethune-Cookman at Coppin State - Eagles by 4
South Carolina State at Delaware State - Hornets by 10
Gardner-Webb at Coastal Carolina - Chanticleers by 15
Columbia at Cornell - Big Red by 4
Wagner at Fairleigh Dickinson - Knights by 7
Colorado at Arizona State - Sun Devils by 5
Texas A&M-CC at Nicholls State - Islanders by 2
George Mason at George Washington - Colonials by 17
Bradley at Illinois State - Redbirds by 17
Butler at Georgetown - Hoyas by 1
Liberty at Longwood - Lancers by 6
Arkansas-Little Rock at UL Monroe - Warhawks by 11
SE Louisiana at Incarnate Word - Cardinals by 10
Georgia Southern at Troy - Eagles by 7
South Dakota at South Dakota State - Jackrabbits by 12
Marshall at FAU - Owls by 9
McNeese State at Sam Houston - Bearkats by 24
Idaho State at Northern Arizona - Lumberjacks by 13
San Francisco at Santa Clara - Dons by 3
Jackson State at Prairie View - Panthers by 5
Mississippi Valley State at Alcorn State - Braves by 10
Davidson at Richmond - Wildcats by 2
Western Kentucky at FIU - Hilltoppers by 3
UNLV at San Diego State - Aztecs by 9
Air Force at Utah State - Aggies by 5
Tennessee at Missouri - Volunteers by 1
North Carolina A&T at Hampton - Pirates by 10
NC Central at Norfolk State - Eagles by 2
(16) West Virginia at (20) Texas - Longhorns by 1
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern - Jaguars by 13
(5) Villanova at Pennsylvania - Wildcats by 18
(8) Utah at (10) Arizona - Wildcats by 2
(24) Oklahoma State at (18) Oklahoma - Sooners by 10
(25) Wyoming at Fresno State - Cowboys by 1
Army at Bucknell - Bison by 2
Central Michigan at Akron - Chippewas by 2
Ohio at Kent State - Golden Flashes by 10
Western Michigan at Toledo - Rockets by 12
Jacksonville at Florida Gulf Coast - Eagles by 19
Western Carolina at Wofford - Terriers by 14
Rice at Charlotte - 49ers by 20
North Texas at Old Dominion - Monarchs by 25
UC Santa Barbara at Long Beach State - 49ers by 4
SIU Edwardsville at Eastern Kentucky - Colonels by 17
Jacksonville State at UT Martin - Skyhawks by 21
Tennessee Tech at SE Missouri State - Redhawks by 1
UMass Lowell at Hartford - Hawks by 7
Cleveland State at Youngstown State - Vikings by 4
Valparaiso at Wright State - Crusaders by 3
Charleston at Northeastern - Huskies by 14
Alabama State at Alabama A&M - Hornets by 3
Temple at Cincinnati - Bearcats by 11
Providence at Creighton - Friars by 1
Charleston Southern at Presbyterian - Buccaneers by 7
IPFW at Oral Roberts - Golden Eagles by 9
Portland at Pepperdine - Waves by 8
UAB at Southern Miss - Blazers by 5
New Orleans at Houston Baptist - Huskies by 7
Tennessee State at Murray State - Racers by 24
Elon at James Madison - Dukes by 6
Texas State at Arkansas State - Red Wolves by 1
South Alabama at UL Lafayette - Ragin Cajuns by 16
Northwestern at Michigan - Wolverines by 7
Belmont at Austin Peay - Bruins by 5
South Carolina at Auburn - Gamecocks by 6
Grambling State at Texas Southern - TSU Tigers by 32
(9) Kansas at (11) Iowa State - Cyclones by 6
Weber State at Southern Utah - Wildcats by 2
Montana State at Montana - Grizzlies by 14
Connecticut at Stanford - Cardinal by 8
Oregon State at Washington State - Cougars by 2
UC Davis at CS Fullerton - Aggies by 2
Ole Miss at (19) Arkansas - Razorbacks by 8
San Diego at Pacific - Toreros by 2
UT Pan American at CS Bakersfield - Roadrunners by 15
Colorado State at San Jose State - Rams by 20
Cal Poly at CS Northridge - Mustangs by 2
Idaho at Portland State - Vikings by 1
Eastern Washington at Sacramento State - Eagles by 3
New Mexico State at Seattle - Aggies by 4
BYU at Saint Mary's - Cougars by 2
Hawaii at UC Riverside - Highlanders by 2
Projected correct: 104/145
Prediction Results
NBA: 6-7 (.462) 405-194 overall (.676)
Upsets: 0-2 (.000) 34-52 overall (.395)
College Basketball: 5-2 (.714) 2400-730 overall (.767)
Pick of the Day: 60-2
Pick of the Day
Texas Southern
The Tigers are only 6-10, but they have played the toughest schedule in the nation so far, with games at Baylor, Florida, Gonzaga, Indiana, Michigan State, Tennessee, SMU, and Kansas State, and they won 2 of those. Today is just their 2nd home game of the season, and the opponent, Grambling State, is the worst team in the country.
