NBA Rankings - 29 Nov

The Oklahoma City Thunder have followed up on their championship last year with a blistering 19-1 start to the new season, which lands them in first place in my first rankings of the regular season. The Houston Rockets are not far behind, while the top 4 teams all come from the West. Toronto has been the biggest surprise so far, projected to finish in the running for the #1 pick, but currently looking at the #3 seed in the East. Here are my full current rankings and playoff picks:

				Record		Proj
Rank	LW	Team	Rating	W	L	W	L	Seed
1	1	Oklahoma City	-11.38	19	1	69	13	W1
2	13	Houston	-11.14	12	4	67	15	W2
3	2	Denver	-7.327	13	5	59	23	W3
4	18	San Antonio	-5.505	13	5	55	27	W4
5	20	Miami	-5.283	13	6	55	27	E2
6	7	Orlando	-4.825	12	8	53	29	E4
7	3	New York	-4.538	12	6	53	29	E5
8	19	Detroit	-4.501	15	4	56	26	E1
9	27	Toronto	-4.385	14	5	54	28	E3
10	4	Cleveland	-3.173	12	8	50	32	E6
11	6	LA Lakers	-3.094	14	4	52	30	W5
12	15	Boston	-2.982	10	8	48	34	E7
13	21	Phoenix	-2.304	12	8	46	36	W6
14	16	Minnesota	-2.143	10	8	46	36	W7
15	17	Golden State	-1.686	10	10	44	38	W8
16	9	Atlanta	-1.545	12	8	46	36	E8
17	25	Portland	-0.052	8	11	41	41	W9
18	28	Philadelphia	-5E-04	10	8	42	40	E9
19	23	Chicago	2.1912	9	9	37	45	E10
20	11	Memphis	2.873	8	12	33	49	W10
21	10	Milwaukee	2.907	8	12	34	48
22	5	LA Clippers	4.8576	5	14	27	55
23	22	Charlotte	5.5259	5	14	25	57
24	26	Utah	5.5435	6	12	26	56
25	12	Sacramento	6.6226	5	15	24	58
26	14	Dallas	6.8153	5	15	21	61
27	30	Brooklyn	7.8628	3	15	20	62
28	8	Indiana	8.4265	3	16	18	64
29	24	New Orleans	8.6716	3	16	18	64
30	29	Washington	12.218	2	16	12	70

Playoff Picks

Play In

(7) Celtics over (8) Hawks

(9) 76ers over (10) Bulls

(8) Hawks over (9) 76ers

(7) Timberwolves over (8) Warriors

(9) Trail Blazers over (10) Grizzlies

(8) Warriors over (9) Trail Blazers

First Round

(1) Pistons over (8) Hawks in 6

(2) Heat over (7) Celtics in 7

(3) Raptors over (6) Cavaliers in 7

(4) Magic over (5) Knicks in 7

(1) Thunder over (8) Warriors in 4

(2) Rockets over (7) Timberwolves in 5

(3) Nuggets over (6) Suns in 6

(4) Spurs over (5) Lakers in 7

Second Round

(1) Pistons over (4) Magic in 7

(2) Heat over (3) Raptors in 7

(1) Thunder over (4) Spurs in 6

(2) Rockets over (3) Nuggets in 6

Conference Finals

(2) Heat over (1) Pistons in 7

(1) Thunder over (2) Rockets in 7

NBA Finals

(1) Thunder over (2) Heat in 6

Football Predictions - 25 Nov thru 1 Dec

Upset picks are in italics.

Tuesday

Bowling Green at UMass - Falcons by 9.5

Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan - Broncos by 5

Thursday

Navy at Memphis - Tigers by 11

Green Bay at Detroit - Lions by 5

Kansas City at Dallas - Chiefs by 5.5

Cincinnati at Baltimore - Ravens by 14

Friday

(6) Ole Miss at Mississippi State - Rebels by 4.5

(12) Utah at Kansas - Utes by 14

Iowa at Nebraska - Hawkeyes by 2.5

Ohio at Buffalo - Bobcats by 3.5

Kent State at Northern Illinois - Huskies by 4

Air Force at Colorado State - Rams by 0.5

(4) Georgia at (16) Georgia Tech - Bulldogs by 5

San Diego State at New Mexico - Lobos by 0.5

Temple at North Texas - Mean Green by 20.5

Boise State at Utah State - Broncos by 0.5

(2) Indiana at Purdue - Hoosiers by 20.5

(3) Texas A&M at (17) Texas - Aggies by 2

Arizona at (25) Arizona State - Sun Devils by 2

Chicago at Philadelphia - Eagles by 10

Saturday

(1) Ohio State at (18) Michigan - Buckeyes by 6

(5) Texas Tech at West Virginia - Red Raiders by 17

(13) Miami at Pittsburgh - Hurricanes by 1

(23) Houston at Baylor - Bears by 2

Kentucky at Louisville - Cardinals by 7.5

Clemson at South Carolina - Gamecocks by 4.5

Colorado at Kansas State - Wildcats by 12.5

Iowa State at Oklahoma State - Cyclones by 14.5

East Carolina at FAU - Pirates by 6

Toledo at Central Michigan - Rockets by 3

Ball State at Miami (OH) - Redhawks by 16.5

UCF at (11) BYU - Cougars by 22

UTEP at Delaware - Blue Hens by 5.5

FIU at Sam Houston - Golden Panthers by 7.5

Georgia Southern at Marshall - Thundering Herd by 11

Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State - Gamecocks by 1.5

Louisiana Tech at Missouri State - Bears by 3.5

Georgia State at Old Dominion - Monarchs by 25.5

Arkansas State at App State - Mountaineers by 3

Boston College at Syracuse - Orange by 7.5

Middle Tennessee at New Mexico State - Aggies by 11

UL Monroe at Louisiana - Ragin Cajuns by 12.5

South Alabama at Texas State - Bobcats by 11

UAB at Tulsa - Golden Hurricane by 8

(7) Oregon at Washington - Ducks by 0.5

LSU at (8) Oklahoma - Sooners by 12

(14) Vanderbilt at (20) Tennessee - Volunteers by 2

(22) Missouri at Arkansas - Razorbacks by 1

Wisconsin at Minnesota - Gophers by 3

Penn State at Rutgers - Nittany Lions by 4.5

Wake Forest at Duke - Blue Devils by 4.5

Cincinnati at TCU - Horned Frogs by 5.5

Kennesaw State at Liberty - Owls by 1.5

Troy at Southern Miss - Golden Eagles by 5.5

Army at UTSA - Roadrunners by 11.5

James Madison at Coastal Carolina - Dukes by 12.5

Florida State at Florida - Seminoles by 1

Oregon State at Washington State - Cougars by 19.5

Virginia Tech at (19) Virginia - Cavaliers by 19

Maryland vs. Michigan State - Terrapins by 2

Rice at South Florida - Bulls by 28

(10) Alabama at Auburn - Crimson Tide by 2

UCLA at (15) USC - Trojans by 22

Northwestern at (21) Illinois - Illini by 12

Charlotte at (24) Tulane - Green Wave by 29.5

North Carolina at NC State - Wolfpack by 14

SMU at California - Mustangs by 11

UNLV at Nevada - Rebels by 6.5

(9) Notre Dame at Stanford - Irish by 20

Fresno State at San Jose State - Bulldogs by 6

Wyoming at Hawaii - Warriors by 11.5

Sunday

Arizona at Tampa Bay - Buccaneers by 5.5

San Francisco at Cleveland - 49ers by 8.5

Jacksonville at Tennessee - Jaguars by 9

Houston at Indianapolis - Colts by 3.5

New Orleans at Miami - Dolphins by 6

Atlanta at NY Jets - Falcons by 2

LA Rams at Carolina - Rams by 15

Minnesota at Seattle - Seahawks by 17

Buffalo at Pittsburgh - Bills by 2

Las Vegas at LA Chargers - Chargers by 11

Denver at Washington - Broncos by 6.5

Monday

NY Giants at New England - Patriots by 9

Results

NCAA: 49-15 (.766) 615-196 overall (.758)

Upsets: 4-2 (.667) 62-67 overall (.481)

NFL: 10-4 (.714) 114-63 overall (.644)

Upsets: 1-1 (.500) 10-20 overall (.333)

NCAA Football Rankings - 23 Nov

Heading into the final week of the regular season, there were no changes among the top 6 in my rankings, while the bottom of the top 10 flipped completely. Only one new team reached the top 25, with North Texas slipping in at 23, becoming the third Group of Five team to be ranked this week, along with South Florida and James Madison. Here are my full current rankings:

						Proj
Rank	LW	Team	Rating	W	L	W	L
1	1	Ohio State	-23.54	11	0	12	0
2	2	Notre Dame	-22.42	9	2	10	2
3	3	Indiana	-22.12	11	0	12	0
4	4	Texas Tech	-21.36	10	1	11	1
5	5	Utah	-19.25	9	2	10	2
6	6	Texas A&M	-18.05	11	0	12	0
7	10	Oregon	-17.89	10	1	11	1
8	9	BYU	-17.18	10	1	11	1
9	8	Miami	-17	9	2	10	2
10	7	Georgia	-15.85	10	1	11	1
11	11	USC	-15.3	8	3	9	3
12	12	Alabama	-15.13	9	2	10	2
13	14	Vanderbilt	-14.47	9	2	9	3
14	13	Oklahoma	-14.38	9	2	10	2
15	16	South Florida	-13.4	8	3	9	3
16	21	Washington	-13.27	8	3	8	4
17	15	Ole Miss	-13.05	10	1	11	1
18	23	Michigan	-13	9	2	9	3
19	24	SMU	-12.34	8	3	9	3
20	22	Tennessee	-12.25	8	3	9	3
21	20	Texas	-11.43	8	3	8	4
22	25	Pittsburgh	-11.34	8	3	8	4
23	26	North Texas	-11.3	10	1	11	1
24	18	Iowa	-11.19	7	4	8	4
25	19	James Madison	-11.02	10	1	11	1
26	32	Penn State	-10.52	5	6	6	6
27	28	Arizona	-10.19	8	3	8	4
28	17	Illinois	-10.13	7	4	8	4
29	27	Virginia	-9.586	9	2	10	2
30	29	Missouri	-9.172	7	4	7	5
31	30	Auburn	-8.476	5	6	5	7
32	34	Memphis	-8.405	8	3	9	3
33	31	Florida State	-8.238	5	6	6	6
34	39	Iowa State	-7.933	7	4	8	4
35	43	Arizona State	-7.635	8	3	9	3
36	41	TCU	-7.316	7	4	8	4
37	35	LSU	-6.986	7	4	7	5
38	33	Louisville	-6.812	7	4	8	4
39	48	Old Dominion	-6.784	8	3	9	3
40	36	Georgia Tech	-6.184	9	2	9	3
41	38	Cincinnati	-6.174	7	4	7	5
42	42	San Diego State	-6.055	9	2	9	3
43	55	Tulane	-5.966	9	2	10	2
44	45	Toledo	-5.944	7	4	8	4
45	49	Boise State	-5.905	7	4	8	4
46	40	Arkansas	-5.899	2	9	3	9
47	44	Clemson	-5.506	6	5	6	6
48	54	South Carolina	-5.488	4	7	5	7
49	37	East Carolina	-5.403	7	4	8	4
50	56	Kansas State	-5.386	5	6	6	6
51	46	Houston	-5.106	8	3	8	4
52	57	Washington St	-4.894	5	6	6	6
53	58	NC State	-4.66	6	5	7	5
54	59	Wake Forest	-4.657	8	3	8	4
55	53	Duke	-4.637	6	5	7	5
56	47	Nebraska	-4.308	7	4	7	5
57	52	Mississippi St	-4.255	5	6	5	7
58	51	Kentucky	-3.702	5	6	5	7
59	69	UT San Antonio	-3.278	6	5	7	5
60	50	Florida	-2.826	3	8	3	9
61	62	Northwestern	-2.504	6	5	6	6
62	61	Baylor	-2.433	5	6	6	6
63	63	Navy	-2.029	8	2	9	3
64	77	New Mexico	-1.854	8	3	9	3
65	75	UNLV	-1.686	9	2	10	2
66	67	Rutgers	-1.433	5	6	5	7
67	83	Wisconsin	-1.426	4	7	4	8
68	60	Fresno State	-1.199	7	4	8	4
69	79	Utah State	-0.812	6	5	6	6
70	64	Kansas	-0.628	5	6	5	7
71	71	Kennesaw State	-0.411	8	3	9	3
72	70	Connecticut	-0.386	9	3	9	3
73	72	Texas State	-0.191	5	6	6	6
74	74	Minnesota	-0.125	6	5	7	5
75	66	Maryland	0.0011	4	7	5	7
76	65	Hawaii	0.0298	7	4	8	4
77	73	West Virginia	0.1808	4	7	4	8
78	68	UCF	0.5496	5	6	5	7
79	78	Ohio	1.1287	7	4	8	4
80	88	West Michigan	1.1341	7	4	8	4
81	86	Central Michigan	1.4823	7	4	7	5
82	80	Marshall	1.512	5	6	6	6
83	91	West Kentucky	1.863	8	3	8	4
84	84	Louisiana Tech	1.8895	6	5	6	6
85	93	Stanford	2.1163	4	7	4	8
86	81	UCLA	2.195	3	8	3	9
87	96	Miami (OH)	2.2142	6	5	7	5
88	95	Michigan St	2.2307	3	8	3	9
89	76	Colorado	2.5292	3	8	3	9
90	89	Purdue	2.6414	2	9	2	10
91	85	Southern Miss	2.9275	7	4	8	4
92	82	California	3.0581	6	5	6	6
93	87	Army	3.5771	5	5	6	6
94	92	Troy	4.0592	7	4	7	5
95	90	Temple	4.5139	5	6	5	7
96	101	Syracuse	4.5401	3	8	4	8
97	94	Jacksonville State	4.6539	7	4	8	4
98	99	Virginia Tech	4.7996	3	8	3	9
99	100	North Carolina	4.8382	4	7	4	8
100	102	Florida Atlantic	5.1011	4	7	4	8
101	107	Louisiana	5.4364	5	6	6	6
102	106	Liberty	5.5838	4	7	4	8
103	97	Air Force	5.8887	3	8	3	9
104	108	Florida Intl	5.9725	6	5	7	5
105	98	Coastal Carolina	6.1669	6	5	6	6
106	103	Arkansas State	6.2748	5	6	5	7
107	109	South Alabama	6.5816	4	7	4	8
108	104	Wyoming	7.0648	4	7	4	8
109	111	Appalachian St	7.6112	5	6	6	6
110	112	Boston College	7.6133	1	10	1	11
111	105	Georgia Southern	7.9052	5	6	5	7
112	113	Tulsa	8.088	4	7	5	7
113	120	New Mexico St	9.0557	4	7	5	7
114	115	San Jose State	9.1278	3	8	3	9
115	110	Buffalo	9.2161	5	6	5	7
116	125	Nevada	9.3672	3	8	3	9
117	117	Colorado State	9.6461	2	9	3	9
118	114	Delaware	9.9767	5	5	6	5
119	116	Rice	10.114	5	6	5	7
120	119	Oregon State	10.255	2	9	2	10
121	122	Eastern Michigan	10.745	4	7	4	8
122	128	Oklahoma State	11.04	1	10	1	11
123	123	UTEP	11.067	2	9	2	10
124	126	Akron	11.196	5	7	5	7
125	118	Bowling Green	11.315	3	8	4	8
126	121	Kent State	11.395	4	7	4	8
127	124	Northern Illinois	11.696	3	8	4	8
128	127	UAB	12.397	3	8	3	9
129	129	Louisiana Monroe	13.652	3	8	3	9
130	130	Ball State	14.374	4	7	4	8
131	131	Georgia State	14.481	1	10	1	11
132	132	Mid Tennessee	15.733	2	9	2	10
133	133	Sam Houston	17.837	2	9	2	10
134	134	Charlotte	19.253	1	10	1	11
135	135	UMass	25.08	0	11	0	12