Bracketology December 30th

East                                                                        Midwest

1 Villanova	1 Michigan State
16 Alcorn State / Liberty	16 UNC A&T / Wagner
Pitt	Detroit
8 UCLA	8 Maryland
9 St. Mary's	9 Miss State
4  Purdue	4 UNC
13 Albany	13 Missouri State
Pitt	San Diego
5 Baylor	5 Arizona
12 Iona	12 Penn
3  West Virginia	3 Wichita State
14 Lamar	14 UC Santa Barbra
Nashville	San Diego
6 Texas Tech	6 Cincinnati
11 Arkansas  / Va Tech	11  Nevada / Oklahoma State
7 Florida State	7 Syracuse
10 Boston College	10 Houston
Detroit	Dallas
2  Xavier	2 Texas A&M
15 Northern Colorado	15 Marshall
West	South
1 Duke	1 Arizona State
16 Oakland	16 Townson
Charlotte	Boise
8 Auburn	8 Arizona
9 Ohio State	9 Kansas State
4  Miami	4 Kentucky
13 Lipscomb	13 Central Michigan
Nashville	Boise
5 Gonzaga	5 Tennessee
12 New Mexico State	12 South Dakota
3 Oklahoma	3 Kansas
14 East Tennessee State	14 Louisiana
Pitt	Wichita
6 Creighton	6 Seton Hall
11 Washington	11 St. Bon
7 Butler	7 Minnesota
10 BYU	10 Boise State
Dallas	Wichita
2  TCU	2 Virginia
15 Bucknell	15 Murray State

On the Bubble 

Arkansas 

Nevada 

Oklahoma State  

Va Tech  

First four Out 

Mizzouri 
NC State 
Louisville 
Notre Dame 

Next 4 Out 
Rhode Island 

SMU

LSU

South Carolina 

How Could We Change the IIHF World Juniors Draw

The World Juniors is under way in Buffalo as 10 of the best Hockey countries show off their U20 talent at the annual IIHF Tournament. 

The tournament format went through a slight adjustment a few years ago when they increased the elimination round from 6 to 8 teams. 

To me, this was a horrible decision that has significantly altered the group stage and it has become almost boring as the group stage appears half meaningless. 

The current format is two - five team pools divided equally based on rankings of the previous years tournament. For instance, Canada this year is placed in a group that features USA Finland Slovakia and Denmark. 

I'm sorry but it was a foregone conclusion that Denmark was going to be the odd team out. More importantly, with no bye on the line to the Semis, the added importance to win the group isn't there anymore. 

Hockey has been a tough sport to conduct a successful draw around, at the national level, there are six teams there above the rest competing for #1 while two others that usually hold their own ground. At the u20 level its a tad different. The gap between the elite and average is bigger as well as the gap between average and weak is also bigger.  

Women's hockey has had a similar problem to except the gap was even bigger and they have seemed to rectify it over the years with the four best teams in one group and the next four in Group B.

Maybe it's time for the Men to learn something from the women for once. 

In my totally revamped IIHF World Junior Draw my 16 team bracket would consist of four groups of four teams with each Group being sorted as the Olympic Women's Tournament is. 

Based on the U20 Rankings, this is how the Draw would shape up:

Group A          Group B                     Group C                 Group D

USA                  Finland                     Denmark                  France 

Canada              Czech Republic        Latvia                      Kazakhstan

Russia               Slovakia                    Belarus                    Austria 

Sweden              Switzerland              Germany                  Norway 

Unlike the Women's Olympic Tournament where the Elimination Round berths were split two each. These would be divided up unevenly as Group A would get 3, B, 2 C, 2 and D, 1. If my calculations are accurate, each group would be competitive with lots to play for. With the last place team going into Div II the following year. 

I will admit, in this format the Quarterfinals might be a bit boring but that would beat an entire group stage that has failed to exit me. 

To add to this, the last place team in Group A goes into Group B for the following year and vice versa for every first and last place team in the group. Games for 5th 7th 9th and 11th would be played to maximize the game opportunity in what would still be a December 26th to January 5th Tournament. 

Finding a perfect draw is almost impossible but IIHF needs to look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves if their doing everything to grow the game. The World Championships are a proven joke every year as it isn't best on best and now this tournament at times has been non competitive with teams like Denmark and Belarus having -12 and -9 goal differentials through a quiet three games. 

I guarantee there is someone out there that will say I'm stupid to even propose this, but we need to grow the game and the only way we do that is have non hockey countries win games. 

Packers need to Figure Out Who They Are This Offseason

If you are a Packers fan, this morning wasn't a very productive morning for you. After some experts picked Green Bay to win the Super Bowl, the Packers went on to miss the playoffs for the first time since Aaron Rodgers first year as the starting Quarterback.

Not sure how many good years Rodgers has left. Green Bay might want to look at Plan B and think of one before Aaron Rodgers gets hurt again.

This is a tough league to win consistently in. In fact, this is Green Bay's first real dip since the Super Title. Super Man has saved this team from going into one a few years ago and again last year when he said they would win out but this year was too big of a climb.

I'm disappointed in the way things turned out this year but I also know that things would have turned out differently if Aaron Rodgers didn't get hurt.

That being said, Green Bay needs to rely on Aaron Rodgers less in the future. Otherwise, he will be impossible to replace when he retires. Things have gotten stale here and it finally caught up to them. They need other play-makers beside A-Rod.  

I really hope Green Bay finds a way to improve. We need to find a running game and better defense. We can put all the weight on Aaron Rodgers next year.

Right now however, I feel ripped off, the magic died for this team when they lost Rodgers to injury. Lambeau Field isn't intimidating to play in any more and that hurts. Hoping something good is going to come out of this year but waiting is tough.  

Next years Packers schedule looks like this:

2018 Regular Season 

Home	Away
Arizona Cardinals	Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco 49ers	Seattle Seahawks
Buffalo Bills	New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins	New York Jets
NFC South Same Place Finisher	NFC East Same Place Finisher
Minnesota Vikings (Div.)	Minnesota Vikings (Div.)
Chicago Bears (Div.)	Chicago Bears (Div.)
Detroit Lions (Div.)	Detroit Lions (Div.)

Bracketology - December 9th

 East                                                                        Midwest

1 Duke	1 Michigan State
16 Grambling  / Liberty	16 UNC A&T / Wagner
Charlotte	Detroit
8 Kansas State	8 Clemson
9 Michigan	9 Auburn
4  Minnesota	4 Xavier
13 Stephen F Austin	13 Loyal Chicago
San Diego	Pitt
5 Cincinnati	5 West Virginia
12 Albany	12 St. Bon.
3  Notre Dame	3 Miami
14 Rider	14 UC Santa Barbra
Nashville	San Diego
6 Nevada	6 Tennessee
11 Georgia / Colorado	11 UCLA / South Carolina
7 George Town	7 Florida State
10 Boston College	10 Houston
Detroit	Pitt
2  Wichita State	2 Kentucky
15 Portland State	15 Middle Tennessee
West	South
1 Villanova	1 Texas A&M
16 Milwaukee	16 Townson
Dallas	Wichita
8 Oklahoma	8 Arizona
9 Syracuse	9 Va Tech
4  Virginia	4 Arizona State
13 FGCU	13 Central Michigan
Nashville	Boise
5 Seton Hall	5 TCU
12 New Mexico State	12 Western Illinois
3 UNC	3 Gonzaga
14 Furman	14 Georgia Southern
Charlotte	Boise
6 Purdue	6 Baylor
11 BYU	11 Penn
7 St. Mary's	7 Miss State
10 Texas Tech	10 Boise State
Dallas	Wichita
2  Florida	2 Kansas
15 Navy	15 Murray State

On the Bubble 

Georgia 

Colorado 

UCLA 

South Carolina 

First four Out 

Oklahoma State 
Washington 
Mizzouri 
NC State 

Next 4 Out 

Louisville 

Arkansas 

Utah 

Ohio State 

Oregon Football is Down but Not Out

College Football, one of the greatest sports that our calendar has to offer. From Labor Day Weekend to Thanksgiving Weekend, ESPN televises nonstop College Football coverage from 6AM Seattle time all the way until 11:30 at night or until ESPN's Pac 12 game that is advertised by #Pac12AfterDark.

It is the best time of the year as long as you have your Saturday's free in the fall. After conference Championship Weekend, the upcoming season almost begins immediately as preparation for Bowl Week and LOI Day is just around the corner.

This is just a sample size of what Power Five Head Coaches go through on a yearly basis. That is, until the coaching carousal is in full swing and your University's Head Coach prematurely leaves for a better job offer leaving in this case the University of Oregon in a state of an Emergency that is shaking the city of Eugene right now.

In under 365 days, Wille Taggart put together a top notch recruiting class and a fairly competitive football team. In fact, the team likely would have snagged a 10 win season if it wasn't for the injury to star Quarterback Justin Herbert.

Incoming recruits are likely going to leave with Taggart as well and that isn't good news for Oregon that is in need of some reinforcements if it wants to get back to a Rose Bowl type level.

As great as College Football is, it has some things that leave me scratching my head. One of those things is players decomitting to a school after a coach leaves/fired. WHY is this even allowed? We live in a college football world that seems like its a religion for some schools but for most players college is a step closer to a career in something other than sports. Therefore, players should commit to the campus itself and not the Head Coach.

After being in college, I can tell you first hand that I picked my school based on what I wanted to study and not where my High School BFF was going and players should do the same. Maybe this would create more parody around the landscape or maybe it woyldn't leave fan bases feeling gutted like Eugene is right now.

More importantly, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that Taggart is moving on. I'm not happy how things transpired but this was bound to happen eventually. Realistically,  there are only a dozen or so 5*  coaching positions and because of this, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that there is this much shuffling going around. In theory, most coaches are either fired or get hired with a better program within four years and that is about the same time as a players college career is. To me, signing a LOI should guarantee that school at least one year at that program.

I hate what Taggart did to be honest with you. I feel he had this plan in the back of his mind all along and it was classless. I do believe something good will come out from this. Too much talent across America not to win at least a handful of games every year and this is too proud of a University to let this program go back to being 2-10 and 3-9 year after year. There's only one direction to go from here. Up! #DoSomething

Seahawks loss Stings but it's Life

This is a great time of year to be a sports fan. Outside of baseball, every sport is under way which is  awesome!

Yet, I'm stuck at work most days or out of the house so much I haven't been able to watch much lately. In fact, before I left for Bolivia, I had only watched 2.1 sports games per day which is down from my hypothesized usual of three sporting games per day.

I commute over an hour to work for a three hour shift. Not ideal but it's what god has handed me in 2017. Honestly, I wish I could write more. Everyday would be awesome but sometimes it's hard to get back in the swing of things after a few days off.

Today I came home from work and had to watch the Monday Night Football game on the PVR. Yes, the game was exciting but I was hoping for a Seahawks win. I think we have to accept that the Seahawks from 2012-2015 are done and they are trying to form a new indemnity.

That's ok, its part of a cycle a franchise has to go through. At 6-4, the Seahawks are still in control of their own destiny to win the NFC West. There's still winnable games on there schedule. 4-2 will likely be the minimum that will be needed to get into the Playoffs. I bet they will at least go 3-3. Therefore, they will likely have beat Jacksonville, Philadelphia or Dallas. All of which I could see them losing to. Not to mention they would have to win their remaining three divisional games.

This is life however, we need to enjoy it. This is the best week of the year to be a sport fan. Yet, this year it will be ruined for me because I'm a employed Canadian.

The UEFA Champions League goes Tuesday and Wednesday followed by Europa League and NFL on Thanksgiving Thursday.

There's lots of ways we can enjoy life, have fun and make a difference in the community. Tough losses will happen and it's ok to get pissed off. It stings that the Seahawks awesomeness on MNF is over. That's why I'm on here to try and make it feel better. Blogs and Social media are great places to vent. If people disagree than their not true friends.

Whatever the result is, life is still a million times better than what it seems like in the moment. The goal should always be to simile and love life. Totally beats the alternative.

Sweden on Brink of Huge Moment

Sweden has taken a 1-0 lead back to Italy for tomorrow nights crucial second leg of the UEFA playoff. 

Sweden is unfamiliar with these playoff type formats. They were able to survive the Denmark attack up 2-1 in the 2016 Euro Qualifying playoff but Italy might be a step up from Denmark. 

Sweden has done their job. A 1-0 win at home which produced a win and a clean sheet that they can take back to Italy Monday. 

To me, the question becomes will Italy rise to the occasion or will they fold under pressure. In the history of these two legged ties, 1-0 is easily reversible especially for a team like Italy. 

It should be a historic night in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza also known aa the San Siro.  If Sweden survive the barrage that Italy has in store for Sweden then Sweden will deserve it. However, if Italy finds a way to break Sweden down than it will be a historic night for Italy. 

Italy have never lost in 31 games at the San Siro but a win might not be good enough. If Sweden score once than Italy need three and that will be tough against a Sweden team playing well without pressure. 

Sweden folded under pressure in 2010 qualifying and now it's Italy's turn to take an aging roster into a pressure pack situation. Someone needs to step or Italy is going to be out. 

I can't wait for the game tomorrow, I think their will be a magical moment at some point of the game. 

It seems too close to call but I can't imagine Italy finding a way not scoring for two games in a row. 

Italy will score two in the 41st and 73rd minute to send Italy to World Cup 2018 in Russia. 

Bracketology - November 9th

   East                                                                        Midwest

1 Duke	1 Michigan State
16 Texas Southern  / Col Charlestn	16 UNC Central / Mt St Marys
Charlotte	Detroit
8 Wisconsin	8 Oregon
9 Rhode Island	9 Virginia
4  West Virginia	4 Cincinnati
13 Stephen F Austin	13 Northern Iowa
San Diego	Pitt
5 Gonzaga	5 Notre Dame
12 Vermont	12 San Diego State
3  Louisville	3 USC
14 Iona	14 UC Irvine
Nashville	San Diego
6 Northwestern	6 Purdue
11 Vanderbilt / Utah	11 Boise State /  Texas A&M
7 Seton Hall	7 Alabama
10 Oakland	10 Stanford
Boise	Wichita
2  Arizona	2 Kansas
15 Weber State	15 LA Tech
West	South
1 Wichita State	1 Kentucky
16 East Tennessee State	16 UNC Asheville
Dallas	Wichita
8 Oklahoma	8 SMU
9 Providence	9 Iowa
4  Miami	4 Minnesota
13 FGCU	13 Ohio
Nashville	Boise
5 Xavier	5 UCLA
12 Maryland	12 South Dakota State
3 Texas	3 Florida
14 New Mexico State	14 LA Lafayette
Dallas	Detroit
6 St. Mary's	6 Baylor
11 Indiana	11 Maryland
7 Mizzouri	7 TCU
10 Michigan	10 Arkansas
Charlotte	Pitt
2  UNC	2 Villanova
15 Bucknell	15 Belmont

On the Bubble 

Vanderbilt 

Boise State

Texas A&M

Utah 

First four Out 

Clemson 

Iowa State 

BYU

Creighton

Next 4 Out 

Virginia Tech 

Ole Miss 

VCU 

Houston