Sibling Rivalry: The Stats Guys' Debate

In the Sibling Rivalry segment, The Stats Guys debate the biggest topics in the sports world. This time you'll get their perspectives on the First Four NCAA Tournament games, the best NFL free agency signings, top stories out of Spring Training, and their NCAA Final Four picks. Embrace the debate.

NCAA First Four Games
 
It's NCAA Tournament time, and for the die-hards who look for serious points in their pools, the First Four games are easy ways to win points. The Stats Guys went to their brackets to give you their picks for the First Four games, set to take place Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

Tuesday:
(16) Albany Great Danes (18-14) vs. (16) Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (16-16), 6:40 p.m.


Shane's pick: With Peter Hooley tearing through the America East tournament, the Danes are on a roll to close out this season. It's no secret this team isn't as good as last year, but as a Sophomore, Hooley is averging 23.7 points per game in the postseason. I don't think Mount St. Mary's will have an answer for Hooley.  UAlbany, 72-61

Cody's Pick: If you look at how Mount St. Mary's played in the Northeast Championship against Robert Morris, then it really depends on which UAlbany team shows up. They've played strong defensively against Vermont and Stony Brook. Add that with their experience from last year's tournament, and UAlbany looks good. However, the Danes will definitely need contribution from 6'9" center, John Puk. UAlbany, 74-65.

(12) North Carolina State Wolfpack (21-13) vs. (12) Xavier Musketeers (21-12), 9:10 p.m.

Shane's Pick: The Musketeers usually spark up talk every season, however they've entered this tournament pretty quietly. NC State, on the other hand, knocked off Syracuse in the ACC Tournament and played a competitive game against Duke in their exit. I like NC State to pass through Xavier, and then through Saint Louis. NC State, 79-72.

Cody's Pick: This is the most interesting of the First Four. T.J. Warren is the ACC's leading scorer, and the Wolfpack have momentum coming from their tournament run. The Wolfpack also played better competition in the ACC, than Xavier in the Big East. NC State, 88-82.

Wednesday:
(16) Cal Poly Mustangs (13-19) vs. (16) Texas Southern Tigers (19-14), 6:40 p.m.

Shane's Pick: It'll probably be the lowest scoring game, but I like the play of Ridge Shipley. The Freshman played a heck of a Big West tournament. Averaging just under 11 points per game off the bench, look for him to contribute with Dave Nwaba and Chris Eversley for the Mustangs advancement. Cal Poly, 63-50.

Cody's Pick: Cal Poly shouldn't be in this tournament. With that mindset, what do they have to lose? Texas Southern won't be able to match the Mustangs intensity. Cal Poly, 55-51.

(11) Iowa Hawkeyes (20-12) vs. (11) Tennessee Volunteers (21-12), 9:10 p.m.

Shane's Pick: Iowa is finally where they want to be. After two consecutive postseason trips to the NIT, Fran McCaffery is once again in the NCAA Tournament. Name not familiar? He led Siena to the tournament three times, and upset Vanderbilt and Ohio State. This is a dangerous team in Iowa, and Tennessee hasn't been the same since Bruce Pearl had them atop college basketball. Iowa, 70-55.

Cody's Pick: Iowa was a lock in the tournament field until they struggled late in the season. For Tennessee, the SEC for basketball isn't what it is for football. I like Iowa coming from a strong Big Ten Conference. Don't forget McCaffery, he's got experience and wins from his time at Siena. Iowa, 64-59.

Best NFL Free Agency Signings

Cody:
Offense- Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets
Decker was a large part of the Broncos offense the past few seasons. Coming out of Minnesota, I didn't think he'd make this large of an impact. The Jets needed a wide receiver, and a face of the franchise. Santonio Holmes was getting old. However, the Jets still need to add another wide receiver.

Defense- DeMarcus Ware, DE, Denver Broncos
When a player is this good, money shouldn't matter. For the Cowboys, the linebacking corps. wasn't the problem, it was the secondary. Now Denver adds Ware to it's corps with Von Miller. Ware can get after the quarterback, play linebacker or defensive end, and he's highly effective in pass coverage.

Shane:
Offense- Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets 
Call me bias, because I'm a die-hard Jets fan, but this is the best offensive addition so far this offseason. Decker finally gives quarterback Geno Smith a reliable target, provided he can stay healthy. While I truly believe the Jets still need another wide receiver, such as Sidney Rice, the receiving corps improved with this signing. Keep in mind the Jets were 8-8 being very thin at the wideout position.

Defense- Julius Peppers, DE, Green Bay Packers
In a slight edge over Ware, I have to go with Peppers. The Green Bay defense has been terrible since they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl a few years ago. They can't stop the run, and looked worse against the pass. Peppers brings Pro Bowl talent to Lambeau and it's faithful. Granted he is older, but Peppers can still be a force every down. Nobody needed and got more help defensively than the Packers did with this signing. Dallas, take notes.

Best Story in Spring Training
Cody:
Masahiro Tanaka, of the New York Yankees, has to be my spring training story. I'm not a fan of his enormous seven year/$155 million contract because Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideo Nomo before him have struggled for the most part since coming from Japan. However, Tanaka is getting outs, and isn't getting in too many jams so far. He and Yu Darvish could be the first Japanese pitchers to perform well in the MLB.

Shane:
Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals
For those of us that love a short guy like Dustin Pedroia being able to lead his team, and smack the baseball to every corner of the ball park, Wong is that guy. At 5'9", Wong has already jacked two homers in Spring Training for the reigning National League champs. Wong's bat fits in perfectly with the Cardinals lineup, and his only questions loom defensively.


NCAA Final Four Picks
Cody:
South: Florida over Kansas
East: Iowa State over Michigan State
West: Arizona over Creighton
Midwest: Louisville over Michigan

Shane:
South: Florida over Kansas 
East: Michigan State over Iowa State
West: Arizona over Baylor
Midwest: Duke over Wichita State

That concludes Tuesday's edition of Sibling Rivalry. Check back later for our Final Four and National Champion picks, as well as our reactions to Opening Day of the MLB season looming right around the corner.