10 Florida v 7 BYU
-The weakness of the SEC, and Florida's lucky entrance leads me to lean BYU, but BYU wasn't even the best team in their mid-major conference. Beware the so-so minor conference team in these scenarios, but I don't see Florida having the composure to win a close game against the Cougars.
PICK - BYU
6 Notre Dame v 11 Old Dominion
-Two reasons Notre Dame will win. It's the day after St. Patrick's Day, and I just prayed the Rosary for the first time today... man that thing's long. I have ND in the Sweet 16, that's how seriously I take my bracket.
PICK - ND
2 Villanova v 15 Robert Morris
-Yes, Nova is on the worst run of the 2 seeds, but Scottie Reynolds is not losing to Robert Morris, whoever that is.
PICK - Nova
UPDATE: Nova is currently down 6... I have them in the Final 4... uh oh.
13 Murray St v 4 Vanderbilt
-Here's my first major upset. Vandy is one of those teams systematic of the lack of depth in great college basketball teams. They don't have the quality of even past Vandy teams that have made the tourney. Murray State is one of the best mid-major clubs and have some good wins on their resume. Murray to pull the upset.
PICK - Murray State
2 Kansas St v 15 North Texas
-Seriously?
PICK - Kansas State
14 Sam Houston St v 3 Baylor
-Has anyone seen a Baylor game this year? And they're a 3 seed? The most pub Baylor basketball got this year was when their women's frosh sensation Brittany Griner punched an opponent. I don't see Baylor getting past the Irish, and SHS might make it close, but it won't be enough.
PICK - Baylor
10 St Mary's v 7 Richmond
-Richmond was one of the top teams of the resurgent A-10, while SMU was a bubble team before winning the West Coast tourney. Richmond has obviously played better competition than the Gaels, and I think they'll come through in a tight game.
PICK - Richmond
12 UTEP v 5 Butler
-Oh Butler, you've let me down time and time again in anticipating long tourney runs. Will we now see you as the victim of a 1st day upset? Derrick Caracter is one of the best players in the country... but how much do we trust a UTEP team that couldn't even win the C-USA tournament? Butler has too much outside shooting and balance to lose, but they might get a scare.
PICK - Butler
8 UNLV v 9 Northern Iowa
-One of the toughest 8/9 matchups to pick. UNI comes out of the traditionally strong Missouri Valley while UNLV is one of 4 MWC teams in the field. The Rebs have faced stronger consistent competition, and in these tight matchups that could be the difference in winning games in the NCAA tournament. This is as close to a toss-up as you can find, but I'm going with UNLV.
PICK - UNLV
1 Kentucky v 16 East Tenn St
-ETSU has come close to pulling off the miracle before, and they'll get it done this time against Big Blue and shock the basketball world.
PICK - ETSU
You believed me, didn't you... c'mon I have UK going all the way!
PICK - UK
11 Washington v 6 Marquette
-Washington got in via the automatic Pac 10 birth. Coming from the weakest major conference they now face Marquette from the undoubted best conference in the nation. Marquette will show Washington something they didn't see a lot of in the Pac 10 - defense.
PICK - Marquette
14 Ohio v 3 G-Town
-Georgetown is one of the many bipolar teams in this field. At their best, they are a true Nat'l Title contender. At their worst, they're capable of a 1st round exit. Ohio did well to win the MAC tourney final against Akron... but it won't take a Hoya team on their game to win this one. Even an average Georgetown side should blow out the Bobcats.
PICK - GTown
1 Kansas v 16 Lehigh
-As a Mizzou bball fan, I despise Kansas. Not enough to pick Lehigh though.
PICK - KU
8 Texas v 9 Wake Forest
-Will the real Texas please stand up? The team that was #1 earlier this season has to show up at some point. I think it will be tonight. They might give UK their toughest test on the road to Indianapolis. We'll remember why Damion James was a 1st Team All-America pick.
PICK - Texas
14 Montana v 3 New Mexico
-The best story of Championship Week - Montana SR Anthony Johnson scored 42 points in the Big Sky Title Game including 36 in the 2nd half. They'll need at least that kind of performance to beat New Mexico... who has to prove something to the skeptics in their opener.
PICK - UNM
6 Tennessee v 11 San Diego State
-Too bad for Steve Fischer that Glen Rice isn't walking through that door. Yes, SDSU did get in via winning the Mountain West, but Tennessee gave UK and KU a defeat in this season. Much like possible 2nd round opponent GTown, Tennessee has been wildly inconsistent while dealing with off-court troubles this season. SDSU shouldn't trouble the Vols, but they very well could in a popular upset pick.
PICK - UT
No comments:
Post a Comment