This week I will be giving you my NCAA Tournament Picks. However, I’m going to be an ass about it and only leak out a little bit at a time. If you’re looking for detailed reasoning and expert breakdowns, you’re on the wrong blog, buddy. Move along now. If you’re looking for help to win your tournament bracket, I would suggest stop reading now. I’ve never won a single tournament. These are just one man’s uneducated picks.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK:
– Monday: First Round Predictions
– Tuesday: Second Round Predictions
– Wednesday: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Predictions
– Thursday: Final Four & Title Game Predictions
EAST BRACKET
#8 Indiana over #9 Arkansas
Without Coach Sampson, the Indiana ‘Gordan’s’ are 3-3. Pay no attention to the record behind the curtain, this team has just been playing out the season with little interest, just waiting for the tournament. The Razorbacks are fast, but the Hoosiers will win by ten.
#5 Notre Dame over #12 George Mason
After watching their pitiful performance in the Big East tournament, it seems almost too easy to pick the 12-5 upset here. However, this year’s George Mason is not ‘this year’s George Mason’. The Catholics will go all ‘Harangody’ on the Patriots.
#4 Washington St. over #13 Wintrop
I’m from the East Coast and if it wasn’t for the 47 National Titles UCLA produced in the 1960’s, I wouldn’t even know they played basketball on the left side of the Rockies. Wintrop will probably be on the winning end on a lot of people’s brackets, but don’t believe the hype…State could go deep in the East.
#6 Oklahoma over #11 St. Joseph’s
The Sooners have had their ass handed to them many, many, many times this year, but do you see me betting against the former Blue Devil guard now leading the Sooners?
#10 South Alabama over #7 Butler
You know the selection committe does a poor job when they throw two mid-majors like these together. In case you haven’t heard it about three dozen times already, Butler did get hosed with a seven-seed and it will come back to bite them in the Bulldog’s ass. Sorry, you can’t wear the glass slipper anymore if you’re not the Cinderella.
#2 Tennessee over #15 American
Seriously, how can you root against American? While some schools represent a city (Miami), a state (North Carolina), people (George Mason), and Mormons (Brigham Young), American University represents all of us! Having said that, the Volunteers must hate America since they’ll win by at least 20. The terrorist really have won, haven’t they?
SOUTH BRACKETS
#9 Mississippi State over #8 Oregon
A middle-of-the-pack SEC team versus a middle-of-the-pack PAC 10 team. Oh, it’s on baby! The Ducks are 18-13, sitting number 58 in the RPI. Oregon got to go dancing, but Virginia Tech didn’t? Finishing 4th in the #1 RPI conference doesn’t pay off like it once did, does it?
#5 Michigan State over #12 Temple
Let’s go ahead and say it, first one to 40 wins.
#4 Pittsburgh over #13 Oral Roberts
After a horrid February, the Steelers Panthers have been one of the hottest teams lately. Pittsburgh has won seven of eight, including the Big East tournament (beating three ranked teams in the process). Oral Hygiene may be good for your gums, but they’ll be no match against the Big East champs.
#6 Marquette over #11 Kentucky
Again, look for a lot of people to predict the upset here and if they still had Patrick Patterson, I would be driving that band wagon myself. Marquette is a lot like Duke. They’re not that big, so they rely on a ton of shooters. If and when they go cold, they will get beat. They won’t be cold against the Wildcats.
#10 Saint Mary’s over #7 Miami
I know, I know…I’m not giving you a lot of upsets. Sorry, you can’t force it. You have to let the upsets come to you. How about the Gaels over the Hurricanes? Sure Saint Mary’s has actually lost three of their last six, but can this really be an upset? St. Mary is 36th in the RPI, while Miami is just #34. By the way, what the hell are Gaels?
#2 Texas over #15 Austin Peay
The Longhorns didn’t win the Big 12, but that my be a good thing. You see, if they win their first two games in Little Rock, Arkansas, Texas won’t have to leave Texas again. Their regional will be played in Houston and the Final Four is in San Antonio. Lucky them.
MIDWEST BRACKET
#1 Kansas over #16 Portland St.
A number one seed has never lost in the first round, but one day, some way, it will happen. I also believe it has been statistically proven that when it does happen it will involve a Kansas team coached by Bill Self. However, it will not be this year.
#12 Villanova over #5 Clemson
For the record, I really like Oliver Purnell. I think he’s a great coach, who has done a solid job at Clemson. At some point during his time there, Clemson will beat UNC at UNC, they will eventually win the ACC tournament and they will go deep into a NCAA tournament. This just won’t be the year. I just don’t like teams from major conferences that are performing in their first NCAA tournament in ten years. For the pride of the ACC, I hope I’m wrong though.
#6 USC over #11 Kansas State
Here’s the match up that makes us all fall in love with the selection committee all over again. Beasley and Mayo are both one-and-done freshman stars, so you might as well let them face off one time on a college floor. Look for Beasley to dominate (can you count to 40 points?), but O.J. will advance on to the next round.
#3 Wisconsin over #14 C-S Fullerton
Obviously some will argue that Wisconsin should have been a #2 seed over Duke. You know what? I actually agree. Yes, the Blue Devils crushed the Badgers earlier this season by 24, but what have you done for me lately? The Badgers won the Big Ten tournament and enter the NCAA tournament on a ten-game winning streak. I don’t know if that’s the nation’s longest, but I do know, that’s a lot of wins in a row.
#10 Davidson over #7 Gonzaga
Remember back in the day when Gonzaga was the little engine that could? They were so cute, so adorable. You couldn’t help but cheer for them. Now they’re the favorite and I still can’t get Adam Morrison’s mustache out of my head. Davidson may be the lower seed, but they’re the better team.
#2 Georgetown over #15 UMBC
Yes, I had to look it up to see what U-M-B-C meant: The University of Maryland-Baltimore County. How fun of the committee to put two teams not too far apart geographically together. However, I’m not sure how fun this will be for UMBC?
WEST BRACKET
#8 BYU over #9 Texas A&M
The Cougars have lost their last five first-round games, so naturally I’m picking them to win. That’s just how I roll, baby.
#5 Drake over #12 Western Kentucky
Number of times people will reference Seinfeld by saying, “I love the Drake” and “who doesn’t love the Drake?” – 136 times is my prediction. This reason alone, I almost picked Western Kentucky. Almost.
#4 Connecticut over #13 San Diego
The Huskies went 13-3 down the stretch. Impressive, yes. However, all three loses came against unranked opponents. Should I? Dare I? I think I might…nope, Connecticut in a close one.
#6 Purdue over #11 Baylor
Probably the best story of the year has to be Baylor. Five years removed from one player murdering another player and here they are in the NCAA tournament. How can I not pick them to win one game? Easy. I’m a heartless pig.
#3 Xavier over #14 Georgia
There’s no doubt what the Bulldogs did down there in Atlanta was impressive. Three solid upsets all in the span of like twenty minutes (I might have to research the actual time it took). It’s rare when you get one of these ‘they have no business being here’ teams coming from a major conference, but you would be hard pressed to call the SEC a ‘major’ conference this year. Xavier in a landslide.
#2 Duke over #15 Belmont
With Duke struggling down the stretch, look for a lot of people to predict a Duke upset. No, not here…in the next round when the Blue Devils face either Arizona or West Virginia. Sadly, it may not be an awful pick.
Come back tomorrow for Second Round Picks!
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