Bracket Time!

It's that time of year when everyone tries to predict the future and make their picks for the NCAA Tournament. No one cares unless you do the unthinkable and actually predict the winners, so here is my shot at history.

My picks are in BOLD

East Region

Second Round
1 Ohio State vs. 16 UTSA/ALABAMA STATE
8 George Mason vs. 9 Villanova

5 West Virginia vs. 12 Clemson
4 Kentucky vs. 13 Princeton

6 Xavier vs. 11 Marquette
3 Syracuse vs. 14 Indiana State

7 Washington vs. 10 Georgia
2 North Carolina vs. 15 Long Island University

Third Round
1 Ohio State vs. 9 Villanova
12 Clemson vs. 4 Kentucky

11 Marquette vs. 3 Syracuse
7 Washington vs. 2 North Carolina

Sweet 16
1 Ohio State vs. 4 Kentucky
3 Syracuse vs. 7 Washington

Elite 8
1 Ohio State vs. 3 Syracuse


West Region

Second Round
1 Duke vs. 16 Hampton
8 Michigan vs. 9 Tennessee

5 Arizona vs. 12 Memphis
4 Texas vs. 13 Oakland

6 Cincinnati vs. 11 Missouri
3 Connecticut vs. 14 Bucknell

7 Temple vs. 10 Penn State
2 San Diego State vs. 15 Northern Colorado

Third Round
1 Duke vs. 9 Tennessee
5 Arizona vs. 4 Texas

11 Missouri vs. 3 Connecticut
7 Temple vs. 2 San Diego State

Sweet 16
1 Duke vs. 4 Texas
11 Missouri vs. 7 Temple

Elite 8
1 Duke vs. 11 Missouri


Southeast Region

Second Round
1 Pittsburgh vs. 16 UNC-Asheville
8 Butler vs. 9 Old Dominion

5 Kansas State vs. 12 Utah State
4 Wisconsin vs. 13 Belmont

6 St. Johns vs. 11 Gonzaga
3 BYU vs. 14 Wofford

7 UCLA vs. 10 Michigan State
2 Florida vs. 15 UC Santa Barbara

Third Round
1 Pittsburgh vs. 9 Old Dominion
12 Utah State vs. 13 Belmont

6 St. Johns vs 3 BYU
10 Michigan State vs. 2 Florida

Sweet 16
1 Pittsburgh vs. 12 Utah State
6 St. Johns vs. 10 Michigan State

Elite 8
1 Pittsburgh vs. 6 St. Johns


Southwest Region

Second Round
1 Kansas vs. 16 Boston U.
8 UNLV vs. 9 Illinois

5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 Richmond
4 Louisville vs. 13 Morehead State

6 Georgetown vs. 11 USC/VCU
3 Purdue vs. 14 St. Peter's

7 Texas A&M vs 10 Florida State
2 Notre Dame vs 15 Akron

Third Round
1 Kansas vs. 9 Illinois
12 Richmond vs. 4 Louisville

11 USC vs. 3 Purdue
10 Florida State vs. 2 Notre Dame

Sweet 16
1 Kansas vs. 4 Louisville
3 Purdue vs. 10 Florida State

Elite 8
1 Kansas vs. 3 Purdue


National Semifinals
3 Syracuse vs. 1 Duke
1 Kansas vs. 1 Pittsburgh

National Title Game
1 Duke vs 1 Kansas

Final Score
76-69


Here are the HIGHLIGHTS.
I have 3 first round upsets in East (9, 11, and 12 seeds winning, respectively)
I have 2 first round upsets in West (9, and 11, respectively)
I have 4 first round upsets in Southeast (9, 10, 12, and 13, respectively)
I have 4 first round upsets in Southwest (9, 10, 11, and 12, respectively)

I have all 4 #9 seeds winning, but zero beating the #1 seed.

Conference Teams in Sweet 16

Major Conferences
ACC - 2 (Duke and Florida State)
Atlantic 10 - 1 (Temple)
Big East - 4 (Louisville, Pittsburgh, St. Johns, Syracuse)
Big Ten - 3 (Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue)
Big 12 - 3 (Kansas, Missouri, Texas) 
PAC 10 - 1 (Washington)
SEC - 1 (Kentucky)

Mid-Major Conferences
Western Athletic - 1 (Utah State)

Sleeper Team
#7 Temple - Atlantic 10 is no joke (See Richmond and almost chose Xavier). I can easily see them beating pesky Penn State and upsetting #2 SD State, before bowing out to another sleeper below.

#10 Florida State - no homer bias here I promise. If you look at this team they have what you need to win in the NCAA Tournament, DEFENSE. However, they are up against A&M in the Second Round, who is known for great defense themselves (nail the total under 120 points in this one while you can, free gift). FSU will only go as far as their star player Chris Singleton can go. I look for Singleton to provide the shut down defense and to score just enough to move on and then upset the Irish before surrending in a slugfest to the Boilermakers.

#11 Missouri - Last year this team made a deep run into the tournament as well. So don't be suprised when it happens again. The Big 12 conference does not get a lot of praise for there depth of a league, but tournament wins speak for themselves (Texas will turn it around this year, I promise). Plus, with the help of Temple from above, I see them giving Duke a great game (that is if Duke can get past Texas.) Wouldn't be suprised with a Texas vs. Missouri Elite 8 Battle for a right to the Final Four.

#12 Utah State - Utah State? OK, it may be a little bit of stretch, but if you look at previous year's there is always a team that America falls in love with. Last year it was Northern Iowa, how about George Mason, Valporasio. However, it won't be the first time this team has seen the big stage. They lost as the #12 seed to #5 Marquette by 1 last year in the first round. If and that is a pretty big IF, they can upset Jacob Pullen and company in the first round then that may very well have a snowball effect and lead them all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing to #1 seed Pittsburgh.


Do I expect all of these will happen, well no. If I did then I would be in Vegas with a briefcase backing me up; however, every year there are suprises and every year you always start with that chance of completing that perfect bracket.

Good luck to all!

Let the "real" tournament begin!