Here's my thoughts on the NCAA Tournament as I use this as an exercise to help me fill out my bracket. You guys can use it to win some money by going against all of my picks. I'm going to go through it region by region and try to help some novice fans out.
South Bracket: Kentucky is the #1 seed and clear favorite to make out of this region but this is the toughest region out of the four. It features the best game of the first round #5 seeded Wichita State against #12 seeded VCU. Wichita State has been the best mid-major team all year and has Final Four talent. VCU made the Final Four last year as an #11 seed and has won 16 games in a row. The winner of this game would face Indiana who has already beaten Kentucky this year. Defending champion UCONN would be Kentucky's second round opponent. Duke is the weakest of the #2 seeds and is unlikely to get past #3 seeded Baylor in the Sweet 16.
Bracket Winner:Kentucky
1st round upset: #10 Xavier Over #7 Notre Dame
Team that could ruin your bracket: Wichita State
West Bracket: I could this the second hardest bracket to forecast. I consider #2 seed Missouri the favorite in the region over #1 seed Michigan State. This is mostly because red hot #8 seed Memphis looms as a very dangerous second round opponent for MSU. The middle of this bracket is full of possible upsets #12 Long Beach over #5 New Mexico and #13 seeded Davidson over #4 seeded Louisville. If the higher seeded teams survive those games they are always capable of beating Michigan State. Louisville is coming off a big win in the Big East Conference Tournament but didn't impress me much in person. The first round game I am most excited about in this region is a possible Iona Marquette battle which would probably be the highest scoring game in the tournament. Missouri's road would include Florida and Marquette who play similar style and can't take advantage of their lack of height inside.
Bracket Winner:Missouri
1st round Upset:Long Beach over New Mexico
Team that could ruin your bracket:Murray State
East Bracket: Syracuse is #1 seed this bracket and while it has a decent draw is too risky to pick to make the Final Four. Possible second round opponent Kansas State can take advantage of their lack of rebounding and possible third round opponent Vandy can shoot over the top of their famous 2-3 zone. #2 seeded Ohio State is the safer pick because they should cruise through the first two rounds before a showdown with Florida State. Harvard in the tournament for the first time since 1946 was unlucky to draw SEC champion Vandy but should put up a good fight. Gonzaga vs West Virgina is the best 1st round game in the bracket.
Bracket Winner:Ohio State
1st round upset:Montana over Wisconsin
Team that could ruin your bracket:Kansas State
Midwest Bracket: This bracket is all about the showdown that looms between #1 seed North Carolina and #2 seeded Kansas. They have seemingly easy roads to face each other as #3 seeded Georgetown and #4 seeded Michigan are very shaky teams. The last team to make the field NC State has a real chance to win two rounds and I predict that the two biggest upsets in the tournament will come from this bracket. I see #13 seed Ohio beating Michigan and #14 seed Belmont beating Georgetown. Creighton vs Alabama is the best first round game in this bracket.
Bracket Winner:North Carolina
1st round Upsets: Belmont over Georgetown, Ohio over Michigan, Cal over Temple
Team that could ruin your bracket: NC State
Final Four: I have listed Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio State and UNC as my Final Four and if it goes that way I don't see Kentucky losing. I see the majority of people filling out brackets picking Kentucky, UNC or Syracuse. If your in a poll make smart picks to get to the Final Four but pick someone like Missouri, Kansas or Ohio State to win it to gain extra points to separate you from the field. Overall I see a pool of 11 teams capable of making the Final Four: Kentucky, Baylor, Duke in the South. Missouri and Michigan State in the West. Syracuse, Florida State Ohio State, Vandy in the East. North Carolina and Kansas in the Midwest.
Title Contenders: Kentucky, UNC, MSU, OSU, Kansas, Missouri
I hope this helps you feel out your brackets. My Mom won a pool last year so sometimes it's just dumb luck but hopefully this help you make some educated guesses. Good Luck everybody helpfully over 23 years filling out brackets this is my year!
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