Bracket Thoughts

[bigwinnner8]

No point in filling out my bracket without picking the minds of the people who know it best. I can't believe the draw poor Kansas got. By far the best region in the tournament goes to the #1 overall seed... that doesn't make a lot of sense. It also looks like Duke gets way more credit then they deserve. They have no business being ahead of Cuse, I don't care who may be injured. Coach K and the NCAAB Political Committee were at work here.

Anyways, I really don't think the teams in college basketball as a whole are as good this year as in years past. As I look this thing over I see a lot of parody and potential upsets. I'll be putting a lot of time into this this week and hopefully we can continue to find winners into April. I'm not looking at anything ATS, but I have a long list of double-digit seeds moving on past the first round, I thought I'd bounce some of this off of you guys. Try not to laugh. These are in no order.


#13 Murray St over #4 Wisconsin
#9 Northern Iowa over UNLV
#12 UTEP over #5 Butler
#11 Minnesota over #6 Xavier
#10 Florida over #7 BYU
#12 Cornell over #5 Temple
#10 Missouri over #7 Clemson
#9 Louisville over #8 California
#12 Utah State over #5 Texas A&M
#13 Siena over #4 Purdue

Also don't see why New Mexico State, Houston, San Diego State, Georgia Tech, Washington, and ODU can't win.

Obviously there aren't going to be two 13s, three 12s, an 11 and two 10s moving on, so somebody help me out here.

I do have the cream of the crop advancing though,
ELITE 8: Baylor beating Duke, WV beating Kentucky, Kansas beating Georgetown, Syracuse beating Kansas State
FINAL 4: WV over Duke, Kansas over Syracuse
CHAMPION: Kansas over WV


I'll also have some early ATS plays here in an hour or so, after I get up for a second so my eyes can rest.

[mrsports]

I have Northern Iowa and Cornell on my radar. I cannot see Butler losing to UTEP. I see St Mary's advancing but they are favored even though they are the 9 seed. I think San Diego State is very much a live dog as well.

[mrsports]

Interesting that the Xavier/Minnesota 6-11 match up is a pick...bet Minnesota will be favored by the time the game goes off.

[Louie]

I actually kinda like Xavier in that one....I think Minnesota shot their wad in the conference tournament and Ohio Stat put them right back in their place. I don't really think they belong in the dance.

[Louie]

I like you UTEP pick a lot. UTEP is a big team that can give Temple problems down low.

I do like Texas A&M...

Stuck on the fence with that Siena/Purdue matchup...

[mrsports]

People are betting UTEP with both hands....from 5 down to 2.5, but I don't see it.

Butler does a lot of things real good.

They don't turn the ball over
They shoot good from the perimeter
They move the ball well.
They make free throws

What I don't like is 9 days between games.

St Mary's and Gonzaga have even a bigger break between games.

[grandmaster]

Dook favoritism as usual

Siena over The Due is worth a shot in a SU bracket where you get points for seed.

Cornell & Temple should be a great game that probably wont get much attention.

I always try to pick a non-1 seed as champs. Filled out 3 brackets this year. Have NOVA, KANSAS STATE & WVU winning it all

Ill be enjoying the Thursday through Sunday games in Vegas, and like any good degenerate during MM, Ill try to place a bet on & watch each one.

Good thread. I love this time of year.

[Louie]

I always try to pick a non-1 seed as champs. Filled out 3 brackets this year. Have NOVA, KANSAS STATE & WVU winning it all

Still have faith in Nova after the way they finished the season?

[DrewRyan]

I think the way everyone is going to be flocking to Siena this year is frightening. The Saints just aren't as good this year as they were last year with Hasbrouck in the lineup. Teams know their shtick. They didn't beat anybody this year of any real note, and really got crushed by both Northern Iowa and Butler. I'm trying to figure out how this team is scoring on Purdue's defense. I know that the Boilers are hurting badly without Hummel, but I think this is a team that is still designed to knock Siena out of this tournament. Plays tough, hard-nosed defense, can shoot a little bit, and will slow the game down to frustrate the hell out of the Saints.

I'm letting Purdue get through even though I've been a MAJOR supporter of the Metro Atlantic for years back to the Bobby Gonzalez days at Manhattan (god, I feel like I'm aging myself... it was only 6 years ago).

[controlfade]

I like Kansas and WVU to meet in the final.

New Mexico State BIG WAGER for me as well as cornell. A&M getting a couple injured players back are gonna be a tough out. I really think the Big 12 and Big East are gonna dominate this tournament.

I agree with Louie about Xavier

[donkeypunch]

Ugggg, so many fraudulent teams in college ball this year. Lou, 'Nova got damn lucky because I look at this bracket they're in and it looks more like an NIT bracket than an NCAA one. So they should get the elite 8, the only team that I think could be a problem is Notre Dame and since you love them too it's a win win right

I really feel as though that this is the weakest 2-4 seeds that this tourney has seen in a long time, I'm not saying any of them will lose in the first round or anything but I just don't see it from teams like Baylor, Pitt, Georgetown, Pudue, etc.

I really like West Virginia to do some major damage and win the whole thing, well coached, stud player in DeSean Butler, played a tough schedule.

cf, MSU is terrible, I'm not saying they will lose, but they suck actually.

I saw the movement on UTEP too and I don't understand it. When will people believe that Butler isn't a mid-major anymore, I think you can put them now in the same breath as Gonzaga this team is legit! mrsports I thought summed it up perfectly, big play for the donkey Butler -3.

[controlfade]

DP I am taking the 12.5 w/New Mexico State and running. I cannot believe this team is getting all these points. This is a huge one for me!!!!

I love Butler in this game and I think Murray State beats the Badgers outright