This is one of my favorite times of the year. Spring has sprung, baseball is right around the corner and March Madness is upon us. I spend more time than I like to admit watching college hoops. I have been a fan for years and it seems that my love for the game will continue to grow for years to come. Each year I look over the brackets and then rant on, about my thoughts and predictions for the upcoming tournament. Well it is that time of year again. I will break down the regions and give you my thoughts on the games and some of the players. Be gentle on your comments, remember that I become a college analyst only 1 time a year. The pay sucks (Zero) ... but I love expressing my lack of college hoops knowledge. 
Midwest Region - #1 seed: Kansas Jayhawks
This is one of the toughest regions on the board. There are some teams here that did not play as well during the season as they should have (Michigan St, Maryland, Georgia Tech), but don't let that fool you. This is a deep bracket. I will burst the bubble right now. No one is beating the Jayhawks in this region. The Kansas squad is deep, strong and loaded! I feel that all season long only one team has separated itself from the rest of the teams in the field and it is Kansas. They are the overall #1 seed and they deserve it!
But not too fast. The only two (2) teams that beat Kansas this season, Tennessee and Oklahoma State are in the Midwest bracket.. hmmmm.
I see Kansas - Michigan St and Georgetown - Ohio State squaring off in the sweet 16. That is a pretty solid group. I have not been on the Big 10 band wagon this year. With that being said, I think both of the Big 10 teams lose in this round. I feel that Izzo and Michigan State is the best team in the Big 10. Ohio state has a great player in Evan Turner, the all everything player is the real deal and can take over a game. Michigan State has Tom Izzo, the formidable coach that gets the most out of his players than any coach in the past 10 years. However the talent will come to the forefront and these teams will go home.
Georgetown is tough, talented and they played in the toughest conference around. The Ohio State team will be over whelmed by the Hoyas. The Midwest final will be a battle. The kids from Kansas will win the game but it will be a nip tuck affair. The Jayhawks roll into the final four, but they will be beaten and bloodied.
Best 1st rd game: Tennessee vs. San Diego State
This will be a great game. Both teams are mirror images of each other. The Vols have beaten Kentucky & Kansas and have proven that they can play with the big boys. SDSU plays in the under-rated Mountain West. Look for this game to be a nail biter. Prediction: SDSU upsets the Vols and moves on.
Game that should be close but won't be: UNLV comes off beating a good BYU team and carries that momentum further to crush the boys from N Iowa.
Potential 1st rd upset: Georgia Tech over a good Oklahoma State team. Was the ACC really that bad? We will see.
This is one of the toughest regions on the board. There are some teams here that did not play as well during the season as they should have (Michigan St, Maryland, Georgia Tech), but don't let that fool you. This is a deep bracket. I will burst the bubble right now. No one is beating the Jayhawks in this region. The Kansas squad is deep, strong and loaded! I feel that all season long only one team has separated itself from the rest of the teams in the field and it is Kansas. They are the overall #1 seed and they deserve it!
But not too fast. The only two (2) teams that beat Kansas this season, Tennessee and Oklahoma State are in the Midwest bracket.. hmmmm.
I see Kansas - Michigan St and Georgetown - Ohio State squaring off in the sweet 16. That is a pretty solid group. I have not been on the Big 10 band wagon this year. With that being said, I think both of the Big 10 teams lose in this round. I feel that Izzo and Michigan State is the best team in the Big 10. Ohio state has a great player in Evan Turner, the all everything player is the real deal and can take over a game. Michigan State has Tom Izzo, the formidable coach that gets the most out of his players than any coach in the past 10 years. However the talent will come to the forefront and these teams will go home.
Georgetown is tough, talented and they played in the toughest conference around. The Ohio State team will be over whelmed by the Hoyas. The Midwest final will be a battle. The kids from Kansas will win the game but it will be a nip tuck affair. The Jayhawks roll into the final four, but they will be beaten and bloodied.
Best 1st rd game: Tennessee vs. San Diego State
This will be a great game. Both teams are mirror images of each other. The Vols have beaten Kentucky & Kansas and have proven that they can play with the big boys. SDSU plays in the under-rated Mountain West. Look for this game to be a nail biter. Prediction: SDSU upsets the Vols and moves on.
Game that should be close but won't be: UNLV comes off beating a good BYU team and carries that momentum further to crush the boys from N Iowa.
Potential 1st rd upset: Georgia Tech over a good Oklahoma State team. Was the ACC really that bad? We will see.
West Region - #1 seed: Syracuse Orange
How the west was won? How does the Orange become a #1 seed? The boys from West Virginia would like to know. If Onuaku stays healthy the Orange will be a very tough out. If he is not 100% they could lose in rd #2. I have another question, how does one play in the west bracket, but get to play their first and 2nd round games in Buffalo NY.. Just sayin..
This is a bracket that could be filled with upsets. Florida State over Gonzage, UTEP over Butler, Murray St over Vanderbilt and Minnesota over Xavier. They all wont happen but I bet a couple do. Watch for UTEP to advance and I would not be surprised to see the Racers from Murray State winning against the Vandy boys.
Sweet 16 match ups are going to be interesting. Syracuse vs Vanderbilt and Xavier vs. Kansas State. Vandy can play and I would not be surprised if they beat the orange, but then I would not be surprised to see Gonzaga and UTEP fighting it out in this spot as well. Xavier is a very good team and I think they will earn a trip to play the Orange in the final.
The Orange go to the Final Four but it will be a tough one for them . Boeheim might find a way to lose in the first rd if he is not careful. (Not a big fan of his)
BYU is the wildcard. If they can get to the sweet 16, they will be playing home games in Salt Lake City. Ha! Who am I kidding?? BYU has lost in the first rd for 12 straight years. (being a UNM lobo fan and a big hater of BYU this makes me chuckle.. hehehe)
Best 1st rd game: UTEP - Butler
Butler plays in a very under rated conference and they have become the boise State of college hoops. Are they really a mid major? i think not. UTEP has a very athletic team and can run with the best of them. Look for UTEP to pull the upset.. or not.. we will see.
Game that should be close but won't be: Gonzaga vs. Florida State
The Zags will win this game BIG! State is good but the Zags know how to put it together in the dance. Few is a great coach and the Zags will be ready to play.
Potential 1st rd upset: Murray State vs Vanderbilt.
The Racers have 5 players that average double figures and they are deep. If vandy gets in quick foul trouble they could be in for a long night!
I will finish the other brackets tomorrow evening.
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