NCAA “Expert” Picks
Charles Barkley once said, “Only God is an expert.” I agree with Charles, and one place that is obvious in sports is the NCAA Tournament. March Madness begins Tuesday, March 15 with two play-in games and the full slate will tip off Thursday. This my favorite sporting event of the year, especially those first two days when there are a combined 32 games. Even though I did not pick many upsets, I’ll be rooting for the underdogs all tournament. Those stories are what make this event special. I’m certainly not an expert, according to Barkley, none of us are. And though it is nearly impossible to pick a perfect bracket, here is my attempt to get as many right as possible.
WEST “The Toughest Region”
ROUND 1
1 Gonzaga over 16 Georgia State
9 Memphis over 8 Boise State
5 UCONN over 12 New Mexico State
4 Arkansas over 13 Vermont
6 Alabama over 11 Rutgers/Notre Dame
3 Texas Tech over 14 Montana State
10 Davidson over 7 Michigan State
2 Duke over 15 CSU Fullerton
ROUND 2
1 Gonzaga over 9 Memphis
4 Arkansas over 5 UCONN
3 Texas Tech over 6 Alabama
2 Duke over 10 Davidson
SWEET SIXTEEN
1 Gonzaga over 4 Arkansas
2 Duke over 3 Texas Tech
ELITE EIGHT
1 Gonzaga over Duke
EAST “The Wide Open Region”
ROUND 1
1 Baylor over 16 Norfolk State
8 North Carolina over 9 Marquette
5 St. Mary’s over 12 Wyoming/Indiana
4 UCLA over 13 Akron
11 Virginia Tech over 6 Texas
3 Purdue over 14 Yale
7 Murray State over 10 San Francisco
2 Kentucky over 15 St. Peter’s
ROUND 2
8 North Carolina over 1 Baylor
4 UCLA over St. Mary’s
3 Purdue over 11 Virginia Tech
2 Kentucky over 7 Murray State
SWEET SIXTEEN
4 UCLA over 8 North Carolina
2 Kentucky over 3 Purdue
ELITE EIGHT
2 Kentucky over 4 UCLA
SOUTH “The Watch-For-Big-Upsets Region”
ROUND 1
1 Arizona over 16 Bryant/Wright State
8 Seton Hall over 9 TCU
5 Houston over 12 UAB
4 Illinois over 13 Chattanooga
6 Colorado State over 11 Michigan
3 Tennessee over 14 Longwood
10 Loyola Chicago over 7 Ohio State
2 Villanova over 15 Delaware
ROUND 2
1 Arizona over 8 Seton Hall
4 Illinois over 5 Houston
3 Tennessee over 6 Colorado State
2 Villanova over 10 Loyola Chicago
SWEET SIXTEEN
1 Arizona over 4 Illinois
3 Tennessee over 2 Villanova
ELITE EIGHT
1 Arizona over 3 Tennessee
MIDWEST “The Weakest Region”
ROUND 1
1 Kansas over 16 Texas Southern/TXAMCC
9 Creighton over 8 San Diego State
5 Iowa over 12 Richmond
13 South Dakota State over 4 Providence
11 Iowa State over 6 LSU
3 Wisconsin over 14 Colgate
7 USC over 10 Miami
2 Auburn over 15 Jacksonville State
ROUND 2
1 Kansas over 9 Creighton
5 Iowa over 13 South Dakota State
3 Wisconsin over 11 Iowa State
2 Auburn over 7 USC
SWEET SIXTEEN
5 Iowa over 1 Kansas
2 Auburn over 3 Wisconsin
ELITE EIGHT
5 Iowa over 2 Auburn
FINAL FOUR
1 Gonzaga over 2 Kentucky
1 Arizona over 5 Iowa
CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Gonzaga over 1 Arizona
