NCAA Championship pick...

For the title...

Michigan vs. Louisville

The Championship Game of the 2013 NCAA Men's basketball tourney is set to tip off in a couple of hours with Michigan going in as slight underdogs to Louisville.

The Wolverines have had some last second heroics along the way and will hope their shooting touch holds up against the Cardinals. Louisville has used a stifling defense and clutch offense to advance through the rounds.

Overall, Michigan is a relatively young team and though they beat the tough Syracuse zone in the Final Four, they may be due for an off night. Louisville will need consistency on the offensive end to pull it off. 

Ultimately I think I will go with the old adage of good defense beats good offense.

Louisville to win title by 8

Final Four predictions...

Down to Four

There are four teams left in the 2013 NCAA Men's Tournament and by the end of the night...we will have our Championship game set. Both matchups should be entertaining so I suppose I'll make my predictions.

Wichita State vs. Louisville

At the start of the tourney, I picked a Louisville-Miami final...well Miami fell by the wayside but the Cardinals are in the hunt. Wichita State has had a great run and will be looking to pull off the upset. Overall I think Rick Pitino will get the Cards to the title match.

Louisville by 7

Michigan vs Syracuse

Syracuse has been brutal on defense through the tournament but were prone to lapses during the regular season. Michigan may have the answers to the Orange zone with their shooting from the outside, a decent inside game and a premier point guard. I think the Orangemen may fall just short...

Michigan by 4

Back with Championship pick in a day or so... 

Sunday's Regional Finals

Last two Final Four spots available

Sunday's games could easily be mistaken for the Final Four instead of the battle to get there...let's pick 'em...

Michigan vs Florida

Both teams have strengths but both have been inconsistent at times....Florida by 9

Duke vs Louisville

Duke won early in the season but they have had big shooting games recently and if they hold to form...they are due for a let-down...Louisville by 6

Back with Final Four picks later in the week...

Sweet 16 has four games left....

Four Spots left

After a shocking day prediction wise, I will jump in with my final Sweet 16 picks....can't get much worse than yesterday's 1-3 effort!!

Oregon vs Louisville

Louisville by 13

Michigan vs Kansas 

Kansas by 7

Michigan St. vs Duke

Duke by 3

Florida-Gulf Coast vs Florida

Riding Cinderella!! Gulf Coast by 4

Back with regional final picks tomorrow....

Bracket kicks off today!!

The Madness begins

The 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball tournament kicks into full swing overnight (2am) here in Australia with sixteen games on tap for the first day. Before I crash with the alarm set...I'll throw in my picks for the day. They may actually contradict some of my bracket picks but winging it!!

Valparaiso vs Michigan State

Michigan State by 14

Bucknell vs Butler

Butler by 3

Wichita State vs Pitt

Pitt by 7

New Mexico St. vs St Louis

St. Louis by 8....go Cody Ellis...Perth in da House!!

St. Mary's vs Memphis

Upset...St. Mary's by 2

Davidson vs Marquette

Marquette by only 5

Southern vs Gonzaga

Gonzaga by 17

Oregon vs Oklahoma St.

Oregon by 4

NC A&T vs Louisville

Loisville by 22

South Dakota State vs Michigan

Michigan by 8

Belmont vs Arizona

Arizona by 12

Cal vs UNLV

Cal by 6

Missouri vs Colorado St.

Missouri by 7

Akron vs VCU

VCU by 13

Harvard vs New Mexico

New Mexico by 24

Montana vs Syracuse

Syracuse by 20

Back with more tomorrow....

Let the Madness Begin...for 2013!!

Predicting Louisville-Miami Final

After a night of exhaustive research, soothsaying, head against wall banging and various other activities of frustration....I present my 2013 NCAA Mens basketball bracket. 

So...this year....I am predicting a Louisville-Miami final in Atlanta.

First Four games

North Carolina A&T (19-16) vs Liberty (15-20)

Liberty pulled a major surprise to get into the dance from the Big South conference and A&T benefited from upsets to win the MEAC tourney title.

NC A&T by 14

Boise State (21-10) vs LaSalle (21-9)

The winner of this one gets a date with Kansas State. Both teams have shown flashes but LaSalle may be a bit more polished at the moment.

LaSalle by 6

Middle Tennessee (28-5) vs St. Mary's (Ca) (27-6)

This one would fit as a normal bracket game and could be the best of the First Four games. The winner has a solid chance against Memphis in the main draw.

St. Mary's by 3

LIU-Brooklyn (20-13) vs James Madison (20-14)

Indiana looms on the horizon for the winner of this one.

JMU by 8

Midwest Region

I'm going with Louisville to get by Michigan State in this one.

West Region

Picking a Big 10 rematch with Wisconsin losing again to Ohio State.

South Region

Calling an upset in this region...picking VCU to do it again  over Georgetown.

East Region

Giving Miami the edge over Indiana in the regional final.

Once the Final Four starts... I'll take Louisville over Ohio State and Miami over VCU.

Champion

Most will do a double take when they see the Miami Hurricanes as NCAA Champions ... in basketball.

Back with more picks through the rounds....

Final Four picks!!!

Four will become two

The 2012 NCAA season has reached the Final Four in New Orleans with Louisville battling Kentucky for the right to represent their state in the Championship game and Kansas squaring off against Ohio State for the other berth.


My bracket was busted long ago and none of my picks for the Final Four made it through after North Carolina and Baylor were beaten last weekend. Oh well, there’s always time to start working on my 2012-2013 predictions!! 


Now on to this weekend’s predictions, may as well try to end on a positive note!!


Louisville vs. Kentucky


This one is bigger than the normal bragging rights tilt which Kentucky won 69-62 on New Year’s Eve.


Form is out of the window for this one, though conventional wisdom says Kentucky should win but Louisville is looking UConn-ish this season.


I have predicted their demise a few times this season so now I will probably put a curse on them by giving the nod to the Wildcats.


Kentucky by 9


Ohio State vs. Kansas


This one is another rematch with Ohio State hoping to reverse a 78-67 loss at Kansas in early December. After losing to Michigan State in the Big 10 title game the Buckeyes have picked themselves up and powered through the tourney. 


The story is the same for Kansas who have advanced after losing to Baylor in the Big 12 title affair.


This time around, the game will be closer and I will have to give the slight edge to Ohio State on a neutral court.


Ohio State by 4


I will have a quick look at the NCAA Women’s Final Four tomorrow along with preparing my pick for Monday night’s championship game.

Elite Eight picks...

Final Four spots available!!

I had a decent day, prediction wise yesterday with only NC State not getting through from my picks. Oh well…today I will give my picks for all four regional championship games.

Here we go:

West Region:

Florida (7) vs. Louisville (4)
Louisville is healthy and the Cardinals have shown it in this UConn like run through the Big East tourney and the NCAA field thus far. This matchup is also a teacher versus pupil game with Rick Pitino facing off against his former player Billy Donovan. 


I will give an edge to “teacher” in this one…Louisville by 8.

East Region:


Ohio State (2) vs. Syracuse (1)
This region went to form in the end with a 1 vs. 2 for the ticket to NOLA. But Syracuse may have survived as long as they can without being exposed. Ohio State has been brutal inside and has gotten good results from beyond the arc.


Ohio State by 3 in a close one…

South Region:


Baylor (3) vs. Kentucky (1)

Hmm….I will predict the end of the line for Kentucky here. 


Baylor by 5.


Midwest Region:

Kansas (2) vs. North Carolina (1)

Carolina is hurting … Kansas has overachieved…Roy Williams vs. former school … this one has a bit of everything…not to mention a few “Duke” fans I know who would love to shut me up if Carolina loses!! Well, in spite of it all. Look for the ‘Heels to roll on. 


Carolina by 7.

Back later in the week with my Final Four picks….remember I predicted Carolina over Baylor for the title!!!

Sweet 16 picks...

Bracket Sweetness (16)

We are down to the Sweet 16 in the men’s 2012 NCAA tournament with the West and East Regions in action Thursday night (Friday morning Aussie time).

East Region:

Wisconsin (4) vs. Syracuse (1)

So far…the Orangemen have survived but the end is here….Wisconsin by 6.

Cincinnati (6) vs. Ohio State (2)

Two of the four Ohio teams meet for a spot in the regional final…Cincy in an upset…by 7

West Region:

Louisville (4) vs. Michigan State (1)

Mich. St.by 9

Florida (7) vs. Marquette (3)

Marquette by 10

Back tomorrow with Friday's picks....

NCAA dill bracket tips off!!!

NCAA 2012 Regional Games begin!!!

The 2012 NCAA tournament kicks off with regional action from the East, South and West regionals on Thursday (Friday morning Aussie time).

So far I am glad I don’t get paid per correct pick as I went 0fer in the First Four play in games!! Hopefully my luck will change now that the main bracket is set….you can see my picks for my Yahoo bracket here or my ESPN one here. They vary slightly due to the current situation with the Syracuse team. In one I have Vanderbilt joining Baylor, North Carolina and Marquette in the Final Four with Carolina beating Baylor for the title. In the other I have Florida State instead of Vandy but the same result for the final.

Ok…let’s jump in and pick ‘em!!

Thursday’s Games

West Region:

Weirdly the early games are from the West regional in Louisville Kentucky.

Colorado State (11) vs. Murray State (6)

Murray State by 12

Davidson (13) vs. Louisville (4)

First upset!! Davidson by 7

BYU (14) vs. Marquette (3)

BYU played in to get bounced out by 14

Long Beach State (12) vs. New Mexico (5)

New Mexico by 4

East Region:

Southern Miss (9) vs. Kansas State (8)

Kansas State by 3

Montana (13) vs. Wisconsin (4)

Wisconsin by 16

UNC-Asheville (16) vs. Syracuse (1)

Syracuse by 17

Harvard (12) vs. Vanderbilt (5)

Vandy by 11

West Virginia (10) vs. Gonzaga (7)

Gonzaga by 3

Loyola, MD (15) vs. Ohio State (2)

Ohio State by 22

South Region:

W. Kentucky (16) vs. Kentucky (1)

Kentucky by 30

VCU (12) vs. Wichita State (5)

VCU pulls the their firs upset this year by 6

South Dakota State (14) vs. Baylor (3)

Baylor by 22

UConn (9) vs. Iowa State (8)

UConn by 9

New Mexico State (13) vs. Indiana (4)

New Mexico State by 3 in a minor upset

Colorado (11) vs. UNLV (6)

UNLV by 10

Ok…I’m 0-4 so far….back with more tomorrow….