NCAA Hoops...

Two Final Four tickets up for grabs

Saturday sees two of the four Regional finals on tap for the weekend. In yesterdays games I went a perfect 4-0 tipping both Kentucky and VCU for big wins.

For Saturday’s action…

SOUTHEAST Regional Final:

Butler (8) vs. Florida (2)

Butler has made another surprise run in this years tournament but this year I don’t think it will continue. Florida is a solid squad and Chandler Parsons will prove to be the difference in this one. Gators by 10.

WEST Regional Final:

Arizona (5) vs. Connecticut (3)

This one will be a barn burner, UConn have been on a hot streak lately while Arizona have been a surprise to many outside of the Western USA. I think UConn’s run will finally end. ‘Zona by 7.

Current Record: 40 right-20 wrong…….

NCAASweet 16, Day 2.

Sweet 16 part deux

The Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament concludes on Friday with games in San Antonio, Texas and Newark, New Jersey. My Thursday picks fell by the wayside with only Florida advancing. Similarly my Final Four picks are gone with the exception of North Carolina. For Thursday’s games I went 1-3 pick wise.

Fridays picks…

SOUTHWEST REGION:

Richmond (12) vs. Kansas (1)

The city of Richmond will have a strong fan base in San Antonio with the hometown Spiders and VCU both playing there. First up, Richmond clashes with Kansas. This one could catch Kansas looking ahead but the Jayhawks will hold on and pull away late by 11.

Virginia Commonwealth (11) vs. Florida State (10)

VCU may be able to hang on against the tough Seminole “D”. Rams by 5.

EAST REGION:

North Carolina (2) vs. Marquette (11)

Former title game opponents square off in regional semis in this one. Carolina has had some close calls but this one may be easier. UNC by 12.

Kentucky (4) vs. Ohio State (1)

Kentucky has a solid run going but Ohio State is out to live up to the hype. Hmm….I’ll call and upset …Kentucky by 3.

Ok, back in a day or so with Regional final picks….

Current Record: 36 right – 20 wrong…

NCAA Sweet 16

Sweet 16 …Here we go!!!

The 2011 edition of the Men’s NCAA basketball tourney is here. Well I did not get my six correct last Sunday but went 5-3 on the day. One of my Final Four picks…Notre Dame fell by the wayside thanks to Florida State so I’m down to North Carolina, Wisconsin and San Diego State with my title game picks of Wisconsin and UNC still alive.

Here we go for Thursday’s games.

WEST REGION:

Connecticut (3) vs. San Diego State (2)

UConn has had a good run thus far but San Diego State also has a chip on their shoulders and is out to prove they are an elite outfit. Look for the Aztecs to stifle Kemba Walker and pull out a 3 point win.

Arizona (5) vs. Duke (1)

My “Duke Beaters”…the Texas Longhorns were upset by ‘Zona so I will go with ACC loyalty for this game at least and put “the curse” on Duke by picking them to win by 7.

SOUTHEAST REGION:

Brigham Young (3) vs. Florida (2)

BYU have been the “darlings” of the tourney so far but the Gators are out to avenge last years early round loss to the Cougars…..could come down to a Jimmer miss. Florida by 2.

Butler (8) vs. Wisconsin (4)

Butler is as dangerous as ever but the Badgers are looking solid so I am sticking by them. Wisconsin by 8.

Current Record: 35-17

Back tomorrow for the second day of Sweet 16 pick

NCAA Sunday games....

Sunday NCAA

After mixed results Saturday where I had an even 4-4 split, off we go to Sunday’s menu of games in the 2011 NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. West Virginia, Pitt, Gonzaga and Cincy did not live up to my hype on Saturday so I’m looking for at least six correct picks today. Here we go.

SOUTHWEST:

VCU (11) vs. Purdue (3)

The Richmond area seems to be on a roll…I’ll take the Rams to keep it going over Purdue by 4.

Illinois (9) vs. Kansas (1)

Could be a tricky one for Kansas but they will pull this one out by 7.

Florida State (10) vs. Notre Dame (2)

This one could easily be mistaken as being in the wrong season, would be a vintage gridiron match with Bowden against Holtz back in the day. But they are on the hardwood and the Irish will get lucky by 8.

WEST:

Michigan (8) vs. Duke (1)

Duke moves on by 12.

Arizona (5) vs. Texas (4)

‘Horns “hook” ‘em by 9.

EAST:

Washington (7) vs. North Carolina (2)

Carolina by 10.

George Mason (8) vs. Ohio State (1)

George Mason goes down gallantly by 6.

Marquette (11) vs. Syracuse (3)

The second of the weekends Big East battles…..Syracuse gets through by 11.

Current Record: 30-14

That will do it for now….Sweet Sixteen up next!!!

NCAA Hoops...

And now there are 32

As the NCAA Men’s tournament enters Saturday and Sunday games my bracket has gone kaput….my final four picks are all still alive but some of my other picks fell by the wayside. I did however tip both George Mason and VCU wins. For Friday’s games, I finished the same as Thursday…11-5.

Here we go for Saturday.

SOUTHWEST:

Morehead State (13) vs. Richmond (12)

Both teams come in off huge wins but I’ll take Richmond to move on by 7.

WEST:

Temple (7) vs. San Diego State (2)

San Diego State by 8.

Cincinnati (6) vs. Connecticut (3)

Big East survivors face off; I’ll call the minor upset, Cincy by 2.

EAST:

West Virginia (5) vs. Kentucky (4)

West Virginia sneaks through by 1.

SOUTHEAST:

UCLA (7) vs. Florida (2)

Florida moves on by 6.

Butler (8) vs. Pitt (1)

Pitt by 3.

Gonzaga (11) vs. Brigham Young (3)

Goodbye Jimmer, Gonzaga by 4.

Kansas State (5) vs. Wisconsin (4)

Wisconsin holds off K-State by 3.

Current record: 26-10

Back tomorrow for a look at Sunday’s action.

NCAA Play....

NCAA Regionals Day 2

NCAA Men’s tourney Round of 64 play picks up again on Friday with another 16 games on tap. On Thursday I finished 11-5 for the day, with Richmond’s win over Vanderbilt my best tip of the day. Other upsets included Morehead State eliminating Louisville and Gonzaga bouncing St. John’s from the field.

Friday’s action includes:

EAST:

Villanova (9) vs. George Mason (8)

Another Big East team bites the dust. GMU by 3.

Texas-San Antonio (16) vs. Ohio State (1)

Ohio State by 23.

Long Island (15) vs. North Carolina (2)

UNC by 18.

Marquette (11) vs. Xavier (6)

Xavier by 7.

Georgia (10) vs. Washington (7)

Washington by 6.

Indiana State (14) vs. Syracuse (3)

Syracuse by 13.

SOUTHWEST:

Akron (15) vs. Notre Dame (2)

Notre Dame by 17.

Florida State (10) vs. Texas A&M (7)

A&M by 3.

Boston University (16) vs. Kansas (1)

Kansas by 30.

St. Peter’s (14) vs. Purdue (3)

Purdue by 16.

Illinois (9) vs. UNLV (8)

UNLV by 5.

Virginia Commonwealth (11) vs. Georgetown (6)

VCU does it again by 4.

WEST:

Oakland (13) vs. Texas (4)

Texas by 11.

Tennessee (9) vs. Michigan (8)

Tennessee by 2.

Memphis (12) vs. Arizona (5)

Another #12 wins, Memphis by 4.

Hampton (16) vs. Duke (1)

Duke by 23

My current record: 15-5

See ya’ tomorrow!!!

NCAA on tap!!!

NCAA Brackets crank up!!!

After two days of “First Four” games, the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament gets into full swing Thursday. Thus far I am a perfect 4-0 in picking tourney games. So time to jump into prognostications full swing!! Some of my picks may differ from my overall bracket in which I have picked Wisconsin, North Carolina, San Diego State and Notre Dame as my Final Four with Carolina taking the title from the Badgers.

My first round picks for Thursday are:

EAST:

Clemson (12) vs. West Virginia (5)

West Virginia by 5

Princeton (13) vs. Kentucky (4)

Kentucky by 12

WEST:

Penn State (10) vs. Temple (7)

Temple by 4

Northern Colorado (15) vs. San Diego State (2)

S.D. State by 14

Bucknell (14) vs. Connecticut (3)

UConn by 17

Missouri (11) vs. Cincinnati (6)

Cincy by 8

SOUTHWEST:

Morehead State (13) vs. Louisville (4)

Louisville by 10

Richmond (12) vs. Vanderbilt (5)

The 5 vs. 12 upset!! Richmond by 7

SOUTHEAST:

Old Dominion (9) vs. Butler (8)

ODU too strong on the boards…..Monarchs by 11

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

Pitt by 20

Cal-Santa Barbara (15) vs. Florida (2)

Florida by 22

Wofford (14) vs. Brigham Young (3)

BYU by 16

Belmont (13) vs. Wisconsin (4)

Wisconsin by 8

Michigan State (10) vs. UCLA (7)

Michigan State by 4

Gonzaga (11) vs. St. John’s (6)

St. John’s by 3

Utah State (12) vs. Kansas State (5)

Utah State by 2

Ok, there are my first day regional picks. Enjoy the games…….

My current record: 4-0