After the last couple of years in which missed upset picks and small alliances to random schools killed me, I decided to take a safer approach and pick more higher ranked schools this year. That doesn't mean my bracket won't have its share of upsets, but they are fewer in number than previous years.
Midwest Region
First Round
Kansas over Lehigh
Northern Iowa over UNLV
Michigan State over New Mexico State
Maryland over Houston
Tennessee over San Diego State
Georgetown over Ohio
Oklahoma State over Georgia Tech
Ohio State over Cal-Santa Barbera
Second Round
Kansas over Northern Iowa
Michigan State over Maryland
Georgetown over Tennessee
Ohio State over Oklahoma State
Sweet Sixteen
Kansas over Michigan State
Ohio State over Georgetown
Elite Eight
Ohio State over Kansas
Overall, my pick to win the Midwest Region is dubious. However, I think if Ohio State has the poise to squeeze past a tough Georgetown team in the first round, than they can put something together to upset Kansas. The only other two upsets are Northern Iowa knocking off UNLV in the first round and last year's finalist, Michigan State upsetting what I believe to be an overrated Maryland team in the second round.
West Region
First Round
Syracuse over Vermont
Gonzaga over Florida State
Butler over UTEP
Vanderbilt over Murray State
Xavier over Minnesota
Pittsburgh over Oakland
BYU over Florida
Kansas State over North Texas
Second Round
Syracuse over Gonzaga
Vanderbilt over Butler
Pittsburgh over Xavier
Kansas State over BYU
Sweet Sixteen
Syracuse over Vanderbilt
Kansas State over Pittsburgh
Elite Eight
Kansas State over Syracuse
Only one upset in this region and its a dubious one at that. However, I liked what I saw out of Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship and think they can solve that Syracuse zone defense. Outside of that, I have the higher ranked team winning every game, though I almost went with Minnesota over Xavier in round one and Butler over Vanderbilt in round two, look there for possible upsets.
East Region
First Round
Kentucky over East Tennessee State
Texas over Wake Forest
Cornell over Temple
Wisconsin over Wofford
Marquette over Washington
New Mexico over Montana
Missouri over Clemson
West Virginia over Morgan State
Second Round
Kentucky over Texas
Wisconsin over Cornell
New Mexico over Marquette
West Virginia over Missouri
Sweet Sixteen
Kentucky over Wisconsin
West Virginia over New Mexico
Elite Eight
Kentucky over West Virginia
A couple first round upsets here, but that's it as far as upsets go as I have the top four going to the Sweet Sixteen and top two to the Elite Eight, with Kentucky Indy-Bound. I really, REALLY like Cornell AND Temple and will look forward to watching that. but Cornell's high percentage shooting will win out there. My other upset has Missouri taking down Clemson in a risky pick. Another game to watch is second round Kentucky and Texas, that could be a great early round matchup.
South Region
First Round
Duke over Play-In Winner (Arkansas-Pines Bluff or Winthrop)
Louisville over California
Utah State over Texas A&M
Purdue over Siena
Notre Dame over Old Dominion
Baylor over Sam Houston State
St. Mary's over Richmond
Villanova over Robert Morris
Second Round
Duke over Louisville
Purdue over Utah State
Baylor over Notre Dame
Villanova over St. Mary's
Sweet Sixteen
Duke over Purdue
Villanova over Baylor
Elite Eight
Duke over Villanova
As with every year, my bracket rides on Duke (I have a major league Duke bias). They win the region that sees three first round upsets. Louisville will easily take down California in the 8-9 matchup. St. Mary's similarly, is a better team than Richmond, who didn't impress me in the Atlantic 10 championship, St. Mary's wins that one. In a very bold pick, I'll take a Utah State team that played a very easy regular season schedule to upset a sleeper, Texas A&M. I also looked to pushing Notre Dame to the Sweet Sixteen, but can't jusitfy them beating Baylor.
Final Four
Ohio State over Kansas State
Duke over Kentucky
Championship Game
Duke 68 Ohio State 61
I always like Duke winning it all and this year is no different, I see them upsetting Kentucky and going to the final. As i said earlier, if Ohio State can get to the Elite Eight and win, they're golden. They knock off Kansas State and go to the final, where Duke defeats them 68-61.
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