Thoughts and Picks for the entire Big Dance

[Nickelback]

Will keep everything in this thread all the way to the championship game.

Early thoughts:

Washington can celebrate now but I think they lose to Pitt in the 2nd round. Not because I hate them but they simply do not have the defense to win several games in a row. This is why they didn't win the Pac 10 regular season even though they took down Arizona twice in recent games.

Arizona got a tough draw with Utah State and could very well lose that game. However, if they get past Utah State, I think they play Illinois in the EIlite Eight before getting it handed to them. . . I believe they matchup well against OSU and LSU which are two potential road blocks in the way.

NC State will make the Sweet Sixteen

Cuse will take down Duke in the Sweet Sixteen

Illinois clearly has the easiest path to the Final Four of any team

Wake Forest has the second easiest road and should thank their lucky stars they are not in North Carolina's or Duke's position as they are in much better shape as a two seed with Washington being the one seed.

Highest seed with the best chance to get into the Round of 32? I would say Niagra as a 14 seed over Oklahoma and will be happy to take the 14 points. . . one of the first lines to jump out at me.

Random thoughts. . . I will have some picks up in about ten minutes

 

[vyrus858]

agreeon Cuse, and Wash...I see ALOT OF VALUE in Utah St. +7 , gl my man...lets make some $$$

 

[Scott4USC]

Enjoyed reading your thoughts and agree with most of what you said. You gotta give your final four prediction and your NC winner in this thread! Good luck on your plays throughout the tourney and I will be checking on your plays often.

 

[Nickelback]

Here's my five plays so far that I will be on. . . in order:

NC State -4 over Charlotte VERY BIG
Florida -10 over Ohio Big
Iowa +4 over Cincy above average
Niagra +14 over Oklahoma above average
Wisc Mil. +6 over Bama above average

Really like NC State a ton here. . . think their offensive schemes will kill a team like Charlotte. . . would not be surpised to see a blowout here of 15+

 

[Sun Tzu]

Very much on board w Niagara and Iowa

 

[gman2]

after catching pretty much the entire mac tourney in person, i just couldnt lay points against ohio in the opening round. their precocious freshmen (fears and williams) are playing out of their minds right now. i dont think theyre the best representative for the mac, but they have proven to be incredibly resilient and i think this is a pretty decent draw for them. leon williams pretty much took over the conf tourney as a true freshman. 14 pts and 16 boards against kent. 12 pts and 8 rebounds against miami. and then a monster 29 point / 15 rebound effort against buffalo for all the marbles (including, of course, the game-winning tip). he looked like a man among boys...and he's only a freshman. and fears is playin like he's in control of everything. its kinda hard to describe. like i said - i dont think ohio is all that great. but they are so incredibly confident right now that its hard to go against em. they just do not quit. ive been a florida fan for years now, but the gators have been downright awful in the ncaa tourney since their final four run with miller/haslem/harvey. just passin along my thoughts. no secret that i was heavy on buffalo for the mac tourney and was one collapse away from riding them to a monster payday/pay-weekend. but ohio showed me a lot of balls. im not sure if your capping on this one is from a pro-florida angle or an anti-ohio angle. i just couldnt put my money against OU letting down. cats would be susceptible to a tougher matchup but florida doesnt strike me as that. after saying all this, i will say that i absolutely concur with uwm and expect them to win outright.

 

[Nickelback]

Thanks for the info Gman. . . its more of a pro Florida pick over anything else. . . this team shoots the ball so well and of course are playing great ball right now to win the SEC. I think Ohio is clearly playing above their heads and I was on Buffalo with you. . . Ohio a very young team as you indicate and they may try a little too hard against a team outside their conference in such a major setting as the Big Dance

 

[BleedDodgerBlue]

Illinois should have the easiest path. They were the best team in the country throughout the year. Will that translate to winning the tournament. Time will tell. I'm hoping Arizona can beat Ok St. because that is the one team that scares me for illiniois. I would rather have had them get Wake again.

Definitely like Niagra with the points. Hoping it doesn't become too trendy of a pick though.

Top to bottom Albequerque bracket is the easiest IMO. If a Georgia Tech or a Texas Tech came out of there it wouldn't surprise me.

Syracuse bracket should see UNC get to the final four. MY favorite opening round play is New Mexico moneyline over Villanova. Will also take New Mexico +5 rather large.

Austin bracket is easier than it seems for Puke. and i hate em, but they should be able to get to the final four fairly easily. I'm not buying syracuse beating them or Kentucky

just my opinion

 

[Nickelback]

Duke is a damn good team. . . better than I have given them credit for all year long. . . I believe its due to being well coached above anything else like talent. Just think Cuse in the paint would be a huge problem for Duke. Reddick could bail them out but he would have to go up against another great shooter.

 

[mjalam]

Duke is a damn good team. . . better than I have given them credit for all year long. . . I believe its due to being well coached above anything else like talent. Just think Cuse in the paint would be a huge problem for Duke. Reddick could bail them out but he would have to go up against another great shooter.

who's the other great shooter...don't tell me mac

 

[Nickelback]

LOL, yeah, I was thinking about the great white hope for Cuse! I should have clarified and said "great" shooter

 

[rexall]

old dominion + 9.5

 

[Fabulous]

I like Cuse to win their region,
Illinois to win it all.
The Albuquerque region is a toss up, I am leaning towards G-Tech.
I think NC will win their region but lose to Cuse in the final four.
I want to take New Mexico, because they are extremely under-rated and Danny Grainger is a stud, but do can their guards match up with Nova's?

 

[pt1gard]

gl on nc st, im w/u

cuse could def. take out duke, if their treys are contested cuse will win +5 or more

take care
gregg

 

[Nickelback]

Final Four:

Illinois
Wake Forest
Kansas
Kentucky

Illinois over Kansas in the championship game. . . just think its their year and I don't buy into North Carolina at all.

 

[TigerPawsSC]

I hope everyone dosen't overlook Gonzaga. They have the type of players(inside and out) to take down that region. They are matchup hell for Wake Forest.


Don't see anybody on Wake's roster that matches up well with Adam Morrison.

 

[gjn23]

kansas?

i dont like them at all....they dont shoot well, they dont shoot ft well, and they have been playing .500 the last 4 weeks and they are in a tough bracket..they do have a good draw to get to the sweet 16 but really like uconn over kansas to get the the elite 8.

 

[Nickelback]

I have UConn losing to NC State! LOL

 

[Scott4USC]

Glad to see you pick Illinois all the way.

I don't understand why posters here give Kansas bad rap. I see lots of posters love Oklahoma St. Kansas beat OSU @KU, then in the Big 12 tourney lost to OSU by 3pts without their key starter Langford. This all happened within the last 2 weeks. Posters hype OSU and put down KU. Makes no sense to me. Simien is monster down low and if KU is hitting their outside shots NOBODY in country (except maybe Illinois or UNC) will beat them. Dangerous team but they have the hardest road to the final four.

 

[AKA 1ontop]

I'm putting some $ on DUKE to win the tourney.
got them at +1225 anyone have a better line?

THANKS