There are only a few things in sports as great as the NCAA March Madness Tournament: The Super Bowl, the NFL Draft, Opening Day of the Baseball season, and the World Series. March Madness is on that same par. Last year, a study conducted by the consulting firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, estimated a total of $192 million is lost in worker productivity do to the first two rounds (I know, technically the play-in games are the first round, but I can’t justify calling those games the first round) of the NCAA Tournament being on a Thursday and Friday, March 15th and 16th. Needless to say, I have my hand up as an unproductive worker and contributing to the millions of dollars lost during those two days. Well worth the price of admission in my opinion!
Typically, I do five “mock” brackets before settling on one official “Sheet of Integrity” (I know, stolen from ESPN Mike and Mike). So without further ado, here is Mr. Armchair’s Official NCAA March Madness Tournament Bracket. Dissect it at your pleasure.
West Region –
Second Round –
Michigan St. (1) v. LIU Brooklyn (16) – 1 v. 16 seed. Need I say more?
Memphis (8) v. Saint Louis (9) – Memphis always has talented players that can play at the next level. Can’t say the same for St. Louis.
New Mexico (5) v. Long Beach St. (12) – LBS has some very good wins on their record and for as much as I want to pick them, I’m going with New Mexico. Drew Gorden should dominate inside the paint.
Louisville (4) v. Davidson (13) – I have no faith in Louisville this season and I think Peyton Siva is overrated. I think Davidson comes up and nabs Louisville here in what is another poor tourney for them.
Murray St. (6) v. Colorado St. (11) – How does a team go 30-1 and get a 6th seed? I don’t care what conference you play in.
Marquette (3) v. BYU (14) – Marquette surprising had a very good season in the Big East this year. Their guards are really good and will play tough defense against you.
Florida (7) v. Virginia (10) – Florida finished third in a tough SEC Conference and gave Kentucky all they had in the SEC tourney. I’m scared of Mike Scott of Virginia going off, but I think Florida edges them out here.
Missouri (2) v. Norfolk State (15) – Another pencil in game.
Third Round –
Michigan St. (1) v. Memphis (8) – This will be a closer game than people will realize, but I think Draymond Green and Michigan St. are playing too well of late to cough this one up.
New Mexico (5) v. Davidson (13) – New Mexico and Drew Gorden are too good in the paint and play too good of defense not be beat Davidson.
Murray St. (6) v. Marquette (3) – I’m going with the mid-major in this matchup. Marquette just doesn’t have any size and I believe in Murray St.'s 30-1 record.
Florida (10) v. Missouri (2) – Missouri will run Florida off the court; with very little defense being played in this matchup. Marcus Denmon should be fully recovered from his sprain ankle.
Sweet Sixteen –
Michigan St. (1) v. New Mexico (5) – A clash of the titans in Draymond Green and Drew Gorden in the paint. It should be fun to watch them go at it. I still like Michigan St. and the “Izzo” factor in this matchup.
Murray St. (6) v. Missouri (2) – Missouri’s guards will out shine and will Missouri to victory. They are too fast and they score at will.
Elite Eight –
Michigan St. (1) v. Missouri (2) – Again, I think Missouri’s guards will be too tough of a match-up for Michigan St. Draymond Green and Derrick Nix will be a load inside, but I think Missouri takes this.
South Region –
Second Round –
Kentucky (1) v. Western Kentucky (16) – Kentucky’s bench would beat these guys by 20 points.
Iowa St. (8) v. UCONN (9) – UCONN has the talent to be a top 4 seed team. Unfortunately, they have been inconsistent all year. Their talent alone wins them this game, despite a great season from Iowa St.
Wichita St. (5) v. VCU (12) – I don’t think Shaka(!!) Smart and VCU have the same run in them like they did last year. Wichita St. is too much of an efficient scoring team, with 4 players averaging double-digits points.
Indiana (4) v. New Mexico St. (13) – I know IU has lost Verdell Jones III for the tourney, and this looks to be an upset in the making, but I’m still sticking with IU for at least this game. Cody Zeller is a beast.
UNLV (6) v. Colorado (11) – I like Colorado for the upset. Colorado is use to playing in high altitudes and Andre Roberson has been dominating their last few games.
Baylor (3) v. South Dakota St. (14) – Baylor on talent alone should win this game. Hopefully they use this game to shape up and find their stride for future games in the tourney.
Notre Dame (7) v. Xavier (10) – I don’t see Xavier and Tu Holloway “zipping up” Notre Dame. Xavier struggled in the A-10 and ND knows how to win big games, beating Syracuse and Marquette this season.
Duke (2) v. Lehigh (15) – Again, 2 v. 15 seed, plus Coach K. Good Luck, Lehigh.
Third Round –
Kentucky (1) v. UCONN (9) – How Kentucky drew this matchup is beyond me, even if they were playing Iowa St. #1 seed of the whole tourney and they draw the toughest second round matchup. They still win, though.
Wichita St. (5) v. Indiana (4) – Wichita St. is a really good team and it is a game like this one where the lost of Verdell Jones III will hurt IU. I like Wichita St. to take this one.
Colorado (11) v. Baylor (3) – I think Baylor gets their act together and beats Colorado. Remember, while Colorado won their conference tourney, it was the Pac-12.
Notre Dame (7) v. Duke (2) – Norte Dame always gives their opponents a tough game, but I think Duke and Coach K will get pass ND. Duke has too much talent too not make the Sweet Sixteen.
Sweet Sixteen –
Kentucky (1) v. Wichita St. (5) – I think Marquis Teague, Darius Miller, and Doron Lamb will come to play and allow Anthony Davis to dominate on defense in the goalie position in the paint.
Baylor (3) v. Duke (2) – I took Baylor at 25-1 in the preseason to win the whole tourney, and I’m praying they at least give me hope by making it to the Elite Eight. Eventually, the three’s won’t fall for the Dukies.
Elite Eight –
Kentucky (1) v. Baylor (3) – The combination of Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be too much for Baylor and Perry Jones III, Quincy Acy, and Quincy Miller. Kentucky rolls.
East Region –
Second Round –
Syracuse (1) v. UNC-Asheville (16) – Will losing Fab Melo for the tourney result in the first 16 seed to knock off a 1 seed? We think not.
Kansas St. (8) v. Southern Miss (9) – I’ll be honest here and say that I haven’t seen Southern Miss play or know anyone on their team. Going with what I’ve seen and what I’m familiar with here.
Vanderbilt (5) v. Harvard (12) – As much as I would like to pick Harvard here as my 12-5 upset and the Cinderella story that follows them, Vandy is too hot from winning the SEC tourney over Kentucky.
Wisconsin (4) v. Montana (13) - I have no confidence in Wisconsin this season. Montana has been undefeated since early December. They have experience winning in March (Spring Break Rosarito 2005 - Watched Montana dominate Boston College).
Cincinnati (6) v. Texas (11) – I like picking teams that finish strong and Cincy unexpectedly made it to the Big East Championship game. Also, I’m not the biggest Texas fan, although J’Covan Brown is really good.
Florida St. (3) v. St. Bonaventure (14) – Speaking of teams finishing strong, hello FSU winning the ACC tourney. They also have very good ones against inter-conference rivals UNC and Duke.
Gonzaga (7) v. West Virginia (10) – Gonzaga is always good for a second (first) round victory. I haven’t been too impressed with West Virginia this season. They are over-seeded here in my opinion.
Ohio St. (2) v. Loyola (15) – A 15 seed has only beating a 2 seed four times in tournament history. I don’t see Loyola taking down Ohio St, my preseason pick to win the whole thing.
Third Round –
Syracuse (1) v. Kansas St. (8) – With Fab Melo out for the tourney, this actually becomes a tough matchup for the Cuse. I still think they get by K-State, but it will take a lot out of them to do so.
Vanderbilt (5) v. Montana (13) – I love me some Big Sky Conference, but Montana’s run comes to an end here. High scoring game though with a ton of three’s being shot.
Cincinnati (6) v. Florida St. (3) – I think FSU’s guards will be too tough to handle for Cincy. Plus, FSU is still playing with a lot of confidence coming off winning the ACC tourney.
Gonzaga (7) v. Ohio St. (2) – Ohio St. guards the perimeter very well and Jared Sullinger will be too much to handle inside for Gonzaga. I like Ohio St in this matchup.
Sweet Sixteen –
Syracuse (1) v. Vanderbilt (5) – This is the game where it finally catches up with Syracuse. They’ve been playing with fire all season, only having one big man and no established offense. Vandy gets them here.
Florida St. (3) v. Ohio St. (2) – Again, Ohio St. is very good defending guards, so I think they will be able to neutralize Michael Snaer and Ian Miller. Going to be close, but I’m taking Ohio St.
Elite Eight –
Vanderbilt (5) v. Ohio St. (2) – I can’t turn my back on Ohio St. now after riding them since the preseason. Vandy has the bigs to throw at Sullinger, but I’m praying Craft or Buford shows up.
Midwest –
Second Round –
North Carolina (1) v. Vermont (16) – 1 v. 16. Enough said.
Creighton (8) v. Alabama (9) – Creighton has a big-time scorer in Doug McDermott and that alone can win you a second (I know, first) round game. Bama plays good defense, but they can’t score worth a lick.
Temple (5) v. South Florida (12) – This is my 12-5 upset special. Every year there is always one. It’s just a matter of picking the right one. The rest of the 5 seeds are too good to lose.
Michigan (4) v. Ohio (13) – Not every 13 seed this year will beat the 4 seed, and I already have enough 13’s winning. Got to draw the line somewhere, no what how much I like the matchup for the underdog.
San Diego St. (6) v. North Carolina St. (11) – This whole middle section of the Midwest Bracket is filled with upset potential. This just isn’t the same SDSU team that we’ve seen in the past. NC St. takes it.
Georgetown (3) v. Belmont (14) – BOOOOOMMMMM!!! Dropping the hammer!!! Georgetown is notorious for bowing out early in the tourney. Belmont scores like crazy. Give me the upset here!!
St. Mary’s (7) v. Purdue (10) – Tough call on this pick. I like crazy-man looking Matt Dellavedova and St. Mary’s to knock out 8th year senior (I kid) Robbie Hummel and Purdue.
Kansas (2) v. Detroit (15) – Kansas always let’s me down in the tourney. I hope they get pass Detroit, but you never know.
Third Round –
North Carolina (1) v. Creighton (8) – This will be a tough matchup for UNC and it will be fun to watch Harrison Barnes go up against Doug McDermott. Kendall Marshall leads them to victory in this game.
South Florida (12) v. Michigan (4) – Michigan shoots the ball well and will take it too South Florida, especially after already playing two games. They’ll be on tired legs trying to chase Tim Hardaway, Jr.
North Carolina St. (11) v. Belmont (14) – Could we have a Cinderella make the Sweet Sixteen in 14 seed Belmont? NC St. has been inconsistent this season and Belmont has 5 players scoring double-digits ppg.
St. Mary’s (7) v. Kansas (2) – St. Mary’s has a history in taking out high seeded teams, and Kansas has a history of losing early to mid-majors. I don’t think St. Mary’s pulls a Northern Iowa here. I’ll take KU.
Sweet Sixteen –
North Carolina (1) v. Michigan (4) – UNC has too much NBA talent to not make it pass the Sweet Sixteen. Anything less and it’s an utter failure of a season for them.
Belmont (14) v. Kansas (2) – Does Kansas have enough to make it pass the Sweet Sixteen. God, I sure do hope so. Thomas Robinson should dominate the paint and will Kansas to the victory.
Elite Eight –
North Carolina (1) v. Kansas (2) – I’ve been living on a pray (OOOHHH, we’re half way there) with Kansas, and I originally had them in the final four, but too many bad memories and loses have changed my mind.
Final Four – (Side note - President Obama and I have the same Final Four. Great minds think alike!)
Kentucky (1) v. Missouri (2) – Kentucky has the athletes and guards to match up with Missouri. In the end, Anthony Davis camping out in the paint will disrupt Missouri’s offense and penetrating guards.
Ohio St. (2) v. North Carolina (1) – UNC has the talent, but they’ve also slept walk and laid an egg in big game this season. And does Ohio St. have one more win in them to make me look good? I sure hope so.
One Shining Moment –
Kentucky (1) v. Ohio St. (2) – In the end, Kentucky has been too consistent and too dominating this entire season. Anthony Davis will undoubtedly win the triple crown of NCAA basketball (winning Freshman of the year, National Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and as an added bonus, be the First Overall Pick in the next NBA Draft assuming he leaves school). Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will score at will, as Ohio St. will have no answer for him. Coach Cal and Kentucky will be cutting down the nets to One Shining Moment.
Let the Madness begin!!!
Mr. Armchair Speaking –
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