# NCAA Tournament Predictions/Picks **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 15, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571 "2010-03-15T18:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/21 "2010-03-17T05:12:36Z")
I love the chatter surrounding the tournament and how some things shape up in consensus but disappear completely by person. For instance, everyone is agreeing that this year there are no “great” teams… but it seems like 95% of people have Kansas winning it all (including 4/5 Yahoo experts and a vast majority of ESPN experts). Everyone talks about how much of a dogfight the Midwest bracket will be… but everyone has Kansas winning anyway. Along the same road, everyone talks about how easy the South is… so why won’t Duke win it? Because they’re Duke and nobody likes them? I hate Duke as much as the next guy but they seem to match up very well with everyone in that region. I couldn’t find a place for them to lose. I had the toughest time picking the West. For some reason, every tool I use to evaluate teams rated BYU extremely well. I figured I must be on to something (as in, how NOT to pick winners), but I was too far along to turn back. Go BYU!.. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/22 "2010-03-17T06:45:05Z")
I have Kansas coming out of the midwest (over OKState in a tough battle). Syracuse over BYU. Kentucky topping New Mexico (who scrapes by Mizzou). And Villanova beating Texas A&M. Kansas loses to Kentucky (mainly so they stay happy with their coach and don’t go poaching mine) ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/23 "2010-03-17T07:20:18Z")
I love Xavier’s chances of going fairly deep and wearing the glass slippers. That being said, I don’t see a way out of a WV/Kansas final: With the exception of Carmelo Anthony, freshman mojo doesn’t go that deep, which hurts Kentucky. 'Cuse limped out the end of the season, and I’ve seen this team from Duke too many times. My big upset right now is calling Purdue beating Siena in the first round. Even without Hummel, I like More and Barlow enough to think that the ‘upset’ everyone is waiting for won’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/24 "2010-03-17T11:16:26Z")
> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > With the exception of Carmelo Anthony, freshman mojo doesn’t go that deep, which hurts Kentucky. Maybe, but Anthony was only one guy. UK has scads of freshmen seeing significant playing time that are really good players. Whether that hurts them or not remains to be seen. So far, it hasn’t…much. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/25 "2010-03-17T15:10:28Z")
Hm. Derrick Rose’s mojo went pretty deep. So did Greg Oden’s and Mike Conley’s, and that’s just in the last few years. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/26 "2010-03-17T15:49:53Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > Everyone talks about how much of a dogfight the Midwest bracket will be… but everyone has Kansas winning anyway. Nothing weird about that. The Midwest is the toughest bracket, but Kansas does not have the toughest road. Ohio State, Georgetown, OKState, and Tennessee are all in there, but Kansas only needs to beat at most one of those four. Kentucky’s bracket is a little weaker, but they have a tougher road. They may have to beat Texas, Temple/Wisconsin, and WVU all in a row. Having said that, I did end up going with Kentucky in the final four, along with Kansas, Kansas State, and Villanova. Possible surprising upsets: Washington over Marquette (game will be played on the west coast) UTEP over Butler Old Dominion over Notre Dame And I am very worried about Temple/Wisc over Kentucky or Richmond over Nova. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/27 "2010-03-17T16:53:50Z")
It’s funny, so many folks worry about the early round upsets, and they can make a difference. But ini almost every bracket competition I have beenini, it is almost impossible to win without picking the actual Champion correct, due to weighting in the final round. I have 'Cuse winning it all. The first and second round games are basically tie breakers, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/28 "2010-03-18T18:07:07Z")
In one of my brackets I have Villanova losing to Richmond, but right now they’re in trouble against Robert Morris! I like BYU to do some damage in the West and I like Siena and maybe Murray State. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/29 "2010-03-18T18:16:03Z")
BYU, ND and Villanova all losing late! ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/30 "2010-03-18T18:23:13Z")
Notre Dame loses!! Big East…BFD! ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/31 "2010-03-18T18:25:04Z")
Is there any chance you could stop doing that? I don’t care about the Big East and frankly it doesn’t seem like anybody but you really does all that much either. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/32 "2010-03-18T20:45:46Z")
Murray State beats Vandy at the buzzer! Gooooo Racers! ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/33 "2010-03-18T21:08:44Z")
Goddamn Vandy. Breaking my heart again. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/34 "2010-03-18T21:30:54Z")
Robert Morris #2 Seed makes Villanova go to OT. Big East OVER RATED ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/35 "2010-03-18T21:42:16Z")
Looks like Richmond is going down, so that’s my first wrong pick. In my regular bracket, no big deal - I had 'Nova beating them anyway. My ‘upset special’ bracket is busted, though, since I had Richmond beating 'Nova AND Old Dominion. Ah well. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/36 "2010-03-18T21:48:01Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Is there any chance you could stop doing that? I don’t care about the Big East and frankly it doesn’t seem like anybody but you really does all that much either. Apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/37 "2010-03-18T23:37:46Z")
My homer bracket is undefeated right now. Yep, somehow I picked both Murray State and Old Dominion in the one where I’ve got Ohio State taking it all. FML. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/38 "2010-03-19T01:16:17Z")
Gosh I hate living near Kentucky. They are blowing out ETSU and my affiliate is sticking with this game. We got another BIG EAST team getting beat and I am stuck with this blow-out. I would much rather see Georgetown lose to Ohio University. And yet another Big East team is on the ropes. Marquette is only leading the Washington (and the hapless PAC10) by 3 points. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/39 "2010-03-19T01:30:28Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Gosh I hate living near Kentucky. They are blowing out ETSU and my affiliate is sticking with this game. We got another BIG EAST team getting beat and I am stuck with this blow-out. I would much rather see Georgetown lose to Ohio University. > > And yet another Big East team is on the ropes. Marquette is only leading the Washington (and the hapless PAC10) by 3 points. Become a fan of the best program in NCAA history and enjoy the blowout. What did you expect, a 16 and a 1 going into OT, perhaps? I have a friend that’s a Louisville fan and a HUGE Big East homer. He kept texting me to “warn” me about how great a showing the Big East would have in the tournament. He’s all “UK doesn’t want none of Marquette!” To which I replied “Louisville might not win their first tournament game!” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/40 "2010-03-19T01:31:36Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > My homer bracket is undefeated right now. > > Yep, somehow I picked both Murray State and Old Dominion in the one where I’ve got Ohio State taking it all. FML. Tell me you didn’t pick the Ohio U Bobcats to beat Georgetown…that’s a BIG bracket buster right there. G’town was playing so well at the end of the season, too. I love college basketball… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571.md?page=3)