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It takes a lot of guts to put your own March Madness picks out there for public consumption for every single game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
As stated in yesterday’s post, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit that I played basketball and have closely followed the sport ever since youth sports, but I have yet to select the winning team in over forty years of March Madness bracketology.
However, there’s always hope that this will, indeed, be the year! You must continue to believe – even if the odds say that you are most likely to come up short once again.
Let’s break down each region as we ultimately head to New Orleans for this year’s Final Four.
First up – the West Region!
West Region upset specials – As you can see, I have picked #13 seed Vermont (28-5) to win its first two games in Buffalo, New York. I also like #10 Davidson (27-6) to win its first game against Michigan State.
After that, the rest of the West Region bracket pretty much follows the seeding. In the West Region Finals, my bracket features the #1 seed Gonzaga against the #2 seeded Duke Blue Devils as Coach K’s team simply won’t let him exit early. However, I think Gonzaga’s All-American 6’10” junior Drew Timme will be the difference as the Zags’ experience gets them into this year’s Final Four.
West winner – Gonzaga (#1 seed)
Next – it’s the East Region!
East Region upset specials – I really didn’t see very many upsets in the first round with the exception of #11 Virginia Tech beating #6 Texas (which has been floundering recently). However, the Hokies will then keep rolling and beat #3 seeded Purdue, and surprise #2 seed Kentucky to get into the East Region finals! Also, I am (don’t ask why) taking #8 seed North Carolina to upset the #1 seed Baylor in Round 2 this weekend. Call it a gut feeling!
In the East finals, I’ll match-up #4 seed UCLA (which will end North Carolina’s season) and the surprising #11 seed Virginia Tech. The Hokies’ 23-year old fifth-year senior big man Keve Aluma transferred to Virginia Tech as he followed his basketball coach at tiny Wofford College (Spartanburg, South Carolina) up to the ACC school. Coach Mike Young just led Virginia Tech the school’s first-ever ACC Tournament championship last weekend. This is a very hot team playing with a lot of confidence. I’m taking V-Tech to the Final Four, baybee!
East winner – Virginia Tech (#11 seed)
On to the South Region!
South Region upset specials – Of course I’ll take Sister Jean’s Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (a 10 seed) to take down the overrated #7 Ohio State Buckeyes in the opening game. Likewise, I like #13 Chattanooga to beat another overrated Big Ten school in #4 seed Illinois. Down the road, I’m picking the underappreciated Coach Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars to knock-off #1 South seed Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen. I also expect #3 seed Tennessee to defeat #2 Villanova in the same round.
In the South finals, I’m matching #5 Houston against the SEC Tournament champions in third-seed Tennessee. Houston plays awesome defense, but their shooting can go cold at times. I think Tennessee’s exceptionally strong guard play will be the difference as the Vols advance to the Final Four.
South winner – Tennessee (#3 seed)
Now for the Midwest Region!
Midwest Region upset specials – In the opening round in Milwaukee, I think the fans of #11 seed Iowa State will make #6 seed LSU (who are playing without fired coach Will Wade) feel like they’re playing an SEC road game as the Cyclones eliminate the Tigers. I’ll also take #10 Miami (Florida) over #7 USC as the game will be played in ACC-friendly Greenville, South Carolina. My biggest upsets will feature #13 South Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits (30-4) are the nation’s top 3-point shooting team. They will become the tournament darlings once they knock off first round foe #4 Providence. I then have South Dakota State beating #5 Iowa and upsetting #1 seed Kansas to advance to the Midwest Region finals against #2 Auburn. Alas, the lucky jackrabbit’s foot wears out as Auburn runs wild to move into yet another Final Four under their excitable coach, Bruce Pearl.
Midwest winner – Auburn (#2 seed)
FINAL FOUR Predictions:
Semifinal #1 – The West top seed Gonzaga faces East #11 seed Virginia Tech – Virginia Tech’s NCAA March Madness fun will finally come to an end as Gonzaga’s tournament-tested experience will show-up on the biggest stage. Gonzaga moves into the championship game with a double-digit win.
Semifinal #2 – This game will feature a unique SEC match-up featuring the South #3 seed Tennessee vs. Midwest #2 seed Auburn. The two teams met on February 26 in Knoxville with Tennessee taking a 67-62 win over Auburn. The rematch will be held in the New Orleans Superdome and will not disappoint fans. I’ll pick Tennessee in a barn-burner classic finish to advance into the title game against the favored Zags.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Did you know…Neither Gonzaga nor Tennessee has ever won the men’s NCAA basketball championship? Sorry, Gonzaga, but I’m a believer in this year’s Tennessee team as it features the most talented guard play in the country.
I’ll say Tennessee 78, Gonzaga 69 as the Vols pull away in the final minutes to secure the 2022 championship trophy.
The Vols will win it all!