Like all of you, I am happy to fill the NCAA tournament bracket. It was amazing. Easy. Familiar.
Familiar too? Immediately I hated each of my pics very much. It is possible, if the bracket was set differently, that I could face Illinois and Oklahoma State in the national title game, or at least in the Final Four. Such was the dream scenario, choosing two teams that are fun to watch square on the biggest stage.
Instead? Somehow, Oklahoma State will be with a No. 4 seed and now the Cowboys will face Illinois in the second round (winning both of their openers, of course). Oog Selfishly, I hate knocking off one of my final four teams so soon.
More: Get your printable March Madness bracket here
March Madness bracket forecast 2021
Western region
Iowa deserves its 2 seeds, no doubt, but I was still willing to pick the Hawkeyes as an early upset victim who appears in front of the bracket. Maybe even in the second round. But looking at their draw, I don’t see anyone in the lower half of the West Zone. They have a much easier trip to the Elite Eight than Illinois, which is No. 1 in the Midwest, or Michigan, which is the No. 1 seed in the East.
It’s always fun when you have a second round matchup of a two-point seed, and I think we get in this area. The No. 5 seed Crayton has been wildly hit-and-miss this year and has been in trouble in March. One could easily see UC Santa Barbara pulling that upset. And Ohio is the best of the 13 seeds, facing a Virginia team that will not be able to practice this week due to Kovid issues in the program. Yikes.
South Zone
I would not be surprised at all to see two Big East teams out on the wrong side of the 12/5 matchbox. We mentioned Crayton in the west, and in the south region, it is Villanova. Wildcats are aching, and Winthrop is an animal in the form of 12 seeds.
I will not be shocked to see anyone coming out of this area. If Baylor plays to its potential and locks on defense, no one beats the Beer. But Baylor has not done so recently. Ohio State looked great in the Big Ten tournament, but that was after four consecutive defeats. For me, this area is open.
MORE: Best sleeper pick, upset predictions for NCAA tournament
East Zone
I can’t decide whether Florida State got from a very good UNCG team – I love Isaiah Miller’s game, and it’s a few years now – to go all the way to the opener, or to the Elite Eight. Finally, I’m betting on Leonard Hamilton. It is always difficult to face their teams in March.
I am worried about Michigan without Isaiah Rivers. Even if he runs back, I’m worried.
I didn’t go to the Final Four on Selection Sunday in hopes of picking Texas, but crazy things happen in March, and I love the draw for Shaka Smart and his Longhorns.
Midwest region
If you are an Illinois fan, you are not happy right now. Illini is still talented enough to win it all, but his road is brutal. They could face an outstanding Loyola team – the best No. 8/9 seed, for my money – in the second round, then either Oklahoma State or Tennessee in the Sweet 16. The elite eight games – no matter who advance out of the bottom half of the Midwest Region – will be the “easiest” opponent after Drexel in the opener. I think Syracuse, the number 11 from this region, would be the last double-digit seed.
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