It’s tournement time!\u00a0 Tip-off starts in in about\u00a03 hours, which is just enough time to come down with the “stomach bug” and find your way to the “doctor’s office” (read: neighborhood bar)!\u00a0 Be mindful, the last game tips off at 9:57 PM (EST), so pace yourself!<\/p>\n
Before our brackets get completely busted, let’s review The Machine’s Final Four Picks:<\/p>\n
Roid Rage <\/strong>(full bracket here: NCAA RR 2013<\/a>)<\/p>\n Midwest\/West Matchup<\/span>:\u00a0I’ve got Louisville <\/span>(1)\u00a0v. Ohio State <\/span>(2).\u00a0 I’m buying Louisville stock going into this tournement.\u00a0 They are a tough group that excel in all facits of the game.\u00a0 Pitino gets it done this year.\u00a0 After a breeze in the first two rounds (Missouri, St. Louis), they get a couple of tough match-ups in Michigan State and Ohio State.\u00a0 However, I’ve got the Cardinals advancing to the Championship game.<\/p>\n South\/East Matchup:<\/span> Florida<\/span> (3)\u00a0v. Indiana<\/span> (1). This Indiana team is dangerously good; I’ve got them cruising to this matchup with Florida.\u00a0 It’s hard to call a 3-seed a darkhorse, but I like Florida’s chances of upsetting Georgetown and Kansas on their way to face Indiana.\u00a0 I have to give the nod to Indiana due to their balance and defense. This sets up a championship featuring…<\/p>\n Championship:<\/span> Louisville<\/span> (1) v. Indiana<\/span> (1).\u00a0 I’m not typically a 1-seed\/1-seed kind of guy, but I have too much respect of what both of these teams have done this year.\u00a0 They were built for this tournement.\u00a0 Take it to the bank: Rick Pitino will be climbing the ladder, scissors in hand!<\/p>\n First-Round Upsets:<\/span> Oregon (12), Cincinnati (10), Belmont (11), Iowa State (10), Minnesota (11)<\/p>\n Ginger King\u00a0<\/strong>(full bracket here: BRSM – 2013 NCAA Bracket<\/a>)<\/p>\n Midwest\/West Matchup<\/span>:\u00a0I’ve got Louisville<\/span> (1) v. Ohio St.<\/span> (2), but the comparisons stop there.\u00a0 Ginger King is high on the Buckeyes, so high, in fact, that we’re picking them to be crowned National Champions.\u00a0 The Buckeyes are the most tournment ready team in the country, and played in the toughest conference in basketball.\u00a0 They should breeze through the first couple rounds, and really won’t be tested until they meet up with Wisconsin.\u00a0 Louisville is hard to pick against (their pressure trap is the best in the NCAA) but Thad Matta will have them ready.\u00a0 Book your plane tickets to Atlanta Ohioans, just leave that stupid O-H-I-O chant home.<\/p>\n South\/East Matchup:<\/span>\u00a0 VCU<\/span> (5) v. Indiana<\/span> (1).\u00a0 The South is by far the most volatile bracket in the tourney, so it’s really a crap shoot there.\u00a0 I really like Georgetown, but I also love Cinderellas, especially when Cinderella can shoot the 3.\u00a0 People are soft on VCU for losing the A-10 Championship to St. Louis, but don’t fret.\u00a0 This VCU team is better, yes better, than the team that shocked the world and made it to the final four in 2011.\u00a0 This sets up the championship game between…<\/p>\n Championship:\u00a0<\/span> Ohio St.<\/span> (2) v. Indiana<\/span> (1).\u00a0 Yes, an all Big 10 final.\u00a0 This is really the way it should be.\u00a0 The Big 10 is head and shoulders above the rest of the NCAA…they are the equivalent of the SEC in football.\u00a0 Lock it in:\u00a0 Thad Matta and crew will be cutting down the nets and bringing a National Championship back to Columbus.\u00a0<\/p>\n First-Round Upsets<\/span>:\u00a0 Iowa St. (10), Bucknell (11), Minnesota (11), Ole Miss (12), Montana (13),<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s tournement time!\u00a0 Tip-off starts in in about\u00a03 hours, which is just enough time to come down with the “stomach bug” and find your way to the “doctor’s office” (read: neighborhood bar)!\u00a0 Be mindful, the last game tips off at … Continue reading