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**T.Shock** · 03-12-2008, 04:59 PM

Anybody else feel that this year is harder to call than most.

Usually I have a very simple strategy.

1.#1 Seeds get a free pass to the Sweet 16
2.1 #12 over #5
3.1 #11 over #6
4.2 #7 or #10 over #2 seeds
5.1 #1 Seed losing in the Sweet 16
6.2 teams from the same conference in the Final Four

It works usually, but last year my strategy went to hell. I plan on sticking to it this year, but usually I have one team that isn't considered a contender, gets a 3-5 seed, that I pick to go the Final Four.

My teams the past couple of years...

Georgia Tech(lost to UConn in championship game)
Louisville(lost to Illinois in Final 4)
LSU(lost to UCLA in Final 4)
Texas A&M(lost to Memphis in Sweet 16)

With the exception of a blown Acie Law layup, I've been right on, and I usually take more pride in getting the Final Four right and especially take pride in getting that team right.

Problem is this year, I don't have anybody I really like.

I've thought about...

Pitt(too low a seed)
Vanderbilt
Washington State

and a few others. But I don't have anybody right now that I liked before Championship Week and that unless there was a real unfavorable matchup, I'd take in their bracket without a doubt.

So without that chip and with my rules failing last year, I'm kind of in a bind.

Anybody else want to share?

TM · 03-12-2008, 06:06 PM

1) Ya, cause the good / above average teams keep losing to crappy teams. Even the top 10 teams aren't blowing out opponents this year. I mean, how many times does UCLA have to come back to win against lesser-talent teams? Duke has choked to average ACC teams. Etc. So ya, you aren't going to feel very confident about your picks.

2) I also have this feeling that the people with not much college basketball knowledge or that haven't paid much attention this year but that like filling out a bracket will struggle. I mean, generally if you pick teams like Arizona, Michigan State, etc. to win the first day, you're bound to get most of them right. Shoot, some of those teams aren't even in the tourney, and some of the more recognizeable teams that may end up being the higher seed have a good chance to get upset in the first 2 days. And, are these people going to pick teams like Drake, Vanderbilt, etc.?

Just please don't anyone mention the word "parity."

**T.Shock** · 03-12-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TM

1) Ya, cause the good / above average teams keep losing to crappy teams. Even the top 10 teams aren't blowing out opponents this year. I mean, how many times does UCLA have to come back to win against lesser-talent teams? Duke has choked to average ACC teams. Etc. So ya, you aren't going to feel very confident about your picks.

2) I also have this feeling that the people with not much college basketball knowledge or that haven't paid much attention this year but that like filling out a bracket will struggle. I mean, generally if you pick teams like Arizona, Michigan State, etc. to win the first day, you're bound to get most of them right. Shoot, some of those teams aren't even in the tourney, and some of the more recognizeable teams that may end up being the higher seed have a good chance to get upset in the first 2 days. And, are these people going to pick teams like Drake, Vanderbilt, etc.?

Just please don't anyone mention the word "parity."

I hope so. Because I usually end up doing very well but getting beat by some schmuck who watches a game once in a while and picks teams based on NBA players who played on that team. "Didn't Rasheed Wallace go to UNC. I like him, so I figured they had good players at UNC still." STFU.

TM · 03-12-2008, 06:43 PM

My favorite story is a lady I know who beat her husband after picking all the teams that had, in her opinion, better mascots.

**bball2223** · 03-12-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TM

My favorite story is a lady I know who beat her husband after picking all the teams that had, in her opinion, better mascots.

My mom is a teacher and at her school each teacher gets two teams and whoever has the NCAA champion gets like $100. Two years ago she had George Mason, and Florida. Usually she tosses hers out because her picks aren't that great but that was the first time she didn't toss either out. Great decision on her part.

**HKF** · 03-12-2008, 08:54 PM

Last year I picked Florida vs. Georgetown in the title game (with Kansas and Ohio State as the other teams). Kansas went down in the Elite Eight to UCLA and OSU beat Georgetown. I feel confident that I should do well with the tourney again. The George Mason year was just a fluke. I had Wichita in the Sweet Sixteen that year but losing to UNC.

**T.Shock** · 03-12-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKF

Last year I picked Florida vs. Georgetown in the title game (with Kansas and Ohio State as the other teams). Kansas went down in the Elite Eight to UCLA and OSU beat Georgetown. I feel confident that I should do well with the tourney again. The George Mason year was just a fluke. I had Wichita in the Sweet Sixteen that year but losing to UNC.

I had Florida, Kansas, Georgetown, and Texas A&M in the Final Four with Kansas vs Georgetown in the Title Game. The Big 12 let me down last year.

Funny thing is I keep coming back to UNC, Kansas, and Texas as three of my Final Four teams this year. Especially UNC and Texas in the title game. Nearly every bracket I fill out has those two.

Ewing Theory on Texas all the way.

**HKF** · 03-12-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.Shock

I had Florida, Kansas, Georgetown, and Texas A&M in the Final Four with Kansas vs Georgetown in the Title Game. The Big 12 let me down last year.

Funny thing is I keep coming back to UNC, Kansas, and Texas as three of my Final Four teams this year. Especially UNC and Texas in the title game. Nearly every bracket I fill out has those two.

Ewing Theory on Texas all the way.

I don't know what it is, but I feel the Big 12 is WAY down this year and I really believe the Big East is going to outperform their seeds in a big way with the exception of Notre Dame and West Virginia. Notre Dame mostly because I will not bet on this team in the tournament again.

I expect UConn, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette and Pittsburgh to be serious tough outs. I expect at least 4 Big East teams in the Sweet Sixteen. This league was easily the most competitive from 1-12 in my opinion. If WVU could get consistent performances from Darris Nichols and Alex Rouff to help Alexander and Butler I might think the Eers could do damage too.

**HKF** · 03-12-2008, 10:04 PM

Oh and in 2004, my runner ups were Georgia Tech (UConn was the pick)
In 2005, North Carolina was the runner up (Illinois was the pick) - darn Heels.
In 2006, UConn was the pick over Memphis (both went out in the Elite Eight) - this was the biggest fluke year since 2000 IMO.

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