My NCAA Tournament bracket is an interesting thing. It could either make me a heap load of money, or (more likely) end up in twenty pieces on my dorm room floor. For the four days leading up to the tournament it is my most prized possession; I take it everywhere with me, guard it with my life, and defend it to the death. But once Thursday rolls around, it can just as easily betray me. It’s a love/hate relationship. And right now, I’m in love.

I’m not going to comment on each of my picks, because that would take about a week to analyze and I can’t afford to miss that many classes. So here we go.

Midwest

(1) Kansas over (16) Lehigh
(9) Northern Iowa over (8) UNLV
(5) Michigan St. over (12) New Mexico St.
(4) Maryland over (13) Houston
(11) San Diego State over (6) Tennessee
(3) Georgetown over (14) Ohio
(7) Oklahoma St. over (10) Georgia Tech
(2) Ohio St. over (15) UCSB

2nd Round
(1) Kansas over (9) Northern Iowa
(4) Maryland over (5) Michigan St.
(3) Georgetown over (11) San Diego St.
(2) Ohio St. over (7) Oklahoma St.

Sweet Sixteen
(1) Kansas over (4) Maryland
(3) Georgetown over (2) Ohio State

Elite Eight
(1) Kansas over (3) Georgetown

West

(1) Syracuse over (16) Vermont
(9) Florida St. over (8) Gonzaga
(12) UTEP over (5) Butler
(4) Vanderbilt over (13) Murray St.
(11) Minnesota over (6) Xavier
(3) Pittsburgh over (14) Oakland
(7) BYU over (10) Florida
(2) Kansas St. over (15) North Texas

2nd Round
(1) Syracuse over (9) Florida St.
(4) Vanderbilt over (12) UTEP
(11) Minnesota over (3) Pittsburgh
(2) Kansas St. over (7) BYU

Sweet 16
(1) Syracuse over (4) Vanderbilt
(2) Kansas St. over (11) Minnesota

Elite Eight
(1) Syracuse over (2) Kansas St.

East

(1) Kentucky over (16) East Tennessee St.
(8) Texas over (9) Wake Forest
(5) Temple over (12) Cornell
(4) Wisconsin over (13) Wofford
(6) Marquette over (11) Washington
(3) New Mexico over (14) Montana
(10) Missouri over (7) Clemson
(2) West Virginia over (15) Morgan State

2nd Round
(1) Kentucky over (8) Texas
(5) Temple over (4) Wisconsin
(6) Marquette over (3) New Mexico
(2) West Virginia over (10) Missouri

Sweet Sixteen
(1) Kentucky over (5) Temple
(2) West Virginia over (6) Marquette

Elite Eight
(2) West Virginia over (1) Kentucky

South

(1) Duke over (16) Arkansas Pine-Bluff
(9) Louisville over (8) California
(5) Texas A&M over (12) Utah State
(13) Siena over (4) Purdue
(6) Notre Dame over (11) Old Dominion
(3) Baylor over (14) Sam Houston St.
(7) Richmond over (10) St. Mary’s
(2) Villanova over (15) Robert Morris

2nd Round
(9) Louisville over (1) Duke
(5) Texas A&M over (13) Siena
(3) Baylor over (6) Notre Dame
(2) Villanova over (7) Richmond

Sweet Sixteen
(5) Texas A&M over (9) Louisville
(3) Baylor over (2) Villanova

Elite Eight
(2) Baylor over (5) Texas A&M

Final Four
(1) Syracuse over (1) Kansas
(2) West Virginia over (3) Baylor

National Championship Game
(1) Syracuse over (2) West Virginia

A few thoughts:
-Michigan State should have no problem escaping the 5/12 trap. They have been a 5 seed 5 times, and have never lost. Historically, they are a safe bet.

-UTEP could easily beat Vandy and make it to the Sweet Sixteen. And if Onuaku is still hurt for Syracuse, they could go even farther. I’m not picking for this Cinderella, but then again I wouldn’t be surprised.

-In the second round it’s entirely possible that Texas could beat Kentucky. The Longhorns have the talent to do it, but with their erratic play this season as well as Rick Barnes’ history of squandering his talent I don’t think they are likely to pull it off.

-Jay Bilas is saying Cornell could reach the Elite Eight, and it’s entirely possible. I think the winner of Temple/Cornell will have a great chance to beat Wisconsin in the 2nd round, as long as they can play at their own tempo. I like Temple’s athleticism to be able to run the floor on Cornell, but I think whatever team wins that first round game could make a long run.

-I think Duke is going to lose early. They rely completely on three players, and don’t have much of an inside presence. This is a good matchup for Louisville, whose strengths are their size and athleticism. Duke hasn’t reached the Final Four since 2004, and they won’t again in 2010.

-Potential best game of the tournament: (3) Baylor against (5) Texas A&M in the Elite Eight IN HOUSTON. What kind of crazy atmosphere would that be? Imagine two hungry teams looking for their first final four appearances in their home state, with both cheering sections filling the stadium. I can’t wait to see that spectacle.

-Obviously I am a fan of the Big East and the Big 12. These are undisputedly the two best conferences in basketball this season, and so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Final Four consist of two teams from each conference. The Big Ten is consistently second rate, the ACC is having it’s worst season in my lifetime, and the SEC is widely known as a football conference. When in doubt, pick the Big East or Big 12.