One reason we like the game of College Hoops Pick'em is that it is played one round of the tournament at a time, and you can change your pick for a game as much as you want until that particular game starts. So even if your bracket is busted after the first round, you still have a chance at this game.
We hope you will join our group, and we wish you good luck with your prognostications!
Here are our picks for Round 1:
- Michigan State -- 95% Confident
- This game is played in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Michigan State will have home-court advantage, are one of the best defensive teams in the country, and play in the toughest conference in America.
- Confidence: 95%
- Bucknell
- I'm going with the upset here. Brad Stevens can flat out coach, and Butler is always good come tournament time, but they missed the tournament last year, are rebuilding, and didn't have a good showing in their conference tournament.
- Confidence: 60%
- Pittsburgh
- People seem to forget about Pittsburgh and how good they are. They are long and athletic and have one of the premeir shot-blockers in the country. I actually like them to upset Gonzaga in the 2nd round.
- Confidence: 90%
- Saint Louis
- I think Saint Louis will go at least 2 rounds this tournament. They won their conference tournament, and look really, really good.
- Confidence: 95%
- Memphis
- Memphis flat out has some athletes on their team! Quite a few people are picking the upset of St. Marys in this one, but I just don't see it. St. Mary's doesn't have the defense to stop Memphis and are not nearly as athletic.
- Confidence: 85%
- Marquette
- Many people forget that Marquette shared the Big East regular season. They are a physical team, but shoot the ball poorly from 3-point range, so if they get behind early, don't expect a big comeback.
- Confidence: 90%
- Gonzaga
- I think Gonaga will be the first #1 to lose in this tournament, but no #16 has ever beaten a #1 and it won't happen here.
- Confidence: 100%
- Oklahoma State
- There are so many people that are picking the Oregon upset in this game. I just don't see it. Oklahoma St. has some high-quaility wins on their schedule and have Marcus Smart, one of the best point guards in the country. He will definitely be a 1st round NBA draft pick. The only advantage I see for Oregon is that the game is in San Jose so they will have more fans at the game.
- Confidence: 85%
- Louisville
- Again, no #16 has every beaten a #1. Louisville is the #1 overall seed and is projected by many to cut down the nets in Atlanta. No chance of an upset here.
- Confidence: 100%
- Michigan
- One game that busted many people's brackets last year was the #13 seeded Ohio beating Michigan in the first round. South Dakota State is a good team and have one of the most prolific scorers in the country in Nate Wolters. I don't think Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. let happen this year what happened last year though, especially since they are playing in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
- Confidence: 70%
- Arizona
- Arizona has some head-scratching losses this season, but with their early exit from the PAC 12 tournament, they have had time to rest and prepare for this tournament. This game is in Salt Lake City, so Arizona will have a huge home crowd advantage.
- Confidence: 85%
- California
- I'm actually taking Cal in the upset here to get revenge for their heart-breaking home loss to UNLV during the regular season. This game is in San Jose, so it is a virtual home game for Cal. Cal also had an early exit from their conference tournament, so they will be ready for this game.
- Confidence: 75%
- Colorado State
- A disadvantage for Colorado State is the travel, but I think they are still talented and athletic enough to beat Missouri.
- Confidence: 60%
- VCU
- If you like Jay Bilas's picks, then VCU is your team. He likes them to at least go to the Final Four. I don't know if they'll make it that far, but they are a great team that plays suffocating defense. I don't think Akron stands a chance.
- Confidence: 90%
- New Mexico
- New Mexico has some great shooters, and play good defense. I don't thnk Harvard has a chance.
- Confidence: 95%
- Syracuse
- Syracuse seemed to peak at just the right time. There is not chance that Montana wins this.
- Confidence: 100%
- Duke
- Will Duke lay a huge egg like last year? I highly doubt it. Their early exit from the ACC tournament will get them motivated to play hard and take care of business.
- Confidence: 100%
- Ole Miss
- I may be wrong about this one, but I really think Ole Miss can pull off the upset. Maybe I'm just enamored by how they played through the SEC tournament, but Marshall Henderson is one of the best 3 point shooters in the nation, and when he's on, Ole Miss is really tough to beat. Check out highlights of the SEC championship game and you'll see what I mean.
- Confidence: 65%
- Temple
- I'm just feeling the Temple upset in this one, even though NC State is favored by 5.
- Confidence: 65%
- Miami
- Miami is extremely talented. I mean, you don't beat Duke by 28 without having talent. They are favored by 12 points in this game. Pacific doesn't stand a chance.
- Confidence: 100%
- Creighton
- I don't think Cincinnati shoots the ball well enough to beat Creighton. The only thing that keeps them in games is their ability to get offensive rebounds, but they have not faced someone on the interior like Doug McDermott.
- Confidence: 70%
- Kansas State
- Kansas State will face either Boise State or La Salle, both of which have not been to the tournament in many years. Kansas State is a great team with no glaring weaknesses, and should win easily here.
- Confidence: 100%
- Indiana
- Another #1 seed skates by into the 2nd round. There will be no troubles with Indiana here.
- Confidence: 100%
- Illinois
- Many people are picking Colorado to upset Illinois, but I have to go with the Illini in this one. The Illini are favored by 2. The big thing that doesn't make me more confident about this pick is that Illinois has been very inconsistent this season. They should be ready for the tournament though.
- Confidence: 65%
- Georgetown
- Florida Gulf Coast has never made the tournament, and unfortunately they will get beat soundly by Georgetown in the first round.
- Confidence: 100%
- Ohio State
- I highly doubt there will be any upsets by #15 seeds in this tournament. Ohio State had a great run through their conference tournament, and should win with ease here.
- Confidence: 100%
- North Carolina
- I like the Tar Heels. Roy Williams know how to coach his team to win tournament games.
- Confidence: 85%
- Florida
- Florida is favored by 21 in this game. Northwestern State beating them would be an egregious upset.
- Confidence: 100%
- Oklahoma
- San Diego State is favored by 2, but I like Romero Osby and Oklahoma to pull of the upset here.
- Confidence: 65%
- Iowa State
- Notre Dame is favored by 2 in this game, but I like Iowa State in this one. They average the most 3s made per game at just over 10. They might get blinded by Notre Dame's uniforms though.
- Confidence: 75%
- Kansas
- The line is Kansas -20. If #1 seeded Kansas loses this game I think Dr. Naismith will roll over in his grave like he probably did when Kansas lost to TCU this season.
- Confidence: 100%
- Minnesota
- The line on this game is Minnesota -3. UCLA lost their star point guard to a broken foot. Minnesota rebounds the ball extremely well and UCLA doesn't at all.
- Confidence: 85%
No comments:
Post a Comment