Feel free to throw down any thoughts you might have about the bracket, whether in agreement or opposition. One can't certainly see every angle, so let's make like Sonny and Cher. Also, important to note that I will have a few brackets, so what I post here won't be completely the same across all of them.
I usually consider contrarian plays and often times avoid a full on chalky Final Four. My predictions might not be conventional, but that's just how I like it
First, let's start with what we've been seeing from experts, the public, odds makers, etc.
- Many, many people are bullish on Michigan State, Michigan, Villanova, Arizona and Gonzaga to reach the Final Four. In any sport, it is so very hard to repeat success year over year. And with the way college basketball played out this year, parity is at an all time high. When you have mid-majors going on the road to beat power conference teams, you have to question chalk and public darlings
- Many seem to love the following upset picks - Loyola Chicago, New Mexico State, South Dakota State. I initially did as well, but man they seem to be predicted by everyone and their mother.
South
First Round Upsets
Seeds 3-6 best be on high alert, and yes that includes Kentucky and Arizona. Will they all go down? Likely not, but the teams each face have the ability to be dangerous and frustrating. When the final buzzer sounds, I see one, Loyola Chicago over Miami, but it won't be easy for Tennessee, Arizona and Kentucky. If you have any of these teams bowing out in the round of 32, picking them to lose in the round of 64 might help get a jump on the others in your bracket
Dark Horses
Creighton - The loss of De'Andre Hunter isn't the end of the world, but it is significant, especially given how up tempo Creighton likes to go. Not only does it take away depth from the Cavs, but it takes away scoring from a team that has occasional trouble with that
Nevada - The Wolfpack are good and not mid-major good, top 25, even top 20 good. I think they will handle Texas and while Cincinnati might be tough, the Bearcats inability to score with consistency might send them home early
Bracket Prediction
Virginia
Creighton
Kentucky
Arizona
Loyola Chicago
Tennessee
Nevada
Cincinnati
Creighton
Arizona
Tennessee
Nevada
Arizona
Tennessee
Tennessee