FFR Pick'Em: March Madness Edition

[igotrhythm]

Since T-Force's version of this even tends to go over well enough, I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon.

It's like bracket challenges, but easier. Round by round is gonna be a pain to keep up, so we're going to do this the classic way.

The rules are simple: You pick who you think is going to win each of the 67 games to be played, and at the end, whoever has the most correct picks is the winner!

Here's the bracket if you need help knowing who's playing whom: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...s/viewable_men

As for listing your picks...it's easy! Simply bold who you think is going to win each game. Picks for all games after the first round must use your picks from previous rounds, and NO EDITS.

As for credits, I have about 250K in my pocket, so I'll kick this off with 100K. As always, donations are encouraged.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for: My picks!

First Four:

North Carolina A&T vs. Liberty
Boise State vs. La Salle
Middle Tennessee vs. St. Mary's
LIU-Brooklyn vs. James Madison

Second Round:

Midwest:
1 Louisville vs. 16 NC A&T
8 Colorado vs. 9 Missouri
5 Oklahoma State vs. 12 Oregon
4 Saint Louis vs. 13 New Mexico State
6 Memphis vs. 11 Middle Tennessee
3 Michigan State vs. 14 Valparaiso
7 Creighton vs. 10 Cincinnati
2 Duke vs. 15 Albany

West:
1 Gonzaga vs. 16 Southern
8 Pittsburgh vs. 9 Wichita State
5 Wisconsin vs. 12 Ole Miss
4 Kansas State vs. 13 La Salle
6 Arizona vs. 11 Belmont
3 New Mexico vs. 14 Harvard
7 Notre Dame vs. 10 Iowa State
2 Ohio State vs. 15 Iona

South:
1 Kansas vs. 16 Western Kentucky
8 North Carolina vs. 9 Villanova
5 VCU vs. 12 Akron
4 Michigan vs. 13 South Dakota State
6 UCLA vs 11 Minnesota
3 Florida vs. 14 Northwestern State
7 San Diego State vs. 10 Oklahoma
2 Georgetown vs. 15 FGCU

East:
1 Indiana vs. 16 James Madison
8 NC State vs. 9 Temple
5 UNLV vs. 12 California
4 Syracuse vs. 13 Montana
6 Butler vs. 11 Bucknell
3 Marquette vs. 14 Davidson
7 Illinois vs. 10 Colorado
2 Miami (Fla) vs. 15 Pacific

Third Round:

Louisville vs. Missouri
Oregon vs. New Mexico St.
Middle Tenn vs. MSU
Creighton vs. Duke

Gonzaga vs. Pitt
Wisconsin vs. KSU
Belmont vs. New Mexico
Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

Kansas vs. UNC
VCU vs. Michigan
Minnesota vs. Florida
Oklahoma vs. FGCU

Indiana vs. NC State
Cal vs. Syracuse
Butler vs. Marquette
Illinois vs. Miami

Sweet Sixteen:

Louisville vs. New Mexico St.
MSU vs. Duke
Gonzaga vs. Wisconsin
New Mexico vs. Ohio State
Kansas vs. Michigan
Florida vs. Oklahoma
NC State vs. Cal
Butler vs. Miami

Elite Eight:
Louisville vs. Duke
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
Kansas vs. Florida
NC State vs. Butler

Final Four:

Duke vs. Ohio State
Kansas vs. Butler

NATIONAL TITLE GAME:

DUKE VS. BUTLER

[igotrhythm]

Post for keeping track of donations:

Total Pool: 100K

Here's who everyone is picking!
A s h e r: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...20&postcount=3 (NC A&T, Boise State, St. Mary's, James Madison)
DotKritic: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...33&postcount=6 (wish I had thought of the code tags)
eastsideman09: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...52&postcount=8
DayMan951: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...0&postcount=16
Dark_Chrysalis: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...0&postcount=13
funmonkey54: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...0&postcount=14
U.N. Owen: http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/185858
megamon88: http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/1046848

BREAKING: James Madison's leading scorer to be suspended for the first half of their game vs. LIU-Brooklyn.

[A s h e r]

Awesome! Here are my picks:



If I had any tokens I would donate them. If I get any before this is over I will help out!

[igotrhythm]

Asher: Please include your First Four picks in a separate reply. No edits, after all1

[A s h e r]

Oops, my bad.

First Four
North Carolina A&T vs. Liberty
Boise State vs. La Salle
Middle Tennessee vs. St. Mary's
LIU-Brooklyn vs. James Madison

[DotKritic]

First Four:

North Carolina A&T vs. Liberty
Boise State vs. La Salle
Middle Tennessee vs. St. Mary's
LIU-Brooklyn vs. James Madison

Second Round:

Midwest:
1 Louisville vs. 16 NC A&T
8 Colorado vs. 9 Missouri
5 Oklahoma State vs. 12 Oregon
4 Saint Louis vs. 13 New Mexico State
6 Memphis vs. 11 St. Mary's
3 Michigan State vs. 14 Valparaiso
7 Creighton vs. 10 Cincinnati
2 Duke vs. 15 Albany

West:
1 Gonzaga vs. 16 Southern
8 Pittsburgh vs. 9 Wichita State
5 Wisconsin vs. 12 Ole Miss
4 Kansas State vs. 13 La Salle
6 Arizona vs. 11 Belmont
3 New Mexico vs. 14 Harvard
7 Notre Dame vs. 10 Iowa State
2 Ohio State vs. 15 Iona

South:
1 Kansas vs. 16 Western Kentucky
8 North Carolina vs. 9 Villanova
5 VCU vs. 12 Akron
4 Michigan vs. 13 South Dakota State
6 UCLA vs 11 Minnesota
3 Florida vs. 14 Northwestern State
7 San Diego State vs. 10 Oklahoma
2 Georgetown vs. 15 FGCU

East:
1 Indiana vs. 16 James Madison
8 NC State vs. 9 Temple
5 UNLV vs. 12 California
4 Syracuse vs. 13 Montana
6 Butler vs. 11 Bucknell
3 Marquette vs. 14 Davidson
7 Illinois vs. 10 Colorado
2 Miami (Fla) vs. 15 Pacific

Third Round:

Louisville vs. Missouri
Oregon vs. New Mexico St.
Memphis vs. MSU
Cincinatti vs. Duke

Gonzaga vs. Pitt
Wisconsin vs. KSU
Arizona vs. New Mexico
Iowa St. vs. Ohio State

Kansas vs. UNC
VCU vs. Michigan
UCLA vs. Florida
Oklahoma vs. Georgetown

Indiana vs. NC State
UNLV vs. Syracuse
Butler vs. Davidson
Illinois vs. Miami

Sweet Sixteen:

Louisville vs. Oregon
MSU vs. Cincinatti
Pitt vs. KSU
New Mexico vs. Ohio State
Kansas vs. Michigan
Florida vs. Oklahoma
Indiana vs. Syracuse
Davidson vs. Miami

Elite Eight:

Louisville vs. MSU
KSU vs. Ohio State
Michigan vs. Florida
Indiana vs. Miami

Final Four:

Louisville vs. KSU
Florida vs. Indiana

NATIONAL TITLE GAME:

KSU VS. Indiana

[infinity.]

duke v butler final??

also why no love for 'zaga? i'm having a tough time with the louisville/zaga game, but it seems like none of you picked that..

[eastsideman09]

First Four:

North Carolina A&T vs. Liberty
Boise State vs. La Salle
Middle Tennessee vs. St. Mary's
LIU-Brooklyn vs. James Madison


Round of 64:

Midwest
1 Louisville vs. 16 NC A&T
8 Colorado St vs. 9 Missouri
5 Oklahoma State vs. 12 Oregon
4 Saint Louis vs. 13 New Mexico State
6 Memphis vs. 11 St. Mary's
3 Michigan State vs. 14 Valparaiso
7 Creighton vs. 10 Cincinnati
2 Duke vs. 15 Albany

West
1 Gonzaga vs. 16 Southern
8 Pittsburgh vs. 9 Wichita State
5 Wisconsin vs. 12 Ole Miss
4 Kansas State vs. 13 Boise State
6 Arizona vs. 11 Belmont
3 New Mexico vs. 14 Harvard
7 Notre Dame vs. 10 Iowa State
2 Ohio State vs. 15 Iona

South
1 Kansas vs. 16 Western Kentucky
8 North Carolina vs. 9 Villanova
5 VCU vs. 12 Akron
4 Michigan vs. 13 South Dakota State
6 UCLA vs 11 Minnesota
3 Florida vs. 14 Northwestern State
7 San Diego State vs. 10 Oklahoma
2 Georgetown vs. 15 FGCU

East
1 Indiana vs. 16 LIU
8 NC State vs. 9 Temple
5 UNLV vs. 12 California
4 Syracuse vs. 13 Montana
6 Butler vs. 11 Bucknell
3 Marquette vs. 14 Davidson
7 Illinois vs. 10 Colorado
2 Miami vs. 15 Pacific


Round of 32:

Midwest
Louisville vs Missouri
Ok State vs St. Louis
St. Mary's vs Michigan St
Cincy vs Duke

West
Gonzaga vs Pitt
Wisconsin vs Kansas State
Arizona vs New Mexico
Ohio St vs Iowa St

South
Kansas vs UNC
VCU vs Michigan
Minnesota vs Florida
Oklahoma vs G'town

East
Indiana vs NC State
UNLV vs Syracuse
Bucknell vs Marquette
Colorado vs Miami


Sweet 16:
Louisville vs St. Louis
Michigan St vs Duke

Pitt vs Wisconsin
Ohio St vs New Mexico

Kansas vs VCU
Florida vs G'town

Indiana vs Syracuse
Marquette vs Miami


Elite 8:
Louisville vs Michigan St
Pitt vs Ohio St
Kansas vs Florida
Indiana vs Miami


Final 4:
Michigan St vs Pitt
Florida vs Miami


Championship:
Michigan St vs Florida

[eastsideman09]

I'm really relying on UF in most of my brackets so far. On ESPN, eight of my brackets have them in the Final Four, and four of those have them winning it all lol.

[Untimely Friction]

Originally Posted by eastsideman09

I'm really relying on UF in most of my brackets so far. On ESPN, eight of my brackets have them in the Final Four, and four of those have them winning it all lol.

I'm glad you can rely so heavily on me.

[infinity.]

Originally Posted by eastsideman09

I'm really relying on UF in most of my brackets so far. On ESPN, eight of my brackets have them in the Final Four, and four of those have them winning it all lol.

that will lose you a lot of bets, if UF can lose to my team (UK) so miserably, this of all years, they have no chance against a zaga/UL/New Mexico/MichState team

[eastsideman09]

Originally Posted by infinity.

that will lose you a lot of bets, if UF can lose to my team (UK) so miserably, this of all years, they have no chance against a zaga/UL/New Mexico/MichState team

They smashed UK in their first meeting though. When they're clicking, they're probably the most balanced team in the tourney. KenPom has them ranked #1 overall, and lists them as the only team ranked in the top 5 for both offensive and defensive efficiency. Numbers aside, my biggest concern for them would be winning close games. That said, being that it's tourney time, and they have a great, experienced coach, I think they'll be just fine.

I know it's a gamble, but I'm alright with that. No one's really picking them, and if they perform as well as I hope they do (which they really can), the advantage will swing my way. I don't buy Kansas either, which really makes it easy for me to have UF going deep.

I've done a lot more reading/research and have tweaked all my brackets since I posted that (and made my FFR bracket lol oh well). I've got Ohio State as consistently in the Final Four as I do UF, followed by Indiana, and Louisville/Duke. I've got two brackets that are more flexible, but those are the teams I'm most confident in.

[Dark_Chrysalis]

First Four:
North Carolina A&T vs. Liberty
Boise State vs. La Salle
Middle Tennessee vs. Saint Mary's
LIU Brooklyn vs. James Madison

[funmonkey54]

I like this one:

First Four:

North Carolina A&T vs. Liberty
Boise State vs. La Salle
Middle Tennessee vs. St. Mary's
LIU-Brooklyn vs. James Madison

Second Round:

Midwest:
1 Louisville vs. 16 NC A&T
8 Colorado vs. 9 Missouri
5 Oklahoma State vs. 12 Oregon
4 Saint Louis vs. 13 New Mexico State
6 Memphis vs. 11 St. Mary's
3 Michigan State vs. 14 Valparaiso
7 Creighton vs. 10 Cincinnati
2 Duke vs. 15 Albany

West:
1 Gonzaga vs. 16 Southern
8 Pittsburgh vs. 9 Wichita State
5 Wisconsin vs. 12 Ole Miss
4 Kansas State vs. 13 La Salle
6 Arizona vs. 11 Belmont
3 New Mexico vs. 14 Harvard
7 Notre Dame vs. 10 Iowa State
2 Ohio State vs. 15 Iona

South:
1 Kansas vs. 16 Western Kentucky
8 North Carolina vs. 9 Villanova
5 VCU vs. 12 Akron
4 Michigan vs. 13 South Dakota State
6 UCLA vs 11 Minnesota
3 Florida vs. 14 Northwestern State
7 San Diego State vs. 10 Oklahoma
2 Georgetown vs. 15 FGCU

East:
1 Indiana vs. 16 James Madison
8 NC State vs. 9 Temple
5 UNLV vs. 12 California
4 Syracuse vs. 13 Montana
6 Butler vs. 11 Bucknell
3 Marquette vs. 14 Davidson
7 Illinois vs. 10 Colorado
2 Miami (Fla) vs. 15 Pacific

Third Round:

Louisville vs. Missouri
Oregon vs. New Mexico St.
Memphis vs. MSU
Cincinatti vs. Duke

Gonzaga vs. Pitt
Wisconsin vs. KSU
Arizona vs. New Mexico
Iowa St. vs. Ohio State

Kansas vs. UNC
VCU vs. Michigan
UCLA vs. Florida
Oklahoma vs. Georgetown

Indiana vs. NC State
UNLV vs. Syracuse
Butler vs. Davidson
Illinois vs. Miami

Sweet Sixteen:

Louisville vs. Oregon
MSU vs. Cincinatti
Pitt vs. KSU
New Mexico vs. Ohio State
Kansas vs. Michigan
Florida vs. Oklahoma
Indiana vs. Syracuse
Davidson vs. Miami

Elite Eight:

Louisville vs. MSU
KSU vs. Ohio State
Michigan vs. Florida
Indiana vs. Miami

Final Four:

Louisville vs. KSU
Florida vs. Indiana

NATIONAL TITLE GAME:

KSU VS. Indiana

[infinity.]

Originally Posted by eastsideman09

They smashed UK in their first meeting though. When they're clicking, they're probably the most balanced team in the tourney. KenPom has them ranked #1 overall, and lists them as the only team ranked in the top 5 for both offensive and defensive efficiency. Numbers aside, my biggest concern for them would be winning close games. That said, being that it's tourney time, and they have a great, experienced coach, I think they'll be just fine.

I know it's a gamble, but I'm alright with that. No one's really picking them, and if they perform as well as I hope they do (which they really can), the advantage will swing my way. I don't buy Kansas either, which really makes it easy for me to have UF going deep.

I've done a lot more reading/research and have tweaked all my brackets since I posted that (and made my FFR bracket lol oh well). I've got Ohio State as consistently in the Final Four as I do UF, followed by Indiana, and Louisville/Duke. I've got two brackets that are more flexible, but those are the teams I'm most confident in.

well thought out. i have a really hard time having faith in OSU since they've lost to pretty much every ranked team they've played, so i have them busting to NewMex every bracket. and i 100% agree on the kansas thing, since they lose and/or do poorly in every important game.

really, this years march madness is going to be who can muster up the confidence and get on a roll early on -- no team is by and large the best team, and even the number one seeds are pretty contentious sans zaga, but they haven't played any really strong teams..

teams i expect to impress: Miami, Michigan State, Georgetown

[DayMan951]

so i messed up on cropping my image or something and it cutoff on of my final four picks. here is my fixed bracket

First Four:

North Carolina A&T vs. Liberty
Boise State vs. La Salle
Middle Tennessee vs. St. Mary's
LIU-Brooklyn vs. James Madison

[igotrhythm]

One hour to go before the tip! Get those picks in!

(wow DayMan, I have 3/4 of your regional champs...I got a feeling we're gonna be joined at the hip)

[igotrhythm]

So we have our first result! Liberty misses a go-ahead jumper with 2.1 seconds to go, letting North Carolina A&T hold on for a 73-72 victory!

(in NIT news, Kentucky fell to Robert Morris 59-57, hehu)

Edit: Ergh. St. Mary's 67-54 stomping Middle Tenn into the ground, maybe sending a message to Memphis in the process? We'll see.

[infinity.]

Originally Posted by igotrhythm

So we have our first result! Liberty misses a go-ahead jumper with 2.1 seconds to go, letting North Carolina A&T hold on for a 73-72 victory!

(in NIT news, Kentucky fell to Robert Morris 59-57, hehu)

Edit: Ergh. St. Mary's 67-54 stomping Middle Tenn into the ground, maybe sending a message to Memphis in the process? We'll see.

yeah. but we also have the best recruiting class in the history of ever, 6 5stars and a 3star, along with like no one leaving? next year...... hehu

also after some bracket reorganizing, i have louisville winning it all. im having a lot of doubts about bucknell/butler, though.. anyone with perspective on bucknell?

[DotKritic]

Originally Posted by DotKritic

First Four:

North Carolina A&T vs. Liberty
Boise State vs. La Salle
Middle Tennessee vs. St. Mary's
LIU-Brooklyn vs. James Madison

How about that.