Our Easy Button Picks

Louisville

Missouri

Oregon

Saint Louis

Memphis

Michigan State

Creighton

Duke

Louisville

St. Louis

Michigan State

Duke

Louisville

Michigan State

Louisville

Gonzaga

Pitt

Wisconsin

K State

Arizona

New Mexico

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Gonzaga - Pitt will be a tough match up

Wisconsin - Got a favorable draw

Arizona

Ohio State

Gonzaga

Ohio State

Ohio State

Kansas

UNC

VCU

Michigan

Minnesota

Florida

San Diego State

G-town

Kansas

VCU

Florida

G-town

Kansas

Florida

Florida - Have some doubts here given that UF is so dependent on the 3 and they are playing in a dome for the first time this season, but nobody else is picking them - could create a serious advantage in your pool.

Indiana

NC State

Cal

Syracuse

Bucknell

Marquette

Illinois

Miami

Indiana

Syracuse

Marquette

Miami

Indiana

Miami

Indiana

Louisville over Ohio State - Picking Ohio State is probably a good way to differentiate yourself

Indiana over Florida

Louisville over Indiana

If you want to get paid for unnecessary drama - Take Louisville over Florida because you will get sick of hearing Jim Nantz talk about "the sorcerer and the apprentice" (Petino and Donovan).

Our first look at the Final 4 short list

We have several filters that teams need to get through to be considered for our Final 4.

The team that are currently getting through our filters are:

Kentucky
Ohio State
Syracuse
Duke
North Carolina
Marquette
Georgetown
Michigan
Florida
Connecticut
Michigan State
Kansas

A preview of our new site at BracketAnalytics.com

The new BracketAnalytics.com....check out our Final 4 short list blog entry on the main sight.

Picking 1st and 2nd Round Upsets

A New Look at our Final 4 Short List

The following teams make our current screen to make it to the Final 4:

Kansas
Georgetown
Syracuse
Kentucky
Duke
Florida
Ohio State

Villanova

Duke is the only team on here that made the Final 4 last year so they are a strong pick.  Another interesting note is that all of these teams have been to at least 2 Final Fours since 1985.

Now, Florida and Georgetown lost their first round games last year so they are slightly vulnerable.

My bet right now would be Duke, Ohio State, Syracuse, and Villanova.

The November Final 4 Short List

Here is our preliminary list.  Should be fun to watch this change throughout the season.

Duke, Maryland, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Florida, West Virginia, Georgetown, Villanova

NIT Games Impact NCAA Model

We have seen some strong shifts in the model based on the first two nights of the NCAA.

First, the CAA and the A-10 are looking stronger.

Secondly, the MWC, Big Sky, Pac-10, Big East, and Big Ten are looking weaker.

By default, the Big 12 and SEC have moved up in many head-to-head match-ups.

BYU-Kansas State:  now leans towards Kansas State.  This does have ramifications on our Elite 8.  Xavier is now in play to make the Elite 8 based on over-ride rules, rather than BYU.

Texas A&M has not surpassed Utah State in our models, but they are now much stronger against them.  Easily the closest game in our model.  If you are in Vegas, take the underdog regardless.

Vanderbilt is also looking stronger against Murray State, but this was an over-ride pick originally.  We still like Vanderbilt head-to-head, but the long term bracket trends likes Murray State.