Post by The NFL Edge on Mar 15, 2005 23:54:30 GMT -5
While still trying to shake off the letdown for U. Buffalo at 22-9, not getting an NCAA BID.
(GO UB IN THE NIT!!)
I present my preview of the 2005 NCAA Tournament:
DONT FORGET YOU CAN WAGER ON THE NCAA TOURNAMENT at www.vipsports.com
CHICAGO BRACKET
This is all set up for Illinois.
Ill tell you right off, I wont be betting against the Illini.
Either Texas or Nevada will be a tough test in round two, and though I like B.C. they will get ousted by the Illini. if they can get by Bama.
Bama may the most likely to get upset here but I think they squeak by.
LSU and Arizona should be an interesting second round match up, with either capable of moving on, but neither will get past Oklahoma State, which should meet Illinois in this regional final. However keep an eye out for St. Marys[/ b] - yes St. Marys - to pull a first round upset and give Ok. State a real scare early.
ALBEQUERQUE BRACKET
Aside from the interesting name, this shapes into a very interesting bracket. I like Washington, but of all the No. 1 seeds I rank them the as the most likely NOT to win thier bracket. In fact Washington will face some nasty hurdles early on in a second round match with a big time defensive team like Pittsburgh - who could ruin peoples brackets right there.
EITHER Ga. Tech or Louisville could get them an exit in the semifinal round. That would open the door for WAKE if they can survive West Virginia has a ton of momentum and could give them trouble in round two. Gonzaga is capable of getting to the second round, but the possibility of either Bobby Knight and a battle hardened Texas Tech Raiders or a red hot young athletic UCLA team preventing them from getting there is pretty likely as well.
SYRACUSE BRACKET
SYRACUSE a great basketball town, but wont get to see thier home team (as they are in the Austin Bracket) in thier home bracket. Instead they get North Carolina as the top dog, and would be surprised to not see them in this regions final. Thier biggest obstacle could be FLORIDA who is peaking going into the tournament, and could topple the mighty heels. Wisconsin is another team that saves thier best for this time of year, but they would need a little more magic to get past a Kansas team that isnt quite the Kansas teams were used to seeing this time of year, and could be the victim of one of those big upsets in round one. I wouldnt bet against that - or have Kansas going to far beyond that though. I like NC State to upset no. 7 Charlotte, but neither would get past Connecticut.
The Huskies will somehow find the way into the regions final and if Carolina isnt there, or doesnt bring its best game, could probably find its way back into the final four.
AUSTIN BRACKET
Finally our preview gets to the Austin bracket. Friends who know me this time of year, wont even need to read this one. DUKE sits as the no. 1 seed, and while normally I would just pencil the Dukies to the final four then see who they would be beating later, this year I am not so sold on the fact that they can get there. Not that I can see Miss. State knock them out though the Bulldogs are a tough bunch, if Syracuse happens to get hot they have a solid core of vets who have done it before, but they will have to get past Tom Izzos Michigan State Spartans. However when push comes to shove I see Duke standing tall in the Regional Finals.
The Sooners will have to get by tournament powerhouse Kentucky. Kentucky will have to watch out for Iowa to steal a first round victory before
they get to Oklahoma. So if they survive that it will be a classic Duke vs Kentucky final with the right to go to the Final four at stake.....
Bring it on!
DONT FORGET TO CATCH OUR ROUND BY ROUND PICKS ON www.thenbaedge.com
(GO UB IN THE NIT!!)
I present my preview of the 2005 NCAA Tournament:
DONT FORGET YOU CAN WAGER ON THE NCAA TOURNAMENT at www.vipsports.com
CHICAGO BRACKET
This is all set up for Illinois.
Ill tell you right off, I wont be betting against the Illini.
Either Texas or Nevada will be a tough test in round two, and though I like B.C. they will get ousted by the Illini. if they can get by Bama.
Bama may the most likely to get upset here but I think they squeak by.
LSU and Arizona should be an interesting second round match up, with either capable of moving on, but neither will get past Oklahoma State, which should meet Illinois in this regional final. However keep an eye out for St. Marys[/ b] - yes St. Marys - to pull a first round upset and give Ok. State a real scare early.
ALBEQUERQUE BRACKET
Aside from the interesting name, this shapes into a very interesting bracket. I like Washington, but of all the No. 1 seeds I rank them the as the most likely NOT to win thier bracket. In fact Washington will face some nasty hurdles early on in a second round match with a big time defensive team like Pittsburgh - who could ruin peoples brackets right there.
EITHER Ga. Tech or Louisville could get them an exit in the semifinal round. That would open the door for WAKE if they can survive West Virginia has a ton of momentum and could give them trouble in round two. Gonzaga is capable of getting to the second round, but the possibility of either Bobby Knight and a battle hardened Texas Tech Raiders or a red hot young athletic UCLA team preventing them from getting there is pretty likely as well.
SYRACUSE BRACKET
SYRACUSE a great basketball town, but wont get to see thier home team (as they are in the Austin Bracket) in thier home bracket. Instead they get North Carolina as the top dog, and would be surprised to not see them in this regions final. Thier biggest obstacle could be FLORIDA who is peaking going into the tournament, and could topple the mighty heels. Wisconsin is another team that saves thier best for this time of year, but they would need a little more magic to get past a Kansas team that isnt quite the Kansas teams were used to seeing this time of year, and could be the victim of one of those big upsets in round one. I wouldnt bet against that - or have Kansas going to far beyond that though. I like NC State to upset no. 7 Charlotte, but neither would get past Connecticut.
The Huskies will somehow find the way into the regions final and if Carolina isnt there, or doesnt bring its best game, could probably find its way back into the final four.
AUSTIN BRACKET
Finally our preview gets to the Austin bracket. Friends who know me this time of year, wont even need to read this one. DUKE sits as the no. 1 seed, and while normally I would just pencil the Dukies to the final four then see who they would be beating later, this year I am not so sold on the fact that they can get there. Not that I can see Miss. State knock them out though the Bulldogs are a tough bunch, if Syracuse happens to get hot they have a solid core of vets who have done it before, but they will have to get past Tom Izzos Michigan State Spartans. However when push comes to shove I see Duke standing tall in the Regional Finals.
The Sooners will have to get by tournament powerhouse Kentucky. Kentucky will have to watch out for Iowa to steal a first round victory before
they get to Oklahoma. So if they survive that it will be a classic Duke vs Kentucky final with the right to go to the Final four at stake.....
Bring it on!
DONT FORGET TO CATCH OUR ROUND BY ROUND PICKS ON www.thenbaedge.com