Midwest Bracket Picks...

So here we go, I will give the picks for the first weekend for the Midwest, West, East, and South.  At the end of the South picks, I will give you my final four without really any explanation.  So here we gooooo....

Oklahoma City (Thursday/Saturday)
1. Kansas vs. 16. Lehigh- This deserves a big Child Please.   This game will not even be close.  KU 91-57

8. UNLV vs. 9. Northern Iowa- Usually the 8-9 games tend to be the best we will see on the weekend and this one will be a battle of contrasting styles.  I saw UNI play last year versus Marquette and the Golden Eagles exposed their slow down style of basketball pretty easily.  Tre'Von Mills will be the difference in this one for the Runnin' Rebels.   UNLV 72-64 

1. Kansas vs. 8. UNLV- The Runnin' Rebs have been known to pull off the upset in the second round (Badgers fans all drive their heads through the wall) but there is little chance that they give the Jayhawks a run for their money, Sheron Collins and Cole Aldrich too tough.  KU 78-63

Spokane (Friday/Sunday)

5. Michigan State vs. 12 New Mexico St.- The Spartans haven't been playing well as of late but I think they overseeded an Aggie team who really only beat Utah State in the final game, feels like Murray State belonged here instead, Sparty should roll.  MSU 84-65

4. Maryland vs. 13. Houston- I think this game is very interesting and no one seems to be talking about it. The Cougars have an experienced coach and the nation's leading scorer Aubrey Coleman. I think they give the Terps a run for thier money but Greivis Vasquez and company is too much to handle. MARY 78-71

4. Maryland vs. 5. Michigan State- Tough game to pick, two very good teams, and experienced coaching staffs. It's hard to pick against Sparty in the postseason but their late season swoon worries me. Maryland has won the last 9 of 11 and Vasquez can take over a game at any moment.  MARY 69-66

Providence (Thursday/Saturday)
6. Tennessee vs. 11. San Diego State- A tough game with many people liking the Aztecs in an upset. The Vols always seem to be a threat to make run with Bruce Pearl at the helm, but their depth worries me.  Aztecs did win the Mountain West Conference Tournament and have had a great last two months. I think their size will wear down the Vols.  SDSU 69-62

3. Georgetown vs. 14. Ohio- The Bobcats got in after being a hot run in the MAC and the Hoyas seeding improvement from a hot run as well. I don't trust the Hoyas that much, some days they look like world beaters and other days they look like a bottom-feeder. Still doesn't mean they won't win. GTOWN 73-61

3. Georgetown vs. 11. San Diego State- The Hoya Paranoia will be back in the Sweet 16, the Aztecs I don't think have enough to keep up with the speed and size of Georgetown.  GTOWN 71-62 

Milwaukee
7. Oklahoma State vs. 10. Georgia Tech- This game has the opportunity to be interesting but I feel it will be somewhat of a dud. The reason? The Yellow Jacket guard play is woeful and they turn the ball over more than a lower level City Conference team.  Also the Cowboys have a great guard in James Anderson. OSU 75-62

2. Ohio State vs. 15. UC Santa Barbara- The Villian first game in the tournament, it shouldn't be too difficult. Ted is going to try to shake Titus' hand... we can only hope that happens. 

2. Ohio State vs. 7. Oklahoma State- I am taking the Buckeyes to the Final Four but this game worries me so much. Anderson could carry the Cowboys deep in the tournament but I think the starting five of the Buckeyes will power them through it.  OSU 72-68 

on to the West...