[cjg11582]

It is challenging every year, but for this 2006 bracket it seems like every game I pick will end up being incorrect. The brackets headed by Duke, Villanova and Memphis all seem to be up for grabs and any of the 1-5 seeds can reach the final four. Anyone else having this same quandary? In the Atlanta region seeds Duke, Texas, Iowa, LSU and WVU all have viable shots. For The Oakland region Memphis, UCLA, Gonzaga, Pitt, Arkansas, and Alabama I think can compete for the final four spot. In Minneapolis: Nova, OSU, Florida, BC, Oklahoma, Georgetown and Wisconsin I cannot discount. Can anyone give me a valid reason to select one of these teams over the other? Obviously the #1 seeds are favored, but it is a slight favorite over many of these teams.

[Who Dey]

I have long since given up on filling out predictions into a NCAA tournament bracket. I have done this because of the embarrasment that is caused every year when my wife chooses more games correctly than I do.

She has been generous enough to offer me some of her strategy. Maybe it will work for you.

First, when looking for that mystery 12 seed that will always defeat a 5 seed, never choose a 12 that has fewer sylables in it's mascots name than the opposing 5 seed. When laboring over those pesky 8 seed vs. 9 seed matchups always choose the school that is further south geographicly. And finally, when determining your final four selections make sure their seeding numbers always add up to 8.

I hope these tips are helpful. And remember they will guarantee you beat me, but I quit.

[Lefty Noob]

Just go with your gut. You could analyze and overanalyze till you're blue in the face, and your odds of getting it right really won't go up. The tourney is too unpredictable. Or you could always pull a Mike Golic and have 37 different sheets. That way, you're almost always right!

[pete_b]

Who Dey,
That was great. This year has got to be a tough year. I think that the only team that isn't #1 caliber is Memphis..but as far as the 2 and 3 seeds...they are gonna war with each other. They all play so good. How can anyone predict Texas over Iowa or vice versa with any kind of certainty. This my friends is why College Bball is so great. I can't wait for the sweet 16. YEEEEHA!

[ThePundit]

CG: You're 100% correct. I filled out brackets and the site was having trouble so it didn't submit correctly. I came back a few hours later and I had totally different teams in my final 4.

I then felt the need to make another entry that reflected my original picks but that even ended up a little different.

Who knows? IN single elimination tourneys, it's all a crapshoot anyway.