Put on your best dress and get ready to dance.
It’s time for buzzer-beaters, bracket-busters, and berserk broadcasters.
March Madness has arrived, bringing with it the one time of year we’re happy to return to school for bracketology.
Oddsmakers have established Kansas as the tournament favorite, followed closely by Michigan State and North Carolina. Further down, Oregon and Kentucky are tied at 15-1 odds. What’s curious about this is Kentucky is a No. 4 seed, while Oregon is a No. 1 seed. It seems the selection committee and the sports books don’t sing in harmony.
If you’re looking for insight, you’ve come to the right place. In keeping with tradition, I’ll provide all the tools necessary to win your office pool and strut like a rooster.
TIP 1: Always pick the No. 1 seeds early.
A well-publicized stat is a No. 1 seed has never lost to a No. 16 seed since the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Mathematically speaking, this can’t continue into infinity.
But it’s not worth it to risk sabotaging your bracket to chase an extremely rare upset. Since 1985, the No. 1 seeds have a winning percentage of .935 in the first two rounds. Play the math and advance all four No. 1 seeds to the Sweet 16.
TIP 2: Don’t take Cinderellas too far.
Be sure to pick a few upsets because it’s all part of the fun, but abandon those sleepers before it gets too late. Remember, a No. 13 seed has never reached the Final 8, and a No. 12 seed has reached the Final 8 only once. A No. 10 seed has never reached the Final Four.
Longshots are entertaining, but run with the big dogs when it comes time for the Final Four. Since 1985, No. 1 seeds have won 18 national titles, which translates to 60 percent of the time.
THE PICKS: Michigan State has bounced Virginia in the last two tournaments. Don’t look now, but the two are matched in the same region again. I look for the Cavs to get revenge on their way to the Final Four.
In the East, No. 2 seed Zavier is a team that gets to the rim. Meanwhile, top-seeded North Carolina figures to have its hands full with Kentucky. Still, I think the Tar Heels prevail in this region.
In the South, can anyone stop No. 1 seed Kansas? Short answer, no.
The West appears the most wide open with No. 1 seed Oregon a favorite of skeptics, No. 2 seed Oklahoma reliant on the 3-ball, and No. 4 seed Duke a shadow of last year’s team. If you’re craving an upset, a la Texas A&M, take it here. The pick: Oklahoma.
THE FINALS: Kansas over Virginia.