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2009 NCAA Tournament West Region Predictions

The West Region of the NCAA tournament this year provides some potentially explosive match ups including what I think could be one of the biggest of the tournament.  My bracket just has one upset in the region, which may or may not come back to haunt me in the later rounds.  You can be the judge, post your comments and picks and let me now what you think.

First Round: ESPN recently did a poll to find out which #1 seed was most likely to lose first. UConn was the overwhelming choice, but nobody is picking it to happen in the first round to #16 Chattanooga.  Simply put, Chattanooga isn’t that good, the Huskies move on.  #8 BYU versus #9 Texas A&M may very well have you arguing back and forth with yourself as I did, but I eventually settled on Texas A&M.  A #12 seed usually knocks off a #5 seed in the first round of the tournament, but Purdue gets past a dangerous Northern Iowa team in my bracket.  Mississippi State is riding high and getting a lot of attention as a potential major upset as a #13 seed over #4 Washington.  I’m not buying what their selling, I’ll take the Huskies.  #11 in the West, Utah State put together a good season of their own and while Marquette is without Dominic Jones the Golden Eagles fly into the second round with an easy win.  #3 Missouri has a very hot team right now and the Ivy League Champ, Cornell isn’t going to do anything about it, Missouri marches on to the second round.  Maryland was very close to being my only upset pick in the West, but I think #7 Cal has been under estimated and underrated this year and will make it past the 10th seeded Terps.  Memphis (2) against Cal State Northridge (15): If you have to ask who to take in this game, go ahead and throw your bracket in the trash right now.  Bet the first round of the tournament with Bookmaker.

Second Round: If UConn plays Texas A&M I don’t think the Aggies have enough of a physical presence in the paint to compete with the Huskies.  I would love to see a Purdue/Washington match up in the second round if only because it would make for one of the better games of the tournament.  At the end of the day I could see this possible match up going either way, but I’ll take Washington.  For my only upset in the second round in the West I’m taking Marquette to knock off Missouri.  The Tigers can shoot, but I like defense at this point in the tournament and the Golden Eagles win in this match up.  I picked Cal to play Memphis in this round, but regardless of who they play I like the Tigers to move to the Sweet 16.

Sweet 16: I know I said that UConn was picked as the first #1 seed to fall, but I like them to keep on truckin’ in the Sweet 16 over Washington.  I put Marquette in the Sweet 16 this year, but that’s where their tournament ends as they run into a very talented Memphis team.  This sets up an Elite 8 showdown between #1 UConn and #2 Memphis in the West.  Bet on your teams in the Sweet 16 with BetUS.

Elite 8: With a chance to get to the Final Four for the second straight year, I’m taking the Memphis Tigers to beat UConn.  I think the Huskies have the size in the paint, but Memphis should run the court better and control the perimeter.  The Tigers win for a chance to face Louisville (my Midwest Region winner) in the Final Four.

Beat the NCAA tournament odds this season with top college basketball picks from our best handicappers.  Why not give yourself the best possible chance to win when you bet on the NCAA tournament this year?

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• 2009 NCAA Tournament Odds: West Region
• Odds to Win the NCAA Tournament: Missouri Tigers
• 2009 NCAA Tournament East Region Predictions
• 2009 NCAA Tournament Odds: East Region
• 2009 NCAA Tournament Predictions: South Region

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