2012 NCAA Expert Bracket Picks


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It’s time to fill out your 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket. For those of you looking for some help on who to take in each game, or just simply looking for some possible upsets, here is a look at who I have coming out of each division, plus my Final Four predictions as well so you have a better chance of winning your March Madness contests. For a quicker fix, you can download my fully filled-out bracket.

South Region Predictions:

The South region features the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed in Kentucky, and two dangerous teams in the bottom half in No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Baylor. In this region you will find one of my big upsets of the tournament, as I’m siding with No. 13 New Mexico State to shock No. 4 Indiana. The only other upset on Thursday and Friday will be No. 10 Xavier escaping with a win over No. 7 Notre Dame. I look for the top three seeds to all advance to the Sweet 16, with No. 5 Wichita State joining them. I think Wichita State is a strong team, but I can’t see them shocking Kentucky to advance to the elite, however, I do think Baylor will pull off a minor upset against Duke. In the Elite 8, I look for Kentucky to hold off Baylor for a second straight trip to the Final Four.

East Region Predictions:

The East region is headlined by the two top seeds in Syracuse and Ohio State, but it also features two conference tournament champions in No. 3 Florida State (ACC) and No. 4 Vanderbilt (SEC). While I like the top seeds to dominate this region, I have two upsets going off the board in the first round. As No. 11 Texas upsets No. 6 Cincinnati and No. 10 West Virginia defeats No. 7 Gonzaga. The rest of my bracket is all chalk up until the Elite 8 showdown between No. 1 Syracuse and No. 2 Ohio State, as I look for the Buckeyes to advance to the Final 4.

West Region Predictions:

Of the four regions, I believe the West is the weakest of them all. No. 1 Michigan State and No. 2 Missouri are two strong teams, but I believe only one of them will be headed to the Elite 8. There just isn’t as much depth from top to bottom compared to the other three regions, and as a result you will find some big upsets in my predictions. In the opening round I have No. 12 Long Beach State knocking off No. 5 New Mexico, No. 10 Virginia eliminating No. 7 Florida, and No. 9 Saint Louis taking out No. 8 Memphis. In the round of 32, the only upset I have is No. 6 Murray State over No. 3 Marquette. I got Missouri putting and end to Murray State’s run, but I look for No. 4 Louisville to surprise everyone with a win over Michigan State. The Tigers take advantage of the upset and knock of the Cardinals to punch their ticket in the Final Four.

Midwest Region Predictions:

The Midwest Region has some firepower with No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Kansas, but as a whole I think this is a pretty weak 16 teams. With that said, I don’t expect too see many upsets as I’m just not all that impressed with seeds 9-16. The one upset I have in the first round is the winner of the California/USF game to beat Temple in a classic No. 12 over a No. 5 seed. The round of 32 features some good matchups, but again I have just one upset, as No. 6 San Diego State escapes with a win over No. 3 Georgetown. Those are the only two upsets I have in the Midwest, as North Carolina outlast Kansas in an Elite 8 thriller to advance to the Final Four.

Final Four Predictions:

After watching No. 11 VCU and No. 8 Butler play in the Final Four a season ago, there will be a lot of people taking teams they shouldn’t into the Final Four. I don’t foresee any huge Cinderella stories this year, as I have No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 2 Missouri and No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Ohio State. Coming into the year I thought Kentucky and North Carolina were the two best teams in the country, and I’m sticking to my guns and taking both of them to play in what should be an epic National Championship Game. I don’t think there is a lot that separates these two teams, but I give the slight edge to Kentucky to win it all in 2012.

2012 National Champion: Kentucky Wildcats

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