NCAA Tournament Picks: South | West | Midwest | East | Final Four
2014 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdowns:
South | West | Midwest | East
2014 NCAA Tournament Picks – West Bracket
By Walter Cherepinsky – @walterfootball
NCAA Tournament Picks: West Bracket First Round
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Weber State
The irony here is that Arizona is a state, and Weber is not a state, yet Weber has the “State” in its title.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 1 Arizona
No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State
ESPN has already advanced Oklahoma State into the second round. I normally love going against the dumb talking heads – I actually think Digger Phelps was drunk during Bracketology – but Kevin Pangos is banged up for Gonzaga. On a side note, Pangos reminds me of Topanga from Boy Meets World, and yes, I will be watching every single episode of Girl Meets World (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 9 Oklahoma State
No. 5 Oklahoma vs. No. 12 North Dakota State
Teams from North Dakota State’s conference haven’t done well in the NCAA Tournament, but by all metrics, Oklahoma and its opponent are about even. When that’s the case, I like to give the edge to the worse-seeded team, given that there’s pressure on the favorite. I have no idea what the Sooners are doing being a No. 5 seed. They should be a No. 9 or 10.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 12 North Dakota State
No. 4 San Diego State vs. No. 13 New Mexico State
I am sooo tempted to pick a 13 over a 4, but New Mexico State is just not that strong of a 13. San Diego State is from the Mountain West, so feel free to fade away if you have the balls.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 4 San Diego State
No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska
Nebraska had been playing with such great fire in January and February, but I feel like the team’s spirit might have been broken when Ohio State made an 18-point comeback to beat them in the Big Ten Tournament. The Huskers just couldn’t score, so I can’t see them beating a Baylor squad that was very hot to close out the season.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 6 Baylor
No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette
Doug McDermott is the next Larry Bird, apparently. No one from Wichita State was available for Sports Illustrated?
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 3 Creighton
No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 10 BYU
I have no idea what the hell BYU is doing in the tournament over SMU. Maybe someone in the selection committee is dyslexic and wrote down the wrong letters?
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 7 Oregon
No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 15 American
Sorry for being a communist, but I’m going against American.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 2 Wisconsin
NCAA Tournament Picks: West Bracket Second Round
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State
Everyone is ranting and raving about Marcus Smart, but when it’s time for a clutch shot, he usually throws up a poor attempt instead of passing it to someone else. If this game comes down to the wire, I trust Arizona more.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 1 Arizona
No. 4 San Diego State vs. No. 12 North Dakota State
The only reason I didn’t pick San Diego State to lose in the first round was because it was playing a weak 13. Well, North Dakota State is a strong 12, thanks to its 20th-ranked offense. The Mountain West is garbage and will continue to disappoint.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 12 North Dakota State
No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 6 Baylor
There’s no “in between” with Creighton. Everyone either hates them or loves them. Well, I’m the “in between.” The Jays can shoot their way past anyone, but they can also be primed for an upset because of their awful 137th-ranked defense. Creighton has lost three of its previous six and comes from a weaker conference than Baylor, a team that caught fire at the end of the season.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 6 Baylor
No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 7 Oregon
It’s a shame that these teams have to meet so early because I like both a lot. Oregon is another team that is coming into this tournament on a hot streak. They have a great coach who will guide them past BYU, but Bo Ryan will be his equal. The Badgers are a bit better, so I’m going to pick them, but this is a tough one to decide.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 2 Wisconsin
NCAA Tournament Picks: West Bracket Sweet 16
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 12 North Dakota State
North Dakota State managed to get by two weaker opponents, but the carriage will turn into a pumpkin by the time this game is over. Sean Miller is not losing to North Dakota State in the Sweet 16.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 1 Arizona
No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 6 Baylor
I think this is an easier matchup for Wisconsin than the Oregon game. Baylor is great at scoring the ball, but the Badgers are better at that strength. The main difference is the defense. Wisconsin isn’t a great stopper team like in past years, but the Bears are in the 110s in terms of defense.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 2 Wisconsin
NCAA Tournament Picks: West Bracket Elite Eight
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 2 Wisconsin
There are a handful of coaches I trust more than Bo Ryan in the NCAA Tournament. One is Sean Miller. I like Arizona to advance to the Final Four. The Wildcats have the nation’s No. 1 defense to stymie Wisconsin’s fifth-ranked offense. And if that’s not enough, there’s a better chance Arizona will make it here than Wisconsin, so the odds say to go with the chalk.
2014 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 1 Arizona
NCAA Tournament Picks: South | West | Midwest | East | Final Four
2014 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdowns:
South | West | Midwest | East
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