Duke
Do you really need an explanation? J.J. Redick and company have been one of the most consistent teams all season long and with Redick and Shelden Williams being seniors, I can’t see this team getting knocked out before the Final Four.

Syracuse
Congrats to G-Mac and the Orangemen on their improbable run through the Big East tournament. But they get a 5 seed? Does the committee even look at the regular season record anymore? A seven seed at best is suited for the Orange.

George Washington
This part of the bracket has a good chunk of teams that make a case of being seeded way too low. NC State as a 10 seed? C’mon. West Virginia at 6, you got to be kidding me. But no team in the tournament (maybe in any tourney all-time for that matter) got screwed as much as the Colonials did. The Colonials will have to fight off the scrappy Seahawks (and gorgeous dance team) of UNC Wilmington in North Carolina and then the nation’s number one team Duke in North Carolina. That’s brutal after just losing TWO games this year.

West Virginia
The winner of the Iowa/WVU 2nd round game – in which I have WVU – should make it to the Elite 8. They are the strongest 3-6 seed combination in the tournament and will give Duke a run for its money. WVU’s Kevin Pittsnogle and Mike Gansey (pictured) combine for one of the greatest 1-2 man shows in the nation. Last year they snuck up on everybody and surprised the world in reaching the Elite 8. We shouldn’t be so surprised to see them do the same this year.

Texas A&M over Syracuse
Six of the Aggies eight losses came to teams that made it to the tournament and the losses came by an average of just 6-points. Texas A&M finished 8-2 in their last 10 games. Too bad their next game has to come against Syracuse a team that has to be just as hot.

Texas A&M over Syracuse
See above.

Southern Illinois over West Virginia
Not going to happen, folks. So Ill is so ill, but WVU is too good of a team and John Beilein is too good of a coach to not reach the Sweet 16 for a second straight year.

Cal vs. NC State
These two teams played each other in the 2003 bracket (in the region formerly known as the East) when 8-seeded Cal topped 9-seeded NC State 76-74. Not much as changed since then, but expect the same great basketball especially the battle between the two big men in Cal’s Leon Powe and NC State’s Cedric Simmons.

Duke vs. George Washington
I’ve been preaching all year that Duke will have its problems with athletic teams. Not to gloat, but I was right. Memphis, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, Boston College, Florida State and Miami either beat Duke or played them closely enough to exploit the Blue Devils’ weaknesses. GW just happens to be one of the most athletic teams in the nation and Duke will have to be able to match their versatility in order to continue to dance.

G-Mac vs. J.J. in the Sweet 16
For years fans have been questioning who the better of the two is and this battle of two white boys who can gosh darn shoot the rock will sure be, well, sweet!

Duke vs. West Virginia
If these two teams do meet, this will be one of the best games in NCAA basketball history. Both teams like to chuck up a lot of threes, so if you are an offensive buff, this is your mug of beer. The bottom line is, if you are a die-hard college hoops fan, this is a game you will be rooting for to see.