NCAA Day 1 - 12 games in.

The first 4 games of the afternoon session are over, and it was essentially chalk.  The Villanova game was over about 5 minutes into the game.  The only excitement (for me) was to see if Villanova would break the "over" in largest margin of victory at 34.5 points.  Luckily for me they managed to keep it to a little under 30 at the end of the game.  There wasn't much to watch in that game.  I think the announcers were talking about where to eat dinner tonight at some point, assuming that everyone in America was watching something else.  They were probably right to think that.

The Kentucky and Texas Tech games seemed pretty similar.  Both Davidson and Stephen F Austin were competitive the entire games, but the favorites pulled away slowly in the last 5 - 8 minutes.  Disaster averted for a lot of people.

The last game was the most disappointing.  San Diego State had some real chances to win that game, especially the really good look at a three at the very end.  I would have liked to have seen that go down.  I also would've liked to have seen SDSU double team Gray for Houston on their last possession.  There was no way he was going to pass the ball.  Gray scored something like 75-80% of Houston's points in the second half.  Make someone else beat you.  Frustrating....

All the favorites won, but we still lost people in the perfect brackets.  We are down to 6.  That shows you why Warren Buffet can afford to give a million dollars a year for a lifetime to anyone that gets the bracket perfect through the Sweet 16.  I'll be surprised if we make it through today with a perfect bracket in place, much less perfect through the first 48 games.

Here are the updated rankings:

1. Adam E.: 12 (0)

1. Chad L. #1: 12 (0)

1. David W. #2: 12 (0)

1. Luis B. #3: 12 (0)

1. Taima #1: 12 (0)

1. Taima #2: 12 (0)

7. Alex N. #2: 11 (-1)

7. Ava S.: 11 (-1)

7. Ben J. #3: 11 (-1)

7. Ben S. #1: 11 (-1)

7. Ben S. #4: 11 (-1)

7. Bosun S.: 11 (-1)

7. Brad R.: 11 (-1)

7. Chad L. #3: 11 (-1)

7. Chad L. #4: 11 (-1)

7. Dan S. #1: 11 (-1)

7. Dan S. #2: 11 (-1)

7. E Rucker #2: 11 (-1)

7. Howard S. #1: 11 (-1)

7. Irene H. #4: 11 (-1)

7. Irene H. #5: 11 (-1)

7. Josh D. #2: 11 (-1)

7. Larry G. #3: 11 (-1)

7. Luis B. #1: 11 (-1)

7. Luis B. #2: 11 (-1)

7. Malcolm X #1: 11 (-1)

7. Michelle L. #5: 11 (-1)

7. Mike S. #1: 11 (-1)

7. Mike S. #2: 11 (-1)

7. Missy W. #1: 11 (-1)

7. Paul W.: 11 (-1)

7. Scott Her. #1: 11 (-1)

7. Scott K.: 11 (-1)

7. Wayne D. #3: 11 (-1)

35. Dan D. #2: 11 (-3)

35. Stefan K. #2: 11 (-3)

35. Todd K. #1: 11 (-3)

35. Tomas L. #1: 11 (-3)

39. Joe D. #1: 11 (-7)

40. Amaris S.: 10 (-2)

40. Andrew D. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Barack O.: 10 (-2)

40. Ben P.: 10 (-2)

40. Ben S. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Bhav D. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Brad E.: 10 (-2)

40. Chad L. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Craig G.: 10 (-2)

40. CSU #1: 10 (-2)

40. Damien R. #1: 10 (-2)

40. David S.: 10 (-2)

40. David W. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Dennis R.: 10 (-2)

40. Elizabeth N. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Eric V. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Eric V. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Gigi I.: 10 (-2)

40. Hal R. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Hutch H. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Irene H. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Irene H. #3: 10 (-2)

40. Irene H. #6: 10 (-2)

40. Jay H. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Jay H. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Jeff M.: 10 (-2)

40. Jeff Sag. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Jeff Sag. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Jim D. #3: 10 (-2)

40. Joe D. #3: 10 (-2)

40. Joel S.: 10 (-2)

40. Josh D. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Josh D. #3: 10 (-2)

40. Kate G.: 10 (-2)

40. Ken Pom: 10 (-2)

40. Kiah H.: 10 (-2)

40. Kirt R. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Klei R.: 10 (-2)

40. Larry G. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Larry G. #5: 10 (-2)

40. Malcolm X #2: 10 (-2)

40. Mason A. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Max A. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Max A. #3: 10 (-2)

40. Michelle L. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Michelle L. #3: 10 (-2)

40. Michelle L. #4: 10 (-2)

40. Nikolajs B.: 10 (-2)

40. Pete J. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Pete J. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Rob S. #1: 10 (-2)

40. Scott Her. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Scott K. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Seth D.: 10 (-2)

40. Tomas L. #2: 10 (-2)

40. Uproxx: 10 (-2)

96. Ben J. #2: 10 (-4)

96. Brett G. #4: 10 (-4)

96. Hal R. #2: 10 (-4)

96. Kansas C.: 10 (-4)

96. Matt M.: 10 (-4)

96. Mike W.: 10 (-4)

96. Ray W. #3: 10 (-4)

96. Virginia L.: 10 (-4)

104. Chad L. #5: 10 (-6)

105. Ray W. #2: 10 (-10)

106. Ally H.: 9 (-3)

106. Alyssa B.: 9 (-3)

106. Andrew D. #1: 9 (-3)

106. Andrzej R.: 9 (-3)

106. Becca T.: 9 (-3)

106. Ben J. #1: 9 (-3)

106. Brent E. #1: 9 (-3)

106. Brent E. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Brent E. #3: 9 (-3)

106. Brett G. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Chris M.: 9 (-3)

106. CSU #2: 9 (-3)

106. Daisy N. #3: 9 (-3)

106. Damien R. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Damien R. #3: 9 (-3)

106. Dustin B.: 9 (-3)

106. Dylan B.: 9 (-3)

106. Grant F.: 9 (-3)

106. Hal R. #3: 9 (-3)

106. Howard S. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Hutch H. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Irene H. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Jaxon S.: 9 (-3)

106. Jay C.: 9 (-3)

106. Jay H. #3: 9 (-3)

106. Jim W.: 9 (-3)

106. Joe D. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Julie S.: 9 (-3)

106. Kirt R. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Matt N.: 9 (-3)

106. Mike McQ.: 9 (-3)

106. Mindi W.: 9 (-3)

106. Missy W. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Pete J. #3: 9 (-3)

106. Roth W.: 9 (-3)

106. Scott Has.: 9 (-3)

106. Scott K. #1: 9 (-3)

106. Stefan K. #1: 9 (-3)

106. Suki I.: 9 (-3)

106. Todd K. #2: 9 (-3)

106. Trent L.: 9 (-3)

106. Veronica A.: 9 (-3)

106. Wayne D. #1: 9 (-3)

106. William G.: 9 (-3)

150. Becky H.: 9 (-5)

150. Brett K. #2: 9 (-5)

150. Dane R.: 9 (-5)

150. Elizabeth N. #2: 9 (-5)

150. Jared B.: 9 (-5)

150. Josh C.: 9 (-5)

150. Larry G. #4: 9 (-5)

150. Mike N.: 9 (-5)

150. Rob S. #2: 9 (-5)

150. Wayne D. #2: 9 (-5)

160. Jim D. #1: 9 (-7)

160. Jim D. #2: 9 (-7)

160. Marc R.: 9 (-7)

160. Ray W. #1: 9 (-7)

164. Daisy N. #1: 9 (-9)

164. John M. #1: 9 (-9)

164. Larry G. #1: 9 (-9)

167. Adam S. #1: 9 (-11)

167. Pete J. #4: 9 (-11)

169. John M. #3: 9 (-13)

170. Adam S. #2: 9 (-15)

171. Brett K. #1: 9 (-17)

172. Chris T. #2: 9 (-65)

173. April K.: 8 (-4)

173. Arianna S.: 8 (-4)

173. Brent S. #1: 8 (-4)

173. Brent S. #2: 8 (-4)

173. Brett G. #1: 8 (-4)

173. Brett G. #3: 8 (-4)

173. Chris T. #1: 8 (-4)

173. Daniel C.: 8 (-4)

173. Irene H. #7: 8 (-4)

173. Michelle L. #2: 8 (-4)

173. Michelle R.: 8 (-4)

173. Miguel D.: 8 (-4)

173. Pete J. #5: 8 (-4)

173. Valerie D.: 8 (-4)

187. Chrissy I.: 8 (-6)

187. Daisy N. #13: 8 (-6)

187. Daisy N. #2: 8 (-6)

187. Daisy N. #7: 8 (-6)

187. Jackson I.: 8 (-6)

187. Mason A. #2: 8 (-6)

187. Rob I.: 8 (-6)

187. Sulbum H.: 8 (-6)

195. Ryan W.: 8 (-8)

196. Bhav D. #1: 8 (-10)

197. Allison C.: 8 (-12)

197. Ben J. #4: 8 (-12)

197. Brett K. #3: 8 (-12)

197. Daisy N. #10: 8 (-12)

197. Daisy N. #12: 8 (-12)

197. Daisy N. #6: 8 (-12)

197. Nick I.: 8 (-12)

204. Alex N. #1: 8 (-18)

205. Alex N. #3: 8 (-20)

205. Daisy N. #5: 8 (-20)

205. Daisy N. #9: 8 (-20)

208. John M. #2: 8 (-36)

209. Daisy N. #11: 8 (-72)

210. Jace D.: 7 (-5)

210. Tim N.: 7 (-5)

212. Ben S. #3: 7 (-7)

212. Karen C.: 7 (-7)

214. Max A. #2: 7 (-9)

215. Stephen N.: 7 (-11)

216. Joe D. #4: 7 (-13)

216. Szecho L. #1: 7 (-13)

216. Szecho L. #2: 7 (-13)

219. E Rucker #1: 7 (-21)

220. Dan D. #1: 6 (-10)

221. Alex N. #4: 6 (-20)

222. Daisy N. #8: 6 (-28)

223. Daisy N. #4: 5 (-55)

...and the net point rankings:

1. Adam E. (12)

1. Chad L. #1 (12)

1. David W. #2 (12)

1. Luis B. #3 (12)

1. Taima #1 (12)

1. Taima #2 (12)

7. Alex N. #2 (10)

7. Ava S. (10)

7. Ben J. #3 (10)

7. Ben S. #1 (10)

7. Ben S. #4 (10)

7. Bosun S. (10)

7. Brad R. (10)

7. Chad L. #3 (10)

7. Chad L. #4 (10)

7. Dan S. #1 (10)

7. Dan S. #2 (10)

7. E Rucker #2 (10)

7. Howard S. #1 (10)

7. Irene H. #4 (10)

7. Irene H. #5 (10)

7. Josh D. #2 (10)

7. Larry G. #3 (10)

7. Luis B. #1 (10)

7. Luis B. #2 (10)

7. Malcolm X #1 (10)

7. Michelle L. #5 (10)

7. Mike S. #1 (10)

7. Mike S. #2 (10)

7. Missy W. #1 (10)

7. Paul W. (10)

7. Scott Her. #1 (10)

7. Scott K. (10)

7. Wayne D. #3 (10)

35. Dan D. #2 (8)

35. Stefan K. #2 (8)

35. Todd K. #1 (8)

35. Tomas L. #1 (8)

35. Amaris S. (8)

35. Andrew D. #2 (8)

35. Barack O. (8)

35. Ben P. (8)

35. Ben S. #2 (8)

35. Bhav D. #2 (8)

35. Brad E. (8)

35. Chad L. #2 (8)

35. Craig G. (8)

35. CSU #1 (8)

35. Damien R. #1 (8)

35. David S. (8)

35. David W. #1 (8)

35. Dennis R. (8)

35. Elizabeth N. #1 (8)

35. Eric V. #1 (8)

35. Eric V. #2 (8)

35. Gigi I. (8)

35. Hal R. #1 (8)

35. Hutch H. #1 (8)

35. Irene H. #1 (8)

35. Irene H. #3 (8)

35. Irene H. #6 (8)

35. Jay H. #1 (8)

35. Jay H. #2 (8)

35. Jeff M. (8)

35. Jeff Sag. #1 (8)

35. Jeff Sag. #2 (8)

35. Jim D. #3 (8)

35. Joe D. #3 (8)

35. Joel S. (8)

35. Josh D. #1 (8)

35. Josh D. #3 (8)

35. Kate G. (8)

35. Ken Pom (8)

35. Kiah H. (8)

35. Kirt R. #1 (8)

35. Klei R. (8)

35. Larry G. #2 (8)

35. Larry G. #5 (8)

35. Malcolm X #2 (8)

35. Mason A. #1 (8)

35. Max A. #1 (8)

35. Max A. #3 (8)

35. Michelle L. #1 (8)

35. Michelle L. #3 (8)

35. Michelle L. #4 (8)

35. Nikolajs B. (8)

35. Pete J. #1 (8)

35. Pete J. #2 (8)

35. Rob S. #1 (8)

35. Scott Her. #2 (8)

35. Scott K. #2 (8)

35. Seth D. (8)

35. Tomas L. #2 (8)

35. Uproxx (8)

95. Ben J. #2 (6)

95. Brett G. #4 (6)

95. Hal R. #2 (6)

95. Kansas C. (6)

95. Matt M. (6)

95. Mike W. (6)

95. Ray W. #3 (6)

95. Virginia L. (6)

95. Ally H. (6)

95. Alyssa B. (6)

95. Andrew D. #1 (6)

95. Andrzej R. (6)

95. Becca T. (6)

95. Ben J. #1 (6)

95. Brent E. #1 (6)

95. Brent E. #2 (6)

95. Brent E. #3 (6)

95. Brett G. #2 (6)

95. Chris M. (6)

95. CSU #2 (6)

95. Daisy N. #3 (6)

95. Damien R. #2 (6)

95. Damien R. #3 (6)

95. Dustin B. (6)

95. Dylan B. (6)

95. Grant F. (6)

95. Hal R. #3 (6)

95. Howard S. #2 (6)

95. Hutch H. #2 (6)

95. Irene H. #2 (6)

95. Jaxon S. (6)

95. Jay C. (6)

95. Jay H. #3 (6)

95. Jim W. (6)

95. Joe D. #2 (6)

95. Julie S. (6)

95. Kirt R. #2 (6)

95. Matt N. (6)

95. Mike McQ. (6)

95. Mindi W. (6)

95. Missy W. #2 (6)

95. Pete J. #3 (6)

95. Roth W. (6)

95. Scott Has. (6)

95. Scott K. #1 (6)

95. Stefan K. #1 (6)

95. Suki I. (6)

95. Todd K. #2 (6)

95. Trent L. (6)

95. Veronica A. (6)

95. Wayne D. #1 (6)

95. William G. (6)

147. Joe D. #1 (4)

147. Chad L. #5 (4)

147. Becky H. (4)

147. Brett K. #2 (4)

147. Dane R. (4)

147. Elizabeth N. #2 (4)

147. Jared B. (4)

147. Josh C. (4)

147. Larry G. #4 (4)

147. Mike N. (4)

147. Rob S. #2 (4)

147. Wayne D. #2 (4)

147. April K. (4)

147. Arianna S. (4)

147. Brent S. #1 (4)

147. Brent S. #2 (4)

147. Brett G. #1 (4)

147. Brett G. #3 (4)

147. Chris T. #1 (4)

147. Daniel C. (4)

147. Irene H. #7 (4)

147. Michelle L. #2 (4)

147. Michelle R. (4)

147. Miguel D. (4)

147. Pete J. #5 (4)

147. Valerie D. (4)

173. Jim D. #1 (2)

173. Jim D. #2 (2)

173. Marc R. (2)

173. Ray W. #1 (2)

173. Chrissy I. (2)

173. Daisy N. #13 (2)

173. Daisy N. #2 (2)

173. Daisy N. #7 (2)

173. Jackson I. (2)

173. Mason A. #2 (2)

173. Rob I. (2)

173. Sulbum H. (2)

173. Jace D. (2)

173. Tim N. (2)

187. Ray W. #2 (0)

187. Daisy N. #1 (0)

187. John M. #1 (0)

187. Larry G. #1 (0)

187. Ryan W. (0)

187. Ben S. #3 (0)

187. Karen C. (0)

194. Adam S. #1 (-2)

194. Pete J. #4 (-2)

194. Bhav D. #1 (-2)

194. Max A. #2 (-2)

198. John M. #3 (-4)

198. Allison C. (-4)

198. Ben J. #4 (-4)

198. Brett K. #3 (-4)

198. Daisy N. #10 (-4)

198. Daisy N. #12 (-4)

198. Daisy N. #6 (-4)

198. Nick I. (-4)

198. Stephen N. (-4)

198. Dan D. #1 (-4)

208. Adam S. #2 (-6)

208. Joe D. #4 (-6)

208. Szecho L. #1 (-6)

208. Szecho L. #2 (-6)

212. Brett K. #1 (-8)

213. Alex N. #1 (-10)

214. Alex N. #3 (-12)

214. Daisy N. #5 (-12)

214. Daisy N. #9 (-12)

217. E Rucker #1 (-14)

217. Alex N. #4 (-14)

219. Daisy N. #8 (-22)

220. John M. #2 (-28)

221. Daisy N. #4 (-50)

222. Chris T. #2 (-56)

223. Daisy N. #11 (-64)

There are 4 more games to go today, and some of them have already started.

Virginia Tech vs Alabama

Vegas Line: Virginia Tech by 2

Virginia Tech picks: 113

Alabama: 110

This looks like the typical 8/9 game.  Since most of the games have wound up with the favorites winning, games like this take on even more importance. The picks are even (or about as even as they are ever going to be).  No one seems to have a great feel for this game.  It's probably only going to be for 1 point anyway, since most people think Villanova is going to steamroll whoever winds up winning.

Arizona vs Buffalo

Vegas Line: Arizona by 8.5

Arizona picks:  218

Buffalo: 5

No love for the Bulls.  Everyone seems to like Arizona as a moderate sleeper.  I think that Buffalo may have been a good value bet here.  8.5 is not enough of a point spread to justify 218-5 pick discrepancy.  I always root for the MAC team in the tournament, so I'll be rooting for the Bulls.  I also want an upset, and this would  a HUGE one if it happened.

Michigan vs Montana

Vegas Line: Michigan by 11

Michigan picks: 213

Montana picks: 10

213-10 is something I'd expect to see in a 3/14 game, but not necessarily for a game with a 11 point spread.  Everyone is jumping on the Michigan bandwagon, much like Arizona.  I think they and Arizona may be mirror images of each other.  Middle of the ranking teams that have been playing well lately.  Both won their conference tournaments in power conferences, but still got relatively low seeds considering.  Again, this would be an enormous upset if it happened.

Florida vs St. Bonaventure

Vegas Line: Florida by 5.5

Florida picks: 156

St. Bonaventure picks: 67

This is another one of the 6/11 games that people seem to like.  I especially like it because I love to take the winner of the play-in game to win a first round game at least.  It seems to happen every year, and I don't have a lot of faith in Syracuse, so St. Bonaventure it is.  Plus, I think St. Bonaventure has one of the worst uniform colors in college basketball.  There aren't many teams that rock the brown.  It's like they are sponsored by UPS or something.

So, we still have 150 people that have not lost a Sweet 16 team yet.  That's a lot of chalk.  I hope we finally get some big upsets soon.  I don't really like all the favorites winning.  It makes people consider taking the "only by the seeds" bracket, which I abhor.