NCAA Day III - I Hate Duke

I'm at least a little bit disappointed that there are no teams playing today that have green as a primary uniform color.  Seems like they would have an advantage today, on St. Patrick's day.  There's a lot of shades of blue and red, but no green.  What a wasted opportunity.

Anyway, I was thinking yesterday that the 1-1-2-2-2 format is really dangerous for ratings if the first 2 games are blowouts, since you can't change channels to anything else, and that's exactly what happened.  How exciting was the Duke / Rhode Island game?  My wife and I went to see our tax guy to sign off on our 2017 returns.  Looking at tax documents was more interesting than watching Duke basketball.  Yuck.  Let's hope for better in the later games.   The first two games featured the 2 biggest point spreads of the day, so there is some reason for optimism here.

The standings, as usual, didn't change a whole lot.

1. Brad R.: 31 (-73)

2. Bosun S.: 30 (-14)

3. David W. #2: 30 (-16)

4. Bhav D. #2: 30 (-22)

5. Irene H. #5: 30 (-28)

6. Mindi W.: 29 (-15)

7. Dan S. #1: 29 (-23)

7. Elizabeth N. #1: 29 (-23)

9. Missy W. #1: 29 (-25)

10. Jeff M.: 29 (-39)

11. Luis B. #1: 29 (-41)

12. Howard S. #1: 29 (-43)

13. Stefan K. #1: 29 (-45)

14. Ava S.: 29 (-53)

15. Amaris S.: 29 (-69)

16. Dan S. #2: 29 (-71)

16. David S.: 29 (-71)

16. Dennis R.: 29 (-71)

16. Irene H. #1: 29 (-71)

20. Malcolm X #2: 28 (-18)

21. Matt N.: 28 (-22)

22. Ben P.: 28 (-24)

22. Dustin B.: 28 (-24)

22. Jay H. #2: 28 (-24)

22. Kirt R. #1: 28 (-24)

26. Jared B.: 28 (-26)

26. Larry G. #2: 28 (-26)

26. Luis B. #2: 28 (-26)

26. Taima #1: 28 (-26)

30. Jim D. #2: 28 (-30)

31. Scott Her. #2: 28 (-38)

32. Barack O.: 28 (-40)

32. Kate G.: 28 (-40)

34. Joel S.: 28 (-42)

35. Ken Pom: 28 (-70)

36. Craig G.: 28 (-72)

36. Kiah H.: 28 (-72)

36. Scott Has.: 28 (-72)

39. Gigi I.: 28 (-74)

40. Wayne D. #3: 28 (-76)

41. Brent E. #1: 27 (-13)

41. Michelle R.: 27 (-13)

43. Irene H. #2: 27 (-15)

44. Brent E. #3: 27 (-17)

44. Chris M.: 27 (-17)

44. CSU #1: 27 (-17)

44. Malcolm X #1: 27 (-17)

44. Paul W.: 27 (-17)

44. Todd K. #2: 27 (-17)

50. Stefan K. #2: 27 (-19)

51. Jim D. #3: 27 (-21)

52. Irene H. #6: 27 (-23)

52. Jay C.: 27 (-23)

52. Jim D. #1: 27 (-23)

55. Brent E. #2: 27 (-25)

55. Daisy N. #13: 27 (-25)

55. Nikolajs B.: 27 (-25)

55. Pete J. #3: 27 (-25)

59. Alex N. #2: 27 (-27)

59. Irene H. #4: 27 (-27)

59. Kirt R. #2: 27 (-27)

59. Luis B. #3: 27 (-27)

63. Missy W. #2: 27 (-29)

64. Andrew D. #2: 27 (-39)

64. Jeff Sag. #1: 27 (-39)

66. Rob S. #1: 27 (-41)

67. Larry G. #5: 27 (-43)

67. Scott K. #1: 27 (-43)

69. Ben J. #1: 27 (-73)

69. E Rucker #2: 27 (-73)

69. Larry G. #3: 27 (-73)

72. Ben J. #3: 27 (-75)

72. Larry G. #4: 27 (-75)

72. Uproxx: 27 (-75)

75. Tomas L. #2: 27 (-77)

76. Joe D. #1: 27 (-79)

77. Tomas L. #1: 27 (-81)

78. Mike N.: 26 (-16)

79. Brad E.: 26 (-18)

79. Daisy N. #1: 26 (-18)

79. Howard S. #2: 26 (-18)

79. Larry G. #1: 26 (-18)

83. Irene H. #3: 26 (-20)

83. Max A. #1: 26 (-20)

85. Marc R.: 26 (-22)

86. Joe D. #2: 26 (-24)

87. Chad L. #2: 26 (-26)

87. Hutch H. #2: 26 (-26)

87. Jaxon S.: 26 (-26)

87. Rob S. #2: 26 (-26)

91. Chad L. #3: 26 (-28)

92. Michelle L. #3: 26 (-30)

93. Suki I.: 26 (-42)

93. Todd K. #1: 26 (-42)

95. Brett G. #4: 26 (-44)

95. Eric V. #2: 26 (-44)

95. Taima #2: 26 (-44)

98. Hutch H. #1: 26 (-46)

98. Jackson I.: 26 (-46)

98. Wayne D. #1: 26 (-46)

101. Chad L. #4: 26 (-50)

102. Dan D. #2: 26 (-54)

103. Andrew D. #1: 26 (-72)

104. Becca T.: 26 (-74)

104. Dylan B.: 26 (-74)

106. Alyssa B.: 26 (-76)

106. David W. #1: 26 (-76)

106. Trent L.: 26 (-76)

109. Brett G. #3: 26 (-78)

109. Irene H. #7: 26 (-78)

109. Jay H. #3: 26 (-78)

112. Jay H. #1: 26 (-80)

113. Chris T. #2: 26 (-88)

114. Ray W. #2: 26 (-90)

115. Chad L. #5: 26 (-94)

116. Mike McQ.: 25 (-13)

117. Grant F.: 25 (-17)

118. Ally H.: 25 (-19)

118. Hal R. #1: 25 (-19)

120. Adam E.: 25 (-21)

120. Ben S. #1: 25 (-21)

120. Hal R. #2: 25 (-21)

120. Jeff Sag. #2: 25 (-21)

120. Klei R.: 25 (-21)

125. Michelle L. #4: 25 (-23)

125. Mike W.: 25 (-23)

127. Damien R. #1: 25 (-25)

128. Josh D. #2: 25 (-27)

128. Josh D. #3: 25 (-27)

130. CSU #2: 25 (-29)

130. Veronica A.: 25 (-29)

132. Elizabeth N. #2: 25 (-31)

132. Kansas C.: 25 (-31)

134. Nick I.: 25 (-37)

135. Scott Her. #1: 25 (-41)

136. Brett G. #2: 25 (-43)

136. Max A. #3: 25 (-43)

136. Miguel D.: 25 (-43)

136. Mike S. #2: 25 (-43)

140. Jim W.: 25 (-45)

140. William G.: 25 (-45)

142. John M. #2: 25 (-47)

143. Wayne D. #2: 25 (-51)

144. Mike S. #1: 25 (-75)

145. Daisy N. #7: 25 (-77)

145. Scott K.: 25 (-77)

147. Ben J. #2: 25 (-79)

147. Eric V. #1: 25 (-79)

149. Virginia L.: 25 (-81)

150. Ben S. #4: 25 (-83)

150. Brett W.: 25 (-83)

152. Pete J. #2: 25 (-85)

153. Pete J. #5: 24 (-16)

154. Daisy N. #2: 24 (-20)

154. Michelle L. #5: 24 (-20)

156. Josh C.: 24 (-24)

157. Daisy N. #10: 24 (-26)

157. Daisy N. #3: 24 (-26)

159. Chad L. #1: 24 (-32)

159. Valerie D.: 24 (-32)

161. Roth W.: 24 (-34)

162. John M. #3: 24 (-36)

162. Szecho L. #2: 24 (-36)

164. Adam S. #2: 24 (-42)

165. Andrzej R.: 24 (-44)

165. Brent S. #2: 24 (-44)

165. Brett G. #1: 24 (-44)

165. Mason A. #1: 24 (-44)

169. Seth D.: 24 (-48)

170. Joe D. #3: 24 (-58)

171. John M. #1: 24 (-60)

172. April K.: 24 (-76)

172. Becky H.: 24 (-76)

174. Brent S. #1: 24 (-78)

174. Damien R. #3: 24 (-78)

176. Hal R. #3: 24 (-80)

177. Scott K. #2: 23 (-17)

178. Jace D.: 23 (-25)

178. Mason A. #2: 23 (-25)

178. Michelle L. #2: 23 (-25)

181. Dane R.: 23 (-37)

182. Matt M.: 23 (-45)

183. Damien R. #2: 23 (-47)

183. Ray W. #1: 23 (-47)

185. Adam S. #1: 23 (-51)

186. Michelle L. #1: 23 (-81)

187. Daniel C.: 23 (-83)

187. Julie S.: 23 (-83)

189. Chrissy I.: 23 (-91)

190. Brett K. #2: 22 (-20)

191. Bhav D. #1: 22 (-22)

192. Daisy N. #6: 22 (-34)

193. Rob I.: 22 (-36)

194. Alex N. #1: 22 (-38)

194. Ben S. #2: 22 (-38)

196. Pete J. #1: 22 (-40)

197. Allison C.: 22 (-44)

198. Alex N. #4: 22 (-46)

198. Sulbum H.: 22 (-46)

200. Chris T. #1: 22 (-52)

201. Dan D. #1: 22 (-54)

202. Arianna S.: 22 (-94)

203. Ben J. #4: 21 (-31)

204. Daisy N. #5: 21 (-33)

205. Ray W. #3: 21 (-35)

206. Pete J. #4: 21 (-39)

207. Daisy N. #9: 21 (-43)

208. Brett K. #1: 21 (-49)

208. Brett K. #3: 21 (-49)

210. E Rucker #1: 21 (-55)

211. Szecho L. #1: 21 (-65)

212. Stephen N.: 21 (-83)

213. Josh D. #1: 21 (-85)

214. Daisy N. #11: 21 (-99)

214. Joe D. #4: 21 (-99)

216. Karen C.: 20 (-20)

217. Alex N. #3: 20 (-40)

217. Tim N.: 20 (-40)

219. Daisy N. #12: 20 (-44)

219. Max A. #2: 20 (-44)

221. Daisy N. #8: 19 (-49)

222. Daisy N. #4: 19 (-75)

223. Ryan W.: 19 (-91)

224. Ben S. #3: 17 (-37)

...and net points:

1. Bosun S. (16)

2. David W. #2 (14)

2. Mindi W. (14)

2. Brent E. #1 (14)

2. Michelle R. (14)

6. Irene H. #2 (12)

6. Mike McQ. (12)

8. Malcolm X #2 (10)

8. Brent E. #3 (10)

8. Chris M. (10)

8. CSU #1 (10)

8. Malcolm X #1 (10)

8. Paul W. (10)

8. Todd K. #2 (10)

8. Mike N. (10)

16. Bhav D. #2 (8)

16. Stefan K. #2 (8)

16. Brad E. (8)

16. Daisy N. #1 (8)

16. Howard S. #2 (8)

16. Larry G. #1 (8)

16. Grant F. (8)

16. Pete J. #5 (8)

24. Dan S. #1 (6)

24. Elizabeth N. #1 (6)

24. Matt N. (6)

24. Jim D. #3 (6)

24. Irene H. #3 (6)

24. Max A. #1 (6)

24. Ally H. (6)

24. Hal R. #1 (6)

24. Scott K. #2 (6)

33. Missy W. #1 (4)

33. Ben P. (4)

33. Dustin B. (4)

33. Jay H. #2 (4)

33. Kirt R. #1 (4)

33. Irene H. #6 (4)

33. Jay C. (4)

33. Jim D. #1 (4)

33. Marc R. (4)

33. Adam E. (4)

33. Ben S. #1 (4)

33. Hal R. #2 (4)

33. Jeff Sag. #2 (4)

33. Klei R. (4)

33. Daisy N. #2 (4)

33. Michelle L. #5 (4)

49. Irene H. #5 (2)

49. Jared B. (2)

49. Larry G. #2 (2)

49. Luis B. #2 (2)

49. Taima #1 (2)

49. Brent E. #2 (2)

49. Daisy N. #13 (2)

49. Nikolajs B. (2)

49. Pete J. #3 (2)

49. Joe D. #2 (2)

49. Michelle L. #4 (2)

49. Mike W. (2)

49. Brett K. #2 (2)

62. Alex N. #2 (0)

62. Irene H. #4 (0)

62. Kirt R. #2 (0)

62. Luis B. #3 (0)

62. Chad L. #2 (0)

62. Hutch H. #2 (0)

62. Jaxon S. (0)

62. Rob S. #2 (0)

62. Damien R. #1 (0)

62. Josh C. (0)

62. Bhav D. #1 (0)

62. Karen C. (0)

74. Jim D. #2 (-2)

74. Missy W. #2 (-2)

74. Chad L. #3 (-2)

74. Josh D. #2 (-2)

74. Josh D. #3 (-2)

74. Daisy N. #10 (-2)

74. Daisy N. #3 (-2)

74. Jace D. (-2)

74. Mason A. #2 (-2)

74. Michelle L. #2 (-2)

84. Michelle L. #3 (-4)

84. CSU #2 (-4)

84. Veronica A. (-4)

87. Elizabeth N. #2 (-6)

87. Kansas C. (-6)

89. Chad L. #1 (-8)

89. Valerie D. (-8)

91. Jeff M. (-10)

91. Scott Her. #2 (-10)

91. Roth W. (-10)

91. Ben J. #4 (-10)

95. Luis B. #1 (-12)

95. Barack O. (-12)

95. Kate G. (-12)

95. Andrew D. #2 (-12)

95. Jeff Sag. #1 (-12)

95. Nick I. (-12)

95. John M. #3 (-12)

95. Szecho L. #2 (-12)

95. Daisy N. #6 (-12)

95. Daisy N. #5 (-12)

105. Howard S. #1 (-14)

105. Joel S. (-14)

105. Rob S. #1 (-14)

105. Dane R. (-14)

105. Rob I. (-14)

105. Ray W. #3 (-14)

111. Stefan K. #1 (-16)

111. Larry G. #5 (-16)

111. Scott K. #1 (-16)

111. Suki I. (-16)

111. Todd K. #1 (-16)

111. Scott Her. #1 (-16)

111. Alex N. #1 (-16)

111. Ben S. #2 (-16)

119. Brett G. #4 (-18)

119. Eric V. #2 (-18)

119. Taima #2 (-18)

119. Brett G. #2 (-18)

119. Max A. #3 (-18)

119. Miguel D. (-18)

119. Mike S. #2 (-18)

119. Adam S. #2 (-18)

119. Pete J. #1 (-18)

119. Pete J. #4 (-18)

129. Hutch H. #1 (-20)

129. Jackson I. (-20)

129. Wayne D. #1 (-20)

129. Jim W. (-20)

129. William G. (-20)

129. Andrzej R. (-20)

129. Brent S. #2 (-20)

129. Brett G. #1 (-20)

129. Mason A. #1 (-20)

129. Alex N. #3 (-20)

129. Tim N. (-20)

129. Ben S. #3 (-20)

141. John M. #2 (-22)

141. Matt M. (-22)

141. Allison C. (-22)

141. Daisy N. #9 (-22)

145. Ava S. (-24)

145. Chad L. #4 (-24)

145. Seth D. (-24)

145. Damien R. #2 (-24)

145. Ray W. #1 (-24)

145. Alex N. #4 (-24)

145. Sulbum H. (-24)

145. Daisy N. #12 (-24)

145. Max A. #2 (-24)

154. Wayne D. #2 (-26)

155. Dan D. #2 (-28)

155. Adam S. #1 (-28)

155. Brett K. #1 (-28)

155. Brett K. #3 (-28)

159. Chris T. #1 (-30)

159. Daisy N. #8 (-30)

161. Dan D. #1 (-32)

162. Joe D. #3 (-34)

162. E Rucker #1 (-34)

164. John M. #1 (-36)

165. Amaris S. (-40)

166. Brad R. (-42)

166. Dan S. #2 (-42)

166. David S. (-42)

166. Dennis R. (-42)

166. Irene H. #1 (-42)

166. Ken Pom (-42)

172. Craig G. (-44)

172. Kiah H. (-44)

172. Scott Has. (-44)

172. Szecho L. #1 (-44)

176. Gigi I. (-46)

176. Ben J. #1 (-46)

176. E Rucker #2 (-46)

176. Larry G. #3 (-46)

176. Andrew D. #1 (-46)

181. Wayne D. #3 (-48)

181. Ben J. #3 (-48)

181. Larry G. #4 (-48)

181. Uproxx (-48)

181. Becca T. (-48)

181. Dylan B. (-48)

187. Tomas L. #2 (-50)

187. Alyssa B. (-50)

187. David W. #1 (-50)

187. Trent L. (-50)

187. Mike S. #1 (-50)

192. Joe D. #1 (-52)

192. Brett G. #3 (-52)

192. Irene H. #7 (-52)

192. Jay H. #3 (-52)

192. Daisy N. #7 (-52)

192. Scott K. (-52)

192. April K. (-52)

192. Becky H. (-52)

200. Tomas L. #1 (-54)

200. Jay H. #1 (-54)

200. Ben J. #2 (-54)

200. Eric V. #1 (-54)

200. Brent S. #1 (-54)

200. Damien R. #3 (-54)

206. Virginia L. (-56)

206. Hal R. #3 (-56)

206. Daisy N. #4 (-56)

209. Ben S. #4 (-58)

209. Brett W. (-58)

209. Michelle L. #1 (-58)

212. Pete J. #2 (-60)

212. Daniel C. (-60)

212. Julie S. (-60)

215. Chris T. #2 (-62)

215. Stephen N. (-62)

217. Ray W. #2 (-64)

217. Josh D. #1 (-64)

219. Chad L. #5 (-68)

219. Chrissy I. (-68)

221. Arianna S. (-72)

221. Ryan W. (-72)

223. Daisy N. #11 (-78)

223. Joe D. #4 (-78)

Before we get too far into the first set of 2 games, let's give the breakdown of the second set of two.  If we are lucky, these will be great games and maybe we'll see an upset or two.  Maybe we'll see nothing but upsets from here on out.  I think that would be fantastic.

Kansas vs Seton Hall

Vegas Line: Kansas by 5

Kansas picks:  202

Seton Hall picks: 3

Other: 18

According to Seth Davis, this game should be Penn vs Seton Hall.  Knowing Seth, it was probably Penn vs NC State.  I give Seth Davis a hard time on this blog, but he's actually a very good analyst and genuinely seems to enjoy it when his picks inevitably go down in flames.  He's just terrible at picking games.  I have a friend like this.  For whatever reason, he couldn't pick the winner of a one-horse race.  Seth and my friend share this special gift.  Just remember if you go to Vegas with someone like this to trust their bad luck over your better judgment.  I am positive I have won money betting against my friend at times when I would have chosen the same side otherwise.  Anyway, I'm hoping to see a Seton Hall upset here.  5 points seems like the kind of game that could swing to the underdog.

Seton Hall reminded me of something just now.  Alabama finished the season 20-16.  How does a team with 15 losses make the tournament as an at-large team?  That's crazy.  Seton Hall has double digit losses, but 15 is a lot.

Gonzaga vs Ohio State

Vegas Line: Gonzaga by 3.5

Gonzaga picks: 158

Ohio State picks: 55

Other:  10

Since this a 4/5 game, I think I expected the distribution to be a little tighter on this one.  Seems like Ohio State may be a good value pick here.  I say that knowing full well that if Ohio State wins, we get an extra week of the insufferable Dan Dakich talking about how he picked them to win everything before the season even started.  Then again, his kid plays for the Buckeyes, so I guess he's allowed.  Personally, I'm hoping for a Gonzaga win, to keep the dream alive of a Championship rematch in the Regional final.  There's a lot of game to go before then, but I think it would be fun to see.  Also, if you are Virginia, I think you can look at Gonzaga as a good example of what you can do to turn your teams reputation around.  Prior to last year, people had Gonzaga pegged as a team that underperformed in the tournament.  Then they made the Championship game and people are picking them to upset Xavier in pretty big numbers.  All hope is not lost, Cavaliers fans.

Enjoy the games.  I'll be back after the Tennessee / Loyola - Chicago game with updates.