So, I was hoping for a number of upsets in the first set of four games, and what did I get?  All chalk.  Not only that, but the game I thought I didn’t care about turned out to be the best game of the 4 with Florida and Virginia Tech going into overtime.  Colgate and Utah State had a run that is kind of typical for mid-majors.  They put up a strong half, and then slowly lose pace in the second half.  I was hoping Utah State and/or Colgate could pull an upset, but it never happened.

That means 41 brackets are undefeated so far.  The distribution for the first 4 games was:

4 points: 41

3 points: 92

2 points: 46

1 point: 2

At least everyone has one point, which is good for everyone, I think.

As for the rankings, remember that for the first two rounds, I rank based on points earned with the tiebreaker being the number of points you’ve lost.  For example, if you won three games, but lost a team you had making the Sweet 16, your score will look like this:  3 (-3).  The first 3 is the number of points you’ve earned.  The -3 is the number of points you’ve lost (1 for the 1^st round game, and 2 for the second round game).  The higher the net points, the healthier your bracket is.  Eventually, I’ll send out rankings both based on raw points and also net points.  I’m also including who you picked as champion next to your entry name.  That’s pretty important as you look at people that are around you or ahead of you in the rankings.

So, here are the rankings after the first 4 games:

1. Adam E. #1: 4 (0) - Oklahoma State

1. Ann K.: 4 (0) - Illinois

1. Brad R. #4: 4 (0) - Michigan

1. Brandon B.: 4 (0) - Illinois

1. Chad L.: 4 (0) - Ohio State

1. Colston W.: 4 (0) - Michigan

1. Daisy N. #1: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Daisy N. #4: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Daisy N. #5: 4 (0) - West Virginia

1. Daisy N. #9: 4 (0) - Texas

1. Damien R. #2: 4 (0) - Illinois

1. Dan Dz.: 4 (0) - Illinois

1. Dianna A.: 4 (0) - Arkansas

1. Dustin B.: 4 (0) - Illinois

1. Elliot N.: 4 (0) - Illinois

1. Eric V.: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Harrell R. #1: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Harrell R. #2: 4 (0) - Iowa

1. Harrell R. #3: 4 (0) - Michigan

1. Hutch H. #1: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Hutch H. #3: 4 (0) - Kansas

1. Irene H. #2: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Irene H. #5: 4 (0) - Ohio State

1. Jace D.: 4 (0) - Florida

1. Jaxon S.: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Jim D. #1: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Jim D. #2: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. John M. #2: 4 (0) - Connecticut

1. JoJo D.: 4 (0) - Oklahoma State

1. Keal B.: 4 (0) - Michigan

1. Mason A. #1: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Missy W.: 4 (0) - Baylor

1. Nate R.: 4 (0) - Gonzaga

1. Paul W.: 4 (0) - Houston

1. Peter J. #4: 4 (0) - Baylor

1. Scott K.: 4 (0) - Baylor

1. Tina H.: 4 (0) - Michigan

1. Tucker D.: 4 (0) - Alabama

1. Tyler B.: 4 (0) - Michigan

1. William G. #2: 4 (0) - Illinois

1. Zach V.: 4 (0) - Illinois

42. Adam E. #2: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Addie H.: 3 (-1) - Ohio State

42. Andrew D. #1: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Andrew D. #2: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Becky H: 3 (-1) - Michigan

42. Ben W.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Brad R. #2: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Brain K. #1: 3 (-1) - Alabama

42. Brain K. #2: 3 (-1) - Oklahoma State

42. Brain K. #3: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Brain K. #4: 3 (-1) - Florida State

42. Brandon H. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Brandon H. #2: 3 (-1) - Houston

42. Brent E. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Brent E. #2: 3 (-1) - Michigan

42. Brent E. #3: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Brent E. #4: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Bret K. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Bret K. #2: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Brett G. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Brett G. #4: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Brett W.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Chris T. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Chris T. #2: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Chrissy I.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Chun W. #1: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Chun W. #3: 3 (-1) - Iowa

42. Chun W. #4: 3 (-1) - Alabama

42. Craig G.: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Daisy N. #2: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Daisy N. #3: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Daisy N. #6: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Daisy N. #8: 3 (-1) - Iowa

42. Dan C.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Dave M.: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Dennis R. #1: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Dennis R. #2: 3 (-1) - Michigan

42. Drew R.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Dylan B.: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Elizabeth N. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Eric G. #2: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Gary W.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Gigi I.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Howard S. #1: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Howard S. #2: 3 (-1) - Houston

42. Hutch H. #2: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Irene H. #1: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Irene H. #3: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Irene H. #4: 3 (-1) - Texas

42. Jackson I.: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. James P.: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Jason S.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. John M. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. John M. #3: 3 (-1) - Florida State

42. Jonathan J.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Justin M.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Karen C.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Kirt R. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Klei R. - BO: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Klei R. - Seth D.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Klei R. #3 - Jay B.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Marc R.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Mark A. #1: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Mark A. #2: 3 (-1) - Michigan

42. Matt M.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Michelle L. #2: 3 (-1) - Houston

42. Mike S.: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Mike Wi.: 3 (-1) - Iowa

42. Molly R.: 3 (-1) - Michigan

42. Nick V.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Noah N.: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Paul Kr.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Peter J. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Peter J. #3: 3 (-1) - Michigan

42. Peter J. #5: 3 (-1) - Oklahoma State

42. Ray M. #1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Ray M. #2: 3 (-1) - Kansas

42. Roth W.: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Scott H.#1: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Shawn M.: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Steve D.: 3 (-1) - Illinois

42. Tomas L. #1: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Tomas L. #2: 3 (-1) - Baylor

42. Valerie D.: 3 (-1) - Gonzaga

42. Virginia L.: 3 (-1) - Texas

42. William G. #1: 3 (-1) - Baylor

128. Klei R. - WaPo: 3 (-3) - Illinois

128. Michael Wh.: 3 (-3) - Illinois

128. Mike N.: 3 (-3) - Gonzaga

128. Rob I.: 3 (-3) - Gonzaga

132. Chris E.: 3 (-7) - Iowa

132. Jay H. #1: 3 (-7) - Gonzaga

134. Ally H.: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Amanda R.: 2 (-2) - Ohio State

134. Avery S.: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Brad R. #1: 2 (-2) - Illinois

134. Brad R. #3: 2 (-2) - Ohio State

134. Brett G. #2: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Brett G. #3: 2 (-2) - Illinois

134. Chun W. #2: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Cicely K.: 2 (-2) - Ohio State

134. Clifton H. #2: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Daisy N. #10: 2 (-2) - Kansas

134. Daisy N. #7: 2 (-2) - Ohio State

134. Damien R. #3: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Daniel E.: 2 (-2) - Illinois

134. Elizabeth N. #2: 2 (-2) - Illinois

134. Eric G. #1: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Irene H. #6: 2 (-2) - Michigan

134. Jay H. #2: 2 (-2) - Baylor

134. Jim W.: 2 (-2) - Illinois

134. Kirt R. #2: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Klei R. #1: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Klei R. #2: 2 (-2) - Illinois

134. Mason A. #2: 2 (-2) - Illinois

134. Matt N.: 2 (-2) - Baylor

134. Mike McQ.: 2 (-2) - Texas

134. Nick I.: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Peter J. #2: 2 (-2) - Illinois

134. Scott H. #2: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

134. Stefon K.: 2 (-2) - Gonzaga

163. Alyssa B.: 2 (-4) - Gonzaga

163. Alyssa N.: 2 (-4) - Gonzaga

163. Damien R. #1: 2 (-4) - Gonzaga

163. Damien R. #4: 2 (-4) - Ohio State

163. Jared B.: 2 (-4) - Gonzaga

163. Jay H. #3: 2 (-4) - Kansas

163. John M. #4: 2 (-4) - Georgetown

163. Josh C.: 2 (-4) - Baylor

163. Juju Suki I.: 2 (-4) - Oklahoma State

163. Michelle L. #1: 2 (-4) - Gonzaga

163. Michelle L. #3: 2 (-4) - Illinois

163. Owen R.: 2 (-4) - UC Santa Barbara

163. Ryan W.: 2 (-4) - Illinois

176. Andy M.: 2 (-10) - Connecticut

176. Cindy R.: 2 (-10) - Virginia

176. Daniel Du.: 2 (-10) - Oregon

179. Alex I.: 2 (-18) - Gonzaga

180. Clifton H. #1: 1 (-5) - Michigan

180. Eric S.: 1 (-5) - Baylor

The second set of 4 games have already started, so I’ve got some catching up to do:

Picks for Ohio State: 178

Picks for Oral Roberts: 3

Vegas Line: Ohio State -17

I think Ohio State is the trendy pick to make the Final 4.  They looked really good in the Big 10 tournament, and there was a point mid-season when they were about as good as anyone in the country.  They faded a little bit at the end of the season, but still look pretty good.  Oral Roberts wasn’t supposed to make the tournament out of the Summit League, but they beat South Dakota State in the semi-finals to make it in.  I think about #15 is right for this team.  I’m not expecting much here.  Maybe a point for everyone (except 3 people).  My only pet peeve with this game is when I’m putting together the scoresheet.  Some people send me picks as PDF files and I have to enter the picks manually.  Autofill really helps make this go quicker.  When the teams both start with the same letter, I have to slow down to make sure that it gets entered correctly.  Thanks a lot, Oral Roberts. 

Picks for Baylor: 180

Picks for Hartford: 1

Vegas Line: Baylor -25

This is the other trendy pick for the Final 4.  Baylor was undefeated deep into the season, kind of stumbled down the stretch, but still wound up with a #1 seed.  Hartford is in Connecticut.  They also are one of the alma mater of one of my favorite video game players ever: Vin Baker from the old “Bulls v Blazers” game for the Sega Genesis.  I am again dating myself with this reference.  Still, I loved Vin Baker.  In honor of the biggest point spread game this morning, I am wearing my Hartford University T-shirt.  I’ll root for them, but I’m not really hoping for a miracle here.

Picks for Loyola-Chicago: 118

Picks for Georgia Tech: 63

Vegas Line: Loyola-Chicago -5.5

This line was Loyola -2.5 a few days ago.  Then, the COVID monster took out Georgia Tech’s best player, ACC Player of the Year Moses Wright.  That really hurts.  I’m guessing a bunch of people knew that, and picked accordingly.  I’m also guessing a bunch of people are just finding about this right this second.  That’s really disappointing for me.  This was also one of those games where I wanted to pick both teams.  I thought Loyola-Chicago got a raw deal being seeded as #8, since they were ranked at the end of the season.  I went to Georgia Tech for a few years back in the Kenny Anderson / Stephon Marbury days, so I have been waiting for more than a decade to pick them to win a game.  I wound up doing that, since there was about zero chance I was actually going to root against the Yellow Jackets.  I know the fight song!  I don’t know the fight song for schools that have actually given me degrees.  I’m hoping for the best here, but this is possibly a COVID-casualty game.

Picks for Tennessee: 132

Oregon State: 49

Vegas Line: Tennessee -7.5

Here’s something I know about all Rick Barnes coached teams from as far back as I can remember.  They always start the season strong, and then fade hard at the end of the year and then crash out of the tournament.  I think Tennessee may follow that pattern, but I kind of don’t think they will here.  Maybe next round or something.  This brings me to another one of my pet peeves.  It’s well established that I don’t like mediocre Big 5 conference teams, which Oregon State is.  I get that they won their conference tournament, but do they really deserve a #12 seed?  I think they should have been a #14 maybe.  It’s like there’s a soft cap.  If you are from a Big 5 conference, you can’t be seeded lower than #12.  I don’t understand that.  I kind of feel the same way about Georgetown.  We’ll see if their performance bears any of that out.

Wow.  Oral Roberts!!!  That would be amazing!!!!!