Sweet 16 - Loyola-Chicago v Oregon State

 This will be a relatively short post.  Normally Sweet 16 games are a bit of a challenge for me because of how they are scheduled.  They are typically held 2 games at a time across Thursday and Friday night.  Since 2 games are going off at the same time, I can put out single game eliminations, but quite often, one game does not knock you out, but a combination of 2 games could.  Something like that would be invisible to you.  It would only be after I posted the standings that you would know you were out.  Also, it’s hard to calculate probabilities with such a quick turnaround between games.

Compliments of the new schedule, I no longer have to worry about that.  They are running the games one after the other, so I can send out updated standings and single game eliminations after each game.  Woo Hoo!!!!

So, let’s look at the first game of the day:

Picks for Loyola-Chicago: 3

Picks for Oregon State: 1

Picks for Other: 177

Vegas Line: Loyola-Chicago -6.5

If Loyola-Chicago wins:

Brent E. #3 is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

Damien R. #3 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Dylan B. is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

Elliot N. is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

Eric G. #1 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Michelle L. #1 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

 If Oregon State wins:

 Harrell R. #2 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

 That’s it.  That’s the list.  This is about as much of a free roll as you could possibly get.  Almost no one gets knocked out as a result of this game.  There are 384 entry * payout places, and at most 6 of those with be mathematically eliminated as a result of this game.  That’s practically nothing (unless you are on this list).

It shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise to hear that Harrell R. #2 has Loyola-Chicago in the Final 4, so if they get knocked out in this game, he won’t be able to make enough points to pass enough people to get 1^st.

The only person that had Oregon State in this game is Eric G.#1, so it makes sense also that he should be here.  The other people have small percent chances of winning, and just fall behind Harrell R. #2.  For example, Dylan B. right now has 40 points (13^th place in points).  However, if he gets points in all the games left that he can get points, Harrell R. #2 has the exact same teams picked in those games, and Harrell R. #2 also has 40 points, so Harrell R. #2 would go to 44 and Dylan B. would have no way to pass him for 1^st.  I love looking up stuff like that.

Anyway, that’s the first game.  Later games will be total bloodbaths.  So, enjoy the first game.  Everyone is on the Loyola-Chicago bandwagon, and it’s hard not to be.  They are a really fun to watch.

Good lukc to everyone!!!!!