There's a great way in which the underdog spirit that permeates the NCAA basketball tournament is reflected in the ubiquitous bracket pools, which are usually won by some nerdy clerk with no basketball knowledge who picks teams based on mascots leaving the obsessive sports buffs for whom such games are a barometer of some kind of male IQ befuddled by defeat.  Fortunately, unlike the selection committe of the actual tournament, our tortured overdogs can't legislate away their tormenters by affording them fewer spots in the draw.  But more on that later. 

For me, though, the process is a fun combination of nostalgia and blindly ignorant speculation, which is rather how I prefer it.  So take that with a grain of salt, and the knowledge that the following guessork in no way reflects the opinion of anyone who knows what on earth he's talking about. 

Midwest Region: 

#1 Florida vs #16 Jackson State:
The eternal question that everyone who follows the tournament has asked themselves at one point or another is "Will a 16-seed ever beat a top seed?"  Like usual, I'm going to go against the consensus and say I don't think it will ever happen.  I remember the game where it almost did,  desperately trying to pull in an AM radio station ten years ago when Purdue squeaked out a win against Western Carolina.  But that Purdue team might have been one of the worst #1's in history; they went on to lose handily in the second round, and the notion took a big dagger this year with the NBA's new rule forcing the top high school players to attend college for at least one year, which will likely tip the balance of power back toward the very top teams. 
Florida

#8 Arizona vs #9 Purdue
Speaking of Purdue, here they are, and I have to say I'm cautiously glad to see Matt Painter get the program turned around after some lean years, because it's uncouth to root against a team that's abjectly pathetic.  I can see I'm already breaking my rule of rooting for the team in the dark jerseys every game. (Though I'm going to do it again, at least twice.)  I'm not bullish on the Big 10's chances this year, particularly the big sludge of mediocrity in the center.  Arizona should win this with some ease. 

#5 Butler vs #12 Old Dominion
Here we have the first-round pairing that has everyone chattering.  How could the cold-hearted bastards at the NCAA send out two small-school sweethearts to consume each other in the first round, and that after shrinking the share of at-large bids given to non-major conferences for the thrid straight year.  And all this in the year after a non-major at-large team went to the Final Four and became the Story of the Century. 

How could the NCAA look their gift horse in the mouth?  Well, as Mr. Clemons says, they all worship money.  As much as we would all like to see Drexel and Missouri State in the tournament over power-conference mediocrity that could barely manage .500 in their league, that ultimately puts no money in the wallet in the short term.  In particular, the big conferences are desperate to establish the validity of their extraneous, end-of-season conference tournaments which exist solely as a cash cow.  Hence the presence of Illinois and Arkansas, who were pushed over the bubble by a couple of wins in their tournament, an opportunity that's available only to big-conference teams. 

If I were in charge, I would institute a rule similar to the one for college football bowl eligibility:  You have to be over .500 in your conference and have at least 20 wins to be eligible for an at-large berth.  But I don't think that's ever going to happen. 

Now I'll get around to actually picking this game.  Butler did most of their damage early in the season, and, frankly, I think some of the shine has come off them in the last month or so.  They had a 13-3 league mark, the same as Wright State, which is a 14 seed.  And the Colonial is a stronger league.  I'll take ODU.

#4 Maryland vs. #13 Davidson
29-win Davidson would be a trendy upset pick had they landed anyne other than red-hot Maryland.  This is the first game on Thursday afternoon and ought to make for an entertaining kick-off, although I think I'll stick with the Terps in a tight one. 

#6 Notre Dame vs #11 Winthrop
I always hated Notre Dame when I was growing up, largely, I think, because I had a natural distrust of any team that wore gold.  I still can't be convinced to like them all that much, though I waiver from time to time.  I feel a bit sorry for them here, though, as the seeding left them acting the part of the wicked stepsisters to this year's pre-ordained Cinderella. Anyone who doesn't think the non-majors aren't getting the shaft should ask Irish fans if they would rather be playing Stanford instead. Unfortunately I can't help them. Winthrop has been building toward a good run, and they are seasoned and ready to get it.

#3 Oregon vs. #14 Miami (OH)
Several years ago, Miami changed its nickname from "Redskins' to "Redhawks."  Point for them.  But you can't argue with a team that proudly calls themsleves "Ducks" and has one of my favorite logo/uniform designs in college sports. 

#7 UNLV vs. #10 Georgia Tech
20 years ago this month marks the last Indiana national championship, and the team they defeated in the natinal semifnals that year was none other than UNLV, which was just beginning a run of national prominence that would culminate in a national championship and near-miss undefeated season before collapsing in scandal. 

During the 1990 championship run, they came up against Loyola Marymount, a team that might perhaps have been the original George Mason were it not for the tragic death of Hank Gathers a few weeks prior.  Loyola played a furiously frenetic pace of basketball which was trendy for a few years in the late '80's and set numerous offensive records that will likely never be approached.  UNLV won that game 131-101, a scoreline you won't see again in college baskeball anytime soon, and frankly, I lament its loss.  Call me an anti-purist, but I'll take that over the Princeton offense any day. 

Is there anybody who wants to see Georgia Tech win this game?  I didn't think so.

#2 Wisconsin vs #15 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
On my bracket, that looks like "Texas A&M Community College" which would be pretty hilarious.  Not as funny are the Islanders' 26 wins, or that they come from the same league whose entry last year knocked off a Big Ten team in the first round.  I've felt Wisconsin's been a house of cards for a couple of months now, skating through a mediocre Big Ten and missing a key role player.  15 over 2 games happen too rarely to actually pick one, but this could put the fear of God into the Wisky faithful. 

Second round onward:

Less comments here, since the likelihood they'll be germane to whatever games actually happen is slim. Winners in bold

#1 Florida vs #8 Arizona
#4 Maryland vs #12 Old Dominion
#3 Oregon vs # 11 Winthrop
#2 Wisconsin vs #7 UNLV

# 1 Florida vs #4 Maryland
#3 Oregon vs #7 UNLV

#1 Florida vs #7 UNLV