Midwest Region: This is the home of the defending champs and clear cut pre-tourney favorites. The number 2 seed in this region are those pesky Badgers of Wisconsin.The Badgers’ boring brand of basketball (ha!) makes them susceptible to being run out of the gym on any given night. And that’s what Georgia Tech is going to do to them in the 2nd round. Javaris Crittenton is the most under appreciated freshman in the country and when these two meet he’s gonna go off and out play Wisconsin’s 5th year star Alando Tucker.

Notre Dame squeaks past the Ramblin’ Wreck in the Sweet 16. In the regional final, it’s the Gators over the Irish.

West Region: This bracket has a really nice collection of intriguing 1st round match ups. Look for Holy Cross to give the Salukis of Southern Illinois a real scare, but fall short. In that game, watch Keith Simmons closely. He can play! Next, the hated Dukies will make a glorious first round exit at the hands of a really talented Virginia Commonwealth team, who went 16-2 in the tough Colonial and then won the CAA tourney.

My pick to win this region is Pittsburgh. The Panthers defeated 2 tournament teams in Louisville and Marquette in the Big East Tourney before falling in the final to Georgetown. Pitt beats Kansas in the Elite 8.

East Region: This region is the home to this year’s edition of the 12-seed knocking off the 5-seed. I like Arkansas over USC. The Trojans were really exposed by Oregon in the Pac-10 finals, and I don’t see a bounce back happening. The 2 seed in the East is Georgetown.

The Hoyas are a shade more exciting than NASCAR, and not far ahead of Wisconsin. I got them falling to Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16. In the regional final, however, the Commodores are knocked back to reality by Texas. Kevin Durant is the best player in the country, by a lot.

This team reminds me a lot of the Carmelo Anthony Orangemen who won it all. They are led by the stud Frosh and a dangerous, streaky point guard in D.J. Augustin. The Longhorns ride those two all the way to the Final Four.

South Region: This is the weakest region of the four. Ohio State is going to coast to the regional final by beating Central Connecticut St., BYU, and then Albany. That’s right, Albany! The Great Danes walked into the America East final and beat Vermont at their home gym.

They played smothering D and Jamar Wilson showed that he is the real deal and capable of checking just about anyone. This region has another pretty suspect 2-seed. Memphis was undefeated in Conference USA.WOW! Who did they play??? If they survive North Texas in the first round it’s all over for Calipari’s Tigers in the second round against Nick Fazekas and Nevada. Nevada then falls to Texas A&M.

For my money, Acie Law IV is one of the five best in the country. Law IV leads the Aggies past Oden and the Buckeyes in the round of 8. This sets up an all-Big-12 matchup with the Longhorns.

Final Four: Texas over Texas A&M, Florida over Pittsburgh

Title Game: Florida over Texas