2013 NCAA Tournament Predictions
By Jason McIntyre
You’ve seen our bracket breakdowns (East, South, Midwest, West). You’ve read about tough-to-gauge Florida. Now, here are our picks:
Jason McIntyre
Yes, I filled out 11 brackets, but I’m a go-with-your-first-instinct type of guy, so these are my NCAA picks.
East: Indiana struggles with NC State in the second round, but reaches the regional final against Miami. I wanted to pick Butler over Miami, but I think the Hurricanes can play well in the halfcourt. I’ll take Indiana over Miami, 81-74.
South: Of my 11 brackets, this one had the most variety. I don’t love anyone here. I think UNC will upset Kansas. I also believe VCU will beat Michigan and then UNC and reach the regional final. I’m intrigued by the Florida/Georgetown Sweet 16 game. Reluctantly, I’ll take the Gators in that game, and over VCU, 73-69.
Midwest: Obviously I like Louisville, but in more brackets than you’d expect, I have Oklahoma State beating the Cardinals. (Yes, I know Oregon is a under-seeded and Saint Louis is very good, but I really, really like the Cowboys.) Officially, I’ll go with Louisville vs. Duke in a terrific regional final, with Louisville winning, 68-67.
West: Because it’s boring to go chalk, I have Pittsburgh beating Gonzaga. I think Wisconsin will make the Elite 8. The Badgers opponent? I’m not sold on Arizona or New Mexico, so give me Ohio State. I don’t love the Buckeyes and this region will be a shitshow, so give me Ohio State over Wisconsin, 62-60.
Final Four: Indiana over Florida 71-60 and Louisville over Ohio State, 65-63.
Championship: I’ll stick with my original prediction from the preseason: Louisville wins it all, 77-71.
Tim Ryan
Stephen Douglas
Ty Duffy
I filled out one bracket. I did my usual play: listen to everyone argue for three days, fade the arguments that sound silly. You win by picking the right chalk, not nailing that one team that makes the Sweet 16. Might have filled this out in a cheeseburger coma.
East: Indiana – Zeller flops and travelfalls his way to the Final Four.
South: Florida – Michigan’s defense and youth bite them, eventually.
Midwest: Louisville – Team Zubaz needs at least one representative.
West: (the) Ohio State University – #teamCraftdefense
Final Four: Indiana over Florida, Ohio State over Louisville
Championship: (the) Ohio State University 73-69 Indiana, a fitting end for the year of B1G basketball. B1G fans would trade all of this just to be relevant at football.
Michael Shamburger
Kyle Koster
Every year, I fill out a bracket the moment it becomes available and hate it with the passion of a thousand suns the moment I finish. This year, though, things were different. I hated it while I was still picking second-round games.
Opening Weekend Upsets: Nothing crazy. Chalk will rule. Every trendy upset pick will fail. March Monotony will reign. Exceptions: California over UNLV, St. Mary’s over Memphis, Colorado over Illinois.
Surprise Sweet Sixteen Teams: Butler and Arizona. Gonzaga will be there, too, but not without a real scare against Pitt.
Elite Eight: Louisville, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Ohio State, Michigan, Georgetown, Indiana, Miami
Final Four: Louisville, Ohio State, Georgetown and Indiana
Championship Game: Louisville over Indiana