March Madness predictions 2019: Virginia is going to win it all. South Region
First Round
#1 Virginia vs. #16 Gardner-Webb: THIS IS NOT REMOTELY AN EXCITING? MOVE ON LET’S JUST NOT TALK ABOUT IT. WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Select: Virginia
#8 Ole Miss vs. #9 Oklahoma: [long pause] Umm, Ole Miss? Pick: Ole Miss
#5 Wisconsin vs. #12 OregonI refuse to pick a Pac-12 team, and Oregon’s best win of the season was against Syracuse on a neutral court. Their defense is good, but the crime is not. That won’t be sufficient to get it done against Wisconsin. Select: Wisconsin
#4 Kansas State vs. #13 UC Irvine: This really is the awful combo of a hot double-digit seed meeting a Power 5 school with injuries. The Anteaters beat upon the Big West Conference, winning both the regular season and conference tournament titles. K-State will not have Barry Brown, meaning they will need to make up for his scoring and game direction somewhere. Oh, also UC Irvine has a dude named Max Hazzard. MAX HAZZARD!!! Select: UC Irvine
#6 Villanova vs. #11 Saint Mary’s: The Wildcats are nowhere close to the team they were last year after they won the tournament, but they can still take threes pretty well and should not have any issues with St. Mary’s. It is going to be close, however. Pick: Villanova
#3 Purdue vs. #14 Old Dominion: LET’S GET CRAZY. Old Dominion over Purdue later Carsen Edwards includes a quiet day, while BJ Stith and Ahmad Caver go OFF. Select: Old Dominion
#7 Cincinnati vs. #10 Iowa: This is the yelling coach game as Fran McCaffrey and Mick Cronin are known for their. . .fiery characters on the sidelines. Iowa was leaking every type of fluid down the stretch and are limping to the tournament. Cincinnati takes it in a bodily, gritty game. Select: Cincinnati
#2 Tennessee vs. #15 Colgate: Colgate has as much of a chance here as a real tube of toothpaste. The Volunteers are large, physical, and Tennessee moves on easily. Pick: Tennessee
Second Round
#1 Virginia vs. #9 Ole Miss: The Cavaliers are too much on both defense and offense since they’re the only team in the nation in the top-5 in both on KenPom. Pick: Virginia
#5 Wisconsin vs. #13 UC Irvine: Wisconsin’s exterior shooting goes cold and UC Irvine’s run in the postseason persists. Am I just picking this since literally nobody wishes to see Virginia-Wisconsin in the Sweet 16? Maybe. Pick: UC Irvine
#12 Old Dominion vs. #6 Villanova: Cinderella’s ball is cut short. Nova shoots ODU out of the gym. Select: Villanova
#7 Cincinnati vs. #1 Tennessee: CINCY VS TENNY IN COLUMBUS. Ok, fine, I will not call them”Tenny” again. This one is a brutal battle, but Tennessee squeaks out one late thanks to a big play from Jordan Bone. Pick: Tennessee
Sweet Sixteen
#1 Virginia vs. #13 UC Irvine: The Cavaliers have construction confidence as they cruise to the Elite Eight. De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy are a lot for the Anteaters, moving them one win away from the promise land. Pick: Virginia
#6 Villanova vs. #2 Tennessee: Another match which I desperately wish to see. Finesse vs. braun. Villanova slows things down enough and gets hot from out since Paschall has a big day in the paint. Pick: Villanova
Elite Eight
#1 Virginia vs. #6 Villanova: Villanova is worn out after a difficult match with Tennesee and can’t figure out the Pack Line defense. It is going to be close through the first half, however the Hoos pull away down the stretch. Pick: Virginia
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