Predictions

i hate predictions. i'm awful, and i think thery are generally useless. but, but! they are fun to read. and, since paul won't be predicting anything this tourney, let me fill the void. sort of.

a friend (who obviously knows nothing about basketball, or who she should consult for help) e-mailed asking for bracket advice. this is what i came up with:

There are a few concrete rules in NCAA basketball: 1) At least one, and probably two, number one seeds will lose before the Final Four. Pick those right and you're in good shape. 2) Syracuse is the best damn basketball team in the history of mankind. Always bet Orange. We are the greatest. (Or, well...)

OK. Umm. I guess I'll just write stream-of-consciousness style:

Ohio State is too young to advance far. They are one number one seed you can bump off. Florida is the best team and might win it all. Kansas is very good. I'm taking them to the Final Four, too.

With the two seeds, I'm not sure what to do with UCLA or Wisconson. Pick one of them to go really far. I say UCLA. They almost won last year, and still have an unbelievable defense. Georgetown is good. Don't knock them out too early.

I think Texas (a #4) and Notre Dame (a #6) are better than their seeds. Particularly Notre Dame. Have them beat somebody they shouldn't.

Oregon (a #3) is not good. I don't really like Maryland (a #4), either. Those are reasonable bets to bounce out early.

ok. there's that. go team.