I have been really struggling with this. Might partially be because it is late. Might partially because I don’t like certain matchups. But at some point, you just have to make the picks – even if you don’t think you have picked enough upsets.

I really like Gonzaga, Illinois and Alabama to make the Final 4. In my sane picks, I have Baylor joining them – with Illinois beating Gonzaga in the championship.

In my insane picks, I have to support my Boilermakers. I actually think this is one of the best draws that they have received. While North Texas is certainly no push-over, they are still a 13 seed. The classic smaller conference champion who can beat anyone on any given night, but theoretically, you evaluate the 4 seed’s draw based on the later rounds. Villanova is dealing with injuries. The 1 seed Baylor is going to be tough (as would any of them), but if Baylor has a weakness, it would be in the paint – which is Purdue’s strength. And the #2 seed is Ohio State – a team they have beaten this season (although the games are always close). It probably doesn’t happen – but how could I live with myself without picking them.

Since it is late, I figured this year, I would simply post the link to the printout of my picks.

Click on this line to see my sane picks

Click on this line to see my insane picks

Considering I don’t have a lot of confidence (could simply be that I am tired, could be that I am watching UCLA come back against Michigan State), it should be relatively easy this year to Stomp the Lunatic! Good luck to everyone!!!!!

EDITOR’S NOTE – In light of the ankle injury to UCLA’s Johnny Juzang at the end of the Michigan State / UCLA game last night, I decided to switch my pick from what would have been UCLA to BYU. It might be a mistake – Lunatic curse for second guessing himself and going away from the tendency of one first four team winning their next game, especially if Juzang is able to play. But I thought this was a coin-flip game against a really good BYU team to begin with – I don’t feel good that the Bruins can pull off the upset without their leading scorer. And we all don’t get the luxury of waiting and finding out if he is going to be able to play…. So, I will pick BYU instead – I can already hear Chris Peterson screaming “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” loudly at this news that the Lunatic is now backing his Cougars.