This hasn’t been the best start for the Lunatic. 0-3 for his handicapping against the spread. Missing 2 teams in his bracketology. Already struggling to stay awake and there is still one more half in the Colorado vs. Boise State game. But March brings that treacherous emotion – hope….. I desperately want these picks to go well – because it will mean that I can finally cheer for my Boilers in the Final Four. They have been to the Final Four before – but the last time that happened, I was 7 years old and I am not sure I even knew that Purdue existed. With Zach Edey and Braden Smith, I really like their chances.

There are also the moments of de-ja-vu that keep coming. Losing to the 16 seed (like Virginia did). Coming back to be ranked in the top 5 for most of the season(like Virginia did). Winning the regular season conference championship just to lose in their conference tournament semi-finals (just like Virginia did). It creates a level of hope that is dangerous. But I am still going to go with the hope.

In my Insane picks, I will go all the way with that hope. I have Purdue winning the championship against North Carolina, with Auburn and Marquette joining them in the Final 4. And as I type this, I hear the Taylor Swift song that went through my head a couple years ago.

This hope is treacherous. This daydream is dangerous. This hope is treacherous. I, I, I…….

In my Sane picks, I will still take my Boilers to the Final, but they will get beat by the team that I think has been the best all season, the Connecticut Huskies. Lets face it, a defending champion hasn’t repeated since Florida in 2007. The #1 team in the tournament hasn’t won since Louisville in 2013. (But the first one that did it was that 2007 Florida team). So, in the same sense of de-ja-vu, it is time for those streaks to end. The Huskies are an amazingly complete team that can beat you so many ways – and they tend to take big leads and not let up. 23 of the 31 wins they have this year have been by double digits. In my sane picks, they will be joined by Arizona and Marquette in the Final Four.

And as I think about all these streaks coming to an end, Taylor’s voice returns to my head

This slope is treacherous. This path is reckless. This slope is treacherous. And I, I, I like it.

So, there you go. Will this be the year that the Boilermakers break through? The Lunatic certainly can not pick against his team – no real fan can. It might not be the expert picks that the Lunatic claims to have – but maybe this year, the Lunatic will be served better by picking with his heart.

This slope is treacherous. I, I, I like it!