2 of 11

Write now Article Tools

It's pretty tough to predict upsets when the brackets aren't even out yet, but the old Prognosticator is here to offer his first insights into the byzantine barricades of bracketology.
Here are my predictions:
1. Dick Vitale will get really excited about roughly 2/3 of the teams that he talks about, baby.
2. Roy Williams' hair will get even greyer than it already is.

3. Kansas will not go down in the first round for the third straight year.
4. Ohio State will not perform better than everybody expects.

Why do I say this about Ohio State? They CAN'T perform better than they're expected to. These guys have lost only three games, but then you look at who they've lost to: at North Carolina, at Florida, and at Wisconsin. That's three losses to three teams who have spent time at number one this year and in the lions' dens. They were blown out by Florida on December 23, but otherwise, they've looked really strong all season. After a regular season like that, anything less than an appearance in the finals will look like a train wreck. And I believe that a train wreck-or at least a disappointment-is coming. Michigan played the Buckeyes tough last week only to fall in the waning moments. Wisconsin nearly took a game OSU. Penn State fell only two points short. Two of those three teams are probably not going to make the NCAA. Is it likely that some other, slightly better team, perhaps an eight seed, might knock Ohio State off? Sure.
Kansas will make a deep run this year if for no other reason than that they're due. They're a fine team, deep and varied. If one guy is down, somebody else can step up. Yes, they lost a couple of inexplicable games early in the season and then one to Texas Tech. They also dropped one to Texas A&M in Lawrence. But of late the Jayhawks have looked very strong. They'll make at least the Elite Eight.
But who is the darkhorse who will surprise the world and unseat a power? My money is on Gonzaga. Why? Yes, they've beaten nobody all season and they've lost to some pretty suspicious teams, but they have two things going for them. First, they've played the Cinderella role before. Second, they've added Micah Downs since the first of the year. I don't see them making the Final Four, but they could very possibly pick off whatever high seed they face in the opening two rounds.

Learn more about this author, Mark Browning.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about College basketball predictions: 2007 March Madness upsets?
We want to hear your view. Write now!