I realize that the First Four is technically the true first round of the NCAA Tournament, but it’s a set of play-in games, doesn’t count.
First Round LOCKS
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Make sure you join before the first games start
The Great Rivalry has returned! Matty D vs. G-Man. As I’ve declared before, I come ALIVE in March. I will be King of the Bracket.
Midwest Regional
Seed, School (Record, Overall Rank, Conference) vs. Seed, School (Record, Overall Rank Conference)
Day, Time, Channel, Location
#1 Kentucky Wildcats (34-0, 1st, SEC) vs. #16 Hampton Pirates (16-17, 68th, MEAC)
Thursday at 9:40pm on CBS in Louisville, KY
My Pick: Kentucky – A #1 has never lost to a #16. It will happen eventually but not in this one.
Matty-D: Kentucky
#8 Cincinnati Bearcats (22-10, 29th, American) vs. #9 Purdue Boilermakers (21-12, 36th, Big Ten)
Thursday at 7:10pm on CBS in Louisville, KY
My Pick: Purdue – The Boilermakers pulled off a 12-6 record in a strong Big Ten this year, that’s enough for me to pick them.
Matty-D: Purdue
#5 West Virginia Mountaineers (23-9, 19th, Big 12) vs. #12 Buffalo Bulls (23-9, 48th, MAC)
Friday at 2:10pm on TNT in Columbus, OH
My Pick: West Virginia – Matty D’s playing the 5/12 rule here. I’ve got the Mountaineers here for two reasons: their win over Kansas and this is Buffalo’s first tourney appearance. Bob Huggins will make it a quick trip.
Matty-D: Buffalo
#4 Maryland Terrapins (27-6, 14th, Big Ten) vs. #13 Valparasio Crusaders (28-5, 51st, Horizon)
Friday at 4:40pm on TNT in Columbus, OH
My Pick: Maryland – Terps got talent.
Matty-D: Maryland
#6 Butler Bulldogs (22-10, 23rd, Big East) vs. #11 Texas Longhorns (20-13, 41st, Big 12)
Thursday at 2:45 on CBS in Pittsburgh, PA
My Pick: Butler – Texas is one of the bigger surprises in terms of at-large bids. 6-6 in their last 12 games seems too cold for me. Go Bulldogs.
Matty-D: Butler
#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (29-5, 12th, ACC) vs. #14 Northeastern Huskies (23-11, 56th, Colonial)
Thursday at 12:15 on CBS in Pittsburgh, PA
My Pick: Notre Dame – The ACC Champs are getting hot at the right time…
Matty-D: Notre Dame
#7 Wichita State Shockers (28-4, 26th, MVC) vs. #10 Indiana Hoosiers (20-13, 37th, Big Ten)
Friday at 2:45pm on CBS in Omaha, NE
My Pick: Indiana – These aren’t last year’s Shockers.
Matty-D: Indiana
#2 Kansas Jayhawks (26-8, 8th, Big 12) vs. #15 New Mexico State Lobos (23-10, 59th, WAC)
Friday at 12:15pm on CBS in Omaha, NE
My Pick: Kansas – Easy pick.
Matty-D: – Kansas
West Regional
Seed, School (Record, Overall Rank, Conference) vs. Seed, School (Record, Overall Rank Conference)
Day, Time, Channel, Location
#1 Wisconsin Badgers (31-3, 4th, Big Ten) vs. #16 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (24-9, 64th, Big South)
Friday at 9:20 on TBS in Omaha, NE
My Pick: Wisconsin
Matty-D: Wisconsin
#8 Oregon Ducks (25-9, 30th, Pac 12) vs. #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (18-13, 34th, Big 12)
Friday at 6:50pm on TBS in Omaha, NE
My Pick: Oregon
Matty-D: Oklahoma State
#5 Arkansas Razorbacks (26-8, 18th, SEC) vs. #12 Wofford Terriers (28-6, 49th, Southern)
Thursday at 9:50pm on TNT in Jacksonville, FL
My Pick: Wofford – UPSET CITY BABY!
Matty D: Wofford
#4 North Carolina Tar Heels (24-11, 13th, ACC) vs. #13 Harvard Crimson (22-7, 52nd, Ivy League)
Thursday at 7:20pm on TNT in Jacksonville, FL
My Pick: Harvard – The Crimson know how to turn it on in the Big Dance.
Matty-D: UNC
#6 Xavier Musketeers (21-13, 24th, Big East) vs. #11 Ole Miss Rebels (20-12, 43rd, SEC)
Thursday at 4:10pm on TBS in Jacksonville, FL
My Pick: Xavier
Matty-D: Ole Miss
#3 Baylor Bears (24-9, 10th, Big 12) vs. #14 Georgia State Panthers (24-9, 55th, Sun Belt)
Friday at 1:40pm on TBS in Jacksonville, FL
My Pick: Baylor
Matty-D: Baylor
#7 VCU Rams (26-9, 28th, A-10) vs. #10 Ohio State Buckeyes (23-10, 39th, Big Ten)
Thursday at 4:40pm on TNT in Portland, OR
My Pick: Ohio State
Matty-D: Ohio State
#2 Arizona Wildcats (31-3, 6th, Pac 12) vs. #15 Texas Southern Tigers (22-12, 61st, SWAC)
Thursday at 2:10pm on TNT in Portland, OR
My Pick: Arizona
Matty-D: Arizona
East Regional
Seed, School (Record, Overall Rank, Conference) vs. Seed, School (Record, Overall Rank Conference)
Day, Time, Channel, Location
#1 Villanova Wildcts (32-2, 2nd, Big East) vs. #16 Lafayette Leopards (20-12, 63rd, Patriot)
Thursday at 6:50pm on TBS in Pittsburgh, PA
My Pick: Villanova – Typing in Lafayette was painful, though not as painful as the hurt Jay Wright and Co. will lay on the Leopards.
Matty-D: Villanova
#8 NC State Wolfpack (20-13, 31st, ACC) vs. #9 LSU Tigers (22-10, 35th, SEC)
Thursday at 9:20pm on TBS in Pittsburgh, PA
My Pick: NC State
Matty-D: NC State
#5 Northern Iowa Panthers (30-3, 20th, MVC) vs. #12 Wyoming Cowboys (25-9, 47th, MWC)
Friday at 1:40pm on TBS in Seattle, WA
My Pick: Wyoming
Matty-D: Northern Iowa
#4 Louisville Cardinals (24-8, 15th, ACC) vs. #13 UC Irvine Anteaters (21-12, 54th, Big West)
Friday at 4:10pm on TBS in Seattle, WA
My Pick: Louisville
Matty-D: Louisville
#6 Providence Friars (24-8, 23rd, A-10) vs. #11 Boise State/#11 Dayton Winner
Friday at 9:57pm on truTV in Columbus, OH
My Pick: Providence
Matty-D: Providence
#3 Oklahoma Sooners (22-10, 11th, Big 12) vs. #14 Albany Great Danes (24-8, 58th, America East)
Friday at 7:27pm on truTV in Columbus, OH
My Pick: Boomer Sooner
Matty-D: Oklahoma
#7 Michigan State Spartans (23-11, 25th, Big Ten) vs. #10 Georgia Bulldogs (21-11, 40th, SEC)
Friday at 12:40pm on truTV in Charlotte, NC
My Pick: MSU – Izzo and crew roll over the Dawgs
Matty-D: MSU
#2 Virginia Cavaliers (29-3, 5th, ACC) vs. #15 Belmont Bruins (22-10, 60th, Ohio Valley)
Thursday at 3:10pm on truTV in Charlotte, NC
My Pick: Virginia
Matty-D: UVA
South Regional
Seed, School (Record, Overall Rank, Conference) vs. Seed, School (Record, Overall Rank Conference)
Day, Time, Channel, Location
#1 Duke Blue Devils (29-4, 3th, ACC) vs. #16 Robert Morris Colonials (19-14, 66th, NEC)
Friday at 7:10pm on CBS in Charlotte, NC
My Pick: Duke
Matty-D: Duke
#8 San Diego State Aztecs (26-8, 32nd, MWC) vs. #9 St. John’s Red Storm (21-11, 33rd, Big East)
Friday at 9:40pm on CBS in Charlotte, NC
My Pick: St. John’s
Matty-D: San Diego State
#5 Utah Utes (24-8, 17th, Pac 12) vs. #12 Stephan F. Austin (29-4, 50th, Southland)
Thursday at 7:27pm on truTV in Portland, OR
My Pick: Utah
Matty-D: Utah
#4 Georgetown Hoyas (21-10, 16th, Big East) vs. #13 Eastern Washington Eagles (26-8, 53rd, Big Sky)
Thursday at 9:57pm on truTV in Portland, OR
My Pick: Georgetown – Almost went for the upset but can’t go against the Hoyas.
Matty-D: Georgetown
#6 SMU Mustangs (27-6, 21st, American) vs. #11 UCLA Bruins (20-13, 42nd, Pac 12)
Thursday at 3:10pm on truTV in Louisville, KY
My Pick: SMU – Larry Brown, enough said.
Matty-D: SMU
#3 Iowa State Cyclones (25-8, 9th, Big 12) vs. #14 UAB Dragons (19-15, 57th, C-USA)
Thursday at 12:40pm on truTV in Louisville, KY
My Pick: Iowa State
Matty-D: Iowa State
#7 Iowa Hawkeyes (21-11, 27th, Big 10) vs. #10 Davidson Wildcats (24-7, 38th, A-10)
Friday at 7:20pm on TNT in Seattle, WA
My Pick: Iowa – My Big Ten bias continues…
Matty-D: Davidson – …while Matt’s ends.
#2 Gonzaga Bulldogs (32-2, 7th, WCC) vs. #15 North Dakota State Bison (23-9, 62th, Summit)
Friday at 9:50pm on TNT in Seattle, WA
My Pick: Gonzaga – The Bison pulled off one the biggest upsets of last year’s dance. Not this year.
Matty-D: Gonzaga
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