NCAA Tournament Stuff

I took an interesting look at filling out a bracket by using my 5 favorite computer polls to determine the winners. First off, it's scary how much all of these polls go along with the seeds that the committee gave out. I have know doubt that the committee does indeed use some of these (other than the rpi even) when determining seeds.

Here are some highlights using each poll:

1st round upsets:
Sagarin: Georgia Tech, Michigan St., Xavier, Creighton.
Pomeroy: Purdue, Illinois, Michigan St., Arkansas, Xavier, Creighton.
Massey: Illinois, Michigan St.
Greenfield: Winthrop, Illinois, Michigan St.
rpi (from Pomeroy's site): Illinois, Arkansas, Creighton

*Obviously Illinois and Michigan St. are much higher in these polls than where they are seeded.

2nd round upsets:
Sagarin: Notre Dame, Tennessee
Pomeroy: Notre Dame, Duke, Tennessee
Massey: Tennessee
Greenfield: Tennessee
rpi: Tennessee

*Tennessee is not only seeded too high, but they are very lucky to have Virginia (who's also seeded to high) to be their likely 2nd round opponent.

Regional Semifinals upsets:
Sagarin: None
Pomeroy: Texas A&M
Massey: None
Greenfield: None
rpi: Southern Illinois

*Southern Illinois has been high in the rpi all year, and it would be huge for them to make it this far, especially with having to go through some big name programs like Illinois, Kentucky, Villanova, and Kansas.

Regional Finals upsets:
Sagarin: None
Pomeroy: None
Massey: Wisconsin, UCLA
Greenfield: Wisconsin
rpi: Wisconsin, UCLA

*I don't know if I could find 3 out of 5 people that would pick Wisconsin over Florida, but the computers seem to think it will happen.

Final Four for each:
Sagarin: Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio St. = UNC over Florida
Pomeroy: Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio St. = UNC over Kansas
Massey: Wisconsin, UCLA, North Carolina, Ohio St. = Ohio St. over Wisconsin
Greenfield: Wisconsin, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio St. = Ohio St. over Wisconsin
rpi: Wisconsin, UCLA, North Carolina, Ohio St. = Ohio St. over UCLA

*Everybody has North Carolina and Ohio St. in, and they all agree that whoever wins that game will win it all.