One Shining Prediction Post

My NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship thoughts. I'm breaking every region down, plus listing my favorite, sleeper team and fraud. At the end, I'll provide my Final 4 and my National Champion.

East Region:
By far, the most loaded region featuring the most solid 1-4 seeds who all could feasibly make a Final 4 run. The East also hosts a number of tough high seeds, that could make things interesting early on. Arkansas faced a lot of haterade on Selection Sunday, but I see them knocking off USC. That #51 guy, if he doesn't get in foul trouble, will be a nightmare on defense.

Favorite: Georgetown has a fairly easy path to a potential Elite 8 matchup with UNC (which the Hoyas will win - Jeff Green's a freak). Don't sleep on Texas, though. Durant could carry that team.
Sleeper: Oral Roberts. If they get by Wazzou, they're in the Sweet 16.
Fraud: BC. A 7 seed. Really? Also, Marquette for not disclosing that guy's injury until after the brackets were announced.

South Region:
Ohio State has a pretty easy path to the Elite 8. There, I think they will face Texas A&M. I love that squad. They are tournament-tested and scappy as all get out. On the other side of the bracket, I have my eye on Nevada. Too bad they will run into A&M in the Sweet 16.

Favorite: Texas A&M.
Sleeper: Nevada. Can a 7 seed be a sleeper. Yes, in my prediction post they can.
Fraud: Memphis.

Midwest Region:
I think the Midwest is the weakest region in the tourney. As long as Florida has their mind right, they should breeze through to the Final 4. I'm sorry, but Wisky, Oregon and Maryland are pretty suspect 2-4 seeds. They don't put any feer into me. Maybe if Wisky still had Butch playing, but he's not.

Favorite: Florida, by default.
Sleeper: I have always liked Winthrop.
Fraud: Butler. I hope ODU takes them out.

West Region:
The West is a pretty strong bracket, 1-15. A lot of athletic teams, highlighted by Kansas, UCLA, Southern Illinois, Va Tech, Kentucky and 'Nova. Kansas always seems to choke out sometime during the tournament. I have them going pretty far, but eventually losing to UCLA in the Elite 8. Va Tech could make a deep run, or they could lose to Illinois Friday. I love their supreme athleticism, but hate their inconsistency and suspect coach.

Favorite: UCLA
Sleeper: 'Nova, if they can get by UK.
Fraud: Sadly, I think Va Tech is going to fraud out.

My Final Four:
Georgetown, Texas A&M, Florida and UCLA.

My National Champion:
Georgetown over UCLA.

During my first job out of college, I actually created a 4-page newsletter previewing the Tournament called The Hoops Junket. I believe I still have a copy somewhere. Those were the days. Hopefully, I can carry the magic from my BlazeCom picking run of last year. I got $10 in my present company's NCAA Hoops Pool.