2023 March Madness Pick 'Em

[PoliSciPulse]

Welcome to my first annual DebatePolitics March Madness Pick 'Em for the 2023 March Madness tournament. There are no crazy brackets, no bracket-busting, and no "I would have won a million dollars if I had just made this pick."

Instead, it is a pure pick-em game. The winner of the game will have the most accurate predictions and (presumably) will get the most points.

I've run this game multiple times on different forums and used to run them with family members and friends for the longest time.

The Rounds are simple:
Each round is worth ten points more than the round before it. The first round is worth ten points. We predict both men's AND women's NCAA games together.

I will score the game as we go. I encourage you to keep track of your scores because there will be a lag between the rounds and the scoring.

Let's start with the First Four for Men's and Women's March Madness.

MEN'S FIRST FOUR (Played 3/14-3/15)

1. #16 Texas A&M - CC Islanders vs. #16 SE Missouri State Redhawks
My pick: SE Missouri State

2. #16 Texas Southern Tigers vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickson (FDU) Knights
My pick: FDU

3. #11 Arizona State Sun Devils vs. #11 Nevada Wolf Pack
My pick: Arizona State

4. #11 Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. #11 University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) Panthers
My Pick: Mississippi State

---------
WOMEN'S FIRST FOUR (played 3/15-3/16)

1. #16 Southern U. Lady Jaguars vs. Sacred Heart University Pioneers
My Pick: Sacred Heart (my alma mater)

2. #16 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles vs. #16 Monmouth Hawks
My Pick: Tennessee Tech

3. #11 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. #11 Mississippi State Bulldogs

4. #11 Purdue Boilermakers vs. #11 St. John's (NY) Red Storm

----------

For a tiebreaker (if needed), the first person who answers why the First Four in Men's and Women's basketball play-in to seats #16 and #11 (instead of all being #16, which seems the most logical choice) will win one bonus point.

 

[PoliSciPulse]

And we go to the main bracket. Each Pick is now worth 20 points. You will get an additional 5 points if you were correct in the First Four rounds, pick the winner of one of the play-in games to be one of the winners in the main bracket, and are correct. So four games are worth 25 points, but only if you pick that the winner of one of the First Four games will advance to the Second round.

For example, if you chose T&M - CC to win their First Four, they must have advanced AND you must pick them to beat Alabama to be eligible for the 25 points.

Men's South Region (3/16 - 3/17)

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #16 Texas A&M-Corpus Cristi Islanders OR SE Missouri State Redhawks
My Pick: Alabama

#8 (University of) Maryland Terrapins vs. #9 West Virginia (University) Mountaineers
My Pick: West Virginia

#5 San Diego State Aztecs vs. #12 (College of) Charleston Cougars
My Pick: Charleston

#4 University of Virginia Cavaliers vs. #13 Furman Paladins
My Pick: Virginia

#6 Creighton Bluejays vs. #11 NC State Wolfpack
My Pick: Creighton

#3 Baylor Bears vs. #14 UCSB (UC Santa Barbara) Gauchos
My Pick: Baylor

#7 (University of) Missouri (Mizzou) Tigers vs. #10 Utah State Aggies
My Pick: Missouri

#2 Arizona Wildcats vs. #15 Princeton Tigers
My Pick: Arizona

-----
Men's Midwest
#1 Houston Cougars vs. #16 Northern Kentucky Norse
My Pick: Houston

#8 (University of) Iowa Hawkeyes vs. #9 Auburn Tigers
My Pick: Iowa

#5 University of Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. #12 Drake Bulldogs
My Pick: Drake

#4 Indiana Hoosiers vs. #13 Kent State Golden Flashes
My Pick: Indiana

#6 Iowa State Cyclones vs. #11 Pitt Panthers/Mississippi State Bulldogs
My Pick: Pitt (I know Pitt won, but since I picked MSU last pick, I am not eligible for the extra 5 points)

#3 Xavier Musketeers vs. #14 Kennesaw State Owls
My Pick: Xavier

#7 Texas A&M Aggies vs. #10 Penn State Nittany Lions
My Pick: Texas A&M

#2 Texas Longhorns vs. #15 Colgate Raiders
My Pick: Texas

-----
Men's East

#1 Purdue Boilermakers vs. #16 Texas Southern Tigers/Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights
My Pick: Purdue

#8 Memphis Tigers vs. #9 Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Owls
My Pick: FAU

#5 Duke Blue Devils #12 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
My Pick: Duke

#4 (University of) Tennessee Volunteers vs. #13 (University of) Louisiana (at Lafayette) Ragin' Cajuns
My Pick: Tennessee

#6 (University of) Kentucky Wildcats vs. #11 Providence Friars
My Pick: Kentucky

#3 Kansas State Wildcats vs. #14 Montana State Bobcats
My Pick: Kansas State

#7 Michigan State Spartans vs. #10 USC Trojans
My Pick: USC

#2 Marquette Golden Eagles vs. #15 (University of) Vermont Catamounts
My Pick: Marquette

--------
Men's West

#1 (University of) Kansas Jayhawks vs. #16 Howard Bison
My Pick: Kansas

#8 (Uniiversity of) Arkansas Razorbacks vs. #9 (University of) Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) Fighting Illini
My Pick: Illinois

#5 Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Virginia Commonwealth Uniiversity Rams (VCU)
My Pick: VCU

#4 UConn Huskies vs. #13 Iona (University) Gaels
My Pick: UConn

#6 TCU Horned Frogs vs. #11 Arizona State Sun Devils
My Pick: Arizona State (I picked AZU in the first rount, so I am eligible for 25 points here)

#3 Gonzaga Bulldgos vs. #14 Grand Canyon Lopes
My Pick: Gonzaga

#7 Northwestern Wildcats vs. #10 Boise State Broncos
My Pick: Boise State

#2 UCLA Bruins vs. #15 UNC Asheville Bulldogs
My Pick: UCLA

(Women's coming on next post)

 

[Trippy Trekker]

@PoliSciPulse - Late to the Party! 16 men games today, my picks in BOLD:

MI State v. USC. XAVIER v. Kennesaw. BAYLOR v. UC Santa Barbara. Saint Mary’s v. VCU.

MARQUETTE v. VT. IOWA v. PITT. Creighton v. NC State. CONN v. Iona.

PURDUE v. FDU. KY v. Providence. MIAMI v. Drake. Gonzaga v. Grand Canyon.

FAU v. Memphis. KANSAS State v. Montana St. INDIANA v. Kent St. AZ State v. TCU.

 

[PoliSciPulse]

(You have no clue how much that just made my day! )

Women’s NCAA Main Round





And we go to the Women’s Main Bracket now following the conclusion of the First Four.





Greenville 1 Region

#1 (University of) South Carolina Gamecocks vs. #16 Norfolk State Spartans
My Pick: South Carolina

#8 South Florida Bulls vs. #9 Marquette Golden Eagles
My Pick: South Florida

#5 (University of) Oklahoma Sooners vs. #12 Portland Pilots
My Pick: Oklahoma

#4 UCLA Bruins vs. #13 Sacramento State Hornets
My Pick: UCLA

#6 Creighton Bluejays vs. #11 (University of) Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) Fighting Illini OR Mississippi State University
My Pick: Creighton

#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. #14 Southern Utah Thunderbirds
My pick: Notre Dame

#7 (University of) Arizona Wildcats vs. #10 West Virginia University Mountaineers
My pick: WVU

#2 (University of) Maryland Terrapins vs. #15 Holy Cross Crusaders
My pick: Maryland

———
Greenville Region 2

#1 Indiana (University Bloomington) Hoosiers vs. #16 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles/Monmouth Hawks
My pick: Indiana

#8 Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs. #9 (University of) Miami (FL) Hurricanes
My pick: Miami

#5 Washington State Cougars vs. #12 Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Eagles
My Pick: FGCU

#4 Villanova Wildcats vs. #13 Cleveland State Vikings
My Pick: Villanova

#6 University of Michigan Wolverines vs. #11 University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels
My Pick: Michigan

#3 Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers vs. #14 Hawaii Rainbow Wahine
My Pick: LSU

#7 NC State Wolfpack vs. #10 Princeton Tigers
My Pick: NC State

#2 (University of) Utah Utes vs. #15 Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs
My Pick: Utah
——
Seattle Region 4

#1 Stanford Cardinals vs. #16 Sacred Heart Pioneers
My Pick: Stanford

#8 Ole Miss Rebels vs. #9 Gonzaga Bulldogs
My Pick: Ole Miss

#5 Louisville Cardinals vs. #12 Drake Bulldogs
My Pick: Louisville

#4 Texas Longhorns vs. #13 East Carolina Pirates
My Pick: Texas

#6 Colorado Buffaloes vs. #11 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
My Pick: Colorado

#3 Duke Blue Devils vs. #14 Iona Gaels
My Pick: Duke

#7 Florida State Seminoles vs. #10 Georgia Lady Bulldogs
My Pick: Florida State

#2 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. #15 Southeastern Louisiana Lions
My Pick: Iowa
—————
Seattle Region 3

#1 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. #16 Chattanooga Mocs
My Pick: Virginia Tech (Apparently, this pick was somehow late … we’ll throw it out)

#8 Southern California Trojans vs. #9 South Dakota State Jackrabbits
My Pick: South Dakota State

#5 Iowa State Cyclones vs. #12 Toledo Rockets
My Pick: Toledo

#4 Tennessee Volunteers vs. #13 Saint Louis Billikens
My Pick: Tennessee

#6 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. #11 St. John’s Red Storm
My Pick: North Carolina

#3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #14 James Madison Dukes
My Pick: Ohio State

#7 Baylor Lady Bears vs. #10 Alabama Crimson Tide
My Pick: Alabama

#2 UConn Huskies vs. #15 Vermont Catamounts
My Pick: UConn

 

[PoliSciPulse]

(For some reason I am always late on putting the next round -specifically- up, so if you don't see the next round's picks up on the day of, still pick 'em)

 

[Trippy Trekker]

@PoliSciPulse -

I went 13 out of 16 on Friday, March 17. My misses: 1. PITT beat Iowa. 2. FDU beat Purdue. 3. TCU beat AZ St.

I expect to figure out who plays who Saturday, March 18th and post my picks timely.

 

[PoliSciPulse]

(Here are the picks -- don't forget we are also doing the women's, too.)

Men’s NCAA ROUND OF 32 (Starts 3/18):
This time, there are 30 points per pick.





SOUTH (Games start 3/18):
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #8 Maryland Terrapins
My Pick: Alabama

#5 San Diego State Aztecs vs. #13 Furman Paladins
My Pick: San Diego State

#6 Creighton Bluejays vs. #3 Baylor Bears
My Pick: Baylor

#7 Missouri Tigers vs. #15 Princeton Tigers
My Pick: Missouri
——————
MIDWEST
#1 Houston Cougars vs. #9 Auburn Tigers
My Pick: Houston

#5 Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. #4 Indiana Hoosiers
My Pick: Miami (FL)

#11 Pitt Panthers vs. #3 Xavier Musketeers
My Pick: Pitt

#10 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #2 Texas Longhorns
My Pick: Texas

———————
EAST

#16 Fairleigh Dickson University (FDU) Knights vs. #9 Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Owls
My Pick: FAU

#5 Duke Blue Devils vs. #4 Tennessee Volunteers
My Pick: Duke

#6 Kentucky Wildcats vs. #3 Kansas State Wildcats
My Pick: Kentucky

#7 Michigan State Spartans vs. #2 Marquette Golden Eagles
My Pick: Michigan State
——
WEST
#1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #8 Arkansas Razorbacks
My Pick: Kansas

#5 Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. #4 UConn Huskies
My Pick: Saint Mary’s

#6 TCU Horned Frogs vs. #3 Gonzaga Bulldogs
My Pick: TCU

#7 Northwestern Wildcats vs. #2 UCLA Bruins
My Pick: UCLA

 

[Trippy Trekker]

@PoliSciPulse - Bowing out of choosing the women’s tournament, though I enjoyed watching a good bit 2nd half of Georgia girls taking down FSU.

 

[PoliSciPulse]

@PoliSciPulse - Bowing out of choosing the women’s tournament, though I enjoyed watching a good bit 2nd half of Georgia girls taking down FSU.

Continue with the men's then and we'll drop the women's. No problem

 

[Trippy Trekker]

@PoliSciPulse -

San Diego St. v. Furman. DUKE v. TENN. KANSAS v. AK. Missouri v. Princeton.

Houston v. Auburn. TX v. PENN ST. UCLA v. Northwestern. Alabama v. Maryland.

 

[Trippy Trekker]

@PoliSciPulse - Apples-to-Apples, my point of view does not comport to your scoring system. All Grins!

You went 12 out of 16 Friday, March 17th. I went 13 out of 16. You missed MI St. over USC; I got it. You missed St. Mary’s over VCU; I got it. I missed PITT over Iowa St.; you got it. We both missed FDU over Purdue and TCU over AZ State.

Saturday, March 18th, we both went 5 for 8. We missed the same three. TENN beat DUKE. Arkansas beat Kansas. Princeton beat Missouri.

Going to review Today’s (Sunday, March 19th) games, make my picks and post in a few minutes.

 

[Trippy Trekker]

@PoliSciPulse -

Xavier v. PITT. KY v. Kansas St. Marquette v. MI St. uCONN v. St. Mary’s.

Baylor v. Creighton. FAU v. FDU. Miami v. Indiana. Gonzaga v. TCU.

 

[PoliSciPulse]

I will score these when the games have concluded
In the meantime, I think we have -- what -- a five-day wait? If you can answer the tie-breaker in the first post, then in the event we tie, you will win.
Note: I do not know the answer. Provide a link to verify.

 

[Trippy Trekker]

For a tiebreaker (if needed), the first person who answers why the First Four in Men's and Women's basketball play-in to seats #16 and #11 (instead of all being #16, which seems the most logical choice) will win one bonus point.

@PoliSciPulse - If we tie, I agree to concede the bonus point to you for all the work you put into this thread.

Even if you did most of the thread via copy and paste, it took a level of thoughtfulness and effort that I genuinely appreciate. Kudos!

March Madness 2023: Why 11 seeds have to play in the First Four games to make the NCAA tournament

The First Four NCAA tournament games include 16-seeds and 11-seeds this year, while 12-, 13-, 14-, and 15-seeds are given byes in March Madness.

www.insider.com

 

[PoliSciPulse]

I type it up by hand, though I do "copy" from the official bracket. The team names I actually look up. I'm just guessing at random with a few points of logic (i.e., a 16 team never beats a #1 seed -- except for this year ).

I have a similar game coming up for the Women's World Cup (Soccer) this year in June (I think?) if you're interested

 

[Trippy Trekker]

I type it up by hand, though I do "copy" from the official bracket. The team names I actually look up. I'm just guessing at random with a few points of logic (i.e., a 16 team never beats a #1 seed -- except for this year ).

I have a similar game coming up for the Women's World Cup (Soccer) this year in June (I think?) if you're interested

I played a lot of hoops in my life. Not a soccer guy.

I joined my first basketball league 56 years ago.

 

[PoliSciPulse]

A pick 'em or an athletic league?

I used to do a game like this for basketball. We'd predict games I selected based on the Power Rankings during the week (At least one per day, so at least 7 picks a week plus teams in the top-ten of power rankings). We'd also have bonuses for the division winners and seeds 1-8 (I think they still do that now for playoffs). You could change them at the all-star break, but the ones you changed would be worth only half their value. I would release the first like, three weeks in the first week to provide a cushion in case I got busy.

Does this sound like something you'd be interested in?

 

[Trippy Trekker]

A pick 'em or an athletic league?

I used to do a game like this for basketball. We'd predict games I selected based on the Power Rankings during the week (At least one per day, so at least 7 picks a week plus teams in the top-ten of power rankings). We'd also have bonuses for the division winners and seeds 1-8 (I think they still do that now for playoffs). You could change them at the all-star break, but the ones you changed would be worth only half their value. I would release the first like, three weeks in the first week to provide a cushion in case I got busy.

Does this sound like something you'd be interested in?

Not my thing.

I joined a county-wide REC league in the Orlando FL area as a 10 year old. One of my classmates and friends, George Eddy, joined the same pup league at the same time. CRAZY that he never made his junior high team, high school team or a college team. He won a one-on-one championship at University of Florida, then carved out a Pro career in France. Post Pro-playing years, he became known in France for decades as the ‘Voice of the NBA’.

George Eddy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Trippy Trekker]

@PoliSciPulse -

I went 5 for 8 Sunday, March 19th. You went 3 for 8.

 

[PoliSciPulse]

(If you thought the game was going well so far, wait until we get to the way I put the scores together )

 

[Trippy Trekker]

(If you thought the game was going well so far, wait until we get to the way I put the scores together )

Hahaha… I flashed on how Trump keeps score in golf.

I reviewed all eight Sweet 16 games this morning:

MI State v. Kansas St. uCONN v. Arkansas. TENN v. FAU. UCLA v. Zags.

ALABAMA v. San Diego St. Houston v. Miami. Creighton v. Princeton. TEXAS v. Xavier.

 

[PoliSciPulse]

Men's South Region (3/16 - 3/17)



#6 Creighton Bluejays vs. #11 NC State Wolfpack

My Pick: Creighton

Trippy Trekker: Creighton



Result: Creighton won, 72-63. Congrats to us all!



#3 Baylor Bears vs. #14 UCSB (UC Santa Barbara) Gauchos

My Pick: Baylor

Trippy Trekker: Baylor

Result: Baylor won, 74-56. Congrats to us all!



Results through the South:

Me: 40

Trippy Trekker: 40



-----

Men's Midwest



#5 University of Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. #12 Drake Bulldogs

My Pick: Drake

Trippy Trekker: Miami



Result: Miami won, 63-56. Congrats to Trippy Trekker!



#4 Indiana Hoosiers vs. #13 Kent State Golden Flashes

My Pick: Indiana

Trippy Trekker: Indiana

Result: Indian won, 71-60. Congrats to us all!



#6 Iowa State Cyclones vs. #11 Pitt Panthers/Mississippi State Bulldogs

My Pick: Pitt (I know Pitt won, but since I picked MSU last pick, I am not eligible for the extra 5 points)

Trippy Trekker: Iowa

Result: Pitt won, 59-41. Congrats to Me and Me Alone!



#3 Xavier Musketeers vs. #14 Kennesaw State Owls

My Pick: Xavier

Trippy Trekker: Xavier

Result: Xavier won, 72-67. Congrats to us all!



Results through the Midwest:

Me: 100

Trippy Trekker: 100



-----

Men's East



#1 Purdue Boilermakers vs. #16 Texas Southern Tigers/Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights

My Pick: Purdue

Trippy Trekker: Purdue



Result: FDU won, 63-58. Congrats to no one



(Incidentally, the phrase MARCH MADNESS TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE has the phrase SHORTEST TEAM) in it. Dunno if that interests you or not, but



#8 Memphis Tigers vs. #9 Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Owls

My Pick: FAU

Trippy Trekker: FAU



Result: FAU won, 66-65. Congrats to us all!



#6 (University of) Kentucky Wildcats vs. #11 Providence Friars

My Pick: Kentucky

Trippy Trekker: Kentucky



Result: Kentucky won, 61-53. Congrats to us all!



#3 Kansas State Wildcats vs. #14 Montana State Bobcats

My Pick: Kansas State

Trippy Trekker: Kansas State

Result: Kansas State won, 77-65. Congrats to us all!



#7 Michigan State Spartans vs. #10 USC Trojans

My Pick: USC
Trippy Trekker: Michigan State



Result: Michigan State won, 69-60. Congrats to Trippy Trekker!



#2 Marquette Golden Eagles vs. #15 (University of) Vermont Catamounts

My Pick: Marquette

Trippy Trekker: Marquette



Result: Marquette won, 78-61. Congrats to us all!



Results through the East:

Me: 180

Trippy Trekker: 200



--------

Men's West





#5 Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Virginia Commonwealth Uniiversity Rams (VCU)

My Pick: VCU

Trippy Trekker: Saint Mary’s

Result: Saint Mary’s won, 63-51. Congrats to Trippy Trekker!



#4 UConn Huskies vs. #13 Iona (University) Gaels

My Pick: UConn

Trippy Trekker: UConn

Result: UConn won, 87-63. Congrats to us all!





#6 TCU Horned Frogs vs. #11 Arizona State Sun Devils

My Pick: Arizona State (I picked AZU in the first round, so I am eligible for 25 points here)

Trippy Trekker: Arizona State

Result: TCU won, 72-70. Congrats to no one



#3 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. #14 Grand Canyon Antelopes

My Pick: Gonzaga

Trippy Trekker: Gonzaga



Result: Gonzaga won, 82-60. Congrats to us all!



Results at the end of this round:

Trippy Trekker: 260

Me: 240

 

[PoliSciPulse]

South (Games played 3/23-3/24)

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs, #5 San Diego State Aztecs
Me: Alabama

#6 Creighton Bluejays vs. #15 Princeton Tigers
Me: Princeton

————
East

#9 FAU Owls vs. #4 Tennessee Volunteers
Me: Tennessee

#3 Kansas State Wildcats vs. #8 Michigan State Spartans
Me: Kansas State

——
Midwest

#1 Houston Cougars vs. #5 Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Me: Houston

#3 Xavier Musketeers vs. #2 Houston Longhorns
Me: Xavier

———-
#8 Arkansas Razorbacks vs. #4 UConn Huskies
Me: UConn

#3 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. #2 UCLA Bruins
Me: UCLA

 

[Trippy Trekker]

@PoliSciPulse - Hmm, your scoring reminds me of Trump in golf!

You went 20 out of 32 in round 2; I went 23 out of 32. You might want to double check your scoring!

Now on to the Sweet 16: You won the first game!

Congratulations on picking Kansas State over MI State. Great game! I picked the loser.

 

[Trippy Trekker]

My apologies for conflating the 1st and 2nd Rounds in my Post #24.

My quick review has led me to recognize I jumped into your game Day Two, 1st Round, March 17th. You went 12 out of 16. I went 13 out of 16. Disregarding your Bonus process and the Day One games, at 20 points for each right pick, I score you at 240 and me at 260.

2nd Round consisted of 16 games. You went 8 for 16; I went 10 for 16. At 30 points for each right pick, you pick up an additional 240 points, for a total of 480; I pick up an additional 300 points, for a total of 560.

How many points do you allot per win in the Sweet 16? I know you gained on me with the Kansas State win over MI State. The next three games tonight, we chose the same teams to win. Tomorrow, we differ on two of the four games. This keeps our little contest interesting!

Thanks for putting the work into this thread, especially with only the two of us participating! Feel some Trippy
T. Love!

@PoliSciPulse - Hmm, your scoring reminds me of Trump in golf!

You went 20 out of 32 in round 2; I went 23 out of 32. You might want to double check your scoring!

Now on to the Sweet 16: You won the first game!

Congratulations on picking Kansas State over MI State. Great game! I picked the loser.