2019 NCAA basketball tourney

Complete NCAA Bracket Predictions | NCAA March Madness Bracket Breakdown https://t.co/aIazm511gX via @YouTube

— O'Donnell Agency (@InsuranceNJ908) March 21, 2019

March is probably my favorite month of the year.  All the St. Patrick's festivities, warm weather getting closer, and of course the
NCAA basketball tournament.  We have a lot of fun at the agency debating our favorite teams along with the possible winners and losers.  Of
course you must fill out a bracket to see how knowledgeable you actually are in the college basketball world.  I like to think I know a thing
or two about who is a favorite and who has no chance.  In reality, you can flip a coin on every game and probably do just as well as one of those
high paid pundits on ESPN or CBS.  Of course, like those TV pundits, I will throw in my two cents and give you who I think will be in the Final Four
come April.

     In the East bracket, I looked very closely to see if I could pick a team that could beat Duke.  There are many Duke haters out there, myself
included, but they also have their fans and I have to admit Duke is quite good this year.  They can be beaten though as I did watch Gonzaga beat them
back in the beginning of the season.  Top teams can hang with them but beating Duke is a tall order.  Zion Williamson, R.J Barret, and Cam Reddish pose
numerous problems to an opposing team.  Michigan St. is a possibility but I am going with Duke as the winner in the East Bracket.

    The West bracket has Gonzaga as the Number 1 seed but I don't thing they make it through.  Rob Griffith(my brother) is a big Syracuse fan and he thinks
they can take Gonzaga out in the second round(assuming they win their first round game).  I don't see that happening but I see Gonzaga going out in the
Sweet 16, possibly to Florida St. or possibly Murray St., a 12 seed.  Look out for Murray St. and also Buffalo, another small basketball school that had
a great year.  All that being said, I will go with Michigan to get to the Final Four.  My Villanova squad took them out last year in the 2018 Championship
Game(a great day) and I think they can get back there again.  Michigan is the choice in the East.

    The South bracket is interesting as I am having a real hard time picking a Final Four candidate.  I would love to pick my Villanova boys to get through
but I am trying to be objective and I don't think Villanova has enough this year.  They play for the most part 6 players and I just think they would be too
worn down to win the bracket.  I will be rooting for them of course but thinking it through I cannot predict that they will be the winner of this bracket.  The
problem is that I do not love the other possible teams.  Virginia, Tennessee, Purdue, and Kansas St. are the top 4 seeds and I don't trust any of them.  Those
that watch the tournament each year of course remember Virginia last year losing to a 16 seed.  This was the first time a 1 seed lost to a 16 seed so its hard
to have confidence in them.  I have to make a choice so I will go with Kansas State.  Also, look out for Cincinnati, they could do some damage.  This bracket
I am not confident in and I wish I had the guts to pick Villanova but Kansas St. is the pick.

    Finally, the Midwest where I have two possible choices and they are not the top 4 seeds.  I love Auburn and Iowa St.  Auburn is the 5 seed and Iowa St. is
the 6 seed.  This bracket is pretty stocked as North Carolina is playing well and Kentucky and Houston are very good teams.  Don't love Kansas at the 4 seed as
they were not great this year.  I am feeling like one of the higher seeds will make it through so I am going with Iowa St.  This could blow up in my face but it
is not unusual for a higher seeded team to make the final four.  Remember, Loyola-Chicago made it last year as a 11 seed.

   My final four picks:  Duke, Michigan, Kansas St., and Iowa St.  Michigan beats Duke in one semi-final, Iowa St. wins the other semi.  Michigan over Iowa St.
for the national championship.  Michigan comes back from a crushing loss to the great Villanova Wildcats in the 2018 final.  Michigan the 2019 national champion.

   I hope you liked the breakdown.  You can use my picks if you like, I do not mind, as a matter of fact I will be flattered.  You can also go against everything
I said.  It would hurt a little but I will be ok. Enjoy the next three weekends as it's always a lot of fun.  Nothing better than seeing a team hit a last second
shot to win a game.  You see both exilaration and well as heartbreak for the team that experienced that last second loss.  Enjoy the games and good luck with
your picks.