65 Games in 6 Minutes

First, Malcolm Gladwell impressions, an annual tradition:

Atlanta: In the first weekend, Duke beats George Washington, LSU knocks off a tiring Syracuse, Texas fuels N.C. State's Barnes infatuation, and West Virginia takes out West Virginia. Duke, alas, will top the Moutaineers for the Final Four ticket.

DC: UConn over Kentucky, Illinois (shafted at a 4-spot) over Washington, Seton Hall taking out Winthrop (Tennessee is the worst 2-seed in quite awhile) and as for the UNC-Michigan State game... I've changed my mind three times already, but I'll go with the Spartans right now. UConn will step past the UNC/MSU winner for the Final Four anyway.

Minneapolis: Villanova will squeak past Wisconsin, BC can handle Nevade, Georgetown will upset Ohio State and Florida can beat Oklahoma. Villanova wins the Big East rematch with the Hoyas to make the final weekend.

Oakland: Bucknell can make the Sweet 16 over Memphis, Pittsburgh will slip past Kansas, Alabama can punch a ticket over also-overseeded UCLA, and Gonzaga will end San Diego State's season. Gonzaga will be the fourth Final Four team at Pittsburgh's expense.

And we can all sit back and watch Connecticut send Duke home in April. I know this is a complete reversal of my earlier view of Duke and Gonzaga but I really can't find the teams in their brackets to beat them. Stick them in the DC bracket at 1 and 2, and Illinois and the UNC/MSU winner are the ones fighting for that Final Four spot. As it stands though, UConn and Villanova - the teams I had much more confidence in - have tougher rows to hoe.

Oh, and the most important pick: Hampton crushes Monmouth.