Every year in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament upsets wreck brackets and shock the nation.  Of course, for an upset occur, an underdog must take down a powerhouse.  Before the tournament starts (as this is written on March 13th), I will make five bold predictions for the men’s tournament.

1. Saint Mary’s College of California (7) that hails from Moraga, CA (population of roughly 17,000) muscles itself into the Elite 8.
Reasoning: They’ve only lost to two teams the enter year: UT-Arlington in a fluke and three times to #1 seeded Gonzaga.
2. Nevada (12) squeaks by Kansas (1) in the Sweet 16.
Reasoning: Nevada has great shooters and has won its last 10 regular season games; they’ll continue to roll.
3. Three double digit seeds make it to the Sweet 16.
Reasoning: Middle Tennessee State, Nevada, and New Mexico State are a combined 27-3 in their last 10 regular season games with the only losses coming from New Mexico State.
4. Neither Louisville (2) nor Arizona (2) make the Sweet 16 cut.
Reasoning: Louisville is 2-3 in its last five games, and I don’t believe Arizona has the ‘clutch factor.’
5. East Tennessee State (13) handles Florida (4)  – they win by a double digit margin.
Reasoning: Florida has lost to Vanderbilt three times this season, and both teams have real height in the post.