TigersMAN

MIDWEST:

 1) Kentucky (32-1)
16) Norfolk St.(25-9)/Western Ky.(15-18) winner

 8) Creighton (28-5)
 9) Kansas St. (21-10)

 4) Wisconsin (24-9)
13) BYU (25-8)

 5) New Mexico (25-6)
12) Texas (20-12)

 3) Michigan (24-9)
14) Belmont (27-7)

 6) Florida St. (23-9)
11) VCU (28-6)

 7) Cincinnati (24-10)
10) S. Mississippi (25-8)

 2) Missouri (30-4)
15) Davidson (25-7)


EAST

 1) Syracuse (31-2)
16) Miss. Valley St.(19-12)/Vermont(23-11) winner

 8) Memphis (26-8)
 9) Iowa St. (22-10)

 4) Indiana (25-8)
13) New Mexico St. (23-9)

 5) Murray St. (30-1)
12) St. Bonaventure (19-11)

 3) Marquette (25-7)
14) Montana (25-6)

 6) San Diego St. (25-6)
11) Harvard (26-4)

 7) Gonzaga (25-6)
10) West Virginia (19-13)

 2) Ohio St. (26-6)
15) Lehigh (26-7)


WEST

 1) Kansas (27-6)
16) Lamar (23-11)

 8) Virginia (22-9)
 9) Purdue (21-11)

 4) Georgetown (23-8)
13) Long Beach St. (23-8)

 5) Vanderbilt (23-10)
12) Drexel(27-6)/Colorado St.(20-11) winner

 3) Louisville (26-9)
14) Ohio (27-7)

 6) Wichita St. (27-5)
11) Colorado (23-11)

 7) Temple (24-6)
10) Alabama (20-10)

 2) Duke (27-6)
15) Detroit (22-13)


SOUTH

 1) North Carolina (29-4)
16) NC-Asheville (24-9)

 8) St. Louis (25-7)
 9) Connecticut (20-13)

 4) Florida (23-10)
13) S. Dakota St. (27-7)


 5) Saint Mary's (27-5)
12) S. Florida(20-13)/Washington(21-10) winner

 3) Baylor (27-7)
14) Loyola MD (24-8)

 6) Notre Dame (22-11)
11) NC St. (22-12)

 7) UNLV (26-7)
10) Xavier (21-11)

 2) Michigan State (26-7)
15) LIU-Brooklyn (25-8)


Last 4 In:  Colorado St., Drexel, S. Florida, NC St.

First 4 Out:  Arizona, Nevada, Miss. St., Seton Hall

Next 4 Out:  Dayton, Iona, Oral Roberts, Northwestern
 

Let me start this by saying I HATE all these schools changing conferences like they're changing their underwear or something.  Missouri is the latest school that is looking to jump conferences.  Having said that, I propose the NCAA, once and for all, just make 6 "super conferences" and leave it at that. Actually, it's more like 4 super conferences, plus 2.  This would only work for football, as there are many more "mid major" conferences in basketball. Many of these basketball schools, play D-1AA or D-2 football.  So, combining the D-1A conferences into 6 super conferences would, hopefully, change all this conference jumping.  Then again, maybe it wouldn't, but it's interesting to think about and something to discuss.  Here's my proposal for the Super Conferences.

BIG 20 (BIG 10 X 2)

North Division

Michigan State
Michigan
Minnesota
Northwestern
Penn State
Wisconsin
Ohio State
Illinois
Purdue
Indiana

South Division

Nebraska
Iowa
Iowa State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Kansas
Kansas State
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech


ACC

North Division

Boston College
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
West Virginia
Maryland
Clemson
Wake Forest
Connecticut

South Division

Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech
Virginia
Florida State
Duke
North Carolina
North Carolina State
Miami
South Florida


SEC

East Division

South Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Vanderbilt
Tennessee
Kentucky
Louisville
Central Florida
Cincinnati
East Carolina

West Division

Alabama
LSU
Auburn
Arkansas
Missouri
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Baylor
Houston
SMU


PAC 20

North Division

Stanford
Oregon
Oregon State
Washington
Washington State
California
Boise State
Wyoming
UNLV
Utah

South Division

Arizona
Arizona State
USC
UCLA
Colorado
TCU
Fresno State
SDSU
Colorado State
BYU


MAC

East Division

Temple
Miami (Oh)
Ohio
Bowling Green
Buffalo
Akron
Kent State
Marshall
Toledo
Memphis

West Division

Western Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Central Michigan
Ball State
Northern Illinois
Arkansas State
Tulsa
Troy
UAB
Western Kentucky


USA Conference

East Division

UL-Lafayette
UL-Monroe
Tulane
Florida International
Florida Atlantic
Louisiana Tech
Middle Tennessee State Univ.
North Texas
Navy
Army

West Division

Air Force
Hawaii
Nevada
New Mexico
New Mexico State
San Jose State
Utah State
Idaho
Rice
UTEP


And, of course, Notre Dame would remain Independent.

You could still have all the bowl games or even have a playoff/tournament amongst the conference champions.

I know these super conferences will never come about, but it passes the time to think about it.   

After a few upsets today (2/19), I've edited my brackets already.  Upsets abound!  UConn is fading fast in my bracket.  A lot of people seem to feel that the Big East will get 11 teams into the NCAA but I just can't bring myself to put that many from one conference in.  Looks like Marquette is odd man out, unless UConn continues to fade.  Have to see how they do in the Big East Tourney.

This is probably my third or fourth amendment to my brackets.  The way it's going, Marquette may make it into the tourney after all.  I still find it difficult to put in 11 teams from one conference though.

Yet another update to my bracket.  I'm not sure Michigan State will make it in, unless they have a good showing in the Big-10 Tournament.  I have them in for now but only time will tell.

Here's my last modification before they announce the brackets later today.

FIRST ROUND (Play-in games)

EAST (16th Seed)

Arkansas-Little Rock vs Alabama State

SOUTHWEST (16th Seed)

UT-San Antonio vs UC-Santa Barbara

SOUTHEAST (12th Seed)

 VCU vs Alabama

WEST (12th Seed)

St. Mary's vs. Penn State or Michigan State

SECOND ROUND

EAST

#1 Ohio State vs #16 Ark-LittleRock/Alabama State Winner

#8 George Mason vs #9 Florida State

#5 Texas A&M vs #12 Virginia Tech

#4 Syracuse vs #13 Princeton

#6 Xavier vs #11 Georgia

#3 Louisville vs #14 Long Island

#7 Old Dominion vs #10 Clemson

#2 Notre Dame vs #15 Boston University

SOUTHEAST

#1 Duke vs #16 UNC-Asheville

#8 UCLA vs #9 West Virginia

#5 Georgetown vs #12 VCU/Alabama Winner

#4 Florida vs #13 Belmont

#6 Cincinnati vs #11 Illinois

#3 BYU vs #14 Indiana State

#7 Temple vs #10 Colorado

#2 Pittsburgh vs #15 Akron

SOUTHWEST

#1 Kansas vs #16 UT-San Antonio/UC-Santa Barbara Winner 

#8  Richmond vs #9  UNLV

#5 St. John's vs #12 Tennessee

#4 Wisconsin vs #13 Bucknell

#6 Washington vs #11 Memphis

#3 Connecticut vs #14 Morehead State

#7 Villanova vs #10 Gonzaga

#2 North Carolina vs #15 St. Peter's

WEST

#1 San Diego State vs #16 Hampton

#8 Utah State vs #9 Missouri

#5 Arizona vs #12 St. Mary's/Penn. St. or Mich. St. Winner

#4 Kentucky vs #13 Oakland

#6 Kansas State vs #11 Butler

#3 Purdue vs #14 Wofford

#7 Vanderbilt vs #10 Michigan

#2 Texas vs #15 Northern Colorado

Last four in:  VCU, Alabama, St. Mary's, Michigan State/Penn State

First four out:  USC, Boston College, Missouri State, Marquette

1. Adam Wainwright:  GS-34, CG-1, W-L: 19-8, IP-233.0, K-212, BB-66, ERA: 2.63
2. Chris Carpenter:   GS-28, CG-3, W-L: 17-4, IP-192.2, K-144, BB-38, ERA: 2.24
3. Tim Lincecum:    GS-32, CG-4, W-L: 15-7, IP-225.1, K-261, BB-68, ERA: 2.48
4. Josh Johnson:   GS-33, CG-2, W-L: 15-5, IP-209.0, K-191, BB-58, ERA: 3.23
5. Jorge De La Rosa: GS-32, CG-0, W-L: 16-9, IP-185.0, K-193, BB-83, ERA: 4.38

1. Felix Hernandez: GS-34, CG-2, W-L: 19-5, IP-238.2, K-217, BB-71, ERA: 2.49
2. CC Sabathia:  GS-34, CG-2, W-L: 19-8, IP-230.0, K-197, BB-67, ERA: 3.37
3. Justin Verlander: GS-35, CG-3, W-L: 19-9, IP-240.0, K-269, BB-63, ERA: 3.45
4. Zack Greinke:  GS-33, CG-6, W-L: 16-8, IP-229.1, K-242, BB-51, ERA: 2.16
5. Josh Beckett:  GS-32, CG-4, W-L: 17-6, IP-212.1, K-199, BB-55, ERA: 3.86
6. Roy Halladay: GS-32, CG-9, W-L: 17-10, IP-239.0, K-208, BB-35, ERA: 2.79

Here's my view of the American League for this year:

AL EAST:

As much as I despise 'em, the Yankees have improved their starting pitching significantly and get the edge in winning the division.  I think it'll be a close race between three teams: Yanks, Sox, and Rays.  The Blue Jays lost Burnett and will drop down below the .500 mark.

1. Yankees      95 - 67
2. Red Sox      93 - 69
3. Rays           92 - 70
4. Jays            80 - 82
5. Orioles        70 - 92

AL CENTRAL:

This is a tough one to predict, I think.  I would like the Tigers to win it but I don't think they've improved their pitching enough to be competitive in the Central race.  I think it will be a two-team race between the Twins and the Tribe.  KC will be much improved but I don't think they have enough to challenge for the top spot.  The White Sox fall from 1st to last in one year.

1. Twins       89 - 73
2. Indians    88 - 74
3. Royals     83 - 79
4. Tigers      80 - 82
5. ChiSox    77 - 85

AL WEST:

This race will be closer than last year but the Angels will still win it.  They won't win 100 games this year though.  If the A's pitching improves (and stays healthy) they will make it a race down to the wire.

1. Angels       90 - 72
2. A's            87 - 75
3. Rangers     80 - 82
4. Mariners     65 - 97

Wild Card goes to the Red Sox.

Playoffs: Red Sox beat the Angels; Yankees beat the Twins; Red Sox beat the Yankees and meet the Cubs in the World Series.

CUBS WIN!!!!

 With less than 24 hours until Selection Sunday, here are my final brackets.

EAST BRACKET:

1. Pittsburgh vs. 16.  Robert Morris
2. Duke vs.  15.  Radford
3. Washington vs.  14.  Cornell
4. Purdue vs. 13.  Akron
5. UCLA vs. 12.  Creighton
6. West Virginia vs. 11.  Wisconsin
7. Clemson vs. 10.  Dayton
8. Boston College vs. 9.  Oklahoma State

MIDWEST  BRACKET:

1. Memphis vs.  16.  Binghamton
2. Oklahoma vs. 15.  Alabama State
3. Wake Forest vs. 14.  E. Tennessee State
4. Syracuse vs. 13.  North Dakota State
5. LSU vs.  12.  Temple
6. Texas vs. 11.  Southern Cal.
7. Marquette vs. 10.  Minnesota
8. Maryland vs.  9.  St. Marys

SOUTH BRACKET:

1. North Carolina vs. 16. Morgan State/CS-Northridge Winner (play-in game)
2. Connecticut vs. 15.  Portland State
3. Missouri vs. 14.  Morehead State
4. Kansas vs. 13.  Utah State
5. Arizona State vs. 12.  Western Kentucky
6. Tennessee vs. 11.  Virginia Commonwealth
7. Ohio State vs. 10.  Siena
8. Butler vs. 9.  Mississippi State

WEST BRACKET:

1. Louisville vs.  16.  Chattanooga
2. Michigan State vs.  15.  S.F. Austin
3. Villanova vs.  14.  American
4. Gonzaga vs.  13.  Cleveland State
5. Xavier vs.  12.  Northern Iowa
6. Florida State vs.  11.  Utah
7. California vs.  10.  Texas A&M
8. Illinois vs.  9.  Brigham Young

Out:  Arizona, Florida, Penn. State, Virginia Tech, Providence, Kansas State, Rhode Island, Davidson.