March Madness. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has become a gargantuan, media-fueled, hypefest comparable to the Super Bowl. Media outlets begin handicapping the possible participants in December, and the debate continues through the conference championships, right up to the day the brackets are announced. Announcement day has become an all day event itself, with camera crews posted at all of the schools that are breathlessly waiting to hear whether they are in, or if their bubble is going to be burst. Teams that were a “lock” to make the big dance sit around waiting for their opponent to be announced and we get to watch them watching TV while the matchups are revealed.

The East bracket appears to have the heavyweights in it this year with North Carolina, Georgetown, Texas, and Southern Cal. all looking like contenders. Boston College will make some noise, with ACC Player of the Year Jared Dudley leading the way, but they won't get past mighty Georgetown. It should come down to North Carolina vs. Georgetown for the right to go to Atlanta for the Final Four.

Ohio State is the big dog in the South bracket, but there are several teams in here that could emerge to beat the young Buckeyes. They should breeze through the first two rounds, but they will meet up with either Tennessee or Virginia in the Regionals, either of whom could unseat Oden and company. If they should manage to get past that point, they'll face either Memphis or Texas A&M, both defensive monsters. I love the Buckeyes, but I've got a feeling that Texas A&M, playing in their own backyard, will end up in Atlanta.

In the Midwest, there are plenty of folks who believe that Florida is bound for a repeat this year. I'm not sold on the Gators, who have been inconsistent down the stretch, despite their SEC tournament win. If the Gators manage to beat Arizona in the second round, they'll likely face Maryland, the best team in the ACC. The other end of the bracket could feature the biggest upset of the tournament with this year's “Cinderella story”, Winthrop. They've won 18 straight games on their way to the Big Dance, and could easily be this year's George Mason. In the end though, it should be Maryland punching their ticket to Atlanta.

UCLA got a gift from the bracket committee, which placed them on their home turf in the West bracket. They shouldn't find it too difficult to make the regionals, where they'll likely face Pittsburgh. Duke is in that bracket too, but they simply don't have the makings of a Final Four contender this year. Kansas is in the other end of the West, where Kentucky and the Southern Illinois Salukis will just be bumps in the road on the way their matchup with UCLA. Expect the Bruins to march off to Atlanta.

So, I'm calling for a UCLA, Maryland, Texas A&M, Georgetown Final Four.  Now go fill in your brackets and win the office pool.  Remember, you heard it here first.  BTW- the winner will be Georgetown!  Shake it easy!