March Madness 2012 Bracket: Wild Tourney Will End with Predictable Champion

Although the 2012 edition of March Madness has not given us the heroic buzzer-beaters we have come to expect, it has certainly made up for it in another fashion: upsets. Considering the shockers we have observed so far, we are likely to see a champion who would not surprise anyone in the least.

We witnessed No. 2 seeds Duke and Missouri fall victim to their underrated competition within just a few hours of each other. We also saw VCU and Colorado pull off stunning victories early on in the tournament. Just a couple days ago, we saw Michigan State become the first No. 1 seed to go down in flames.

This madness has proven that anyone is vulnerable if they are unable to put together a solid 40 minutes of play, despite what their regular season produced.

Once the tournament begins, there is so much adrenaline pumping through the underdogs, along with considerable pressure hovering above the established favorites.

It is tough to highlight a traditional ‘Cinderella Story’ from the field, but perhaps Florida, who is currently leading Louisville at halftime, can qualify for the Final Four as a No. 7 seed, which would be very impressive even for a team with recent success in the tourney.  

Regardless of the upsets and shocking results, it is likely that we will see two No. 1 seeds face off in the title game, and if not, there will probably be a No. 2 seed competing on April 2 in New Orleans.

The Kentucky Wildcats have played the part of pre-tournament favorites well, and should still be considered the most likely to win the championship. They are eight-point favorites in their game versus Baylor and should cruise to victory.

North Carolina and Syracuse have both overcome adversity so far, and they have a strong chance of qualifying for the Final Four if they can get by difficult competition against No. 2 seeds this weekend.

Hopefully this will add up to a more exciting championship game than we witnessed last season. Three No. 1 seeds and two No. 2 seeds remaining should provide some exhilarating basketball. We will just have to wait and see which powerhouse rises to the occasion.