2010 NCAA Tournament Mascot Showdown: Midwest First Round

To start off my previews of March Madness, I will take a look at who will win if the games were solely based on the better mascot.

Comment on who you think has the best mascot in each matchup, and the teams with the most comments will advance to the second round mascot matchups.

(1) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (16) Lehigh Mountain Hawks

The Jayhawk is a mythical bird that has features of both a blue jay and sparrow hawk.

Mountain Hawks are commonly found in the Himalayan region of Asia and are starting to become extinct.

This battle of the birds is a toss-up.

(8) UNLV Rebels vs. (9) Northern Iowa Panthers

A rebel is anyone who is a participant in rebellion against authority or control. Two examples are the Confederate Army and the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars.

A panther is a large carnivore that preys on many large animals.

All the geeks that read this column will take the Rebel Alliance reference and advance UNLV to the Final Four. The Panthers have no shot because Star Wars fans are dedicated.

(5) Michigan State Spartans vs. (12) New Mexico State Aggies

Spartans are the people of the city-state of Sparta, known for its fierce warriors.

Aggie is short for agricultural or a nickname for Greek hero Agamemnon.

Fierce warrior vs. agricultural school. Simple choice if you ask me.

(4) Maryland Terrapins vs. (13) Houston Cougars

A terrapin is a type of turtle that lives in coastal salt marshes and is the state reptile of Maryland.

A cougar is a panther-like animal or, as Urban Dictionary defines it, an older woman who frequents clubs to score with young men.

Shout-out to all the cougars who read the article—you might have a chance to win the mascot bracket, but if you don't vote, Fear the Turtle is a good motto to go by.

(6) Tennessee Volunteers vs. (11) San Diego State Aztecs

Volunteers frequent community work and also choose to serve in the armed forces.

The Aztec tribe is an extinct tribe based on Lake Texcoco in present-day Mexico City and were conquered by Hernan Cortes.

The Aztecs are extinct, so pick the good-hearted Volunteers.

(3) Georgetown Hoyas vs. (14) Ohio Bobcats

I will now try to answer the age-old question: What is a hoya? It comes from the Greek word "hoya" and Latin word "saxa," which together mean "What Rocks?" but since words cannot be a mascot, they use a bulldog instead.

Bobcats are in the same family as the panther and cougar. Urban Dictionary's definition is a cougar who only wants to make out and will only go as far as second base.

Since a Hoya is not a bulldog and a bobcat is an actual animal, please pick the Bobcats.

(7) Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. (10) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Cowboys were more popular when the West was being settled. As ranch handlers on horseback, cowboys would keep their cattle in line.

A yellow jacket is a type of wasp that, when it stings, it hurts, but the females do all the stinging and males die at reproduction.

At first look, you would take the yellow jackets. But the males die at reproduction, while cowboys live after reproduction. That shows who the true men are in this matchup.

(2) Ohio State Buckeyes vs. (15) UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos

The buckeye is the state tree of Ohio that produces poisonous nuts.

A gaucho is a fancy Portuguese term for cowboy.

If this was any other tree, the tree would have no chance against a cowboy, but the buckeye is all about tradition, as it's not just a tree to any Ohio State supporter.

Please vote on which mascot is best, and the winners will be announced in my next matchup preview for the Midwest region Tuesday. Make sure you check out the rest of my first round previews based on mascots tonight and Monday.