2010 NCAA Tournament Mascot Showdown: South First Round

Here is the fourth and final mascot preview for the first round.

As with the first three, comment or vote in the poll for who should advance.

(1) Duke Blue Devils vs. (16) Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions or Winthrop Eagles

Leave it to Duke to have an intellectual meaning behind their mascot. Blue Devil is from the nickname for a French infantry brigade in World War I, known as "les Diables Bleus" or the blue devils.

Golden Lions is a cheap excuse to have golden in front of their mascot, and Eagles is too bland.

By default, Blue Devils wins over both teams that they could face.

(8) Cal Golden Bears vs. (9) Louisville Cardinals

Cal is one of five teams using golden to describe their mascot, a trend that needs to end.

A cardinal is a robust, strong-billed, red bird.

Cardinal beats Golden Bears because of the use of golden.

(5) Texas A&M Aggies vs. (12) Utah State Aggies

The second of two matchups of teams with same mascot goes to color tiebreaker: maroon and white or blue and white.

No exciting color scheme on either side, so it is a toss-up.

(4) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (13) Siena Saints

Boilermakers are trained craftsmen who produce steel fabrications.

Saints are individuals of exceptional holiness.

Two different ends of the mascot spectrum meet a toss-up.

(6) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. (11) Old Dominion Monarchs

Yet another war reference, the Irish are named for Irish immigrants that fought in the Civil War.

Monarchs are people that run a country for life barring abdication.

Fighting Irish can take down Monarchs in a rebellion, so the Irish win this matchup.

(3) Baylor Bears vs. (14) Sam Houston State Bearkats

We all know what a bear is, and Baylor has nothing special to add to the mascot story.

Uniqueness points go to SHSU for putting a K in Bearkats, which ironically is not a bear or a cat.

Being unique rewards those who take risks: K in Bearkat is unique.

(7) Richmond Spiders vs. (10) St. Mary's Gaels

Spiders are arthropods that can be venomous depending on the type.

Gael refers to the Gaelic people of the British Isles.

To set up a possible All-British Isle Sweet 16 matchup, the Gaels win.

(2) Villanova Wildcats vs. (15) Robert Morris Colonials

Both mascots are pretty lame and far from unique; toss-up in this matchup.

Check out the rest of my mascot previews for the first round:

East

West

Midwest