March Madness 2011 Predictions: Which Number One Seed Will Be Knocked out First?

The NCAA selection committee has dubbed the four best teams to be Ohio State, Kansas, Duke and Pitt, but which No. 1 seed will be the first to falter?

Let's start in the East with Ohio State.

The Buckeyes will face either Texas-San Antonio or Alabama State in the first round. Neither team should be an issue for the Buckeyes. In the second round Ohio State will face George Mason or Villanova; I think George Mason will beat Nova to face the Buckeyes in the second round.

We all know George Mason is capable of an upset, but I don't see it happening against the Buckeyes.

Ohio State's Sweet 16 matchup will likely be against West Virgina or Kentucky, and I'll take West Virginia as they have a better record in a better conference.

The Buckeyes will be tested against the Mountaineers, but should be able to pull out an Elite Eight appearance.

Moving on to the Southwest division, with Kansas being the No. 1 seed and the Jayhawks should have an easy first-round matchup against Boston University. Their likely second round opponent will be either Illinois or UNLV, neither of whom do I see pulling the upset.

The Jayhawks would most likely face Louisville in the Sweet 16 and should be able to knock off the streaky Cardinals to join Ohio State in the Elite Eight.

In the Southeast, we have the University of Pittsburgh as the No. 1 seed. Pittsburgh will have a warm-up game against either UNCA or ARLR.

The Panthers will then face the winner of the ODU vs. Butler game, where I have ODU pulling the upset off, but Pittsburgh should be able to take care of Old Dominion to advance.

In the Sweet 16, the Panthers will likely face either Wisconsin or Kansas State and I feel it will be the latter.

Kansas State will be a tough game for the Panthers, but I think they pull it out, advancing to the Elite Eight.

The No. 1 seed in the West is last year's champions, the Duke Blue Devils. The Blue Devils will have a tune-up game against Hampton University and will face either Michigan or Tennessee in the second round.

Neither of those teams have played consistently enough for me to believe they can knock off Duke, so the Blue Devils will roll onto the Sweet 16.

In the Sweet 16, Duke will most likely face Texas. I predict the Longhorns will be able to send the Blue Devils packing, as they match up nicely and should have an advantage with Tristan Thompson inside.

With Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Kansas moving into the Elite Eight, it's the Blue Devils who will be the first No. 1 seed to have an early exit in the tournament.