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March Madness 2026 - EVERY GAME, EVERY ROUND OF THE BRACKET - Check Up! on Bets Utopia LIVE

• Bets Utopia • Season 2026 • Episode 41

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SPEAKER_00

Gator Dave. We're back. We're back.

SPEAKER_01

It's March. No football. We're gonna do basketball, aren't we, Mike?

SPEAKER_00

We're gonna try.

SPEAKER_01

We're gonna make every attempt to do some basketball.

SPEAKER_00

Predictions, aren't we? Like Dick Vitel, Dickie V, our own.

SPEAKER_01

Dicky, Dickie V, Dicky, Dickey, Dickey V, uh, you know, Gator Dave. He's ready. He's got his he's got his brackets all ready and printed out. And we're ready to do this, man. I'm I'm I'm kind of excited. I'm excited. We get I think we got some folks uh rolling in here. We got Scotty. We got the man uh 143. Uh we got Monty Welsh on. So uh we we got him rolling in here, Mike. So uh kind of exciting. Uh, you know, March Madness officially starts tomorrow. Uh and um, you know, we've had those playing games the last few days, and um, you know, so we'll we'll see. We'll see what we can do here. So our first attempt at at some some b-ball. Um, we'll see what kind of uh you know what kind of response we get. We got Ian Gleason in here too. We got several feet below is in here too. Oh my gosh, we're rocking. All right. So, Mike, tell us tell us how we're gonna do this thing. So, what's the game plan?

SPEAKER_00

In theory, all right, again, this we we just to just to be blunt with it, we have not done basketball yet, we have not done March Madness yet. So, a little bit of trial and error. I think I got the bugs worked out. We're gonna all find out together. Okay, uh, so I we're gonna talk the West region first. Uh, and Gator Dave, I'm gonna let you kick it off kind of with it each region. Um, if you want to go ahead and give me who you think is gonna make it out of that first round, uh, we can start right there.

SPEAKER_01

Alright. So the way I see it right now, we're starting with the infamous West. So I'm I'm gonna say who's gonna be rolling in. We we've we've got I've got Arizona beating Utah State. Okay. We're going right path, right, Miguel? All right. So, so, so odds, the odds for Arizona to win the tournament are plus 475. They're 32 and 2. Uh, I think they get past Utah State. Um so my theory on why Arizona State can reach that sweet 16, because that's kind of where I kind of project where we're going right now. Um, great guard play, um, balance scoring, um, and just a very athletic team. You know, their top players, Jaden Bradley, Big 12 player of the year and elite. You know, he he's that Florid generally looking for Braden, Braden Burroughs, freshman, scoring leader, and you know, just a huge offensive weapon, and and Coa Pete is a forward, versatile freshman, you know, contributing as well. So I I think that Arizona team is is definitely uh gonna play in the mix here in terms of where they go. Um, you know, as I look down into, you know, that next game or that next group, you know, we see the way I see it is I've got uh Gonzaga beating BYU. Oh, wait a minute, let me go back. Let me make sure that we get Wisconsin. I've got Wisconsin, you know, in this particular situation beating, beating Arkansas. You know, Arkansas won SEC, but I think Wisconsin's a tough team. You know, they slow everything down. So, you know, you're gonna have that Calipari firing ice, hammered down. Um, but I think Wisconsin's gonna slow it down enough, you know, take it to that half-court type of game. They got veteran guards. Um they got they got Nick Boyd at guard, averaging 20 points a game. They got Blackwell, um you know, that's got a lot of rec is recognition in in the Big Ten. And I think they're going to get past Arkansas in that uh particular game to take them um, you know, to play Arizona. Okay. All right, all right, cool. So um let's see. So then we've got as we move down, I've got um I got BYU coming out. Um and then playing Gonzaga. And then I have Miami coming out uh playing Purdue is what I've got in terms of those uh those first couple of games. Do you want me to do you want me to hit the uh who I think's gonna hit the Sweet 16? Okay. So we talked about, you know, I talked about uh Arizona, absolutely. I talked about Wisconsin being huge and why I think they can slow it down and and and kind of take Arkansas's legs out from under them. Um then I've got Gonzaga uh beating BYU. Um, you know, they're good on the inside. They've been around a while, very tournament tested. Um, you know, they haven't, you know, they've done okay against mid-major majors. They haven't played the big teams, you know, their star players, uh Graham, uh Graham Icke, who's the uh uh WAC player of the year. Um you got Huff, who's uh really good on the inside, and then you got the other guard, which is uh Foster, who kind of comes into play there. So I I see Gonzaga moving past BYU. Um then we roll down, we've got your your boys. I I think they're gonna lose to Miami's gonna lose to Purdue. Um I I've got Purdue, I think they're a strong team, 27-8. They won the Big Ten. Nice, nice finish at the end. Um they're very good at securing the ball. Um they're good in those high pressure games. Um They've got they've got Smith at guard, who's uh, you know, kind of runs runs things. He was awesome. He was the MVP in the Big Ten tournament. Um their Ford Wren is is a is a big time scorer. And then they've got a veteran uh guard and lawyer that I think comes through in that particular game. So I got Purdue moving forward in that particular situation. So that's kind of the way uh is that where you want us to go? You want me to go on to the eight? Uh keep going. All right. So here's what I see uh as we move on. I see Arizona uh beating Wisconsin. Um Arizona is, you know, uh I kind of look at them as one of those hot teams. I mean, obviously they're in the pick of the final four. You know, they've got great defense, great offense in terms of their numbers and where they stand overall in the tournament. So I've definitely got them going into the Elite Eight. And then I have Purdue uh rolling past Gonzaga. I think, you know, we saw what they did in the Big Ten tournament, and I think they're gonna uh they can take care of Gonzaga. So that's kind of where I am uh Elite Eight wise in that West. I got Arizona and Purdue. Does that make sense, Mike?

SPEAKER_00

That makes a lot of sense, Dave. I uh I tend to agree, I think, with a good bit of those, honestly. So I think we might be in the same boat for most of those. Um let me pull up my side here. So yeah, I mean, at least in that first round, we're pretty similar. We got a couple differences. We're both on Arizona, Utah State. I do like Wisconsin, Arkansas, that's a good map. BYU Gonzaga. Where we uh are different, believe it or not, Gator Dave, is you picked my boys. You picked my boys. I don't think we're gonna make it out of the first round. Um we're playing against Missouri. I think the tip-off is like 10.30 p.m. Uh, and it's in St. Louis, so it you know it's gonna be absolutely rocking for Missouri fans in that one. I I do not think that we're unfortunately gonna make it out of the first round. There's a lot of people that have actually had us winning the entire thing, um, which is mind-boggling to me. Because I mean, we have a good team, but they've made a lot of mistakes this year. Um it's it's we lost our entire team from last year. It was a new coach. He had to bring in all new guys, all new transfers. Uh I just don't I just don't think this is the excuse me, I don't think this is the year. I think people are thinking about what we did last year with the Final Four run, and they're kind of thinking that this might be the same team. It's completely new. Everybody is new, including the coach. Um, do not get sucked in to that. I I just think it's gonna be too much to overcome. So I actually have Missouri, believe it or not, over my canes. I hope I'm wrong. I'll take I'll gladly take that L. Um, but I just I just don't see it. Uh next round for the Sweet 16. I got Arizona advancing. I actually have Arkansas beating Wisconsin. I think Arkansas is fast. I think they have a better guard play. Wisconsin is good on defense, they got good rebounders, but if they get in foul trouble and they cannot shoot sometimes, they're a little bit streaky. I think Arkansas might be able to take advantage of that. They're good on the fast break. They got great hands when you know guys are driving into the paint or trying to do post-up moves. So I actually like Arkansas there. BYU Gonzaga, I like Gonzaga. Uh BYU has a good team. He's got uh, I believe, two or three guys that are probably potential NBA guys next year. Um for BYU, I just think Gonzaga and the coaching staff is going to be too much. Mark Few, he's been there, done that. All he does is get the Sweet 16s in his sleep. I think he does that again this year. And then Missouri-Purdue. Uh, I do have Purdue winning that one against Missouri. I think Purdue is the deeper team. I think Missouri, while they get by Miami, I really don't see them making too deep of a run. I just don't think they have the team for it this year. Purdue on the flip side won the Big Ten championship. Everybody tends to have them going pretty far as the two seed. We'll see how far they make it. Uh, and my Elite Eight, I don't have them making it. Uh, I got Gonzaga beating Purdue to make it into the Elite Eight, and then I got Arizona getting by the uh John Calipari, Arkansas Racingbacks to get into that Elite Eight up there at the top there, Dave.

SPEAKER_01

All right, all right, good stuff, good stuff. Um, your your Miami team, very respectable year, by the way, Mike, with a with a new coach and the new team. I'm you should feel really good about it.

SPEAKER_00

So he actually tied, yeah, Jai Lucas, uh, our head coach, he actually tied the program record with uh Jim Larinega for first year as the head coach in terms of record. Um in in re and I think if I remember right, it's only like the third or fourth best season ever for uh for the canes. So we're we're on definitely on the right trajectory. We got the right guy. I mean, five stars are looking at us now. That that's not a thing before with Miami. So uh I think I think we're on the right trajectory. I just I don't know if it's gonna be this year. Hopefully, some of those guys come back and uh skip the draft, but hard, hard to do.

SPEAKER_01

Yep, yep, we'll see. We'll see. All right. So uh Mike, I think we're headed to the Midwest. Um and we're gonna start with uh the the the number one seed there, Michigan.

SPEAKER_00

And for the record, I for my graphics people on YouTube, I apologize. I I put the north in there for the bracket rather than the Midwest because it makes no sense. Why do why do we even have what what what are we doing? What are we doing here? It's the North. King of the North.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah. I I agree. Because when I when I was first monkeying around with it, I'm like, North? No, that doesn't sound right. It's it's a silly ass Midwest, so that's kind of what it is. So, all right, so we've got um I've got Michigan, you know, who's the who's obviously the number one seed. I've got them beating St. Louis uh in that first round, uh, or that, or you know, Michigan coming out, St. Louis coming out, beating Georgia. Yeah, beating beating Georgia. And uh then as we move down, I got Texas Tech uh beating Akron, and I have Hofstra. Keep that one in mind, beating Alabama. As we all know, Alabama lost one of their players to uh doing some things he shouldn't have done. Um then I go down and I've got Tennessee uh taking care of uh well, I guess Miami Wahler, SMU, whatever the hell's happening right now. Um then I got Virginia, um them beating Wright State, and then I have the Kentucky Wildcats taking care of Santa Clara, and I got uh ISU um Iowa State uh beating Tennessee State. And as I move down, okay, and we move into the Sweet 16, I've got Michigan. So here's my thoughts on Michigan. So far, they're plus 350 uh to win it all. Their records 31 and 3. So when we look at Michigan and their strengths, interior defense is huge. Um really nice front court, and you know, defense is awesome. Okay, they're they're hot players. Uh Lexen Borg, Big Ten player of the year. Um we got Johnson, who's a forward, defensive and and rebounding force there. Uh, and then we got Mara, who's their center, who's you know, shot blocker, protects a rim. They're very similar to the Florida Gators. They've got a really nice front court. So um that's kind of where I see Michigan, and I definitely see Michigan. Um I I've got Mike, I've got Michigan and Hofstra playing, Mike. Yes, I do. That is my sleeper. My sleeper's Hofstra. They're not gonna make it past that, you know. Uh what is that? The sweet, they're they're gonna get in the sweet 16 is my is my projection, is it gonna be my my sleeper to jump in there because um, you know, they're a very guard-centric group, you know, uh can shoot. Um they're very aggressive. Um, they've got uh they're one of their guards is uh averaging 20 points a game, uh, another guard that's really good at handling the ball, another guard that's really good at rebounding. So they're very they're very uh backcourt centric. And I think this is gonna be the team that kind of slides in into that sweet 16 and surprises us. But, you know, as I see what happens, you know, obviously they're gonna run into that uh Michigan team who's way too tough, and and I think Michigan's definitely going to uh push through in that regard into the Elite Eight. Um as we continue down, I've got Tennessee winning their game. Uh and then Virginia winning their game, and I think this is going to be a really good game, the Tennessee-Virginia game. Um both teams really tough. You know, uh Virginia won the uh ACC 29-5. Um, they're really good on the defensive side of the ball. Um they've they've you know uh proven well in that ACC tournament. You know, when we look at that team, they've got their center uh is you know amazing around the rim. Onesco, um, then we've got they've got a backup center that plays a lot, that's a big shot blocker. Then they've got their uh guard Lewis, who can just, you know, light it up when he needs to. So I think I think Virginia's got uh a real good shot there in that particular situation um to get past the Tennessee team and make it in the sweet 16, in my opinion. Then as we as we move down, um I've got Kentucky winning over Santa Clara, and I've got uh Iowa State beating Tennessee State. And when we look at those teams, obviously Iowa State 27-7. Um they forced a lot of turnovers, really balanced in scoring, um, and and and done well in the Big 12. I I mean I think they're one of those teams that could they they could make the final four if you're not, you know, if you're really not looking out for them. Um great forward play. Their uh leading scores uh forward, Masilovic, uh real good shooter. They got another forward that is a real good rebounder as well. And Jefferson, and their uh guard Lempsey, is uh is really good on the defensive side of things. So feel really good about that. Um uh Iowa State team, and I think they're going to take care of Virginia and put themselves in the Elite Eight against Michigan. So that's kind of where I am, Mike, in the uh in the Midwest.

SPEAKER_00

Alright, so you're saying you like uh what was your Elite Eight?

SPEAKER_01

My Elite Eight are is I got Michigan and Iowa State.

SPEAKER_00

Got you, got you, got you. Michigan, Iowa State. Okay. Alright. Fair enough. Fair enough, sir. Uh I mean again, I'm pretty similar to you on on most of these, I think, to be honest. Um let's see, let me see if I can get it up here. Chat's gonna have a field day with that one, I bet. Alright. Uh bracket. Uh I got Michigan getting out of the first round here, obviously. Um, I don't see any upsets coming from uh from Howard, unfortunately. They have played a great game yesterday against UMBC though to get into that play in. So congrats to them, but it's gonna it's gonna be rough in that one. So I got Michigan. Uh St. Louis plays Georgia. I actually have St. Louis in this one as well. Well, here, Dave. Old Robbie Avila. Look for old goggles out there on the court. Um, look a little double-double machine down low. Uh, next, I got Akron over Texas Tech. That is my 12 seed upset. I like that over the five. I like that. I'm going Akron. Um, they are a great offensive team. They can shoot your lights out. They will be able to run with Texas Tech. So I actually like them to be able to pull that one out. Uh, that Alabama Hofstra one that you mentioned is interesting for sure, especially what you mentioned with what's going on with that Alabama guard. Uh, second leading scorer was arrested because they found some pounds allegedly in his uh domain. So, right before some of the biggest games of his life. Um not so great going on over there in Tuscaloosa. And they play a Hofster team that you mentioned is they're gonna be ready to go. Uh, but I think Alabama finds a way to get by them in that first game. I think it's gonna be gutty, but I think they find a way to get it done. Um next, we got the play-in game that's going on right now, the old SMU Miami of Ohio. Shout out to Miami of Ohio, my mother's alum. Um, I think they actually find a way to potentially get this one done against SMU. I think it's a one-point game right now, early in the uh first half. But I do not like this Tennessee team. I think either way, SMU or Miami of Ohio can find a way to get by Tennessee. Uh Tennessee has an issue with turning the ball over sometimes and kind of being a little bit streaky when it comes to shooting. So I think SMU and Miami of Ohio can capitalize on that. So I actually like them to get by Tennessee there with the upset. Virginia over Wright State. I have Virginia going pretty far. Um, you'll see that shortly. Santa Clara, believe it or not, I have them upsetting Kentucky in this one. I think Santa Clara has the depth to do it. I do not trust Kentucky's team. Uh again, one of those teams that brought in a lot of guys after some changes in the offseason. Um I just I it's one of those things where these mid-major schools, these smaller schools like a Santa Clara, who sneaks in as a 10-seed. It's not a 12-seed, it's not a 13-seed, they're coming in as a 10-seed. They were good this year. They played St. Mary's Tough, they played Gonzaga tough. Uh, but those guys are typically upperclassmen. They've been there for a while. Once they get this, they've they've worked at this opportunity to get to this chance to play in this tournament, they tend to bring it a little bit in those first rounds. And these guys, these five-star prospects, top 100 guys that come in, and while they ball out, yeah, uh, you know, they don't they don't necessarily want it as much because they know in a couple months they're gonna get drafted and they're gonna get paid the big bucks. Um, so this is one of those games for me that they, you know, could they definitely could catch Kentucky slipping. And then last but not least, you mentioned Iowa State against Tennessee State. Iowa State is great. Uh they 100% have a shot to play in the Final Four, and that's why I have them getting by Santa Clara in that next round. I think Santa Clara's Cinderella run ends there. Virginia, they're just too good. They're smart, they got great basketball IQ. Defense is smothering. I think it'd get by either SMU or Miami of Ohio in that next round to go to the Sweet 16. I have Akron, Gator Dave, upsetting Alabama to advance into that Sweet 16, bring that offense uh and make it in there as that 12th seed. And then I got Michigan beating St. Louis to get in the Sweet 16 as well. To advance into the Elite Eight, I think Akron's run ends there. Michigan's just gonna be too much for him. So give me Michigan going to the Elite Eight. And on the bottom side, I got Virginia. Uh, I think it's gonna be low scoring. They're gonna keep it low scoring, they're gonna keep it low tempo, and I think they find a way to uh get by that Iowa State team. So that is my two coming out of the north or the Midwest. I apologize. Midwest.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I I I I like the I like the picks, Mike. I mean, some of those some of those games you talked about. I mean, I I truly believe I I I think Tennessee's uh is is not all that. I also think Alabama's gonna have an issue, and and uh you know that Akrom pick, I you know, I had them on one of my other brackets when I was monkeying around with it, so I think you got some uh some good insight into those particular situations for sure.

SPEAKER_00

So I think that Tennessee one specifically that you're talking about, you know, like the score right now in this Miami of Ohio SMU play-in is 20-13. There's eight minutes left in the first half. Miami Ohio's up. If Miami of Ohio sneaks in there, all they've heard all year long is that they haven't played anybody and they can't contend with any major guys. If they play Tennessee in that first round, look for Miami of Ohio to give them everything they got.

SPEAKER_01

Yep. Tennessee is not it at all. All right. Let's look in the fun division. We're going to the South. We got we we got the Flod of Gators playing in the South, Mike. So um I got them uh coming out of that first round. Um to take care of that first game. Um, and then I got Clemson uh taking care of Iowa. I think Clemson's uh played well latter part of the year. I think they're strong. Um then I've got Vanderbilt beating McNeese. I think uh Vandy's a good team. Um they're hot. Um they beat my Gators, and you know they they got a lot riding on it. So I I feel pretty strongly about Vandy. I I then I think uh we've got Nebraska coming through and beating Troy. I think that's gonna be a good game, but I do think uh Nebraska comes through. Um then I got VCU um beating North Carolina. I think North Carolina is just uh, you know, kind of a whatever waiting on their next coach. So um I'm gonna have a VCU in that one. I got Illinois beating Penn. Illinois' tough team a lot of ways. I I think they'll have their way with Penn. Um, Mike, I'm going with Texas AM. A little hot toward the end. I know everybody's thinking St. Mary's is all that, but um I think Texas AM's gonna uh upset here and beat St. Mary's, and then I've got the Houston Cougars beating Idaho, which I think Houston is a team to be reckoned with. So when I look to the next round going into this week 16, I got my Gators going in this week 16. They are plus 750 uh to win it all, 26 and 7. You know, um three of three of the four or three of the seven losses were to top five teams. You know, they lost to Arizona, they lost to Duke, they lost to Yukon. So I still think they're good. I my hope is that they learn their lesson against Kentucky and getting beat by Vanderbilt and they can kind of spring through this thing. I mean, there's not a front court better than than the Gators, and uh no if, ands, or buts, you know, in terms of that front court and and and how good they are. Um rebounding, they're you know, no one's gonna beat them on rebounds. Um they they're tested with the SEC, you know. Howes uh uh Thomas Howes a first round pick. Condon's gonna be second or third round pick. Chingaloo's gonna be a second or third round pick. I mean, you know, you look at that front court, it's it's it's bad to the bone. And the and the thing is that the Gators backcourt has risen the latter part of the year, as well as the fact that they their their bench has done well and and they've been able to shoot three. So I think they can overcome the issues they had the last couple of games and kind of put it behind them. I I you know I feel confident in uh in our coach Golden that that we can kind of kind of press on as we uh as we roll through. So I I've got the Gators going the sweet 16. Um they're gonna play Vanderbilt again, uh, in my opinion. And Vanderbilt's a tough team. They got good guard play. They're they're tough on D, but they're not gonna be playing at home. They're gonna be playing away. And in this particular situation, um, you know, when they roll in there and have to play the Gators, I think the Gators are gonna be ready this time. There, there's um, and and I think they can uh can survive past uh Vanderbilt again and beat them. And as we move down, I've got Illinois beating VCU. Um and I've also got Houston beating Texas AM. When when I look at Illinois uh 24 and 8 record, um you know they've got really good shooters. Um they got Big Ten freshmen of the year in Keaton Waggler. Um they've got uh they're they're they're young somewhat, but they got really young, good players. And and I think they can make uh make a difference in blowing past what I say VCU or North Carolina. Um but I think they're gonna have a hard time with Houston, in, in my opinion. Houston uh plus 1,000 to uh win the whole thing, 28 and 6. Uh we know Calvin Sampson can coach his ass off. Uh they're great on defense, guard depth is awesome. Um you know they've got uh Fleming, who was all Big 12 first team. They got Sharp, who's a major three-point shooter, and Uzon, another guard that gives them a lot of minutes as well. So they got great guard play in Houston. So way I look at it, you know, I think Houston's gonna beat Illinois to go to the Elite Eight, and I think UF's gonna beat Vandy to go to the Elite Eight, Mike.

SPEAKER_00

All right. I kind of love those picks. Um because I'm pretty much gonna be right there with you, I think. So I'm going uh in that first round, I'm gonna take Florida, surprise, surprise, to get over Prairie View. I will say that Prairie View uh play-in game that they just had, Prairie View's defense is legit. Uh, but I think Florida's gonna be way too much for them. Way too much depth, way too much star power. Give me the Gators. Uh next round, I'm gonna go Iowa. Clemson is an interesting team. They are very streaky, they have no consistency to them. They really can't put together a long series of wins in a row without a loss. Uh, they have a great coach, they have a great team, but for whatever reason, they just lack that consistency. And uh Iowa on the flip side, I think they have the bodies, I think they have the size, I think they're gonna be able to give Clemson problems. If Clemson gets into foul trouble, I think they're gonna be at a at a big uh discrepancy compared to where the Hawkeyes would be on the flip side. And in these tournament games, foul trouble, guard play, and rebounding. Those are kind of the big three things that you gotta kind of consider when it turns to these teams, especially these teams that use seven or eight guys versus ten, twelve guys. That can that can be a huge factor if these guys get into foul trouble with this winner game, winner go home type of game. So I do like Iowa to make it past that first round against Clemson. Give me Vandy also in that next one against Northern Iowa. I think they sneak or McNeese, I'm sorry. I think they sneak past that potential 5-12 upset. However, I do have Troy getting by Nebraska in that first round game to play Vandy in that second round. I think Troy has the shooters, I think they have the defense that they uh will be able to compete with Nebraska in that game. Uh, but Nebraska is legit too. I I I'm not putting it past them. Um this next one, I got North Carolina. I I know they've had a bad year. North Carolina, when it comes tourney time, they just find a way to win. They're very similar to, in my mind, a Michigan State. For example, with Tom Mizzo. Even when it seems like they sort of have a downed year, when it comes tourney time, they find a way to win. They find a way to make a run late into the tourney. Will this be one of those situations? I don't know, but I do think that they find a way to get by VCU in that first round to meet Illinois in the second round with Illinois getting by Penn. Illinois has had a rough year. They've had a lot of games that they should have won on their home court against big teams, a lot of disappointing losses as well. Um, a lot of letdowns, a lot of losses that kind of carried over to the following game or two. I don't know how that's gonna bode for them in this tournament. We'll see. Uh, Texas AM, I have them beating St. Mary's. St. Mary's, along with Santa Clara and Gonzaga, they're out there in the whack. Um I'm not really sold on this St. Mary's team yet. The coach has been there for 25 years. He's made 12 tournaments and he's got like a four-and-eight record. I will say, I believe it's three out of the last four years. They have won their first round game in the tournament. So that's something to note there. Uh, but on the flip side, I think Texas AM just finds a way to get this one done. I think they have the better players ultimately. I think they have the more depth. Uh, I think they just find a way to pull it out in the end. And then last but not least, I have Houston. Head coach Kelvin Sampson, probably one of my favorite coaches in the entire nation. Dude's got an awesome story. Uh, he always has great teams and he coaches them really, really well. I think Houston uh has a shot to go really far in this year's tournament. Next round for the Sweet 16, I got your Gators taking over Iowa to move on to that Sweet 16 game. I do also have Vanderbilt beating Troy. Um I went back and forth with it between if it was going to be Troy or Vandy. I think Vandy is just going to be too much for them in the end. I think they're going to have too much depth, too much guard play, too much seniority with the upperclassmen. I think they'll be able to move past Troy to make it in there for that rematch against Florida. I like North Carolina to get by Illinois. I there's just something about this Illinois team that they find a way to struggle, they find a way to lose these games that they're supposed to win. Um I have not seen them close out games in a positive light this year as much as I'd like to. So for that reason, I think North Carolina has a shot to kind of sneak one away from them in that game to make it to the Sweet 16. And then Houston, I like Houston against Texas AM with you as well. Houston's just, they're way too good. You mentioned all the guard play that they have that returned from last year. They have a bit of a chip on their shoulder as well because they haven't really advanced to where they thought that they need to or they should. Uh, for that reason, I got them making it to the elite eight to face your Gators. I think they get by the Tar Heels, and I think your Gators get by Vanderbilt in that rematch. A little bit of a get back game for them uh to move on to the elite eight in the south region, Dave.

SPEAKER_01

Alright, alright, let's move to the east region where we got Duke Blue Devils kind of leading things off. Um so we've got uh I've got Duke beating Sienna. I've got uh Ohio State, which I think is somewhat of a sleeper team, uh, gonna take care of uh TCU. Um I got St. John's, definitely over Northern Iowa. I've got Kansas over Cal Baptist, I've got Louisville taking care of South Florida, I've got Michigan State taking care of North Dakota State. I got UCLA beating uh UCF, and I got UConn beating Furman. And the interesting part about this, you know, particular region is you know, you would have thought that Duke being the number one seed was going to have a little bit of an easier region, but in my opinion, I think they got the toughest region uh of the four, you know, knowing that you got St. John's, you got Kansas, you got Louisville, you got Michigan State, you got UCLA, UConn. I mean, those are all really good teams that I think, you know, they're gonna fight, fight to the finish. So um I think it's gonna be a very interesting regional tournament. So uh as we move next, um I've got um we got Duke playing uh Ohio State, and I've got Duke coming out as a winner rolling into the Sweet 16. Obviously, you know, when we look at Duke 32 and two, the one at ACC, you know, they are the uh number one pick to win the tournament at plus 325. Um, you know, uh, very elite top-end talent. Um you know, very good on the defensive side of the ball. Um very they're very guard heavy, uh, great coach. Um the the only thing you kind of look at from a negative side of things is Caleb Foster is out with that fractured foot. He was eight points a game, shooting 40% from three-point land. So that's gonna hurt him a little bit, but man, they got players right. They got Cameron Boozer, national player of the year, front runner, 22 points a game, 10 rebounds, four assists. Um, at the other forward position, they got Malik Brown, defensive presence is just unbelievable. Best defendant, defensive player in the ACC, and then Isaiah Evans, great uh perimeter shooter um at the guard position. So um I've definitely got Duke rolling into that sweet 16. And as I look again, I've got um I got St. John's um beating Kansas to roll into uh suite 16 as well. Uh 28 and 6. They won the Big East. Um great interior defense. Um, they're very physical team, which you know, I think is gonna play into well with with I mean Kansas is just losing its mojo now. You know, I I I there there's all kinds of crap going on. I mean, they want our coach and all this BS, you know. I mean, it's just it's it's just kind of ridiculous right now. And um, but Kansas ain't got it. St. John does. They got Rick Patino. Um, they're gonna, I think they're gonna roll over Kansas uh to move into the Sweet 16 for sure. Um as we move down, um I've got you know Louisville beating South Florida, Michigan State being North Dakota State, UCLA and Yukon. And when I look at Louisville, you know, um I've got them over Michigan State. You know, this is kind of one of those situations where it's kind of hard to go against Michigan State, but this is one of those my gut feels. I I think I think Louisville's gonna push past um Michigan State. I I think they're a little bit under underappreciated at this point. And I think they can roll in and beat Michigan State and get into that sweet 16. They're very guard heavy. Um, they can score their ass off. You know, you got uh Conwell, who's a senior, who's their main scorer, 18 points a game. Their other guard is a freshman scoring 18 points a game. So I'm I'm pretty impressed with Louisville at this point, and I feel good about them moving past Michigan State. Um, as we look further down, we've got UCLA and USC. I mean, excuse me, UCLA and UConn. And I you know, I you just can't overlook UConn no matter what. Um 29-5. Um, they've got the championship, you know, caliber team. They're very defensive oriented. Um, they got a great coach. They don't play around, and and I think they're balanced. When you look at their top three players, they got a guard, a center, and a forward. Okay. They got uh DeMary as the garnered. You know, he's a he's uh a young kid, great on offense, great on defense. You got Reed, who's that center who's dominant on the inside of things, and then you got Caravan, who's the the forward who you know can make it happen on the defensive side of the ball. So I feel really good in this particular situation about UConn kind of making it in the Sweet 16. So as we look to that Elite Eight, you got Duke and St. John's, and you know, I got I got Duke coming out of this one. You know, obviously the number one team, they're very experienced, they're hot, they got great defense, they got great offense. Um, so I've I've got Duke rolling out into the elite eight, and then I got UConn coming in and taking care of Louisville uh to make it to the elite eight as well. I think it's just that experience, that coach that's been around, um and and they're hot as well. I mean, they've got a great defense, they got a great offense, so I think they roll into the into the uh elite eight as well, Mike. So that's kind of where I am on the on the uh in the east.

SPEAKER_00

All right, right on. Uh I'm pretty similar with you. I got a few upsets though. Not gonna lie to you. All right, so I got Duke moving on to that next round. I think they're just they're too much. I have them going pretty deep in this one. Uh Ohio State, I think they handle business, excuse me, against TCU to make it to that next round matchup versus Duke. I got St. John's uh getting past Northern Iowa, getting past that 512 trap to move into that next round. But then I have Cal Baptist beating Kansas in the first round to put a legend uh in Kansas basketball. Bill Self square on that hot seat, uh, potentially out the door. Cal Baptist has a great scorer, a great offense. I think they're able to give Kansas everything they want. And then some Kansas has really kind of struggled in some games this year, and in the games that they've struggled, they've really struggled. They've got blown out, which is not like a typical Kansas team. Uh, for that reason, I think Cal Baptist might be able to catch them slipping. So I got Cal Baptist getting by him in that first round. Then I got Louisville making it by South Florida. I'm with you. I think Louisville's a little underappreciated this year. I think they flew way under the radar given the main teams that are coming out of the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12. Uh Louisville, I think, has a sneaky chance to make it pretty deep into this tournament. So I'm with you there. I think they get by that first round team against South Florida, Michigan State. I mentioned same sort of boat as North Carolina. I'm sort of always going to take them in the first round. They find a way to get by that major blue blood program. Um they just find a way to get it done. Tom Izzo, one of the best coaches of all time. He's not losing that first round game. UCLA. Mick Cronin, the uh head coach there that came over from Cincy to kind of lead the charge, try to lead UCLA back. A month ago, uh, all the talk was he was getting fired. Now all of a sudden, people are talking about them making a dark run for the tournament title. Crazy turnaround. Um, they were talking about it was a toxic environment and this, that, and the third. Uh I think it's bonded them together. They they've really come together in this last stretch down the run down the end of the season. I think UCLA finds a way to get it done in that first round, advanced to play UConn in that second. But uh unfortunately for UCLA, it's Yukon that they're running into. And UConn is gonna run through UCLA in that game to make it to the Sweet 16. I got Michigan State getting by Louisville again. I think Tom Mizzo just finds a way to get it done, gets his team into the Sweet 16. He's a Sweet 16 machine. I think they find a way to get past the Cardinal there. Um St. John's. I have St. John's as well getting by Cal Baptist, that upset team, ends their Cinderella story to make it into the Sweet 16. Rick Petino, legendary coach, uh, and I think he's gonna be going against John Shire, Coach K's replacement in that Sweet 16 game against Duke. And I think John Shire gets the best of them, uh, gets the best of the legend Rick Petino there. And on the bottom downside, I got UConn getting the best of another legend, Tom Izzo, to make it to the Elite Eight there as well. UConn has a couple guys on the team uh that are going for their third national championship. They are seniors, this is their last shot at it, but that is unprecedented. Um so they definitely have something to play for. That Duke team, again, they just have the depth. They are so good, they are so deep. They have a guy that's hurt right now that they're hoping he could get back in time for the tournament to make a run. He's one of their main guys. Uh, I believe he's a guard. Um I don't think it's gonna be a problem. They have they have the depth to compete, and I think they make it here to the Elite Eight. Alright. You ready? So we gotta find a four time, Dave.

SPEAKER_01

Let's do this. Let's do this. So Scott. So I am gonna go in the order which we went before, and I will start with the West. And that I, you know, I had Arizona and Purdue uh playing in that one, and that is uh what the number one seed against uh Purdue's probably number two seed, weren't they? But I I I've got Arizona I've got Arizona rolling in. I I mean they have they have a great defense, they have a great offense, they have a lot of experience. I mean, there's just there's just no way I can at this juncture, I know anything can happen in this tournament, but I really feel strongly about you know, as I've built a couple of different brackets, I feel very strongly about Arizona being uh one of my teams in the Final Four. As I look down to the Midwest slash north, you know, I've got Michigan, Michigan number one seed, uh Iowa State number two seed. Again, uh Michigan's hot. Michigan got got great defense, got great offense, you know. Um Iowa State has some experience, but I you know, we haven't seen a team, uh Michigan team this good in a while, so I've got Michigan as my number two uh final four team. We roll down to the Great South, and I've got UF playing Houston in Rice, which is Rice is in Houston, so we're gonna have a lot of Houston folks there, and this is the rematch from the final game of last year, and we know Florida won the game. It was a close game, it was a good game, but I feel very strongly at this point that my Gators can beat Houston again uh at rice, so I am going with my Florida Gators. Then the upsets I have Duke, Yukon, this is where the broken ankle, the little concerns, and the experience that Mike talked about on that Yukon team comes into play. I got Yukon beating Duke to make it to the Final Four. So I have when I look down at my sheet, it says Yukon, Florida, Arizona, Michigan. So that's what you got there, Mike, on your graphic. It's beautiful. My God, you're good.

SPEAKER_00

It's beautiful. Why do you who do you have in the championship?

SPEAKER_01

So, well, if we're getting this close, Mike, if we're getting this close, I gotta go with my team. I gotta go with my Florida Gators to be UConn. And I am going with Arizona to be Michigan in the final game. So I got Florida, I got Arizona.

SPEAKER_00

I wonder who it could be.

SPEAKER_01

And and and and I just can't go against my team, Mike. We're we're going for the two-peat. We're going for the Florida Gators to win the national championship just like UConn did a few years ago. Boom. What you got, my friend?

SPEAKER_00

Uh I do not have y'all winning the championship. Um, but I do have you making the final four. I have you against Duke. I got Duke making it out of the east. I got Arizona as well making it out of the west, and then that Midwest slash North. Uh I have Michigan. I have all one seeds in my final four. It's not typically something that happens, not typically a recipe for success. Uh, historically speaking, you know, I'm a data guy, but um I just think these teams are too much. They're too much depth, and they're just on a different par than every other team throughout the year this year. A lot of other teams have taken sort of the the roller coaster approach. A lot of wind loss, wind loss, wind, loss, loss, loss, loss, wind, win, loss, loss. These teams have just sort of stayed consistent through the injuries, through the ups and downs. Um I just I think they're gonna find a way to get in there. And then my championship game, I'm gonna go Duke, getting by your Florida Gators and uh playing the Arizona Wildcats. I think those are just the two best teams in the nation. I think they have been all year long. And then my champion is going to be the Duke Blue Devils. I think they're gonna be too much. Those Boozer twins, they're gonna be one and done. Get in, get out, give John Shire his first championship, give Duke their first championship since uh Coach K retired there. So I I think they they find a way to make it.

SPEAKER_01

Good stuff, good stuff. Well, we shall see for sure. So it's uh my goodness, we got an exciting uh few weeks ahead of us. And man, I I I can't tell uh tell everybody how much appreciate everybody being on in the chat today. We got a lot of folks watching, and um, you know, I know this was a little bit unannounced, it was random.

SPEAKER_00

We we a little random, a little off the cuff.

SPEAKER_01

So uh, you know, we'll uh we're really happy that you new new show.

SPEAKER_00

New show. First, first basketball episode on uh Bets Utopia.

SPEAKER_01

That is true. That is true. Maybe, maybe we set some type of precedent here, Mike.

SPEAKER_00

Branching out. Maybe maybe lacrosse next. Maybe NHL. It's almost playoff time. Maybe a little maybe a little MLB. We'll be talking. We'll be talking College World Series, UFC. The possibilities are endless, Dave. We we might have opened Pandora's box.

SPEAKER_01

They are endless, Mike. And uh, you know, we just appreciate everybody being on, enjoying their time. We had a great time. I know I did, Mike, and uh we'll see how our how our brackets do there in the long run, you know. Hopefully, you know, hopefully hopefully something pays off and uh we win it all in one of these couple of different places that were that were relevant.

SPEAKER_00

Now, not to uh product drop because obviously they're not paying us nothing. Hit us up though, Calchi. But did you see Calchi's running a uh billion dollar promotion for a perfect bracket? You get a perfect bracket, they're paying you a billion dollars. Something to uh again, they they didn't not a not a paid advertisement there, folks. Um but you know what is a paid advertisement? ShopCYA.com. Check it out right up here up top. If you're going to any of these events to get in the stadium, you gotta have a clear plastic bag, folks. You put all your giblets, you put all your goblets right up in there, your credit cards, your keys, your uh lady devices, okay? You don't want people to see that. You go through security, you snap off the cover, let them check it all out, and then you get through security, you just snap it right back on. Assets are covered for when you're walking around the stadium. Make sure to check them out. All licensed, okay? Licensed. All these teams are licensed. They have your team in this version, but it's got the logo on it. It looks it looks better. This was one of the first ones. I need new stuff, shop CYA. I need some of the new stuff. Give me the licensed stuff. Uh, check them out.

SPEAKER_01

I want to see I want to see some games there, Mike.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, well, yeah. Yeah, get your own. Yeah. You gotta get you gotta get some. You gotta get some for the for your desk so you can flex it. That's a good point. That's a good point.

SPEAKER_01

Good point. All right. Shop we'll figure it out.

SPEAKER_00

We'll figure it out. We'll we'll we'll talk to we'll talk to our people.

SPEAKER_01

All right, good. Well, thanks so much for everybody being on. And and you know, maybe we'll pop another pop another one on soon. So hopefully the next 30, 45 days we'll we'll surprise everybody and get uh get us back together. Old Gator Day, Miami Mike, see what's cooking, and uh, and we'll go from there. Maybe it will have something to do with the maybe some end of spring training, see what's going on with a little college football. Maybe we'll talk a little bit of college football, throw it in there.

SPEAKER_00

We got the World Cup. We got the World Cup 22. I'm telling you, I'm telling you, possibilities are endless.

SPEAKER_01

That's right. We got a lot going on.

SPEAKER_00

Possibilities are endless.

SPEAKER_01

They are endless. So, Mike, it was great seeing you, my friend. Good stuff. Good luck to everyone on their brackets. So see you guys next time. Yo, Gators.

SPEAKER_00

Appreciate y'all watching. Good luck.