NCAA Tournament Breakdown

Busy scribbling teams out in the Sweet 16 and finishing up your tournament brackets? Here's my formula to March Madness victory, free of charge to my blog readers.

Louisville, Memphis, UNC and either Duke/Tenn will be in the Final Four. I haven't decided whether or not to go with a Duke/UNC national semifinal or a Heels-Vols battle.

I liked Memphis before the season started because of Freshman PG Tyreke Evans. I like Memphis as much, if not more now, to cut down the nets in Detroit. Plus one for Calipari's group. A group that plays great defense, displays its athleticism nightly and is better at the charity stripe compared to last year's runner-up team.

Pittsburgh/UConn tie for being the weakest one seeds. The loss of Dyson will inevitably stop the Huskies and Pittsburgh has too much trouble scoring. Don't have either in your Final Four. I have No. 9 Tennessee over the Panthers in round two. Gutsy? I know.

Office Pool Rules from Crawford's Corner:

1. Don't pick your favorite team or by conference allegiance
2. Rely on perimeter shooting, rebounding and point guard play.
3. Don't look for the Cinderella. Like all Cinderella's, you will most likely pick the wrong one.
4. Pick squads that have been on a roll or won/played well in their conference tournament.
5. Last but not least, remember the big game coaches (Pitino, Calhoun, K, Williams, Boeheim, Izzo).

Be leary of upsets this season. After pondering the 2009 field, I don't expect too many upsets in the opening round. Siena over Ohio State seems plausible, as does No.12 Western Kentucky over the 5th-seeded Fighting Illini. Outside of those two matchups, I'm not sure of too many teams fitting the glass slipper.

We all love Eric Maynor. (similar to America's love affair with Steph Curry last March) But let's face it, UCLA is better than VCU. UCLA has made three straight trips to the Final Four. UCLA has one of the best defensive guards in the nation in Darren Collison. Please don't pick the Rams in this 11/6 contest.

ACC fans, Wake Forest has the best shot outside the big two to make a deep run. Florida State is inexperienced, Maryland's defense is shotty at times and Clemson is, well, Clemson. Boston College will lose to a red-hot California team in the first round.

Duke needs to be careful with Texas while UNC has a chance at being upset by Trent Johnson's Tigers in the second round. If Ty Lawson is 100%, the Heels advance to the National Title Game to face Memphis.

As I predicted nearly correct last season, Calipari gets a National Championship at Ford Field in Detroit in April.