From the Sidelines

Call it blue flu as a large amount of people are getting ready to be out sick at companies around the country. This time of year, I simply call it “March Madness disease.”

As of this weekend, 68 NCAA men’s basketball teams are headed to the “Big Dance,” the college basketball tournament. That means lots of people will be staying at home or finding a local watering hole to watch the first few weeks of the tournament.

With the interest also comes the dreaded “bracket,” and thousands of people will pick the winners for “fun.” Of course, no one would be betting or placing money on the tournament winners.

I will give you some advice: don’t pick a 16 seed. Those odds are definitely against you. A 15 seed has a better shot of upsetting a higher seed, and typically it is a number 12, 13 or 14 that have a chance to make it out of the first week.

Over the years, I admit, I will fill out a bracket along with many others in my work place.

Over the years, I admit, I will fill out a bracket along with many others in my work place.

I have laughed as the ones that know nothing about college basketball find a way to come out on top.

There are those that pick the teams by the color of their uniform. Others that pick by what the school’s mascot is.

In addition, there are some individuals that will go with all the top seeds. That proves to be unlikely as someone one will certainly upset one or two of the higher seeds as the tournament proceeds.

Others will flip a quarter as they fill out their bracket.

It’s really another game of chance or luck that a large majority of the people in your workplace will probably be involved with. So, sit back and watch the games while holding your brackets and checking them after each game. They must be updated every day for the next four weeks.

Things to remember from the past trends:

• From 2002 to 2011, no number 15 seed has upset a number 2 seed.

• Upsets typically have taken place in the number 13 seeds over 4’s.

• For the past 12 years, there has been at least one number 12 seed every year beating a number 5 seed.

• The number 10 seeds are the easy pick for an upset as your bracket moves on.

I look for a lot of ACC teams to be in the final 16 and even final eight. The strength of the conference could also put four teams into the final four, but that is unlikely.

Without seeing a final bracket, I would have the number one seeds as Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA and Louisville. I predict one of those top seeds will be in the final four.

Virginia Tech could be the surprise in the field of 68, but it depends on their placement in the brackets and how far the Hokies will have to travel.

Good luck everyone with your brackets. We will bring you the entire bracket when it becomes available.

If you have sports news, please email me at nrvsports@ourvalley.org.