Indiana is going all the way…to the third round.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

The NCAA tournament starts today and I am in seventh heaven. The next two days are the best two days of sports all year long. Nothing but basketball from noon until midnight.

I’ve got my picks ready to present to you, so by 8:00 p.m. tonight they should be completely worthless. If not, then definitely by about 5:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Our beloved Hoosier state put five teams into the tourney this year, that is awesome. Way to go, Indiana. All five of those teams are winning in the first round, as you’re about to find out.

I was on spring break last week in Florida so some of my picks might be swayed towards Michigan State since I saw a lot of Sparty girls down on the beach, they’re a convincing group.

Speaking of women, I’ve got Maryland winning my women’s Final Four because I am tired of Connecticut winning and you just know Notre Dame will let you down. Maryland over UConn and ND to win the title.

Spring sports are almost here so get ready for softball, baseball, golf and even some track and tennis picks coming your way in April.

Alright, it’s time for some Ink Free Madness. I’ll cover any upsets I have picked, anything else is assumed to be a chalk pick.

Midwest Region

It’s the most exciting bracket of them all because it will be the home of No. 1 overall seed Kentucky and all five Indiana schools. Plenty of upset alerts here, but I’m only picking three in the first round. (9) Purdue, (13) Valparaiso and (10) Indiana all get the win and advance to the round of 32. After that there is just one, (3) Notre Dame over (2) Kansas. The Wichita State-Indiana game is one to keep an eye on because the Shockers could do some damage to Kansas and serve up some revenge to Kentucky if given the chance. You know I’m dying to pick an upset of Kentucky, but I just can’t do it…yet.

Regional Championship: (1) Kentucky over (3) Notre Dame, 84-68.

West Region

I’ve got a total of three upsets in this entire bracket. (10) Ohio State will beat (7) VCU, (6) Xavier will top (3) Baylor and then (2) Arizona will down (1) Wisconsin in the Elite 8. However, (11)Mississippi won its play-in game the other night by scoring 62 points in the second half, and that gives them a hot hand which is always dangerous this time of year. Ole Miss will play Xavier, and I’ve already told you I’m taking Xavier. Harvard is worth watching as the Crimson will take on an inconsistent North Carolina team in the round of 64.

Regional Championship: (2) Arizona over (1) Wisconsin, 62-54.

East Region

This region is just a total crap shoot. Villanova is the 1 seed and probably the safe pick, but it just seems weird to take Nova out very far. This region will be the death of my bracket probably on day one. Round of 64 upset picks: (9) LSU, (11) Dayton, (15) Belmont.
Yes, Belmont. Every year I pick one 15 seed to beat a 2 seed, this year my bold (idiotic) move is betting against Virginia. I have very little faith in the Cavaliers, so I may as well get them out of the picture sooner.
So, my round of 32 in this region includes (1) Villanova-(9) LSU, (5) Northern Iowa-(4) Louisville, (11) Dayton-(3) Oklahoma and (7) Michigan State-(15) Belmont. I’m taking chalk in all of those game except for UNI topping Louisville.
(1) Nova will end the magical run for UNI and then (7) Michigan State will really shake things up with a win over (3) Oklahoma in the Sweet 16.
Did you follow any of that? No? Okay, I don’t even care at this point.

Regional Championship: (1) Villanova over (7) Michigan State, 67-60.

South Region

Lots of chalk here. (13) Eastern Washington and (10) Davidson are the only upsets I have in the round of 64, though I really like Stephen F. Austin against Utah. Anyway, (3) Iowa State is my “sexy” pick this year so watch as the Cyclones cruise through wins over (14) UAB, Warsaw’s Nic Moore and (6) SMU, (2) Gonzaga and (1) Duke.

Regional Championship: (3) Iowa State over (1) Duke, 70-67.

Quick recap:

Sweet 16: Kentucky, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Kansas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Xavier, Arizona, Villanova, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Duke, Utah, Iowa State, Gonzaga.
Elite 8: Kentucky, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Arizona, Villanova, Michigan State, Duke, Iowa State.
Final Four: Kentucky, Arizona, Villanova, Iowa State.

Final Four – Indianapolis

I will probably regret it, but I am picking against John Calipari and the Wildcats. Instead, I will be picking the Wildcats…of Arizona.
Yes, No. 1 no more. Arizona gets the upset and faces Villanova in the title game after those Wildcats (Seriously? Wow, I hate these picks already.) beat Iowa State.

National Championship: (2) Arizona over (1) Villanova, 63-56.

Honestly, I know my bracket will fall short in a lot of places this year. But, as long as Kentucky loses, we’re all winners.