The 2019 Men's College
(Division 1) basketball tourney is set for March
19-April 8, 2019.
The first full round (64) starts on March 21, 2019.
Welcome to KJ's round-by-round
prediction of the Tourney. This page hosts the ROUND OF 64 matchups.
EAST REGION
| #1 Duke |
<<< Predict |
#16 North Dakota State |
| Synopsis:
Duke enters the 2019 tournament as the overall #1 seed, and with Zion
back, Duke seems set to easily win its first game. Barring a string of
injuries to Duke in this game, NDSU won't repeat the upsets of old, as
the First Four winner barely won to get into the R64. |
| #2 Michigan State |
<<< Predict |
#15 Bradley |
| Synopsis:
Eerily enough, MSU has been a #2 seed before and coughed up an upset
(to #15 Middle Tennesee). But Bradley is nowhere near the caliber of
the MTSU team that pulled the upset in 2016. MSU should dispatch
Bradley with ease. |
| #3 LSU |
Predict >>> |
#14 Yale |
| Synopsis:
LSU has been a team on some fairly rocky footing, with their coach
under suspension and facing an uncertain future. Yale is the Ivy League
winner, and seems better prepared than last year's Ivy League champ
Penn which toyed with upset territory as a #16. Yale seems ready to
become the twenty-second 14-seed to upset a 3-seed. |
| #4 Virginia Tech |
<<< Predict |
#13 Saint Louis |
| Synopsis:
While Saint Louis has done remarkably well in tournments, this Virginia
Tech team is one of the better fielded teams in recent years and earned
it's #4. The Hokies should win with little difficulty. |
| #5 Mississippi State |
<<< Predict |
#12 Liberty |
| Synopsis:
Liberty is the 12-seed in the trendy 5-12 matchup, but Mississippi
State comes from the SEC, and although this isn't football, Mississippi
State likely gets it done against the Flames, but Liberty should make
it a tough out. |
| #6 Maryland |
<<< Predict |
#11 Belmont |
| Synopsis:
Belmont was the beneficiary of the selection committee's whims, earning
a First Four game they won fairly emphatically. Belmont certainly has
what it takes for an upset, but Maryland will just barely squeeze
through. |
| #7 Louisville |
Predict >>> |
#10 Minnesota |
| Synopsis:
One Pitino is still coaching, and that's the one from Minnesota. (To be
frank, so is Rick Pitino, except in Greek basketball). There's no love
lost between these teams, and Minnesota will probably get by, giving
the Pitino family a bit of a last laugh. |
| #8 Virginia Commonwealth |
Predict >>> |
#9 Central Florida |
| Synopsis:
This one's going to be a slugfest. VCU has a potent defense that can
produce turnovers, and UCF has Tacko Fall, a really big defensive
threat that can swat down just about anything. I favor UCF on this one,
but if VCU gets through, it wouldn't be surprising. |
WEST REGION
| #1 Gonzaga |
<<< Predict |
#16 Fairleigh Dickinson |
| Synopsis:
Fairleigh Dickinson almost became the first 16 over 1 upset a while
ago, before UMBC managed to pull the grand upset last year. Gonzaga is
probably the wobbliest of the #1 seeds, coughing up a conference
tournament loss to St. Mary's College. But while the Zags probably the
weakest #1 seed, they're seemingly back on track, and will at least
survive this first game. |
| #2 Michigan |
<<< Predict |
#15 Montana |
| Synopsis:
The Wolverines. Go Blue. TTUN (That Team Up North). Love them or hate
them, the Wolverines are trying to prove their national title game
appearance wasn't a fluke. The Griz are definitely no pushover, but
Michigan should avoid the upset. |
| #3 Texas Tech |
<<< Predict |
#14 Northern Kentucky |
| Synopsis:
The NKU Norse are making just their second appearance and are slowly
moving up the seeds. But Texas Tech has had a stellar season, and this
should be the Red Raider's to win. |
| #4 Florida State |
<<< Predict |
#13 Vermont |
| Synopsis:
The Cantermounts are going to be a tough #13 seed and various computer
simulations give them around 25% odds. But Florida State wrecked shop
as an #9 seed until getting stopped by Michigan. They've only gotten
better. Advantage, Seminoles. |
| #5 Marquette |
Predict >>> |
#12 Murray State |
| Synopsis:
While Marquette has attained their highest seed in a while, they had
the tough luck of drawing Murray State, a bubble team that decided to
take matters in their own hands and emphatically win their conference
tournament. The Racers should pull the upset, giving a 12 over 5 upset
that seems to be pretty prevalent these days. |
| #6 Buffalo |
<<< Predict |
#11 Arizona State |
| Synopsis:
Buffalo has also attained their highest seed in a while, where Arizona
State had to win a First Four game to get in. Buffalo ought to win this
one. |
| #7 Nevada |
<<< Predict |
#10 Florida |
| Synopsis:
While Florida has won a few titles in fairly recent years, the Wolfpack
have been getting stronger and are poised to be a potential menace in
the tournament. |
| #8 Syracuse |
<<< Predict |
#9 Baylor |
| Synopsis:
Syracuse and Baylor should be a battle to the end, but Boeheim's
experience in the tournament should net the Orange the win. |
SOUTH REGION
| #1 Virginia |
<<< Predict |
#16 Gardner-Webb |
| Synopsis:
Virginia was the #1 seed last year that lost to #16 UMBC. Gardner-Webb
made the NCAA D1 tournament for the first time this year. While
Virginia's high seeding has been suspect in past years, they should be
able to avoid another meltdown this year. |
| #2 Tennessee |
<<< Predict |
#15 Colgate |
| Synopsis:
Colgate finally makes a return to the tourney since 1996, but alas,
they've drawn the Volunteers of Tennessee. Tennessee should win this
easily. |
| #3 Purdue |
<<< Predict |
#14 Old Dominion |
| Synopsis:
Old Dominion won the Conference USA tournament, of which in the past
four years has supplied an upset in 2015 (UAB #14), 2016 (MTSU #15),
2017 (MTSU #12), and 2018 (Marshall #13). However, Purdue should break
that streak, as while Old Dominion was the #1 seed in their conference
tourney, there were several moments they were nearly knocked out. |
| #4 Kansas State |
<<< Predict |
#13 UC Irvine |
| Synopsis:
K-State tore through brackets last year, only getting stopped at the
Regional Final against #11 Loyola Chicago. K-State benefits with a
higher seed with a better team this year, and should win this easily. |
| #5 Wisconsin |
Predict >>> |
#12 Oregon |
| Synopsis:
While Wisconsin is a strong #5 seed, Oregon is definitely underranked
here, and in that curious #12 spot. Expect another 12 over 5 upset here. |
| #6 Villanova |
<<< Predict |
#11 Saint Mary's College |
| Synopsis:
Saint Mary's College wasn't supposed to be here. But a upset in the
conference tourney against the Zags got them here. Here they face the
defending National Champs in Villanova. Villanova has been here, done
that and the Gaels run stops here. |
| #7 Cincy |
<< Predict |
#10 Iowa |
| Synopsis:
Cincy upset Houston in their conference tourney final, earning a bit of
a higher seed than they would have. Iowa powered through to get into
the tourney. This one may get close, but Cincy should make it. |
| #8 Ole Miss |
Predict >>> |
#9 Oklahoma |
| Synopsis: Ole Miss and Oklahoma should be another tough 8-9 matchup, but Oklahoma has the edge. |
MIDWEST REGION
| #1 UNC |
<<< Predict |
#16 Iona |
| Synopsis:
Iona has a habit of making the tournament, but failing to advance past
the first round. Perhaps that will change someday. Just not against a
UNC team hoping to win another title, even if it means potentially
facing Duke. Again. For. The. Fourth. Time. |
| #2 Kentucky |
<<< Predict |
#15 Abilene Christian |
| Synopsis:
Abilene Christian finally makes its debut in the D1 Mens tourney,
albeit against a focused Kentucky team. Callipari's eminese grise
should help the (blue) Wildcats get past... the (purple) Wildcats. |
| #3 Houston |
<<< Predict |
#14 Georgia State |
| Synopsis:
Georgia State not too long ago pulled off an upset, so they are capable
of it. But they're no Cincy, and Houston shouldn't have too much
trouble picking up their first game this tourney. |
| #4 Kansas |
Predict >>> |
#13 Northeastern |
| Synopsis:
Kansas is highly overseeded here, and while it's a blue blood school in
men's basketball, their gameplay this year is suspect. Northeastern has
been clicking on all cylinders and an upset is not just ripe, it's
entirely plausible. |
| #5 Auburn |
<<< Predict |
#12 New Mexico State |
| Synopsis:
Auburn is probably the strongest #5 seed and most resistant to an
upset. They seem likely to make a deep tourney run, and NM State is
simply in their way. |
| #6 Iowa State |
<<< Predict |
#11 Ohio State |
| Synopsis:
While Ohio State have had great success in the tourneys of past, Iowa
State has been getting much better, especially after an embarrasing
upset against UAB in 2015. There are plenty of matchups the Buckeyes
could easily win in the first round, but Iowa State isn't one. |
| #7 Wofford |
<<< Predict |
#10 Seton Hall |
| Synopsis:
This one is going to be a doozy. Seton Hall almost beat Villanova for
the conference tourney title, and would have avoided the surging
Terriers of Wofford. This is a game however that will go down to the
wire, and while the Terriers are tipped to win, don't be surprised if
the Pirates hoist the victory away. Both teams would likely face
Kentucky, though (but then again, both may just be ready to surprise in
that matchup as well.) Out of all of the 8-9 and 7-10 matchups, this is
probably the most balanced besides VCU/UCF. |
| #8 Utah State |
Predict >>> |
#9 Washington |
| Synopsis:
This is another 8/9 matchup that could go either way, but Washington
has more experience. If Utah State does get past however, they could
potentially provide quite a nasty scare to UNC. |
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