RECAP: NCAA ROUNDS 1&2: PEPPER GONE MAD AT 77% RIGHT

In the opening round, I got 23 Wins and 9 Losses. I got the following upset correct: Arizona, USC, Texas A&M (#9 over #8), Michigan, and Wisconsin. Missed on Cleveland St (who didn't), Dayton, Mississippi State, Utah St (so close), Siena (so close) and Western Kentucky.

As for Round 2: I got 14 out of 16 - but more importantly the only 2 losses were teams that lost in Round 1 - Wake Forest and Mississippi State.

So the Overall Record of the Weekend: 37 Wins - 11 Loss - 77% - I rank 293,772 on ESPN whatever that means. Why they haven't focus on a Dog making picks over the President is beyond my fluffy ears.

So my Elite 8 - only Wake Forest is done, so 7 out of the 8 teams are still alive. All 4 picks for the Final Four are alive - and I'm sticking with my pick for the champion: Memphis.

See the Elite 8 and Final Four Picks Below:



Final Four & National Championship:

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PICKS: NCAA MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: FINAL FOUR AND CHAMPION

Below are Pepper's picks for the Final Four, Semifinals and National Champion:

East:
1) Pittsburgh vs 2) Duke - PoodlePicks: Pittsburgh

South:
1) North Carolina vs 3) Syracuse - PoodlePicks: North Carolina

Midwest:
2) Michigan State vs 4) Wake Forest - PoodlePicks: Michigan State

West:
1) UConn vs 2) Memphis - PoodlePicks: Memphis

SEMIFINALS:
1) Pittsburgh vs 1) North Carolina - PoodlePicks: North Carolina
2) Michigan State vs 2) Memphis - PoodlePicks: Memphis

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
1) North Carolina vs 2) Memphis - PoodlePicks: MEMPHIS

VIDEO:


FULL BRACKET:

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PICKS: NCAA MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: ELITE 8

Below are Pepper's picks for team going to the Elite Eight:

MIDWEST:
1) Louisville vs 4) Wake Forest - PoodlePicks: Wake Forest
2) Michigan State vs 3) Kansas - PoodlePicks: Kansas

WEST:
1) UConn vs 13) Mississippi State - PoodlePicks: UConn
2) Memphis vs 3) Missouri - PoodlePicks: Memphis

EAST:
1) Pittsburgh vs 4) Xavier - PoodlePicks: Pittsburgh
2) Duke vs 3) Villanova - PoodlePicks: Duke

SOUTH:
1) North Carolina vs 4) Gonzaga - PoodlePicks: North Carolina
2) Oklahoma vs 3) Syracuse - PoodlePicks: Syracuse

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PICKS: NCAA MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP - SWEET 16

Below are Pepper's Picks for team to go to the Sweet 16 (Winners of Round 2)

EAST:
1) Pittsburgh vs 9) Tennessee - PoodlePicks: Pittsburgh
4) Xavier vs 12) Wisconsin - PoodlePicks: Xavier

3) Villanova vs 6) UCLA - PoodlePicks: Villanova
2) Duke vs 10) Minnesota - PoodlePicks: Duke



SOUTH:
1) North Carolina vs 8) LSU - PoodlePicks: North Carolina
4) Gonzaga vs 5) Illinois - PoodlePicks: Gonzaga

3) Syracuse vs 6) Arizona St - PoodlePicks: Syracuse
2) Oklahoma vs 10) Michigan - PoodlePicks: Oklahoma



MIDWEST:
1) Louisville vs 8) Ohio State - PoodlePicks: Louisville
4) Wake Forest vs 12) Arizona - PoodlePicks: Wake Forest

3) Kansas vs 6) West Virginia - PoodlePicks: Kansas
2) Michigan St vs 10) USC - PoodlePicks: Michigan State



WEST:
1) UConn vs 9) Texas A&M - PoodlePicks: UConn
5) Purdue vs 13) Mississippi State - PoodlePicks: Mississippi State

3) Missouri vs 11) Utah State - PoodlePicks: Missouri
2) Memphis vs 7) California - PoodlePicks: Memphis

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PICKS: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP: SOUTH REGIONAL - Round 1

Below are Pepper's Picks for the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship from the South Regional - Round 1 Games:

1) North Carolina vs 16) Radford - PoodlePicks: North Carolina
8) LSU vs 9) Butler - PoodlePicks: LSU
5) Illinois vs 12) West Kentucky - PoodlePicks: Illinois
4) Gonzaga vs 13) Akron - PoodlePicks: Gonzaga

6) Arizona St vs 11) Temple - PoodlePicks: Arizona St
3) Syracuse vs 14) S.F. Austin - PoodlePicks: Syracuse
7) Clemson vs 10) Michigan - PoodlePicks: Michigan
2) Oklahoma vs. 15) Morgan St. - PoodlePicks: Oklahoma

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PICKS: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP: WEST REGIONAL - Round 1

Below are Pepper's Picks for the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship from the West Regional - Round 1 Games:

1) Connecticut vs 16) Chattanooga - PoodlePicks: UConn
8) BYU vs 9) Texas A&M - PoodlePicks: Texas A&M
5) Purdue vs 12) Northern Iowa - PoodlePicks: Purdue
4) Washington vs 13) Mississippi State - PoodlePicks: Mississippi State

6) Marquette vs 11) Utah State - PoodlePicks: Utah State
3) Missouri vs 14) Cornell - PoodlePicks: Missouri
7) California vs 10) Maryland - PoodlePicks: California
2) Memphis vs 15) CS Northridge - PoodlePicks: Memphis

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PICKS: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP: MIDWEST REGIONAL - Round 1

Below are Pepper's Picks for the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship from the Midwest Regional - Round 1 Games:

1) Louisville vs 16) Morehead St - PoodlePicks: Louisville
8) Ohio State vs. 9) Siena - PoodlePicks: Ohio State
5) Utah vs 12) Arizona - PoodlePicks: Arizona
4) Wake Forest vs 13) Cleveland State - PoodlePicks: Wake Forest

6) West Virginia vs 11) Dayton - PoodlePicks: West Virginia
3) Kansas vs 14) North Dakota State - PoodlePicks: Kansas
7) Boston College vs 10) USC - USC
2) Michigan State vs 15) Robert Morris - Michigan State

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PICKS: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP: EAST REGIONAL - Round 1

Below are Pepper's Picks for the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship from the East Regional - Round 1 Games:

1) Pittsburgh vs 16) E. Ten St - PoodlePicks: Pittsburgh
8) Oklahoma St vs 9) Tennessee - PoodlePicks: Tennessee
5) Florida St vs 12) Wisconsin - PoodlePicks: Wisconsin
4) Xavier vs 13) Portland St - PoodlePicks: Xavier

6) UCLA vs 11) VCU - PoodlePicks: UCLA
3) Villanova vs 14) American - PoodlePicks: Villanova
7) Texas vs 10) Minnesota - PoodlePicks: Minnesota
2) Duke vs 15) Binghamton - PoodlePicks: Duke

Watch:

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Preparation for the Picks

TubeMogul and YouTube are being a bit feisty on the uploading process... so I decided to post this video of me preparing for the picks...

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PoodlePicks weekend off - Full Bracket for the NCAA Tournament

Originally, I had planned on picking four games this weekend, however with the NCAA tournament coming next week, like all major handicappers - I needed to focus on getting ready for the 2nd greatest tournament in the world - after the Westminster Dog Show. Planning includes a grooming (happened yesterday), downloading and resizing logos for all 65 teams (some I have already, some I don't - Cleveland State), and of course extra sleep - what all good Poodle handicappers need before major sporting events.

How My NCAA Tournament Picks Will Work:
I will attempt to pick a full bracket. This will be done of the course of several days. Each round and each bracket region will be a separate video. So for example: There will be a Round 1 - East (Boston Regional) Philadelphia Games, Boise Games, Minneapolis Games, Greensboro Games all in one Video. Round 2: New Video and so forth with each pick right after each other. It will take time.

The picks themselves. In order to ensure a level field since it is so large, not all teams are equal and I don't pick a 16 vs 16 seed in the final four... the food bowls will be scaled based on ranking. So if your a 1-4 seed a large bowl will be used, 5-8 slightly smaller medium size bowl, 9-12 a ramekins and 13-16 a bathroom cup. The possibility of an upset exists but the chance of it happening are diminished by size of the bowl. No different then the NBA draft lottery where worse team get more pin-ping balls but not necessarily the first pick in the draft.

You can have the opportunity to pick against me at the follow Bracket Challenge by clicking here. No prize will be given this year as our presenting sponsor is still waiting for their bailout check from the government to clear the bank - who is also waiting for their bailout check - its rather complicated. Hopefully, next year the economy will improve - might have to do a PoodlePick on that predication. Send me and email poodlepicks@gmail.com or tweet @poodlepicks

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RECAP: Poodle Keeps Up His Winning Ways Going 6-2

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Stellar weekend with the Wins:

UNC was pretty much a given - at home on Senior Day - they have Duke's number and now a #1 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

Gators - here is a prediction for Kentucky Fans - Coach Gillispie will be Texas - San Antonio with Larry Coker next year. No way he returns to UK with that talent and playing that poorly. Who knows where Billy Donavan will be too....

Spartans - the only Big 10 team that can play with the rest of the country. We'll see if they make it past round 2 of the NCAA Tournament.

Pittsburgh - just out hustled and out played UConn they will be in good shape for the Big East Tournament and #1 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

Oklahoma - Their team play just outshines the speed of OSU. I think OSU will be a sleeper team for the NCAA Tournament.

The Avs - lucky pick. I'll get a few of those each weekend.

The Losses:

The Bruins: who is this backup goalie - Manny Fernandez - he play more like Manny Ramirez - don't be afraid of the PUCK

The Suns: Nash on the floor is a liability - all their big runs came with him on the bench. He isn't playing with heart. They had that game in hand, coming back from 13 down and losing in the last 2 minutes.

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PICK: Phoenix Suns vs San Antonio Spurs

The Suns and Spurs are both Jekyll and Hyde teams - you never know which team will show up. However, Shaq seems to play better when the game is in the national spotlight. So I'll go with the fast paced up and down Suns to beat the old Spurs.

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PICK: Pitt Panthers vs UConn Huskies

This is the type of game I like - two hard working teams that match up very well. Ok, I'm a poodle, I don't like hard working and I really think the Huskies are very pretty dogs however based on the style of play, I think Pitt will yet again get the better of UConn. Pick: PITT

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PICK: New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins

The Bruins just have all the right pieces in place to make a good run at the Cup: Scoring, Goal Tending, Defense. The Rangers seem to be skating backwards. Bruins to romp all over the (st)Rangers.

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PICK: Colorado Avalanche vs Chicago Black Hawks

The Avalanche don't seem to have the luster of years past. The Black Hawks are up and coming young team to watch in the future. However this is my upset special of the weekend (remember I'm a dog!!). Avs to win - paws are crossed.

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PICK: Michigan State Spartans vs Purdue Boilermakers

Should be another tight low scoring Big Ten game. Michigan State seems to be the class of the conference and the conference as a whole will struggle in the big dance. Look for MICHIGAN STATE to win.

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PICK: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Oklahoma Sooners

Good ole' fashion mid west showdown between two fast and high scoring teams. I think Oklahoma has just a tad more talent. However, OSU did look unstoppable in their blowout of Texas last Sunday. Texas beat Oklahoma earlier this season - which make me question my own pick. This is one of those game where I'm nervous because it will probably come down to the last minute - so an extra nap will be needed. I will still go with OKLAHOMA to squeak out a win.

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PICK: Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels

Annually the best game of the year. Both teams playing at their peak (unlike that UK vs FL game). North Carolina is still my hot team to win every game. Poodle Picks: NORTH CAROLINA

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PICK: Kentucky Wildcats vs Florida Gators

This is a strange game: Bad Coaching vs Bad Playing... both teams are playing for their NCAA Tournament lives. UK beat UF up in Lexington earlier in a close game. I think the home crowd will be the lone advantage in this match up of desperate teams. Poodle Picks: FLORDIA

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RECAP: Weekend Results 4-3 but Respectable

One unexpected loss (Celtics) is offset by an unbelievable upset (Suns).

Loses:
LSU vs Kentucky: The Wildcats almost pulled it off. They came back from way down and took a good lead inthe 2nd half until BAD COACHING cost them the game.

Duke vs Virgina Tech: Almost the upset again!! The Hookies came from down 10 at the half but just couldn't hold on.

Pistons vs Celtics: No A.I. - the Pistons play better. Stephan Marbury the Celtics play worse.

Wins:
North Carolina vs Georgia Tech: That is the UNC we like to watch - dominate and destroy.

Notre Dame vs UConn - The Huskies played it close - Big game next weekend: Pitt Rematch

Mizzou vs Kansas - I guess Mizzou was without a key player. Allen Fieldhouse is just a tough place to play in if your the road team.

Suns vs Lakers - holy cats - the Lakers lose 2 in a row. They just couldn't keep up with the running Suns - just too up tempo. Suns looked so slow on the Wedensday night game. Shaq really put in together for the home crowd.

Next Weekend Picks:
Pitt vs UConn
Duke vs North Carolina
Kentucky vs Florida
Oklahoma State vs Oklahoma
Purdue vs Michigan State
Suns vs Spurs
Bruins vs Rangers
Avs vs Blackhawks

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