March Madness - 2024

Photo - Lily Smith/The Register/USA Today network

Justin Scott || Sports Reporter

Here are my just for fun and last minute bits of advice for filling out your brackets this year! Don’t forget to check out this week’s Ledger to fill out a paper version, or head to CBS to fill out your bracket.

Mens

I think I found a balance this year, while accounting for what is a rather weak group of non power-five conference champions. James Madison (12) beat Michigan State earlier this season and has won plenty this season so I have them in the sweet sixteen. New Mexico (11) is the hottest non power-five in the field and I have them going to the elite eight. This year’s conference tournament champions in the 15-16 range are weaker than in past years, so I don’t see a 15 or 16 winning. While I don’t have a 1, 2, or 3 losing in the first round, I also have Grand Canyon (12), Yale (13) winning in the first round, as well as McNeese (12) advancing to the sweet 16. My champion is Houston, I think they finally break through against the defending champions in the finals. I’m pretty high on the SEC this year. I do expect to be disappointed in Tennessee, my annual final four pick. I also like Alabama to get hot, and Florida to give Marquette the boot early.

I’m a MAC guy, went to WMU, so while I usually pick the MAC champion for an upset, I just don’t see Akron doing it. Creighton is really good, and Akron got pretty lucky against Kent State (8-seed in the MAC tournament) in the final few seconds. I hope the Zips prove me wrong though.

Womens

I think that South Carolina-Iowa is the largely popular championship game pick and it’s no surprise why. I think the committee made things tough for Iowa, but I think they win the rubber match against LSU. This would be an epic championship game. My big upset pick is Fairfield (13) in the sweet 16. The Stags have won 29 in a row and I did watch a little of their win over Niagara in the MAAC finals. Princeton at the 9 seed is a pretty strong team and could give Iowa bit of trouble. Also have Baylor (5) over USC in the sweet 16. Ultimately, South Carolina is the odds on favorite here, but I like to think we’ll see some Caitlin Clark magic in her final year for Iowa.