As as some of you may know, I picked Kentucky to win it all last year, and you know how that went. In hindsight my Kentucky bias really showed and wow was I so wrong. Fuck you Doug you piece of shit. This year it will be different. (I do have a Kentucky future +4500 to win it all.) I will never not think Kentucky will win it but this year I have to get my mind right and give you the winner. This year is such a ginormous question mark that I absolutely love the field.
With the early favorites of Houston, Purdue, Alabama, and Kansas there is no way any of these squads pull it off. Houston’s biggest leader is coming off an injury and Purdue not being able to perform in March make both of those options easily predictable. Kansas is scary but no way can they go back to back and Alabama needed security for their best player is just an easy no bet for me.
With those out of the way that leads me to some interesting other squads like UCLA, Arizona, and Marquette. UCLA is a real threat coming out of the West region with them being so close to home but injuries make this team lack depth and defense. Arizona is too cocky and full of themselves to be any threat to my eventual winner. They play all offense and no defense which makes that an easy answer for everyone. Best of luck to Loon Beast and his miserable squad. Marquette really intrigued me but Shaka Smart has stunk since making a deep run in the tournament with VCU in 2011. They lack the “it” factor with having no real stars to carry them deep into the tournament.
I see the writing on the wall for a new champion, with a Cinderella story of having an interim coach for a school that is known for major athletic letdowns. This years champion is no shock and should be treated with more respect than they are given. At +1600 to win it, they have worse odds than the Gonzaga Bulldogs and University of Connecticut Huskies to bring it home. This team is deep, experienced, and nutty…
My winner this year wears a horrendous shade of orange and has blown the breaks off Kansas twice this year. While I hate seeing a veteran guard from the University of Minnesota help guide his team to the tournament, I have to respect his veteran play in this years tournament. As a whole they rank top 20 in both offense and defense as well as having the fourth most experienced roster of all teams in play. Marcus Carr, Sir’Jabari Rice, Timmy Allen and Dylan Disu know how to battle with the big dogs and will carry the load in terms of offense. They have been battle tested all year with a tough Big 12 conference schedule. The only real hurdle for them is Houston who will get worn down by the likes of Indiana, Miami, Auburn, and Iowa.
Ladies and gentlemen your NCAA Men’s Basketball national champions, the Texas Longhorns. Hook ‘em and cash ‘em. At +1600 easily the best play with some value. Let’s ride.
loonstatesports.com 