Who Will Win It All? Follow the NCAA Tournament with TuneIn’s Bracketologists
With the madness of NCAA Men’s Basketball starting today, the so-called sports experts at TuneIn have made their picks and are ready to claim victory (and crossing their fingers for no bracket busters). Follow their processes and decide who has the best strategy–and whose picks are absurd.
Don’t forget, you can listen to ever call of every game during March Madness on Westwood One with TuneIn. Don’t miss a minute of the action.
Lucas, Marketing
As a self-proclaimed bracketologist, I have done significant research this season and monitored the offensive and defensive efficiencies of all the tournament teams. Further, I have scoured the NET rankings and BPI index to find the most tournament tested teams. I am using this formulaic approach to my picks and as a result have Kentucky cutting down the nets in Minneapolis. I am sure my university mathematics professor would be proud.
Champion Pick: Kentucky
Upset Team: UC Irvine
Imran, Marketing
The casual fan: After watching a lot of conference tournament games this past weekend, it’s hard to resist the excitement of what Auburn was able to pull off. They look fast, furious, and their transition basketball was on fire. While a DUKE-UNC part 4 is exciting as well, I didn’t see that sort of speed, the way Auburn was moving. The rest of the teams I picked were based off of who I’d like to win. My gut.
Auburn FTW.
Champion Pick: Auburn
Upset Team: Nevada
Allen, Operations
There was no way I was going to pick Duke to split the winnings 100 ways. No I’m going for it all. People seem to forget not only how close Michigan got last year, but the fact that they started this season like 17–0. No one is talking about them and there are a number of teams that tend to play better without expectations. Michigan is one of them. I have them taking it home this year.
Champion Pick: Michigan
Upset Team: Belmont
Leksi, Growth
1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2017…2019
As someone wise once said, “I only cheer for two teams…Carolina and anyone playing Duke”
If you haven’t guessed it yet — I am a Tar Heel. Michael Jordan, Carolina Blue, Mia Hamm, Vince Carter, Dean Smith, one more championship than that other school that shall not be named. Do I need more reasons? Also, I am a reasonable die hard fan. The team this year knows how to score, any single player is solid and can get going, Cam Johnson is exciting to watch. The only thing that can make up for UNC not winning it all, is Dook losing in the first/second round (did someone say Mercer..oh nm..Lehigh?)
Champion Pick: North Carolina
Upset Team: LSU
Chris C., Content
I’ll be sweating and cursing through my alma mater Florida State’s games in the coming days (& hopefully weeks). But I recall all too well what the weight of expectations via my red-ridden brackets has done to the Seminoles’ fate each March. I won’t doom them from the start with my fatalistic juju this time ‘round. Though I’m not picking the ‘Noles to get it done, I am going with an ACC team to cut down the nets. After ending up one half of the answer to a perennial NCAA Tournament trivia question last year, I’m guessing Virginia will have an unrivaled fire lit under their collective butts for this tourney. With a balanced scoring attack led by sharp shooter Kyle Guy and future NBA first-rounders De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome to go along with the nation’s toughest defense, Tony Bennett’s squad has the right path through the South Region to get it done and avenge last year’s embarrassment. Loyola and UMBC made 2018 the Cinderella tournament, but I expect to see a lot more chalk this year.
Champion Pick: Virginia
Upset Team: St. Mary’s College
Ashley, Product Manager — Research? Fredette about it! I’m always the last one to fill out my bracket, and I use an expert strategy of speed and feel. Without UMBC and the potential for more Air Bud memes, I’m going mostly chalk this year. I’ll only go as far as to take a 12 over a 5 with Oregon, but expecting a lot of exciting, close matchups. In the words of the great David Bowie, LET’S DANCE.
Championship Pick: UNC
Upset Team: Oregon
Zeeshan, Yield Analyst — What is a bracket? First of all, I got to learn about what a bracket is and secondly Imran told me that apparently Knicks are not up for a pick on this board. Yea it’s my first time doing this and the only team I actually know and support is Duke just because of my brother being a Duke graduate and supporter. Otherwise my pick is very random and is as follows:
Champion Pick: Duke
Upset Team: Oregon
