After the completion of the first day of games, my picks have been PERFECT - sixteen for sixteen.

Didn't fall for the Old Dominion is hot and will physically dominate the decidedly cold and smaller Butler Bulldogs line. Nor did I bite on the Cinderella prediction for Oral Roberts. It was clear to me that Duke was gonna end their mysteriously but unambiguously mediocre season against a quick, tenacious, and resilient VCU. And there was no doubt at all in my mind that Stanford would crumble - having all of their starters back simply meant that they were going to have fewer excuses after their loss.

I have been fully validated. There is no reason to play any more games, although I know the whorey needs and wants of the NCAA dictate that the revenue be raked-in.

Columbus, go ahead and plan the parade. The scarlet and grey will be cutting down the nets in Atlanta on April 2nd, having prevailed over Florida 87 to 83 (Lee Humphrey will struggle - going 3 for 18 from the floor, suffering from the flu & a 102 degree fever). Southern Illinois will be the official Cinderella team, having advanced to the elite eight only to lose to UCLA in a squeeker. And Georgetown will be left to wonder what could have been had Green NOT been called for charging during the last ten seconds of their overtime loss to OSU in the semi-final.

If you'd rather watch the games without knowing who won, fine. If not, and you simply want to know who will win which game, just post your specific question below and I'll let you know (warning, if you don't want to know specific game outcomes in advance, beyond those already revealed above, don't read any further).

It's actually kind of sad to have this knowledge, this perfection. The lack of suspense renders what should otherwise be one of the most exciting sports events on the planet into the mundane. I find myself praying for divine intervention.

Lord, intervene in the already pre-ordained perfection of my NCAA Tourney picks. Let, say, Arizona defeat Purdue today - even though I KNOW they will not. Or, perhaps, let the favored UNLV go ahead and actually beat Georgia Tech (I know, I know, you really LIKE Georgia Tech better than the team from you-know-where). But Lord, I NEED to feel excitement again, I need to believe that there is some chance that watching the games will actually seem fresh and exciting, and not like watching reruns. Give me the gift of imperfection, the gift of uncertainty. Just one unexpected win/loss Lord, just one. Please. (But ONLY one, I've got some serious cash riding on this.)