You gotta love this time of year: March Madness.  The NCAA Basketball Tournament kicks off this week, with the play-in games tipping off this evening (Tuesday March 13).  Below is my initial bracket predictions, all the way through the Final Four.  I will post updates after each round with predictions reflecting those who actually play. (Yes, this mean I expect to be wrong sometimes.)

A printable bracket can be downloaded by clicking: 2012 NCAA Tourney

Play-in Games

Round One

East Region

• 1 Syracuse > 16 UNC-Asheville
• 2 Ohio State > 15 Loyola-MD
• 3 Florida State > 14 St Bonaventure
• 4 Wisconsin > 13 Montana
• 5 Vanderbilt > 12 Harvard
• 6 Cincinnati > 11 Texas
• 10 West Virginia > 7 Gonzaga
• 9 Southern Mississippi > 8 Kansas State

South Region

• 1 Kentucky > 16 Western Kentucky
• 2 Duke > 15 Lehigh
• 3 Baylor > 14 San Diego State
• 4 Indiana > 13 New Mexico State
• 12 Virginia Commonwealth > 5 Wichita State
• 11 Colorado > 6 UNLV
• 7 Notre Dame > 10 Xavier
• 9 Connecticut > 8 Iowa State

Midwest Region

• 1 North Carolina > 16 Vermont
• 2 Kansas > 15 Detroit
• 14 Belmont > 3 Georgetown
• 13 Ohio > 4 Michigan
• 5 Temple > 12 California
• 11 North Carolina State > 6 San Diego State
• 10 Purdue > 7 St Mary’s
• 9 Alabama > 8 Creighton

West Region

• 1 Michigan State > 16 Long Island Univ.
• 2 Missouri > 15 Norfolk State
• 3 Marquette > 14 Iona
• 4 Louisville > 13 Davidson
• 5 New Mexico > 12 Long Beach State
• 6 Murray State > 11 Colorado State
• 7 Florida > 10 Virginia
• 8 Memphis > 9 St Louis

Round 2

East Region

• 1 Syracuse > 9 Southern Mississippi
• 10 West Virginia > 2 Ohio State
• 6 Cincinnati > 3 Florida State
• 5 Vanderbilt > 4 Wisconsin

South Region

• 1 Kentucky > 9 Connecticut
• 2 Duke > 7 Notre Dame
• 3 Baylor > 11 Colorado
• 12 Virginia Commonwealth > 4 Indiana

Midwest Region

• 1 North Carolina > 9 Alabama
• 2 Kansas > 10 Purdue
• 14 Belmont > 11 North Carolina State
• 5 Temple > 13 Ohio

West Region

• 1 Michigan State > 8 Memphis
• 2 Missouri > 7 Florida
• 3 Marquette > 6 Murray State
• 4 Louisville > 5 New Mexico

Sweet 16

East Region

• 5 Vanderbilt > 1 Syracuse
• 10 West Virginia > 6 Cincinnati

South Region

• 1 Kentucky > 12 Virginia Commonwealth
• 3 Baylor > 2 Duke

Midwest Region

• 1 North Carolina > 5 Temple
• 2 Kansas > 14 Belmont

West Region

• 1 Michigan State > 4 Louisville
• 2 Missouri > 3 Marquette

Elite 8

East Region

• 5 Vanderbilt > 10 West Virginia

South Region

• 1 Kentucky > 3 Baylor

Midwest Region

• 1 North Carolina > 2 Kansas

West Region

• 2 Missouri > 1 Michigan State

Final Four

• Vanderbilt
• Kentucky
• North Carolina
• Missouri

NCAA Champions:

Kentucky