By John James Marshall

This is among the stupidest things I’ve ever written. I’m basically giving y’all carte blanche to ridicule me from now until kingdom come (or until I write something equally dumb.)

So here goes.

I like Duke, but I have a feeling that poor free throw shooting and/or 3-point shooting is going to cost them.  Should the Blue Devils win, I would not be stunned.

I like Texas Tech. A lot. They play great defense and have an offensive play maker. And they are in a relatively easy bracket.

I don’t like Michigan and I really don’t know why, other than the fact that they lost to Michigan State not once, not twice, but three times. A #2 seed seems too friendly.

I don’t like Gonzaga, which is funny because I saw them beat Duke at full strength in November. The key words there are “in November.” But losing to St. Mary’s as bad as they did is tough to ignore.

I really like North Carolina. To me, they have the most well-rounded team and aren’t afraid of anybody. Especially Duke.

I don’t know what to what to make of LSU. The absence of a head coach is a bigger  deal than people might otherwise want to think. I think they can lose to anybody (even Yale) and I think they can beat anybody.

I like Florida State, because no team looks better getting off the bus than the Seminoles. This team is as talented as anybody, but they always seem to sink to the occasion. Maybe not this year.

Take a shot with Oregon, Murray State, Liberty, UC Irvine, Iowa and Seton Hall. All are double-digit seeds. You’re welcome.

Be wary of Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida and Kansas. Or not. What do I know?

Just don’t remind me.