Most Intriguing First Round Game:  UCLA vs. VCU.  Every year I fall in love with a few teams as NCAA sleepers, and every year, without fail, they're paired against each other before the Sweet Sixteen.  This year I liked VCU, UCLA and Villanova, and sure enough, only one of those teams will be making it to the conference semifinals.  Eric Maynor will try to hold his own against the Jrue Holiday/Darren Collison tag team, while Larry Sanders - a freak inside - will patrol the paint.  You can be sure the Philadelphia crowd will be against the Bruins, but will that be enough?

Best Possible Opening Weekend Showdown: Texas/Duke and ‘Nova/UCLA.  If Texas can get past Minnesota, they'll get to take a shot at the Blue Devils, who haven't been past the Sweet Sixteen since 2004.  Duke doesn't have anyone to match up with a rested Dexter Pittman, while the Longhorn defense has the athleticism to lock down the Duke perimeter shooters.  AJ Abrams and Damion James against Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson?  I like it, although Tubby Smith may have something to say about the game even happening.

I also love the idea of a bunch of potential NBA guards throwing down with a trip to the Sweet Sixteen on the line, but the fact this game is in Villanova's backyard would be a huge disadvantage to UCLA, who hasn't had to travel East very often during their run of Final Fours.

Potential Sleeper (5 seed or higher):  UCLA.   Can you tell I don't think very highly of the top half of the bracket beyond the one seed?  UCLA's got the pedigree, the guards and the defense, but they're going to be playing in front of a very partisan crowd.  Never discount Ben Howland's ability to muck up a game so that talent and momentum are taken out of the equation.

Trendy Pick (4 seed or lower): Villanova.  Here's a fun fact for you: three of the last four years, the Wildcats have been eliminated by the eventual national  champion (including on that bogus traveling call against UNC in the 2005 Sweet Sixteen).   Dante Cunningham is now a crusty veteran, while Jay Wright's plethora of guards seldom disappoint.   The sad thing about taking VCU, Villanova or UCLA is that only one will survive one of the two toughest pods in the entire tournament.  If you want to take UCLA or ‘Nova, you can't sort of have a good vibe or be playing a hunch; you have to love love love them.

Why The Favorite Could Fall: The Panthers have never been past the Sweet Sixteen in the Howland/Dixon era, and with DeJuan Blair's recurrent foul difficulties, that could continue.  However, a lot of the previous Pitt teams have made deep conference tournament runs, so this one has perhaps had more time to focus on the bigger prize.   Oklahoma State has some talent and the bottom half of the bracket is just loaded.  I don't think the Panthers will have that much trouble getting to the Elite Eight, but they'll have to earn that trip to Detroit in the regional final.