Arch Madness bracket contest!

[BUSongwriter]

OK MVC prognosticators, time to go on the record with your picks for Arch Madness. So many possibilities! It seems there are two clear favorites...or three...or four! Possible upsets loom around every corner, and only one thing is for sure -- it's going to be a great weekend. I hope to see many of you in STL-- and cheering for BU all the way to Sunday!

I'll go first. Vote early, vote often!

THURSDAY
Drake over Illinois State
Valpo over Evansville

FRIDAY
UNI over Drake
BU over SIU
Loyola over Valpo
Missouri State over ISU-Blue

SATURDAY
BU over UNI (please!)
Loyola over Missouri State (tough call, but Krutwig is so good!)

SUNDAY
BU over Loyola (and we're dancing again! Hopefully UNI will also get in.)

[Tommy]

I'm not normally superstitious, but in this case, I'm not gonna take the chance. I'm already nervous as all get out!

[patrick_o'brian]

I'm not normally superstitious, but in this case, I'm not gonna take the chance. I'm already nervous as all get out!

I’m with you Tommy! I would love to play along, but I just can’t!!

[Da Coach]

I'll play just for the fun of it....

THURSDAY
Illinois State over Drake
Valpo over Evansville

FRIDAY
UNI over Illinois State (I will be cheering for ILSU, though)
BU over SIU
Loyola over Valpo
Missouri State over ISU-Blue

SATURDAY
UNI over Bradley (I'd love to go with my heart, but my brain overruled it)
Loyola over Missouri State

SUNDAY
UNI over Loyola (UNI cannot lose this game, bacause I don't see them getting an at-large bid)

[MacabreMob]

I'm in....

Thursday
ISU over Drake
Valpo over E'ville

Friday
UNI over ISU (close game giving Panthers a scare)
Bradley over SIU
Loyola over Valpo
Mo St over Indy St

Saturday
UNI over Bradley (a beatdown after the ISU scare)
Mo St over Loyola (close and hard fought)

Sunday
Mo St over UNI (who blew their selves out pounding Bradley)

[wily coyote]

Here goes:
DU over ISU RED
VU over EU
UNI OVER DU
BU OVER SIU
LU OVER VU
MSU OVER ISU BLUE
BU OVER UNI
MSU OVER LU
MSU OVER BU AND I HOPE TO HELL I'M WRONG JUST THE WAY I SEE IT.

[pauly616]

Thursday
ISU over DU
VU over EU

Friday
UNI over ISU
BU over SIU

LU over VU
MSU over InSU

Saturday
UNI over BU in a close last min battle
MSU over LU

UNI over MSU.....making the valley a 1 bid league again

[Go_Braves]

Like everyone else >>>>> I'll play just for the fun of it....

THURSDAY
Illinois State over Drake ( I agree with Da Coach and pauly616 on this one)
Valpo over Evansville

FRIDAY
UNI over Illinois State (from Da Coach I will be cheering for ILSU, though) - ME TOO !!!
BU over SIU
Loyola over Valpo
Missouri State over ISU-Blue

SATURDAY
BRADLEY over UNI Unlike Da Coach and maybe others - I am going with both my HEART and my BRAIN...
Let the "Bubble" discussions begin for UNI after this game. I agree with Da Coach - UNI likely "will not" receive an "at large" bid.
Loyola over Missouri State

SUNDAY
BRADLEY over Loyola - The outcome will be just the opposite of the February 29th game ..

T-MINUS 3 days until Bradley and SIU tip it off.

GO BRAVES !!!

[Dub]

"Baker" from the March to the Arch Podcast picks Bradley to repeat as Tourney Champ.
I was very surprised to hear that today.

[richardk]

THURSDAY

DRAKE over ILLINOIS STATE

EVANSVILLE over VALPO



FRIDAY

UNI over DRAKE

BU over SIU

LOYOLA over EVANSVILLE

MISSOURI STATE over ISU BLUE



SATURDAY

BU over UNI

MISSOURI STATE over LOYOLA



SUNDAY

BU over MISSOURI STATE

[BraveBird]

Thursday
Illinois State over Drake
Valpo over Evansville

Friday
Northern Iowa over Illinois State
Bradley over Southern Illinois
Loyola over Valpo
Missouri State over Indiana State

Saturday
Northern Iowa over Bradley
Missouri State over Loyola

Sunday
Northern Iowa over Missouri State

[Bradleyfan1]

Isu red
valpo

Isu red

Bu

Loyola

Missouri st ...poor Greg

Bradley
Missouri st

Bradley B2B

[bigjimmy]

Thursday
Game 1: ISU Red vs Drake. Drake has lost 3 straight and is really struggling on offense. The Redbirds have played well their last 3 games and are scoring some points so they should prevail

Game 2: Valpo vs Evansville. With Freeman-Liberty back has a few options that will prove to tough for the Purple Aces to overcome.

Friday
Game 1: ISU Red vs UNI. The Redbirds have given UNI problems thus season as they have the athletes to stay with the Panthers but UNI has better talent and should win going away in the last few minutes.

Game 2: BU vs SIU. Even though the Salukis have struggled down the stretch I expect a tough game but we’ll find a way to win.

Game 3: Valpo vs Loyola. Valpo will stay with Loyola but the Ramblers rugged defense will prove to be to much for the Crusaders.

Game 4: Missouri State vs ISU Blue. The Sycamores are playing really well and I’m tempted to pick them to win but the Bears seem to be playing their best basketball of the season and as long as they stay focused on the job at hand they will win.

Saturday
Game 1: BU vs UNI. Head or Heart. I think we will need to play our best game of the year to best UNI. We need to match their aggressiveness on both ends. Have to take care of the ball. Make our FT’S. And that still might not be enough. Can we win? Yes. Will we win? Head or Heart. Heart says we will GET ER DONE. My head? You Darn betcha!

Game 2: Loyola vs Missouri State. 2 physical teams will wear each other out. Will curious to see how this game is reffed. Flip a coin. It’s Loyola.

Sunday Championship: BU vs Loyola
3rd time will be a charm for our Bradley Braves!

[Da Coach]

I guess Bradley fans aren't too good at predictions this year.
The only 3 posters who picked Drake over Illinois State were BUSongwriter, wily coyote, and new poster richardk. Congratulations to them!

[BUSongwriter]

I guess Bradley fans aren't too good at predictions this year.
The only 3 posters who picked Drake over Illinois State were BUSongwriter, wily coyote, and new poster richardk. Congratulations to them!

Well, a lot of my money went to Drake with my daughter, so that factored into my choice. And today, I will be a huge Bulldog fan in Game 1!

The good news for the contest is that everyone is on the board with at least one correct guess. (Evansville got no respect.) My plan is to award 1 point for play-in correct guesses, 2 points for quarterfinal, 3 points for semifinal, and 4 for champion. We'll see if we'll need a tiebreaker.

Getting ready to head south. Sooooo excited!