The interest in March Madness has been ratcheted up a notch this year with a challenge from Warren Buffett.
The billionaire is offering $1 billion to anyone who has a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket. With the "play-in" winners advancing earlier this week, the NCAA Tournament kicks into high gear today and Friday with the Round of 64.
I read that there are a few more than 9.2 quintillion combinations for a 64-team bracket. From the statistics, it seems almost impossible to pick a perfect bracket.
To state the obvious, if it were easy, Buffett wouldn't risk $1 billion. Who knows, there could be some lucky person who indeed fills out an unblemished bracket, despite the odds.
It probably won't happen, but it's an intriguing contest, nonetheless.
For those wanting a little better odds of winning something, the Courier News is one of many newspapers who are again participating in the BracketBucks contest. The winner of the nationwide contest will claim the $25,000 grand prize, while the local winner receives $100. The deadline to enter was 11 a.m. today since the games tip shortly after that.
Filling out a bracket (or multiple brackets) is one of the fun sports traditions.
I don't usually enter contests, but every year I fill out a bracket. My strategy is pretty simple: I'll listen to some of the experts and then go with my gut when actually plugging in the "winners."
That tactic hasn't exactly led to pristine brackets; they're usually dotted with little red X's.
But, it's fun and one of the reasons I enjoy March Madness. Though my bracket may take a few hits, watching the upsets never gets old. When the small school stuns one of the favorites, it's one of the best moments in sports.
Along with upsets, there are always dramatic finishes and athletes that have their coming out party.
It's the most unpredictable, exciting three weeks in sports.
The casual fan and those who study college games for a living are on a level playing field in predicting the games because they are so often decided on the last possession.
While it's helpful to have a favorable matchup, there always seems to be some luck involved with those advancing in the early rounds of the tournament.
Hopefully, those brackets aren't busted too badly on the opening weekend. I know mine is usually in the trash by the time the Sweet Sixteen rolls around, but I'll offer my Final Four picks anyway.
By the time most read this, their brackets will be set so I can't do too much damage.
I've got No. 1 Florida playing No. 4 Michigan State in one semifinal and No. 3 Creighton facing No. 1 Wichita State in the other.
Michigan State has been the trendy pick and it's hard to argue with what the conference champion Spartans did in the Big Ten Tournament.
Still, Florida's senior-laden group is pretty good, and I've got the Gators beating Wichita State in the national championship game.
A lot of folks don't have Wichita State going too far because of the brutal Midwest Region, which also includes snubbed fourth-seeded Louisville, Michigan, Duke and Kentucky (an 8th seed).
That's why they play the games.
As usual, the field is wide open. Let the Madness begin!
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com