March Madness is in full swing, and fans of college hoops everywhere have spent time putting together their brackets in hopes of achieving the elusive perfect bracket. Why not throw my picks out there and participate in the fun? That being said, I will jump to my picks for who will be in the Elite Eight and advance to the Final Four.

As long as Johni Broome stays for hot top-seeded Auburn, we should expect them to get to the Elite Eight. Taking on Auburn in an Elite Eight game is going to be the No. 11 UNC Tar Heels. Considering the controversy around UNC even being in the tournament, I know that is a hot take. That will fuel the Tar Heels to make a deep run in the tournament, and if that First Four game where they dominated San Diego State 95-68 is any indication, they will be a tough match for anyone they face.

That sets up my first Elite Eight pick and this is where UNC’s journey ends. They lost to Auburn in November 85-72, and then everyone will gain the sense of vindication that all the upset fans want, sending Auburn to the Final Four.

Starting my picks for the West, No. 8 UConn is going on a run, no doubt in my mind. The only real challenge I see for them on the way to the Final Four is No. 1 Florida. That being said, UConn has defeated Florida in their last five meetings. They will face off against No. 2 St. John’s if they make it past them.

The Red Storm getting that far is just a gut feeling, and too much Pat McAfee while I commute. St. John’s will end UConn’s title hopes, and I’m basing that on the fact that UConn lost both games against St. John’s, first 68-62 and then 89-75. If the trend holds, the margin of victory will continue to increase, and St. John’s will be in the Final Four.

Taking a look at the Midwest portion, my first pick to make the Elite Eight is second-seeded Tennessee. Their path to the Elite Eight only poses one real challenge to me: No. 3 Kentucky. Tennessee has lost twice to Kentucky this season, 78-73 and 75-64, but Tennessee is 55-14-3 overall against them historically, and they’ll add a win over them to get to my pick for who they will face in the Elite Eight, No. 4 Purdue.

Purdue should realistically only struggle with No. 1 Houston. Houston came out strong in the first round, but that momentum will fade. Purdue is an explosive team that doesn’t go away. They have a strong defense and aggressive play in the paint, but the Boilermakers will ultimately fall to Tennessee.

Looking at the East, I don’t care who’s playing, No. 1 Duke is running the board, and I will probably eat my words. Cooper Flagg is back and healthy. He currently carries no injury designation, and the 6-foot-9 freshman is dominant with 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. If Duke plays like they have been in the regular season, it is over for whoever they take the court against.

My guess for who they will have to beat to make it through is Alabama, but Duke is 5-0 against them, and that will become 6-0 should they run into Alabama.

This makes my Final Four matchups Duke vs. Tennessee and Auburn vs. St. John’s.