June Madness

It's that time of year where even the most casual of basketball fans find themselves engrossed with the annual excitement that is March Madness.  As I've been watching Northern Iowa and Cornell dance their way to the Sweet 16 and teams like Villanova and Georgetown crash out, I've thought about what it'd be like if soccer's biggest tournament was structured the same way.  32 teams, single elimination, like the NCAA tournament and so many domestic cup competitions across the globe.  Naturally, as someone always looking for a topic to post on, I decided to take this idea and forward and formulate my own bracket for this summer's World Cup.  Never before did I realize just how difficult it is to be on the seeding committee.

So here's the bracket I came up with, with my predictions going through as well (which I'll get to in a minute, though I'm sure you won't be able to resist peeking at, then double-taking to make sure read that last one correctly): (click to enlarge)

Naturally, as is always the case with the NCAA tournament, there were some seeding controversies.  The big "conferences" (UEFA and CONMEBOL) got a lot of respect in the seedings due to their strength of schedule and high position in the rankings, while the lesser known "mid-major conferences" (the rest) were pushed towards the bottom end, with only a few Butler/Gonzaga-esque standouts earning seeds in the top half of their region (USA, Australia).  Some teams were happy, others not so much, but in the end, the seeding committee had the final say.

To blend these two tournaments even better, I would propose that Dick Vitale and Ray Hudson share the booth for all 31 matches.  I don't know if any useful information would actually be conveyed throughout, but it sure as hell would be entertaining listening to that duo try to one-up each other before one of them eventually bursts (my money is on Hudson).

With that, my predictions for my predicted bracket (because I can):

First Round Predictions and Analysis:

As is the case with March Madness, there are a handful of upsets in the first round.  #6 Japan knock off #3 Ivory Coast, while South Korea and Portugal advance as #5s over a pair of #4s that have faded towards the end of the season (qualification; France and Slovakia).  Slovenia also pulls off a mild upset, knocking off the Swiss en route to the second round.  Everything else is chalk, with the USA moving on past it's difficult opening round match after pulling out a heart-stopping victory over a far from impressive (but still very talented) Argentina side. 

Sweet 16 Predictions and Analysis:

UEFA takes over, claiming five of the Elite 8 spots up for grabs.  Top seeds Brazil, Spain, and the Netherlands all move on, but England becomes the second victim in South Korea's Cinderella run (because every proper March Madness replica needs one).  The USA advances past a tough Denmark side because I'm picking with only some of my head and all of my heart (which is why my NCAA bracket this year is absolutely atrocious), while dark horse contenders Serbia set themselves up with a marquee showdown with the Confederations Cup champs.

Elite 8 Predictions and Analysis:

Spain gets a shot at vengeance against the USA, but...the USA wins again! (This is the type of homerism that annihilates my bracket annually.)  Germany, Brazil, and Italy round out the Final 4, making it a #1, two #2s, and a #3.  The USA and Germany square off in a rematch of their controversial quarterfinal clash back in 2002, while the last two World Cup champs collide on the other side of the bracket.  Spain and the Netherlands once again go home from the Big Dance empty handed.

Final 4 Predictions and Analysis:

How can you pick against Landon Donovan versus the Germans?  The chip on his shoulder would just be too huge.  Landon carries his team on his back, guiding them to victory and boosting his NBA Draft transfer window stock.  Upset city, as Cinderella keeps on dancing.  And Brazil tops an aging Italy side that has heavy legs late in the tournament.  Confederations Cup rematch in the final.

Championship Prediction:

USA wins a thriller and caps off the improbable run to the title.  What, did you think I was going to pick them all the way up to the finals and then change my mind?  You just pay attention to your bracket!


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You might say those predictions are moronic, stupid, idiotic, hopelessly wishful.

But hey, that's why they call it madness.

Let's just hope these predictions are a lot closer to reality than my NCAA ones were, or else Bob and co. will be heading home very early...