Cinderellas Clear the Road to Indy for Kentucky and Duke

Cinderella came to the ball with authority this weekend as a #1, a #2 and two #3 seeds made an early exit from March Madness.

Bye Bye Big Guys

So long Jayhawks, see you next year Georgetown and New Mexico, and well we’re not all that surprised you’re gone Villanova. One of the craziest weekends in NCAA Tournament history saw brackets and office pools across the country busted. No two sides upset College Basketball betting odds more than Northern Iowa and the Ohio Bobcats.

Ohio only made it through one round but the #14 seed’s one win was a big one. The Bobcats stomped all over Georgetown to send the Hoyas, who President Obama had tipped to go deep in this year’s tournament, home early. Ohio’s hopes of setting up a David vs Goliath clash with Ohio State ended in round two at the hands of an impressive looking Tennessee. Northern Iowa managed to go one better than the Bobcats. After causing a minor upset in round one against UNLV, the Panthers ripped overall #1 seed Kansas asunder in the first half on Saturday and held on late to win and make it to the Sweet Sixteen. For Kansas it’s yet another painful exit at the hands of a mid-major. New Mexico and Villanova’s departures paled in comparison. Having barely survived #15 seed Robert Morris in the first round, Nova lost to a hot St Mary’s team on Sunday. Likewise the Lobos fell to a side on a hot streak as the Huskies of Washington stunned them 82-64 on Sunday.

Big Red and Big Paths

No two teams should be smiling more this morning than Kentucky and Duke. The Wildcats and Blue Devils had relatively uneventful weekends, both enjoying a pair of comfortable wins too progress to the Sweet Sixteen. Meanwhile the teams they wanted to avoid made quick exits. Cornell inadvertently did the Wildcats two huge favors as the Big Red took down Temple and Wisconsin, the schools Kentucky would have least like to have seen in the Sweet Sixteen. If the Wildcats can get past the Big Red they know that either Washington or West Virginia will await them, while the physically threatening New Mexico Lobos are no longer a concern.

Duke had just as good a weekend. California saw off Louisville in round one, removing the physical threat of Samardo Samuel. The Blue Devils showed their gratitude by pounding the Bears 68-53 on Sunday. A hobbling Purdue meanwhile saw off another physical force in the shape of Texas A&M, giving Duke a more favorable route to Indianapolis.

For the best in NCAA Basketball betting check out Sports Interaction’s online sports book.

IX: Gabriel Morency previews the first set of Sweet Sixteen match-ups
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxRc9tqQg5U