Predictions for the NCAA Tournament:

Final Four

Kansas. Will wear down Ohio State in the Midwest Region finals.

Syracuse. Should benefit from playing teams not familiar with attacking Jim Boeheim's famed 2-3 zone.

Kentucky. Does not have an easy path but in John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson, the Cats do have the most talented trio on the same team in the country.

Villanova. Yes, dapper Jay Wright's lads slumped in February, but they are toughened from having played in the Big East and have the secret to tournament success, veteran guards (take a bow Scottie Reynolds).

Champion

Kentucky over Kansas. Talent trumps a more experienced team.

Upset specials

■ No. 13 Siena over No. 4 Purdue (South Region). The Saints have beaten Vanderbilt (2008) and Ohio State (2009) in the past two NCAAs. Purdue is now a shell of what it was with Robbie Hummel.

■ No. 13 Murray State will oust No. 4 Vanderbilt in the West.

■ No. 12 UTEP will ruin March Madness for Shelvin Mack and No. 5 Butler in the West.

■ No. 11 Old Dominion will take out No. 6 Notre Dame in the South.

Cinderella

The Siena Saints have a viable chance to push past Purdue and the winner of Texas A&M-Utah State and reach the Sweet 16.

Kentucky teams

Kentucky. Will win the national title.

Louisville. Will beat California in the South first round, then throw a scare into No. 1 seed Duke before falling in the second round.

Murray State. Will upset No. 4 seed Vanderbilt in the West Region, then lose to the Butler-UTEP victor in the second round.

Bracket breakdown

Everyone who thinks the powers that be took care of Duke got additional ammunition with this bracket.

I'm glad the selection committee gave at-large berths to Utah State and UTEP — accomplished teams from non-power leagues who were upset in conference tournaments — rather than more berths for mediocre teams (Illinois, Virginia Tech) from the so-called super six conferences.