The Alumni Guide to picking the first round of the NCAA Tournament

1. Louisville vs. 16. NC A&T/Liberty
Louisville - Mitch McConnell (R-KY) - Senate Minority Leader

NC A&T - Jessie Jackson - Activist

Liberty - Terry Fator -Ventriloquist and winner of America's Got Talent

(Courtesy Getty Images & Terryfator.com)
Winner: 1. Louisville - Mitch McConnell Even though members of Congress don't have the highest approval ratings, I believe they still rate ahead of reality show puppeteers.

While Jessie Jackson has a high profile, Mitch McConnell has actual power. Louisville easily moves ahead.
8. Colorado State vs. 9. Missouri
Colorado State - John Amos - Actor (Good Times, Die Hard 2, The Beastmaster)

Missouri - Brad Pitt - Actor (Moneyball, Seven, Snatch)

(Courtesy IMDB.com & Getty Images)
Winner: 9. Missouri - Brad Pitt Even though The Beastmaster was one of the most underrated movies of 1982, and he totally duped me in Die Hard 2, John Amos has one thing going against him in this match up. He isn't Brad Pitt.

Brad Pitt is married to Angela Jolie and is regularly in movies about gambling and baseball. No one can compete with that. Missouri wins handily.

Brad Pitt actually left Missouri two weeks before graduation.
5. Oklahoma State vs. 12. Oregon
Oklahoma State - Garth Brooks - Country Singer

Oregon - Ann Curry - Former host of the Today show.

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 12. Oregon - Ann Curry Ann Curry pulls off the first big upset of the tournament. Feeding off some post Today show rage, Ann rides out the sympathy vote to the victory. Oregon wins decisively
4. Saint Louis vs. 13. New Mexico State
Saint Louis - Robert Guillaume - Actor (Benson, Lean on Me, The Lion King)

New Mexico State - Clyde Tombaugh - Astronomer best known for discovering Pluto

(Courtesy Getty Images & Rugusavay.com)
Winner: 4. Saint Louis - Robert Guillaume This is one of those games where a team doesn't win, but the other team loses. Clyde Tombaugh had this game won, then Pluto was no longer a planet. Saint Louis wins.
6. Memphis vs. 11. Middle Tennessee State/St. Mary's College
Memphis - Fred Thompson - Actor, politician, radio host

Middle Tennessee State - Hillary Scott - Lead Singer of Lady Antebellum

St. Mary's College - Tom Candiotti - Knuckleballer

(Courtesy Getty Images)
Winner: 11. Middle Tennessee State - Hillary Scott While we love Law and Order, Lady Antebellum is one of the hottest acts on both country and pop radio. Tom Candiotti is on this list because I needed an alum from St. Mary's, and he was the only one I had heard of. Mid Tenn State for the win.
3. Michigan State vs 14. Valparaiso
Michigan State - James Caan - Actor (The Godfather)

Valparaiso -JoBe Cerny - Voice of Pillsbury Doughboy

(Courtesy Tumblr.com)
Winner: 3. Michigan State - James Caan
Watch this.

Michigan State wins.
7. Creighton vs. 10. Cincinnati
Creighton - Bob Gibson - Major League Baseball Player

Cincinnati - George Clooney - Actor (The Descendants, O'Brother Where Art Thou)

(Courtesy Wikipedia & Getty Images)
Winner: 10. Cincinnati - George Clooney When I started putting this gallery together, I had an unofficial rule that I wouldn't use sports figures unless there was no other recognizable alumni. In this particular battle, Pope Francis could have gone to Creighton, and George Clooney would still have won. Cincinnati wins easily.
2. Duke vs. 15. Albany
Duke - Ken Jeong - Actor/Comedian (The Hangover)

Albany - Steve Guttenberg - Actor (125 Police Academy movies, Short Circuit)

(Courtesy Getty Images)
Winner: 2. Duke - Ken Jeong If you are on this list, and you have appeared in The Hangover, you will win.

If you are Steve Guttenberg, you will lose. Duke rolls.
1. Gonzaga vs 16. Southern University
Gonzaga - Bing Crosby - (Singer/Actor)

Southern University - Randy Jackson - American Idol Judge
Winner: 1. Gonzaga - Bing Crosby American Idol isn't what is used to be. Bing wins the match
8. Pitt vs 9. Wichita State
Pitt - Fred Rogers - Mr. Rogers

Wichita State - The Big Show - Professional Wrestler

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 8.Pitt - Mister Rogers The Big Show's real name is Paul Wight. Besides hosting his TV show, Fred McFeely Rogers was also a Presbyterian minister.

Won't you be my winner - Pitt wins
5. Wisconsin vs 12. Ole Miss
Wisconsin - Dick Cheney - former Vice President

Ole Miss - John Grisham - Author

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 5. Wisconsin - Dick Cheney
John Grisham writes legal thrillers. Dick Cheney shot his friend in the face and popularized "water boarding." Wisconsin Wins

0(Courtesy of Getty Images)
4. Kansas St. vs. 13.Boise State/La Salle
Kansas State - Eric Stonestreet - Actor (Modern Family)

Boise State - Tera Patrick - Adult Film Star

La Salle - Peter Boyle - Actor (Everybody Loves Raymond )
Winner: 4. Kansas State - Eric Stonestreet Momentum is a key to March success, and Eric Stonestreet and Modern Family have too much momentum. Kansas State wins easily.
6. Arizona vs. 11. Belmont
Arizona - Kristin Wiig - Actress (Bridesmaids)

Belmont - Brad Paisley - Country Singer

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 6. Arizona - Kristin Wiig One can't overlook a SNL alum who has a successful movie career. Arizona squeaks by for the win
3. New Mexico vs 14. Harvard
New Mexico - Penny Marshall - Actress/ Director (Laverne & Shirley, Big)

Harvard - Conan O'Brien - Talk Show Host

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 14. Harvard - Conan O'Brian This Harvard team is just too deep. While Conan is the choice to represent the school, other choices could have included John Quincy Adams, Barack Obama, FDR, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Yo-Yo Ma. Sorry Laverne, Harvard gets the upset
7. Notre Dame vs 10 Iowa St.
Notre Dame - Condoleeza Rice - Former Secretary of State

Iowa St. - George Washington Carver - American scientist, botanist, educator and inventor.

(Courtesy Getty Images & ShS.unsstem.edu)
Winner: 7. Notre Dame - Condoleeza Rice While Carver is responsible for the peanut, the generational gap is too big to overcome. Notre Dame wins
2. Ohio State vs 15. Iona
Ohio State - OAR - Rock Band (Love and Memories & That Was A Crazy Game of Poker)

Iona - John Gilchrist - Mikey from the Life Cereal commercials.

(Courtesy of OfaRevolution.com)
Winner: 2. Ohio State - OAR Mikey's 15 minutes have long past, Ohio State Wins
1. Kansas vs 16. Western Kentucky
Kansas - Paul Rudd - Actor (40-Year Old Virgin, I Love You Man)

Western Kentucky - Cage the Elephant - Alternative Rock Band (Ain't No Rest for the Wicked)
Winner: 1. Kansas - Paul Rudd While Cage the Elephant bring some Alt Rock cred, the Judd Apatow regular is just too much to handle. Kansas Wins
8. North Carolina vs 9. Villanova
North Carolina - Michael Jordan - Basketball Star

Villanova - Maria Bello - Actress (History of Violance, Payback)

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 8. North Carolina - Michael Jordan I went against the no sports figures rule on this one because it is Michael Jordan. North Carolina wins because it is Michael Jordan
5. VCU vs 12. Akron VCU - GWAR - satirical heavy metal band

Akron - Dan Auerbach - The Black Keys

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 12. Akron - Dan Auerbach GWAR is more flash than substance. Akron gets the upset with fundamentals.
4. Michigan vs. 13 South Dakota State
Michigan - Madonna - Pop superstar

South Dakota State - Tom Daschle - Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 4. Michigan - Madonna Tough draw for the former Senator from South Dakota. Michigan wins in a cakewalk.
6. UCLA vs 11. Minnesota
UCLA - Vint Cerf - Computer scientist who is considered one of the fathers of the Internet.

Minnesota - Bob Dylan - Folk singer & icon

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 6. UCLA - Vint Cerf
While not as iconic as Bob Dylan, there wouldn't be a Google without Vint Cerf. Imagine the world without the Internet. UCLA wins
3. Florida vs 14. Northwestern State
Florida - Marco Rubio - Senator from Florida

Northwestern State - Bobby Hebert - Former NFL Quarterback

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 3. Florida - Marco Rubio Northwestern State's most notable alum is Bobby Hebert. Florida in a landslide.
7. San Diego State vs. 10 Oklahoma
San Diego State - Raquel Welch - Actess

Oklahoma - Olivia Munn - Actress (The Newsroom)

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 7. San Diego State - Raquel Welch
This one goes into triple overtime with experience outlasting youth. San Diego State wins.
2. Georgetown vs. Florida Gulf Coast
Georgetown - Bradly Cooper - Actor (The Hangover, Silver Linings Playbook)

Florida Gulf Coast - Courtney Jolly - Professional monster truck driver

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 2. Georgetown - Bradley Cooper This battle pits an Academy Award nominee vs monster trucks. Scientific studies have proven that monster trucks will lose this scenario 100 percent of the time. Georgetown wins.
1. Indiana vs 16. LIU Brooklyn/James Madison University
Indiana - Lee Majors - Actor ( The 6 Million Dollar Man)

LIU Brooklyn - Ed Lauter - Character Actor

James Madison University - Scott Norwood - NFL Kicker

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 16 JMU - Scott Norwood
$6 million dollars doesn't buy you what it used to. Scott Norwood finally wins something. JMU wins
8. NC State vs. 9. Temple
NC State - Zach Galifinakis - Actor (The Hangover)

Temple - Bill Cosby - Actor/Comedian

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 8. NC State - Zach Galifinakis
The Hangover rule is in effect. NC State wins.
5. UNLV vs 12. Cal
UNLV - Jimmy Kimmel - Late night talk show host

Cal - Scott Adams - Creator of Dilbert

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 5. UNLV - Jimmy Kimmel Dilbert never wins. UNLV does.
4. Syracuse vs 12. Montana
Syracuse - Jerry Stiller - Actor (Seinfeld)

Montana - J.K. Simmons - Actor (Oz, Law and Order)

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 4. Syracuse - Jerry Stiller
"Serenity now, serenity now." Syracuse wins.
6. Butler vs 11. Bucknell
Butler - Kurt Vonnegut - Author

Bucknell - Gbenga Akinnagbe - Actor

(Courtesy of Getty Images)(The Wire)
Winner: 11. Bucknell - Gbenga Akinnagbe
Chris Partlow & Snoop...nail guns...vacants... Bucknell Wins.
3. Marquette vs. 14. Davidson
Marquette - Chris Farley - Comedian/Actor

Davidson -Woodrow Wilson - President
Winner: 3. Marquette - Chris Farley Tommy Boy or the The Fourteen Points? Marquette wins
7. Illinois vs. 10. Colorado
Illinois - Ang Lee - Director (Life of Pi)

Colorado - Trey Parker & Matt Stone - Writer/Directors (South Park)
Winner: 7. Illinois - Ang Lee
Ang Lee won an Oscar, Parker & Stone won a Tony. Illinois wins.
2. Miami vs. 15. Pacific
Miami - The Rock - Actor/Wrestler

Pacific - Nancy Wilson - Member of Heart

(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Winner: 2. Miami - The Rock
"Can you smell what the rock is cooking?" Miami wins.
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