As March Madness was kicking into full swing, I thought I would one-up my bracket competitors by taking the ol' PS2 for a whirl to see how it would fare in picking the tourney winners. Using EA Sports Final Four 2003, I simulated the entire tournament minus the 16 mid-major tournament teams that the game didn't contain.
With one week of play down, it seems that I have put myself in a tight spot. You can imagine how pumped I was when amazingly (and due in large part to forfeits) the simulation picked 27 of the 32 first round games, the notable misses being the Butler debacle and N.C. State's utter failure to show up against Cal. The second round, however, did not bode too well for my electronic friend, which missed nine out of the 16 games.
"That's not so bad," you might say, "I missed 10 second round games and I still have hope." Oh my silly, silly reader - you have no hope. But I'm sure you still have more than one of your Final Four teams left. The PS2 failed to do even that, matching up Dayton and Arizona as well as Xavier and Oklahoma State in New Orleans. (Oh, and take note that Duke bit it in the Sweet 16.)
The final you ask? Xavier over 'Zona, 93-79. Next year I don't think I'll let a video game blow my $10 entry fee. Why should it have all the fun?
-Jon Schnaars
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