AMHERST -- The festivities got off to a good start with the annual donning of the yellow jacket. 2021 outright champ Commish presented the famed Yellow Jacket to the Slayers for their 2022 co-championship decided on the final night of the tournament last year. The Chalise has been updated through last year and we were off and running in a tournament (and Calcutta) that looks up for grabs.
Defending Co-Champ
Slayers established as Morning Line Favorites
Last year’s overall champ by virtue of capturing the title
game, were established as the morning line favorites with a steady draft buoyed
by 2-Arizona and 4-UConn on opposite sides of the bracket. Miami (FL) has a
decent draw in the Midwest and could rack up a few wins. If they pull of some
wins in the 8-9 games with 9-West Virginia and 9-FAU, they could be primed to
repeat.
Morning Line Odds: 3-1; Longshot: 11-Providence; ASR:8.3
Counselors second
choice after quick exit from bidding scene
Overcoming a slip of the finger on 7-Michigan State that
could have cost them dearly, the Barristers put together a solid squad with the
lowest ASR in the tourney with no seed less than 12. Hoping to build their
bankroll with early wins in the first two rounds with mid-level seeds, they
have a shot to make some noise in this year’s Calcutta. Backed by 3-Gonzaga
(aren’t they due to win one of these years?) and 4-Indiana, the legal beagles
need to win early and win often to have a shot.
Solid squads who are upset-capable include 5-St. Mary’s, 6-Creighton and
7-Texas A&M.
Morning Line Odds: 4-1; Longshot: 12-Charleston; ASR: 7.1
Catholic Boyz look to
rebound after rough 2022 outing
The Boyz are back in town? Maintained a middle-of-the-road
ASR even though they snatched a 1 seed in Houston (home cookin’ in Final Four?)
and 2 seed in Marquette, a team who could be really dangerous with some decent
guard play. If they can rebound (they are ranked No. 324 in defensive
rebounding percentage – I’m not just a pretty face, dawg) they could go a long
way. Will need help in 8-9 games with 8-Arkansas and 8-Maryland to keep their
title hopes alive after the first two rounds.
Morning Line Odds: 5-1; Longshot: 12-Oral Roberts; ASR: 8.3
Elders strategy
unchanged in 24 years; big shot to hit the board
You’d have to do some long, hard research to find the last
No. 1 seed this team has nailed at the draft. This year’s top pick was
3-Baylor, the 2021 National Champ and backed up by 4-Tennessee, albeit on the
same side of the bracket. Their left side is strong with two No.4’s including
Virginia. Auto win in the 8-9 game in
the Midwest and will need 7-Northwestern to advance one round to bolster their
hopes.
Morning Line Odds: 6-1; Longshot: 10-USC; ASR: 7.1
Bunch looking to
rebound after shut out the last three years
The Chief made a brief appearance and then went home to pout
in his wigwam. His mates were active throughout, but just couldn’t seem to nab
that marquee team. With two 3-seeds in Xavier and Kansas State on opposite
sides of the bracket, they’ll need to gather wins early and hope 6-Kentucky
goes on a roll to have a shot to hit the board. Their West bracket will need to
gain a couple wins to give them a shot at the title.
Morning Line Odds; 10-1; Longshot: 10-Utah State; ASR: 7.8
Commish winner of
three of last five Calcuttas went big early
It was shoot early, shoot often for the trigger-happy
Commish who was down to $5 and 5 teams left within the first half hour of the
draft. Armed with 1-Kansas and 2-Texas, they’ll need a sweep of the right side
of the bracket (11 wins) and a win or two out of 8-Memphis and 11-NC State to
pull off a first ever three-peat. This
for a team that was in a 17-year drought until 2017.
Morning Line Odds: 15-1; Longshot: 14-Montana St; ASR: 10.1
Amigos abandon early
strategy
Overheard before the draft – “We’re not going to spend all
of our money early.” Reality – spent all
their money early. The Amigos looking to
avoid the early exit and vaunted saying in 2023. With the Commish dominating
the top seeds in the right side of the bracket, the Amigos swiped up the two
top seeds on the left side in Alabama and Purdue, which eventually earned them
a whopping 10.5 ASR. Similar to the Commish, they need the seep and a win out
of double digit seeds. Hopefuls include 10 seeds Penn State and Boise State.
The tequila may be flowing by the weekend.
Morning Line Odds: 15-1; Longshot: 16-N. Kentucky; ASR: 10.5
Win-Docs switch up
managerial duties, look to get back on track
With Smytty taking over the managerial duties from the
Artful Dodger, it didn’t look like the change of pace was the answer. Time will
tell though as the Win-Docs have been a formidable contender in Calcuttas past.
I like their top pick 2-UCLA, but they will face a tough Gonzaga team in the
regional semis, which could be the doom of this squad. 5-Duke seems to be
peaking at the right time and they’ll need 5-San Diego State and 7-Missouri to
steal a win in the second round to move up the board.
Morning Line Odds; 20-1; Longshot: 13-Kent St; ASR: 8.9
The results will be posted over the next few days in the google sheet link in the top right corner as usual. Next post - Saturday morning leading into round 2.
Good luck everyone!
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