2015 Calcutta Kicks Off: Tax Men installed as chalk at 3-1

AMHERST, NY (Reuters) - The 17th annual Calcutta kicked off in fine fashion with a record-breaking bid on No. 1 seed Kentucky by the Amigos. The Tax Men were installed as the 3-1 favorite as the morning line was released several hours after the conclusion of this year's draw.

In one of the more interesting drafts in recent memory, half the field took the mid-level selections approach and the other four went with "go big or go home." At evening's end, half the field's ASR (Average Seed Rating) was below the mid-point of eight and the other half well over that total.

Looking back on the past 16 years, the average winning score for the winner is 12.5 wins. If you scored at least 12 in the last 16 years, you would have won nine of the contests in that span. So in establishing the morning line I judged the difficulty in arriving at 12 wins based on the seedings and the possibilities in hitting double figures.

Early on in the proceedings, the famed Yellow Jacket was presented to the Bunch of Chieftans by the Amigos (2013 champion) after their record sixth title with a record-breaking 16 wins in last year's bloodbath of a Calcutta. Based on draft night, this year's Calcutta looks to be wide-open with more than half of the field with a fighting chance to bring home the Chalise (sic) in 2015.

Without further adieu, let's get to what you've been waiting for....the morning line odds and commentary.....with the Tax Men leading the way.


Capsule: Tax Men (3-1)
ASR: 7.3 
Highest seed: 1-Wisconsin 
Sleeper: 5-Utah

Installed as this year's jinx chalk by yours truly, this squad did its homework and while I was looking over my shoulder I noted how every team had been handicapped pre-Calcutta ala Jimmy the Greek. They emerged with the second lowest ASR (you can never top the Elders) and a solid No. 1 seed in Wisconsin. A couple wins by No.4 seeds Maryland and Louisville and if they hold serve alone, they'll head into the Final Four with Wiscy and 10 wins. That makes them the fav.

So it went to 50, 51, 52, 52, 53, 54, really, 55, 56, 57, 58!!!!!



You have to give the Amigos credit, they definitely bid high and bid hard at last night's Cutta.

Capsule: Dos Amigos (4-1) 
ASR: 8.9 
Highest Seed: 1-Kentucky
Sleeper: 10-Davidson

The Amigos have hitched their wagon to Coach Cal and the one-and-dones in this year's contest. They have a great shot at the 200 beans and six wins right off the get-go. But the rest of the squad has some work to do. They have the big dog so they get some love on the morning line and with old Big East pals G-town and Providence could scrap a couple wins each, they could head into the final weeks threatening to steal a chaotic Calcutta if parity starts to show its ugly head.

Next up is the defending champs, who you can never count out and tonight's jacket ceremony brought a tear to my eye...



Yeah, that's so inappropriate...but sue me.

Capsule: Bunch (6-1)
ASR: 7.4
Highest seed: 2-Kansas
Sleeper: 11-Ole Miss

The Bunch after letting young buck Wagner carry the flag at last year's draft, went back to Old Faithful and the Chief for it's bidding pleasure. Always a treat to watch under pressure, that old Bona grad welded his way through this year's draft with extreme precision. Going with sentimental selection UB (called for the first time in 17 years) and staying the course with mid-level seeds and no pick under a 12-seed, they are more than dangerous to repeat. With Kansas and Oklahoma both threats to go on a run and a solid Tar Heel squad, this team is poised to keep inking the record books with their logo.

Trying to break out of a major Calcutta slump and with its main spokesmen out putting out PR fires, the Win-Docs will try to return to its winning ways in 2015. The good doctor made a solid showing as the front man and this squad hopes to threaten the upper echelon and seek their fifth title.

You're damn right I ordered the Code Red

Capsule: Win-Docs (7-1)
ASR: 7.1
Highest Seed: 1-Duke
Sleeper: 6-Xavier

I played a 3-team parlay in January and made the mistake of playing against Xavier at home against the nationally ranked Butler Bulldogs. They waxed them thoroughly and I've had my eye on the Musketeers since. I hate Duke. There I said it. The good doctors needs some mid-seed wins/upsets out of West Virgins, VCU, Georgia and Indiana to go anywhere. Duke will likely carry them into the later rounds, but the second round will determine this team's fate.

The Elders were missing half of its element and strategic thinker at last night's draft, but Fanch stuck to the program they've followed for 17 years which has put them on the right side of the ledger more than not.

Capsule: Elder Statesmen (8-1) 
ASR: 7.1 
Highest Seed: 3-Baylor 
Sleeper: 7-Wichita State

Fanch stuck to his guns (and his money) most of the evening, but emerged as usual with the lowest ASR in the land (7.1). The problem is those 7 and 8 seeds (there's four of them on the roster) have to tee up the #1 and #2 seeds in the second round. Good chance to set the first round record of seven wins, but it may be difficult hitting double figures with the big guns that they'll be facing over the weekend.

The most entertaining squad of the night was the Counselors who were all over the place in their bidding, but who am I to criticize a team that has enjoyed some success as of late, finishing second last year and winning the Chalise in 2012.

 

Capsule: Counselors (10-1) 
ASR: 9.6
Highest Seed: 2-Virginia, 2-Gonzaga
Sleeper: 11-Texas (they'll tell you its 8-Oregon)

The Counselors went hard with two No. 2 seeds on the right side of the bracket, looking to avoid the Big Blue Nation (#BBN) until the championship game. Villanova and Duke are probably the more vulnerable No. 1s of the four, so their strategy, while unrefined may come to fruition. And no Ryan Fitzpatrick (14-Harvard) is not walking through that door. The Longhorns could be a dangerous 11, if there coach stays out of the way. Dangerous, possible long shot play.

Another year, another rough performance by the Commish. Will the drought ever end? It's not easy being the Commish...ask this guy.



Capsule: Commish & Associate (15-1)
ASR: A whopping 10.3
Highest seed: 3-Notre Dame, 3-Iowa State
Sleeper: 13-Valpo

The Commish was focused on one thing tonight and that was not being outbid (or moving things along, not sure which). Success obtained. For 7-of-8 bids made, they were done in one selection without a counterbid When that happens you end up with three 16-seeds and I know that's never happened. Riding three ponies and hoping the I-States, Indiana (Notre Dame and Valpo) and Iowa (Northern Iowa and Iowa State) come through. There' no I in lost cause.

Well if Freddie gave the Catholic Boyz instructions to grab the Catholic teams he done good with St. John's and Villanova part of the mix.



Capsule: The Catholic Boyz (20-1) 
ASR: 9.9 
Highest Seed: 1-Villanova 
Sleeper: 12-Wofford

Ok, so they have two highly seeded teams. No one else is seeded higher in the opening round. So if they hold serve, unless they hit a homerun with Nova and Zona, they are looking at 11 wins max, that 1.5 under the average champ and all has to go right. Sorry, not buying it. Now I just have to finish ahead of them to not eat crow.

Well gang, it was a fun draft night and as always they still have to play the games, so good luck and we'll have an opening round recap on Saturday morning. I'll try and keep up the results in the upper right corner of the right margin at the end of each evening.