2017 Calcutta Kicks off with a Bang

Amherst, N.Y. - As the snow from an angry Stella dumped on the Western New York region, there was plenty of twists and turns in a lightning-fast round of auction bidding at Calcutta headquarters Tuesday night in Amherst. The night kicked off with a celebration of the Yellow Jacket donned by the Win-Doctors for winning the 2016 title. The Tax Men's Jon Pellish, the 2015 champion, did the honors in passing the torch to the Win-Doctors, who won their fifth Yellow Jacket in the storied history of the Calcutta. Last year's Calcutta also featured a record-tying first round by the Catholic Boyz, tying their own record of 7 wins (2012) and of the Bunch (2002).

After the ceremony, the bidding started hot and heavy with some No. 1 seeds being thrown to the wolves right off the bat. Let's get right to business and the setting of the 2017 morning line....

The Counselors will ride their low seeds early on.

The morning line favorite this year goes to The Counselors (3-1), in one of the more competitive Calcuttas in recent years. The legal beagles quietly landed two #3 and #4 seeds, that if played out correctly gives them 8 wins out of the box with two squads. Add wins by 6-Cincinnati and 8-Wisconsin in the first round and they will have a solid opening weekend start if form holds. As we all know, the NCAA tournament isn't always formful.  But with the lowest ASR (7.3) in the Calcutta, the 2017 Calcutta goes through the court room.

Scotty brought his secret weapon and he was gunning all night long.

The Amigos (4-1) garner the second favorite role with some very good teams playing good ball at the right time. Pac-10 tourney champ 2-Arizona could get through a fairly weak West Region and solid mid-seeds 5-Iowa State and 6-SMU could do some early damage. With an ASR of 7.8, they are poised to win some early and hang late with the Wildcats. Dangerous. Sleeper Pick: Seton Hall.

Freddie was working the table early in the Calcutta.

The Catholic Boyz (5-1) are co-third favorite with perennial contender The Bunch of Chieftans (5-1) getting anointed with the same odds. The Boyz went right to work early in the 'Cutta grabbing big-time contender 1-North Carolina. Other solid selections of 5-Virginia (dangerous defensive ball club), underseeded 10-Wichita State and 11-Xavier. If they nail a couple upsets, look out for the boys in cloth.

It was go big or go home for the Bunch.

The Chieftans went full mojo top-seeds, with 1-Nova and 1-Kansas in opposite brackets. A strategy that can be feast or famine and requires a low seed or two to spring an upset to Make it happen. That's why the morning line is middle of the road, because this one could be fabulous or roadkill. I really like 11-Rhode Island to spring the upset, but with four seeds over 13, this team will lean heavily on its big name talent. If 13-Winthrop wins a game, it will be the steal of the Calcutta.

The Elders (6-1) were true to form, hoarding dollars and looking for value. The only slip up was overpaying for 5-Notre Dame, but a relentless Calcutta group wouldn't let them off the hook driving up the Irish's price. They could make a run, but a big Buffalo matchup with West Virginia looms. It's not surprising they sit with the second-lowest ASR with 7.6, only bested by the morning line favorites. Lowest seeds are 2-Louisville and 4-Florida so will need the Irish, Maryland and Arkansas to win games to stay in the hunt. Looking for their first title since 2011 and sole championship since 2005.

The Slayers are all in on the PAC-10 says Jon "Malkovich" Pellish

The Tax Slayers (yeah, I'm changing their name, we haven't had a good name change in a few years) come in at 7-1 on the morning line with a heavy 8.6 ASR. They love the PAC-10 with 3-seeds UCLA and Oregon on the right side of the bracket. Super guard play by 4-Purdue and solid high seeds that could sneak a game in 9-Vanderbilt and 10-VCU in a soft West region could put the Slayers on the map. Sleeper Pick: 9-Vandy

Here we go again.

The Bills drought is 17 years, the Commish's drought is 17 years. Do I need to go on? Shifting Calcutta duties to stellar teammate and associate, was the game plan. Similar to the Bunch, the Commish & Associate (10-1) went big with 1-Gonzaga and 2-Kentucky. Will need help from Old Rocky Top with 13-ETSU and 12-MTSU  and a win or two from 7-South Carolina to make any noise. A horrid ASR of 9.6 could spell doom for the Commish and year 18 of the drought.

That moment Geno made you the longshot....

The defending champion Win-Docs (12-1) are your longshot play of the day for this year's Calcutta. An ASR of 9.5, only better than the lowly Commish. Don't count them out for having the national champion (the Docs have had an amazing six of the last nine National Champs on their roster. So go to the bank with 2-Duke. Will need 7-seeds Dayton and St. Mary's to win a game and they're definitely counting on the 5-12 upset, with three 12 seeds (UNCW, Nevada and Princeton).  Still have to be respected.  Looking to tie the Bunch with a sixth title.

Good luck to all, first report on Friday night after the first round. The teams are posted and the results  will be updated nightly located in the upper right hand corner of the blog.