Yes, the Madness is here. Buzzer beaters, double over-times, and non-stop action. It?s what makes the month of March so great. We have an excuse to sit on our couches for 11 days, 3 weeks, and 64 games of the best competition in sports.

Lucky 13: Here?s a list of the 13 teams that have a chance to be the one celebrating in St. Louis on April 4.

* Illinois (32-1): Their record says it all.

* North Carolina (27-4): Placed in toughest region after being the second No. 1 seed.

* Wake Forest (26-5): They should have been given a No. 1 seed.

* Oklahoma State (24-6): Tough games against Arizona and Illinois lie in their path.

* Louisville (29-4): A No. 4 seed? Come on now.

* Duke (25-5): Not as dominate as in years past.

* Kentucky (25-5): Don?t forget about these guys sitting at the bottom of your bracket.

* Washington (27-5): Not a No. 1 seed? Head coach Lorenzo Romar will have these guys ready to prove the experts wrong.

* Syracuse (27-6):Duke should be very careful of these Orangemen.

* Connecticut (22-7): Back to back championships? Not likely.

* Arizona (27-6): Would be a Final Four pick for me had they not been placed in a region with Illinois and Oklahoma State.

* Oklahoma (24-7): Might be a sleeper pick.

* Georgia Tech (19-11): Not one No. 5 seed has ever cut down the net.

Chicago Region: The Illini are going to be a tough team to compete with. They should fly right through the first three rounds of the tournament, as they did through the season. I don?t think Arizona will be able to hang with the Sooners, therefore an Oklahoma State-Illinois match-up could await us in the Elite Eight.

Biggest First Round Upset: Penn over Boston College

Chicago Finals: Illinois, Oklahoma State

Albuquerque Region: The Syracuse region has the best teams, but I found that the Albuquerque region was the toughest to pick. I smell an upset given the fact that Washington is the number one seed.

Pittsburgh looks like a team that could knock them off, as does Georgia Tech. Experts like Louisville, but my gut says they won?t be around as long as people might think.

Wake Forest shouldn?t have too much trouble with the bottom half of this region. Gonzaga and Texas Tech pose as the biggest threats to them, but I wouldn?t be losing sleep over it if I was Coach Skip Prosser. Wake Forest is primed for a Final Four appearance.

Biggest First Round Upset: Pittsburgh over Pacific (all the other top seeds should win)

Albuquerque Finals: Georgia Tech, Wake Forest

Syracuse Region: As I said before, the Syracuse region is going to be the toughest to get through. Florida is a hot team right now and could give North Carolina fits. If they can only figure out a way to get past their usual early exits. Wisconsin is a tough team to play, and could upset Kansas in a second round match-up.

North Carolina is the second best team in college basketball right now. Even the threat of Florida, Connecticut, Kansas, or Wisconsin shouldn?t prevent the Tar Heels from marching on to the Final Four.

Biggest First Round Upset: N.C. State over Charlotte

Syracuse Finals: North Carolina, Wisconsin

Austin Region: Syracuse is a team that really stands out to me. They are playing very good basketball right now. They should be a 2 or 3 seed. They won their conference tournament, defeating Connecticut and West Virginia to do so.

Duke, Syracuse, Kentucky, and Oklahoma won?t have too tough of a time getting to the sweet 16, but that?s where the road will end for the Blue Devils and Wildcats.

Biggest First Round Upset: Old Dominion over Michigan State

Austin Finals: Syracuse, Oklahoma

Now, here?s my final picks...

Final Four: Illinois, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Syracuse

Finals: Illinois over Syracuse