ESPN's Joe Lunardi has come out with his 2011 NCAA bracket predictions and he likes a few upsets around the Big 12 including Oakland over Texas and Cincinnati over Missouri.
As we noted the other day, Oakland is one of the most popular upset picks over Texas. After dominating the Big 12 for much of the year, Texas is likely wondering why.
Meanwhile, Mizzou is, according to some college basketball odds, a one-point favorite over Cincinnati but Lunardi has the Bearcats moving on. He has Cincy in the Sweet 16 if it makes you feel any better, Tiger fans.
Kansas State isn't lucky either as Lunardi predicts they fall to Utah State in round one. I figured with the way Jacob Pullen and K-State were playing lately that folks may have them as a popular Sweet 16 or even Elite Eight team but apparently not. Utah State is legit, though, so it's not like an upset like that is unbelievable or anything.
In his final four, he has Ohio State, Duke, Kansas and Pittsburgh. Your NCAA champion, per Lunardi, will come when the Jayhawks top the Buckeyes.