Ground rules for the mascot/nickname battle:

Since part of this is time-based, we've given Louisville a bye seeing as how they're the number 1 seed overall.

Let's look at the Midwest bracket first:

Louisville gets the bye, as we've talked about.

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(8) Ohio State vs. (9) Siena:  This one's pretty simple, in my opinion.  The Siena Saint picks up the Buckeye, seeing that it's a nut from a tree and throws it in the trash.  Game over.  Winner:  Sienna.

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(5) Utah vs. (12) Arizona:  This one, once again is pretty simple.  I'll sidestep the Fred Gwynne joke as while a Ute's a native american, the mascot's a bird.  Based up against a Wildcat, I'm going to side for the Wildcat here.  Winner:  Arizona.

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(4) Wake Forest vs. (13) Cleveland State:  While the Viking of Cleveland State is, well, a green dot with a body underneath, it's armed.  The Demon Deacon isn't.  Sorry, Wake Forest, the Midwest bracket is upset alley.   Winner:  Cleveland State.

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(6) West Virginia vs. (11) Dayton:  I might draw the ire of a co-worker picking against Dayton, when you put Rudy Flyer against the Mountaineer Mascot -- I have to side with the mascot that has the rifle here.  Winner:  West Virginia.

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(3) Kansas vs. (14) North Dakota State:  I want to help Thundar, the Bison mascot out here.  I really do.  But does North Dakota State have two mascots?  No.  Jay and Super Jay win this battle here.  Winner:  Kansas.

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(7) Boston College vs. (10) USC:  Once again, the bird vs. weapon matchup fares better for the mascot with the weapon here.  Winner:  USC.

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(2) Michigan State vs. (15) Robert Morris:  The Michigan State Spartan, while buffed up, is unarmed.  On the other hand, while RMU changed their logo about two years ago, I can't find their mascot anywhere.  Winner:  Michigan State.

More later, but the first round in the Midwest is done.