This half of the bracket is much like the board game Stratego. Duke is the last remaining No. 1 and could advance to the Final Four if it holds serve. But the Blue Devils must beware the lurking Spy - a role played by Florida first, and then Oklahoma State - which could knock them out at any time.

EAST REGION

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 Florida

Weird that a team can win in the NCAA Tournament, advance, and its stock can drop. After slipping past No. 8 Kansas this past Sunday, Duke's future in the tournament is now being doubted.

Granted, this isn't the typical Duke team that wins by 40 points until the Final Four. But the Blue Devils are as solid as they've always been.

A motivated Kansas team was able to give them a run, but that doesn't take away from the fact that Duke is still one of the top challengers left in the field.

For Flurida, winning this game would take their program to a new level. It was at this point last season where the Gators lost to Gonzaga. One year older and one year wiser, Florida is hoping for a different outcome. Too bad it ran into the wrong team.

Duke 84, Florida 76

No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 Seton Hall

Sadly, Seton Hall looks to be following Connecticut's footsteps, losing its top guard to injury in the middle of the tournament. Shaheen Holloway's severely sprained left ankle might end this game before it begins.

Holloway's injury cripples what has been a landmark run for the Pirates. As good of a game as Ty Shine had in relief of Holloway in an upset over second-seeded Temple this past Sunday, Shine will be hard-pressed to offer an encore, especially now that other teams know who he is.

Oklahoma State will benefit from this free pass to the Elite Eight. It's rare to advance so easily this late in the tournament, and that will keep the Cowboys well-rested for a Sunday matchup with Duke.

Oklahoma State 82, Seton Hall 64

SOUTH REGION

No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 8 North Carolina

Neither of these teams were expected to be alive at this point. The Tar Heels were thought to be early-round fodder for Missouri or Stanford, and after Tennessee limped out to a nine-point deficit against Louisiana-Lafayette in the first round, few thought the Volunteers would live to see the Sweet Sixteen.

Well, they're here. America will have to deal with it.

Carolina pride has carried the Tar Heels through two rounds. North Carolina should start to resemble the 12-loss team it was for the most of the year - and Tennessee will be there, licking its lips at the opportunity.

Tennessee 79, North Carolina 70

No. 6 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 7 Tulsa

Every time Tulsa advances, my disdain for WAC basketball becomes even more costly. But things were much worse in 1998, when Utah advanced to the final against Kentucky. That was scary.

This is an undesirable game to pick. It could go either of two ways - Miami could win, or Miami could lose. Just kidding.

Still, this will likely be the ugliest Sweet Sixteen game in the field. Expect a low score, a grind-it-out style of play - and a sacrificial lamb for Tennessee.

In a wacky game, I might as well take a wacky winner. Take a deep breath.

Tulsa 67, Miami (Fla.) 64

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

The reason my performance is buried so low in this column is because I'd rather no one saw how poorly I fared. I went 1-3.

Michigan State over Syracuse was my only correct pick, which also happens to be the pick I am saddest to count as a victory.

As for Wisconsin-LSU (Wisconsin won), Gonzaga-Purdue (Purdue won), and UCLA-Iowa State (Iowa State won), I went 0-for-3 on those.

Maybe tonight's games will treat me a little bit kinder.