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We're just under six hours from the main event of the NCAA Tournament getting underway, and Ohio State has all the sounds of being a real favorite amongst the experts to make their second straight Final Four. The Buckeyes have won eight straight and head in to their first round matchup with Iona as 14-point favorites in that #2/#15 matchup.
Thad Matta's arguably done his best work to date with this year's team, but inquiring minds in Buckeye Nation still want to know whether or not Ohio State has it in them to make another run at that elusive national title. It doesn't matter whether you're stuck in the office rapidly pressing the boss button at a moment's notice or taking Thursday and Friday off to play hooky and take in arguably the best 48 hours in sports. You'll undoubtedly be spending the better part of the next two weeks watching your bracket's various upset picks fall flat on your face and the teams you're relying on most heavily let you down time and time again. Survive and advance...or at least survive and crumble up your work pool's entry and toss it into the nearest recycling receptacle come Saturday.
But then there's that matter of the Buckeyes. The good news is that given their seed and draw, the road back to a second Elite Eight in as many years doesn't seem that daunting. And while Gonzaga might not be getting the respect from Ohio State fans they might should be given last year's game, especially after last weekend, a Final Four doesn't feel that impossible. To get you prepared for what's to come, here's a run down of how the college hoops authorities at some of the web's leaders have the Buckeyes doing in their bracket predictions.
Jay Bilas: Ohio State to the Final Four
John Gasaway: Ohio State to the Final Four
Seth Greenberg: Gonzaga wins the West
Joe Lunardi: Gonzaga wins the West (specifically calls Ohio State "the weakest No. 2 seed")
Ken Pomeroy: New Mexico wins the West
Eamonn Brennan: Ohio State to the Final Four
Andy Katz: Gonzaga wins the West
Digger Phelps: Ohio State losing in the national championship game to Miami
Myron Medcalf: Ohio State to the Final Four
Dick Vitale: Ohio State to the Final Four
Robbi Pickeral: Ohio State to the Final Four
Jay Williams: Ohio State winning the national championship (says Lenzelle Smith and Sam Thompson will step up)
Seth Davis: New Mexico wins the West
Luke Winn: Ohio State to the Final Four
Stewart Mandel: Ohio State to the Final Four
Pete Thamel: Ohio State to the Final Four
Andy Glockner: Ohio State to the Final Four
Kelli Anderson: Gonzaga wins the West
Gary Parrish: Ohio State to the Elite Eight
Gregg Doyel: Ohio State wins the national championship
Jeff Goodman: Ohio State to the Sweet 16
Peter Tiernan: Ohio State to the Final Four
Jeff Borzello: Ohio State to the Elite Eight
Matt Norlander: Ohio State to the round of 32
Jerry Palm: Ohio State to the Final Four
Dennis Dodd: Ohio State to the Sweet 16
Doug Gottlieb: Ohio State to the Sweet 16
Mateen Cleaves: Ohio State to the Elite Eight
Wally Sczerbiak: Ohio State to the Elite Eight
Pete Gillen: Ohio State to the Elite Eight
Alaa Abdelnaby: Ohio State to the Sweet 16
Mike Lopresti: Ohio State to the Final Four
Scott Gleeson: Ohio State to the Sweet 16
Eric Prisbell: Ohio State to the Sweet 16
Nicole Auerbach: Ohio State to the Sweet 16
Eddie Timanus: Ohio State to the Sweet 16
The final tally
Ohio State to the round of 32: 1
Ohio State to the Sweet 16: 9
Ohio State to the Elite Eight: 6
Ohio State to the Final Four: 14
Ohio State to the national title game: 1
Ohio State to win it all: 2