I've always thought that the "sweet sixteen" was the toughest round of the NCAA tournament.  If you a team that perhaps shouldn't be there (like Butler and Vanderbilt, although there are no Cinderella teams this year) you have intense media coverage that you never had before and you are no longer under the radar.  The opposing coach has four to five days of preparation for you and many coaches use that time to over think.  If you are a top seed, then you have four to five days to deal with the pressure of expectations.

Many of the third round games start out slow and stay that way.  The key is to watch what happens around the ten minute mark of the second half which is where the good teams, because of superior depth, speed and talent often separate from their overwhelmed opponents.  That said, my winners in round three tonight are UCLA, Texas A&M, Ohio State and Southern Illinois.

Quick explanation: UCLA is clearly better than Pittsburgh; Memphis has some injury issues which it will not overcome against a talented A&M squad; I think Tennessee can upset Ohio State, but I also think OSU had a big scare against Xavier and will come out ready to play tonight and Kansas will just buckle under the weight of a very intense SIU defense. 

Lightning Round:

• The cable companies made a generous offer to Major League Baseball to acquire the rights to the out of town games that MLB has sold to Direct TV.  At face value, it seems like the cable companies have met the demands.  But wait, in an effort to protect their partner and new found best friend, MLB has waived it off.  Bud Selig again has said that there are over 350 games available to people each year on free and cable TV.  Yes Bud, that's true if you are a Yankee, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Braves or Red Sox fan. 
  
• The White Sox cut the roster down to 33 yesterday, deciding they will only carry 11 pitchers, thus leaving a roster spot for Brian Anderson.  The Sox biggest problem now is what to do about the velocity of closer Bobby Jenks who has not been his overpowering self.  The other continuing saga is the fifth starter spot.  The White Sox claim that it's a much more talented committee this time around, but I'm not buying it.
• Just wondering: How do you give a three year contract extension to a defensive coordinator who has hasn't even had the role during the season yet?  It's more proof that Lovie Smith will be more involved, not less involved with the Bears defense this year.  Lovie, act more like Tony Dungy and less like Mike Martz, please. What the Bears really need to sign is a defensive tackle, because it looks like NFL commish Roger Goodell may be getting out the 55 gallon industrial drum of whupass against felons like Tank Johnson.
  
• Speaking of Colts coach Tony Dungy, he makes it clear that he is against same sex marriage (with no firestorm and no trip to rehab.)  Tony mayl soon be using his Elton John CDs as coasters.
• Read between the lines: The University of New Mexico has asked for and has been granted permission to talk to Iowa coach Steve Alford about taking over the program there.  If you were a coach in the Big Ten, would you even think about going to the Mountain West conference?  No, but this is how Iowa can let Alford go without blood on their hands.  When he comes back to campus and talks with AD Gary Barta, assume Barta will say "It's a great opportunity Steve, I think you should take it."  Otherwise, Alford will be out after next year if he doesn't make the tournament.  In an unrelated story, the man who proceeded Alford at Iowa, Dr. Tom Davis, has decided to hang up the clipboard.
• Memo to Ron Gunther: I've hung with several ADs who were animated (one who used to be around our microphones during a broadcast), but you have got to curb the enthusiasm on press row.  The fact that ADs get excited is supposed to be a secret.
•  From where I sit, it looks like Tony LaRussa went out for dinner, had a couple glasses of wine and just became exhausted.  To the media and MADD however, no doubt things will take on a different and more sinister meaning. I cannot stress this enough: If you are a famous person, you have the means to afford a cab.  Not taking one often results in seeing your name in the paper and your mug shot on The Smoking Gun.com. 
  
• One fact America can agree on: Billy Packer has been on stage way too long.
• During Sunday's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, thrill to drivers bitching about "the car of tomorrow."
• Paul McCartney is the first artist to sign with the new Starbucks Record Label.  So, that's why a latte costs $4.50.
• Researchers suggest that ugly defendants are more likely to get convicted than good looking defendants.  Based on my looks, I am a prime candidate for the death penalty.
• A Michigan congressman compared Iraq to Detroit, which is outrageous.  Iraq has no hockey team.