Road to the Final Four?s been wild

George Mason, Florida, LSU and UCLA.

I?d like to see anyone who had these four teams marked for the final four on their bracket sheet, just so I could shake their hand.

Well, it looks like I would to shake at least four people?s hands. The sports network ESPN held a Final Four bracket contest in which four people have correctly picked the Final Four teams.

Three million people entered the contest, vying for a $10,000 grand prize. Russell Pleasant from Nebraska was one of the four to get all four teams in the finals, but Pleasant accidentally made his way to the finals.

He got confused when filling out his bracket. He wanted to pick George Washington, but accidentally marked George Mason. Not too bad of mistake, huh? By the way, he picked Florida to win it all.

According to ESPN statistics, 1,854 people had George Mason going to the Final Four. And out of those, 284 have the Patriots winning the championship game. Who are these people? They?re either psychic, or else they?re George Mason alumni.

Without any doubt in my mind, this has been the best road to the final four in the history of the NCAA tournament. The sweet 16 games were exciting, then the elite eight was shocking, and the games to determine the final four were simply unforgettable.

George Mason?s run for the championship has been amazing. The lowest seed to reach the Final Four since it was expanded to 64 teams was the LSU Tigers in 1986, which just happen to be a 11th seed ? just like George Mason.

The Patriots stunned the nation when they defeated Connecticut on Sunday, earning them a trip to the Final Four. The last time a mid-major conference had a representative in the Final Four was in 1979, with Penn from the Ivy League and Indiana State of the Missouri Valley Conference.

That was the year Magic Johnson of Michigan State and Larry Bird of Indiana State went head-to-head in the finals, with Michigan State coming out on top 75-64.

The best thing that has come out of this Final Four matchup is the success of the Southeastern Conference, which represents half of the remaining teams.

All the experts during the season have commented on how the SEC lacked the strength of some of the other conferences. They don?t look too weak now, do they?

Now, as far as who is going to win the national title, I believe this year?s Final Four teams are very evenly matched.

LSU will take on UCLA, and George Mason and Florida will go head-to-head on Saturday.

Can all four of these teams be considered as an underdog? Not really. George Mason is this year?s Cinderella team, but this is a good program which has the talent to play and beat anyone. They?ve already proven that.

So who would I like to see in the finals? LSU and Florida, of course. I have to show my allegiance to the SEC. But who would I really like to see win the whole thing? Let?s go with the little man, George Mason.

Now what?s more unpredictable ? life, or the NCAA tournament?