IF YOU MUST, YOU CAN BET ON THIS.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN

The NCAA bracket was finalized about 4 p.m. Sunday, and first tip is just after 9 a.m. Thursday. That means the office-pool sheet has to be in before heading home Wednesday.

It gives you 72 hours or so to come up with the picks that will give you office braggin' rights (because, as the University of Washington showed, gambling is a no-no).

But anyway, precious seconds of research time are ticking away, and you need answers. So, the best piece of advice is to locate people in your office who don't know the difference between a hoops basket and a laundry basket. They are the favorites to win this thing.

Jolene in accounting, or Peter in computer programming, have the answers. They know the Salukis are a cool nickname (once they hear it from someone), so No. 8 Southern Illinois has a great shot to beat No. 9 Alabama in the first round in the Phoenix bracket, then give top seed Stanford a run in the next round.

They also like the Ragin' Cajuns from Louisiana-Lafayette against North Carolina State. Ragin' Cajuns sound fun, so pick 'em once or twice.

Remember, one of these people will have the winning team because they figure Duke will throw the ball for a touchdown to force an extra chucker before crossing the finish line to run around the court in San Antonio with the Stanley Cup, then live in the glory of the outdated ``One Shining Moment'' montage after the finale.

They call it March Madness for a reason, and that reason is the reactions in offices across the country when folks find out who won the company pool.

However, if you must break things down analytically, and research how No. 1 seeds fare, or potential matchups of how the East Rutherford (N.J.) region's top seed, St. Joseph's, could be crushed on the boards in the Sweet 16 against Wake Forest, we're here to help.

First, the key is to break it down into sections, and by that we mean make your picks so the teams are at least alive in the Sweet 16. This is where the big points come in for every game you win. Certainly upsets are a big part of the tournament, but the crazy stuff usually happen only in the first round.

But if you must have fun with a few first-round picks, there's two to look at. Every year it seems some No. 12 seed makes a run, and it starts by beating the No. 5 seed. The best bet is Manhattan against an erratic Florida. The Jaspers have one of the most prolific scorers in the nation in Luis Flores (24 points per game), have won 11 of 12, have tournament experience and a history of pulling off NCAA Tournament upsets.

Western Michigan, an 11th seed, plays Vanderbilt, and could post the upset. The Broncos have won 14 of their past 16 and have the ability to score inside and out.

The NCAA selection committee always sets up some potentially fun meetings in the early rounds, and three jump out. No. 14 Princeton and No. 11 Air Force could meet in the second round in the Atlanta bracket. They are coached by John Thompson III and Joe Scott, respectively, and both are disciples of Pete Carril and run the same motion system.

In the Phoenix section, No. 7 DePaul and No. 2 Connecticut should meet in the second round. DePaul is coached by long-time UConn assistant Dave Leitao, and Huskies coach Jim Calhoun always likes to make sure people understand pecking orders.

Also, No. 3 Pittsburgh and No. 6 Wisconsin could meet in the second round of East Rutherford bracket, and that game would be played 60 miles from the Badgers' campus in Milwaukee.

But, actually, the winner of this NCAA Tournament likely will be determined by UConn center Omeka Okafor's pain tolerance. He will play with a stress fracture in his back, and if he is close to 100 percent, the Huskies are the best team in the nation.

No surprise, but St. Joseph's will be the first top seed out, a Sweet 16 loss to Wake Forest. Stanford is next with an Elite Eight loss to UConn. The other regional top seeds, Duke and Kentucky, will make it to San Antonio for the Final Four, where they will be joined by UConn and Pittsburgh.

And with Okafor's back well enough to last six more games, the pick is UConn over Kentucky for the national title.

And if this happens, congratulations (or donations for the very, very, very few who illegally gamble on this event) are gladly accepted for the help.

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Photo:

Connecticut center Emeka Okafor's ability to handle the pain in his back will be the difference in the Huskies' title chances.

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

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NCAA TOURNAMENT: MEN'S BRACKET