On Wednesday, our March Madness bracket took the pride of place in the Ferguson household. We looked at it. We rechecked it. We felt confident.
Thursday happened. Syracuse went close to being massively upset, tourney favourites Kentucky won convincingly, and despite some near scrapes, everyone came through. It was a good day for favourites and a bad day for the bookies and upset-lovers.
Davis: Kentucky star
Then Friday happened. Forget March Madness. This was March Armageddon. In a world where green highlights mean "successful pick" and red highlights mean "unsuccessful pick", it was like my March Madness bracket had had a nosebleed.
Out went No. 2 seed Missouri, one of the tournament favourites, who lost to Norfolk State 86-84 - a school that once this season managed to lose to a school called Elizabeth City State (seriously - they're based in North Carolina).
Then, even more breathtakingly, college basketball behemoth Duke (and also second seed) was dunked by little LeHigh 75-70. Also dropping was dark horse and No.4 seed Michigan, who were felled by Ohio - a team not exactly known for its sports.
There were also wins for No.12 South Florida (over No.5 Temple) No.11 North Carolina State (over No.6 San Diego State), and No.10 St Mary's (over No.6 Purdue).
Can you take the weekend? Alex Ferguson - bewildered, lacking in sleep but still loving this crazy tournament, gives you all the predictions for Saturday and Sunday.
SATURDAY
No.1 Kentucky vs No. 8 Iowa State
Kentucky was ruthless in its thrashing of Western Kentucky, and with stars like Anthony Davis, the No.1 seed will be difficult to stop. Iowa State comfortably beat Connecticut in a game where it was up by 20 at one stage, but can they stop the Cats?
PREDICTION: No. Wildcats by 14
No.1 Syracuse vs No.8 Kansas State
Syracuse can't possibly be as bad as they were against UNC-Asheville on Thursday night, could they? Kansas State is going to create The Orange so many problems that even if KSU won it wouldn't be an upset.
PREDICTION: Wildcat wonder! KSU by 4.
No. 2 Ohio State vs No. 7 Gonzaga
Everyone's darlings Gonzaga overwhelmed West Virginia on Thursday night, but they'll come up against an Ohio State team featuring one of the NBA's better prospects, Jared Sullinger.
PREDICTION: Ohio State wins by 7.
No.3 Marquette vs No.6 Murray State
Murray State did nothing to impress us in their win on Thursday, while Marquette got some plaudits from this writer as they thumped dangerous BYU by 20 points.
PREDICTION: Marquette continues happy path to second week, winning by 8.
No. 3 Baylor vs No. 11 Colorado
No-one gave Colorado much chance going into their game with No.6 UNLV, but it was the Buffaloes who won despite the Running Rebels' fantastic comeback at the end. Baylor was also awful early against South Dakota State, but managed to haul back a 10-point deficit to come home with a nailbiting victory. Watch out for their shirts, though - they are horrific!
PREDICTION: Baylor shows class in everything but the clothing department, winning by 10.
No. 4 Vanderbilt vs No.5 Wisconsin
Vanderbilt - many people's dark horse for a Final Four place - was terrible for vast amounts of its exhausting win over Harvard, while Wisconsin simply hammered Montana.
PREDICTION: Wisconsin jumping around to victory. By 8.
No.5 New Mexico vs No.5 Louisville
New Mexico weren't fancied to beat Long Beach State in their opening round game, but the Lobos came through to set up a monster match-up with mighty Louisville, who got all they could handle against Davidson. Both sides are going to have to be a lot better if they proceed much past this match-up.
PREDICTION: Louisville learns from Thursday's mistakes.
No. 4 Indiana vs No.12 Virginia Commonwealth
VCU were Thursday's darlings after overcoming 6-ranked Wichita State, but Indiana - who demolished New Mexico State's hopes of an upset with ease - will be a different option.
PREDICTION: Indiana wins by 10.
SUNDAY
No.1 North Carolina vs No. 8 Creighton
UNC won their first game in March Madness 2012 with considerable ease, while Creighton squeaked Alabama in a wonderful, one-point game. UNC look good, folks.
PREDICTION: Creighton threaten early, get drowned out in powder blue late. UNC by 16.
No.1 Michigan State vs No. 9 St Louis
St Louis was great in the final five minutes of its win over Memphis, but they are going to have to be great for all 40 minutes if they are to have a prayer of overcoming Michigan State, who thumped LIU-Brooklyn. Watch out for Dramon Green, the MSU star - he's going to be a great pro!
PREDICTION: Spartans power on, winning by 10.
No.2 Kansas vs No.10 Purdue
Purdue just beat St Joseph's in a classic, while comfortably beat Detroit despite a poor performance for the first third of the game.
PREDICTION: KU by 6 in an unconvincing performance.
No. 3 Florida State vs No.6 Cincinnati
FSU was dreadful in its close-as-you-like win over St Bonaventure, while Cincy had a 14 point half-time lead over Texas and ended up winning comfortable. If both sides are in form, this could be a classic.
PREDICTION: Florida State exorcise some demons, wining by 3.
No.3 Georgetown vs No.11 NC State
NC State has been showing good form of late, and showed it by overpowering No.6 San Diego State by 14 points on Friday. Georgetown showed similar ruthlessness with a similarly comfortable win over little Belmont. This. Will. Be. Explosive.
PREDICTION: Georgetown by 3 in a classic.
No. 7 Florida vs No.15 Norfolk State
No-one in their wildest dreams /nightmares would have believed that tiny Norfolk State would have upset Missouri, so when they did, everyone stood up and applauded. Now they'll have to do it all over again against powerful Florida, who took no prisoners in their battering of Virginia.
PREDICTION: Norfolk State chomped. Florida by 20.
No. 10 Xavier vs No.15 Lehigh
Lehigh pulled one of the greatest upsets of this or any other tournament by outplaying Duke on Friday, and they'll be anxious to show Xavier that their win wasn't a fluke. What price a repeat?
PREDICTION: Cinderella reigns. Lehigh by 2.
No. 12 South Florida vs No. 13 Ohio
Both Ohio and South Florida pulled off stunning upsets on Friday. Ohio beat No. 4 Michigan in one of the greatest games the tour has ever seen, while South Florida beat No.5 Temple in one of the worst. Let's hope for something like the Ohio game on Sunday!
Prediction: Ohio wins by 6
