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Photo credit: Photo-Mojo
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Yeah, I know. So I thought I'd poke around and see what all of the experts were saying about where and when Tennessee would play its first game. I thought I'd find a wide disparity of opinion, but actually, it's practicially unanimous: The Vols will likely open up the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Now just because almost all of the bracketologists agree does not mean it's set in stone. After all, the "experts" I consulted range from ESPN to Pajama Sam. And yes, I made that up. Shoot, these guys could all be wrong. We won't know for certain until Sunday.
In any event, the following folks all predict that the Vols will be in Birmingham: BracketProject, ESPN, CBS Sportsline, Draft Express, Bracketography, The Bracket Board, BracketDobber, BracketWag, BracketWatch, Feature Presentation, ThermoCaster, MikeOnSports, NY Post, Orlando Sentinel, Warren Nolan.
There are other possibilities, though, and the information is below for quick reference on Sunday.
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First and Second Rounds:
Thursday and Saturday, March 20 and 22, 2008 |
First and Second Rounds:
Friday and Sunday, March 21 and 23, 2008 |
| Honda Center Anaheim, California Host: Big West Conference Ticket Price: $153 Phone: 714/704-2500 Web site: Honda Center |
BJCC Arena Birmingham, Alabama Host: Southeastern Conference Ticket Price: $153 Phone: 800/732-4849 Web site: South Tix |
| Pepsi Center Denver, Colorado Hosts: Mountain West Conference and CSU Ticket Info: SOLD OUT Ticket Price: $168 Phone: 719/487-2479 Web site: The MWC |
Alltel Arena Little Rock, Arkansas Host: University of Arkansas-Little Rock Ticket Info: SOLD OUT Ticket Price: $158 Phone: 501/975-9000 Web site: UAL Trojans |
| Qwest Center Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Hosts: Creighton University and Missouri Valley Conference Ticket Info: SOLD OUT Ticket Price: $159 Phone: 402/599-6818 Web Site: Qwest Center Omaha |
RBC Center Raleigh, North Carolina Host: North Carolina State University Ticket Info: $165 Phone: 919/865-1510 Web site: Go Pack |
| Verizon Center Washington, D.C. Host: Georgetown University Ticket Info: SOLD OUT Ticket Price: $228 Phone: 202/784-6222 Web site: GU Hoyas |
St. Pete Times Forum Tampa, Florida Host: University of South Florida Ticket Info: $198 Phone: 813/301-2500 Web site: SP Times Forum |
By the way, did you know you could still get Final Four tickets for face value? The NCAA uses something called First Dibz, described thusly:
A 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four DIBZ secures the right to purchase a FACE- VALUE ticket to both the 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal Games April 5th and the National Championship game April 7th.
For example, you can buy 8, 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four DIBZ for your favorite team. If your team makes it to the 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four then your DIBZ give you the right and obligation to pay face value for your tickets and you will be on your way to the 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four.
From the day you buy your DIBZ and up until your team is eliminated or the market is closed you have the ability to sell your DIBZ in the marketplace to other fans of your team. However, if you hold on to your DIBZ and your team does not make it to the 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four there is no refund of the price paid for your DIBZ.
So it appears that the Final Four tickets are "face value," much in the same way that season tickets are: you need an up front payment to secure the right. For Tennessee, the right, or the "dibz" ranges from $79 for upper level seats to $299 for lower level. So there you have it.