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This is one of those dead tweener weeks. Nothing much happening as we wait until Saturday night when The Final Four begins. Yes, I know there are World Cup Futebol matches and all of that good stuff but many of friends don't give a darn about that except for me and few others.

Hey what can you say. I am a huge futebol fan. It floats my boat to use a very old cliché. So let's get down to the business at hand. Brasil and Ecuador 1-1 tied on Sunday. My wife and I listened to the match on Radio Globo from Brasil. Brasil scored first in the 72nd minute when Baptista launched a header into the back of the net.

According to ESPN soccernet, this was the first goal that Brasil has scored in Ecuador in more 10 years. Ecuador got the equalizer in the 88th minute. And with that, the Brasilian fans and press went nuts.

This tie dropped the Brasilians to fourth spot in the table. This is very bad when you consider Brasil has won five World Cups. The last one in 2002 in Tokyo, Japan. The only caveat is that the top four teams advance to play in the 2010 World Cup.

The Brasilian press is all up in arms over the tie. Brasil's top news agency Uol.com.br is reporting that Dunga's selection of the team is very dumb. He doesn't know what he is doing and they want him to be fired.

One of Brasil's top players Kaka missed the Ecuador match due to an ankle injury as reported by Uol.com.br. Uol.com.br is reporting Kaka should be ready to play on Wednesday April 1st against Peru.

To make matters even worse for Brasil, their hated enemy Argentina killed Venezuela 4-0. Argentina moved ahead of Brasil in the table to secure the second spot. It was the usual cast of characters that led the Argentina attack. Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Maxi Rodriguez, and Sergio Aguero led the scoring hit parade.

Paraguay is a top of the table with 23 points. Argentina and Chile are tied for second with 19 points and Brasil is one back at 18.

What most Americans don't understand is that Futebol is more important than life or death. It ranks up there with God and religion. Fans will kill each other when their team losses. Riots break out. Stadiums are destroyed. Cities such as Buenos Aries or Sao Paulo are sometimes burned to the ground because Boca lost to River Plate or Sao Paulo lost to Corinthians.

In my opinion and what I have observed in my travels to South America, national pride is at stake when Argentina battles Brasil or Chile takes on Peru in World Cup play. In my opinion, in America, we have the freedom to achieve whatever we want to achieve. We can be what we want to be and do what we want to do without government interference. God granted us our rights to pursue our dreams and goals.

In many countries in South America such as Brasil, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, it is next to impossible to dig your way out of poverty except through futebol. You get the picture so enough is said.

For many of you it's now on to the good stuff, The Final Four. So far, I think I've been pretty accurate with my assessment of the tourney. For me the only real surprise has been Michigan State and Villanova advancing to The Final Four. North Carolina and UConn are no brainers. The Tarheels and The Huskies have been ranked number one numerous times during the regular season.

For my money, North Carolina and UConn are two of the better teams this year. They both have the size and the speed to beat you in either an up-tempo or a half court game but I still think either MSU or Villanova can beat them.

From my observation, Michigan State is a very big and strong team with adequate team speed. The Spartans like to keep the score in the 50 to 60's range. And that's what they did against Louisville in the regional final. Michigan State forced Louisville to play a half court game. This was not Louisville's style and you saw the result a win for MSU.

In my opinion, UConn presents a different kind of animal. UConn can match the size and strength of Michigan State. UConn can either play a half-court game or run you out of the gym.

This will present a huge problem for MSU BUT (caps intended) if Michigan State can apply pressure on the UConn guards and force them to turn the ball over and shoot badly MSU can win.

From what I have seen of both Villanova and UNC, this game could be a blow out for North Carolina. Villanova is small and they don't have the size to match up with Carolina's big men Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green. Add to the mix guard Ty Lawson and you have pretty good North Carolina squad. Are they unbeatable? No.

Let's go back a few years in the time machine. The year was 1985. Villanova pulled the upset of century when The Cats beat Georgetown to win the NCAA Title. Can lightening strike twice again? Maybe but don't think so.

In my opinion, Villanova has to play the perfect game. Forward Dwayne Anderson and Dante Cunningham cannot get into foul trouble. If either one or both get into foul trouble and are forced to sit for extended periods of time UNC will win going away.

The big edge that Villanova has going for them is their super quick small guards Scottie Reynolds and Reggie Redding. In my opinion, these guys are faster than greased lightening. If Redding and Reynolds can penetrate the paint and do their thing Villanova can win.

When it is all said and done, I think North Carolina and UConn will battle each other in the championship game. And the winner is….

God bless and take care. Have a blessed day and I talk to you again.

Sources: The Associated Press ESPN soccernet Fox Sports uol.com.br