I know that you love your bracket. I know this because every time I've ever watched an NCAA tournament game in a public place, I've heard countless people babbling to anyone near them about the importance of the current game to their bracket.

I beg of you, though. If, at any point over the next four days, a team seeded 11th or lower has a chance to pull an upset, you root for that team.

Underdogs are what make the tournament the blissful experience it is. Underdogs are what make the world go 'round. This takes precedent over the fact that you had a "hunch" about Texas making it to the Final Four.

Obviously, there are exceptions. If your favorite team in the world drew a 3-seed, fine, by all means, root for them to squish the 14. And the deeper into the tournament we get, the more acceptable it is to root for your bracket. The principle of always rooting for underdogs is an important one, but it's understandable if you want to make an exception if 500 warm hugs are riding directly on the outcome of the game.

But especially for this opening round, come on, you've gotta get behind the little guy. Remember why we love this tournament. We love it because Richmond beat Syracuse in 1991. We love it because Bryce Drew and Valpo beat Mississippi in 1998. We love it because Princeton beat UCLA in 1996.

Games like that are what make this tournament feel like a warm breeze blowing up your skirt. They are the backbone of greatness upon which this tournament was built. I don't care if they knock out one of your Final Four teams on the first day.

And really, you shouldn't, either. Not only for all the reasons outlined above, but because your bracket isn't going to be won or lost on the opening weekend. You can absolutely win your pool while getting just two of the Final Four correct.

Related: Ill-behaved People, The Big Dance