Jon is absolutely right about ESPN and Bracket Busters.  If they really cared about promoting mid major basketball, they would be trying to get the contestants into the NCAA tournament.  ESPN perceives "promoting" mid majors as getting ratings, and that is missing the point.  I think they should stagger the matchups with teams likley to make the tournament (ones that could resonably absorb a loss) with teams lacking in the quality nonconference win department.  With that model, you would see teams like Northeastern, Buffalo, VCU and Northern Iowa face the likes of Utah State, Davidson and Butler.  As a point of reference on this, George Mason's road win over Wichita State in 06 was likely the tipping point of them getting an at-large while the Shockers survived the loss and made the field easily as a seventh seed.