News 12 at 11 o'clock, March 19, 2010

AUGUSTA, Ga.---Lots of March Madness fans hanging out at sports bars Friday night to watch the action and see how their brackets would hold up.

The road to the final four is well underway and News 12 caught up with some sports fans with their brackets looking to have a good time.

It may be a few more weeks before Tiger's in town, but first a little thing called March Madness has hit Augusta.

It's March, and you know what that means...it's time for college's best basketball.

"Go bucks. O-h-i-o," spells basketball fan Chris Sigler.

"Duke, yea...Duke!" Yells Jackie Bascino.

Lots of fans spent the night watching the first round action at local sports bars, like Somewhere in Augusta and Wild Wings.

"This is a great place because they have so many TV's and you can watch just about every game that's going on right now," says fan Chris Sutton.

"Here you've got everybody rooting for the underdogs so that makes it a lot more exciting," adds Sigler.

Chris Sutton blames the pretty weather for the crowded night. "Everybody's just kind of ready to explode and have a reason to go out and party," says Sutton.

This year's over time and buzzer beater games have kept people on their toes from early in the afternoon until late into the night.

"I think the upsets this year so far have made it a lot more exciting, keeps a lot more people interested," says Sigler.

Managers say last year was slow, but this year the food, beer, and coast-to-coast coverage have people spending money.

"There's so many games and so many people out this year, the better games and quality of play has helped. From the scene behind me you can certainly tell everybody knows this year," says Somewhere in Augusta bar manager, Walker Madden.

But not everyone is here for the hoops.

"I actually have no idea what March Madness is. That's horrible isn't it?" Admits Bascino

So as the bracket busters keep coming, you can bet the sports fans will keep cheering.

"My brackets are struggling right now a few upsets have knocked a few teams out for me but i'm hoping for a strong finish," says Sigler.

Both sports bars were packed Friday night, they say business is booming and they expect it to stay this way straight through masters week.