As basketball fans settle in for a resumption of the Division I men's hoops tournament, most will do so with their office-pool bracket already safely in the trash, crumpled in a heap, well outside the realm of respectability.

But Military Times Battle Bracket is still rolling at full speed in its round of 16, and unlike that other March Madness, you've got a say in who wins. Here are three items to watch as we near the end of Round 3 voting; head here to vote before polls close at 3 p.m. Eastern on Friday.

The winner earns a spot in the regional final. Against who, you ask?

Drill instructor Sgt. Donald Miller corrects a recruit March 25, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. Drill instructors like Miller, a 28-year-old from Nacogdoches, Texas, guide new recruits through in-processing and teach them how to act before they begin the official training curriculum. Bravo Company is scheduled to graduate June 20, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Octavia Davis)

Marine "knife hand" vs. "Woobie" for the right to reach Battle Bracket's quarterfinal round.

Photo Credit: Defense Department images

2. 'Woobie' walkover? rising to the occasion

Bivouac Bracket
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan transits the Pacific Ocean with ships assigned to Rim of the Pacific 2010 combined task force as part of a photo exercise north of Hawaii. RIMPAC, the world's largest multinational maritime exercise is a biennial event which allows participating nations to work together to build trust and enhance partnerships needed to improve maritime security. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Dylan McCord)

The Nimitz-class carrier has a clear edge in early voting against the Ohio-class submarine.

Photo Credit: Defense Department images

3. The rest of the regions.

  • Air Region: The A-10 Thunderbolt II has a clear lead over the B-52 Stratofortress. If the Warthog holds out, it'll likely face the AH-64 Apache, which is sporting a 33 percentage-point lead over the F-22 Raptor.
  • Sea Region: The Nimitz-class carrier has cruised in the early going, and its 2-to-1 vote lead over the Ohio-class submarine this round is no exception. If the flattop closes things out, it'll likely face the Tomahawk missile in the regional final.
  • Land Region: The prelims are almost over, and it appears we're set for an Abrams-Stryker showdown. The tank has nearly a 3-to-1 lead over the M777 howitzer in the early going while the Stryker sits about 16 points ahead of the Cougar MRAP.
About Kevin Lilley

Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.

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