I prefer rules/less subjectivity over the idea of making the subjective "right decision" in things like this. Absent of calling up MSU and asking them at the time of awarding that how do you know what they would decide? At the point they face duke they'll have to win several other games. Make a rule and move on.
I don't know for SURE that's the way it works, and I don't think anyone does. It just makes logical sense to me that you would have a rule on how to assign brackets and I know travel costs are a big deal.[/QUOTE]
With the kind of money the tournament makes, travel costs should not be an issue one bit. My understanding about the pods, regions, etc. was that it was to protect higher seeds, allowing them to stay closer to home, not because of travel costs, but making it easier for their fans to get there.