Cabinet secretaries make Final Four picks

Cabinet secretaries Ken Salazar, Kathleen Sebelius, Lisa Jackson and Tom Vilsack.

As the March Madness tournament begins this afternoon, President Obama thinks the Kansas Jayhawks will win, but some Cabinet secretaries contacted by The Federal Eye think otherwise:

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson: Kansas vs. Syracuse (Kansas wins), Kentucky vs. Villanova (Villanova wins). Winner: Villanova.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar: Kansas, Villanova, West Virginia, Syracuse. Winner: Kansas.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius: Kentucky, Kansas, Syracuse, Villanova. Winner: Kansas (No surprise from the former Kansas governor).

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: Kentucky, Villanova, Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Winner: Kentucky.

Taking a pass (or, passing the ball?): Education Secretary Arne Duncan (Perhaps due to his call to ban low-performing schools from the tournament?). Defense Secretary Robert Gates ("I almost certain he is too busy for this," a spokesman claimed). Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: ("He says he’s going to the Final Four, but he’ll leave making picks to the president," said a spokeswoman). Office of Management and Budget Director Peter R. Orszag ("He doesn't have any," said a spokesman.)

We'll track the picks of these secretaries over the course of the tournament and the winner of this small pool shall win a prize to be determined after the first round of play.

You can also review The Federal Eye's picks here and kudos to NBC's Jimmy Fallon for rooting for The Eye's hometown Siena Saints to go all the way.

Agree of disagree with the picks? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below