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50. New Mexico State Aggies
With a mustache so terrible that it's actually kind of cool, NMSU's Pistol Pete comes in at No. 50 among the most awesome mascots seen during the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
Credit: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images -
49. Maryland Terrapins
While turtles aren't exactly known for their intimidation factor, Maryland's mascot pays no attention to that stigma and boldly performs his duties with the best of them. For that reason, Testudo the Terrapin finds himself on our list.
Credit: Streeter Lecka, Getty Images -
48. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
One would be forgiven for mistaking Stephen F. Austin's mascot for an overzealous fan rocking suspenders, a sleeveless plaid flannel and an axe.
Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel, Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODA -
47. Oregon Ducks
Oregon's 'The Duck' scores nostalgia points for resembling another duck we all know and love.
Credit: Ethan Miller, Getty Images -
46. West Virginia Mountaineers
Like Stephen F. Austin's Lumberjack, West Virginia's 'The Mountaineer' succeeds in blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Credit: Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports -
45. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky starts our run of Wildcat mascots. They can't win everything, so for this reason they find themselves ranked lowest among schools featuring one of the most unoriginal mascots in all of college sports.
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44. Villanova Wildcats
Wil D. Cat has a clever name, but he's still a Wildcat just like the other Wildcats.
Credit: Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports -
43. Davidson Wildcats
Wild. Yawn. Cat.
Credit: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images -
42. Arizona Wildcats
With his trademark cowboy hat, Arizona's Wilbur the Wildcat sets himself apart from all other Wildcats. Way to come original, Wilbur!
Credit: Ethan Miller, Getty Images -
41. Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin's Bucky Badger appears to be part-badger, part-popcorn vendor. And everybody loves popcorn. Everybody.
Credit: Jeff Gross, Getty Images -
40. Valparaiso Crusaders
A Crusader who rocks a basketball jersey and shorts is A-OK in our book.
Credit: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images -
39. UCLA Bruins
Many were surprised to see UCLA in the bracket at all, otherwise Joe Bruin would find himself much higher on our list.
Credit: Ethan Miller, Getty Images -
38. Cincinnati Bearcats
For being a feline mascot that's not a Wildcat, we salute you, Bearcat.
Credit: Joe Murphy, Getty Images -
37. Purdue Boilermakers
Aside from Purdue Pete and everyone else at Purdue University, does anyone really know what a Boilermaker is?
Credit: Doug Pensinger, Getty Images -
36. Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas' mascots are comprised of Baby Jay and Big Jay. A quick FYI: If you ever have hopes of performing the Jayhawks' mascot duties, you need to be at least 6-foot-2 to be Big Jay, and 5-foot-1 or under to perform as Baby Jay. You're welcome.
Credit: Denny Medley, Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports -
35. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
With the NCAA tourney and St. Patrick's Day coming in the same month, Notre Dame's Leprechaun is a busy, busy man these days.
Credit: Grant Halverson, Getty Images -
34. Iowa Hawkeyes
If not for the unfortunate name, Herky the Hawk would find himself much higher on this list.
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33. Ohio State Buckeyes
Brutus Buckeye earns points for performing the unenviable task of being a Buckeye, which is a tree. Trees typically don't do a whole lot, so not much inspiration for Brutus to pull from.
Credit: Caylor Arnold, Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports -
32. Oklahoma Sooners
For his fantastic name alone, Sooner Schooner makes the list of most awesome mascots in this year's March Madness.
Credit: Denny Medley, Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports -
31. Oklahoma State Cowboys
There's a saying that goes 'the hat doesn't make the man, the man makes the hat'. Regardless, Oklahoma State's Pistol Pete rocks one of the best cowboy hats in all of sports.
Credit: Ed Zurga, Getty Images -
30. North Carolina Tar Heels
You don't want to be in the way when North Carolina's Rameses starts throwing his horns around. Those will definitely leave a mark!
Credit: Evan Pike, Evan Pike-USA TODAY Sports -
29. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Chauncey the Chanticleer's mascot duties include regularly answering the question "What the hell is a Chanticleer?" Apparently it's a "fierce and proud rooster," and according to Coastal Carolina University, it's blue.
Credit: Grant Halverson, Getty Images -
28. Texas Longhorns
Texas mascots Bevo and Hook 'em will be the first to remind you that if you mess with the bull, you'll surely get the horns.
Credit: Ed Zurga, Getty Images -
27. Wichita State Shockers
There are no better names and very few better masks among March Madness mascots than those featured by Wichita State's WuShock.
Credit: Peter Aiken, Getty Images -
26. Baylor Bears
Baylor's mascots are actually real live black bears, but they were banned from coming to sporting events in 2010. Were this not the case, they would find themselves much higher on this list.
Credit: Richard Mackson, Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports -
25. Butler Bulldogs
Butler's perennial status as potential tourney Cinderella that nobody wants to play is symbolized quite well by their mascot, Butler Blue III.
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24. Buffalo Bulls
Victor E. Bull is one mean looking bull. Points for the nose ring, Victor!
Credit: Raj Mehta, Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports -
23. Texas Southern Tigers
The Texas Southern University mascot bares an uncanny resemblance to another tiger regularly featured on a box of breakfast cereal. He's also tasked with helping TSU to what would be an incredible upset over Arizona.
Credit: Brian Spurlock, Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports -
22. Belmont Bruins
Bruiser the Bear will be doing all he can to help No. 15 seed Belmont pull off a major upset off a major upset over No. 2 seed Virginia. If he succeeds, look for him to move up on our list.
Credit: Jim Brown, Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports -
21. Georgia Bulldogs
With a ridiculously fierce lower jaw, Georgia's Hairy Dawg will bring some serious intimidation factor throughout the Bulldogs' March Madness campaign.
Credit: Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports -
20. Georgia State Panthers
With his Georgia State team slated as a No. 14 seed, Pounce the blue panther will need to bring the magic for this Cinderella team.
Credit: Sean Gardner, Getty Images -
19. Virginia Commonwealth Rams
Much like the Butler Bulldogs mascot, Rodney the Ram symbolizes the way his team plays as well as any other.
Credit: Anthony Gruppuso, Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports -
18. Louisville Cardinals
Just like Coach Pitino and the rest of the team, Louie the Cardinal feels slighted by the team's No. 4 seed. Look for Louie to perform his March Madness duties with a chip on his shoulder.
Credit: Andy Lyons, Getty Images -
17. Louisiana State Tigers
Mike the Tiger has done quite well in helping LSU to success on the football field, but can he replicate that effort on the hardwood?
Credit: Derick E. Hingle, Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports -
16. North Carolina State Wolfpack
Mr. Wuf is the alpha male of an N.C. State team that's hoping to rekindle the magic of the 1983 Wolfpack team that shocked the world.
Credit: Rob Kinnan, Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports -
15. UC Irvine Anteaters
One of the most unusual mascots in all of March Madness, Peter the Anteater hopes other teams underestimate both (a) his prowess as an eater of ants, and (b) UC Irvine as a formidable basketball team.
Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY Sports -
14. Northern Iowa Panthers
TC Panther knows his No. 5 seed Northern Iowa team has a shot at making a deep run in the tournament, and you be can be sure he'll be bringing out his black panther mojo in full effect.
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13. St. John's Red Storm
Having become the official school mascot in 2009, St. John's Johnny Thunderbird could score some major points by bringing the team some March Madness magic.
Credit: Chris Trotman, Getty Images -
12. Gonzaga Bulldogs
With the Bulldogs holding a 32-2 record and No. 2 seed, Spike the Bulldog needs to make sure the team lives up to lofty expectations.
Credit: James Snook, James Snook-USA TODAY Sports -
11. Virginia Cavaliers
Cav Man's Cavaliers have their best shot ever at winning a national championship, so look for him to be in top form.
Credit: Amber Searls, Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports -
10. Wofford College Terriers
With a name like Boss, very big things are expected from the Wofford Terriers' mascot. Their basketball team, not so much.
Credit: Mike McGinnis, Getty Images -
9. Wyoming Cowboys
The best of all Pistol Petes in the NCAA tourney, Wyoming's version is hoping his Cowboys continue bringing their tournament magic to the big dance.
Credit: David Becker, Getty Images -
8. Iowa State Cyclones
Of all the birds in the tournament, Cy the Cardinal is far and away the most fierce.
Credit: Ed Zurga, Getty Images -
7. Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown's Jack the Bulldog knows his No. 4 seed Hoyas need a big run to restore glory to the school's basketball program.
Credit: Jim O'Connor, Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports -
6. North Dakota State Bison
Thundar "don't call me a buffalo" Bison thinks his No. 15 seed NDSU team has what it takes to pull off a major March Madness upset. You can see it in his eyes.
Credit: James Snook, James Snook-USA TODAY Sports -
5. San Diego State Aztecs
For blurring the lines between fiction and reality better than any other, Aztec Warrior finds himself in the top 5 among the most awesome mascots in this year's March Madness.
Credit: David Becker, Getty Images -
4. Xavier Musketeers
With the most outstanding mustache of all mustache-bearing mascots in this year's tourney, Xavier's mascot finds himself near the top of our list.
Credit: Aaron Doster, Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports -
3. Duke Blue Devils
With his team owning a No. 1 seed that many say is undeserved, Blue Devil has his work cut out for him.
Credit: Streeter Lecka, Getty Images -
2. Providence Friars
Because of his unmatched and unapologetic creepiness, Providence's Friar Dom finds himself in second place only to the next mascot.
Credit: Adam Hunger, Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports -
1. Michigan State Spartans
In all of this year's NCAA tournament, there is no mascot more awesome, or more representative of his team, than Michigan State's Sparty. Sparty knows Tom Izzo and the Spartans have a big March Madness reputation to live up to, but if anyone's up for the challenge, it's Sparty.
Credit: Mike Carter, Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
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