6 Cincinnati (-1.5) vs. 11 Texas
Mick Cronin has gotten Cincinnati focused since the brawl against Xavier. I expect them to play much better than they did against Louisville in the Big East Championship and squeak out a victory in Nashville.
Prediction - Cincinnati 62 Texas 60
Midwest Regional at Columbus
6 San Diego St. (+2.5) vs. 11 NC State
Steve Fisher is building a program at San Diego State. The Aztecs reached the Sweet 16 last season. They will be looking to improve on that showing this season and will get one step closer to that accomplishment with a win over NC State.
Prediction - San Diego St. 79 NC State 73
Midwest Regional at Greensboro
8 Creighton (+1.5) vs. 9 Alabama
Alabama will want to use their pressure defense to create turnovers and force bad shots for Creighton. The Crimson Tide are superior athletically and will be able to reduce the open looks for Doug McDermott.
Prediction - Alabama 75 Creighton 69
West Regional at Omaha
7 Florida (-3.5) vs. 10 Virginia
This is a classic battle of offense versus defense. Virginia loves to slow the game down and limit the opposition's possessions. Florida can stroke the 3-ball though and can make the most out of their limited possessions. The Gators will move on.
Prediction - Florida 62 Virginia 56
East Regional at Nashville
3 Florida St. (-6.5) vs. 14 St. Bonaventure
Leonard Hamilton is leading an exciting era of Florida State basketball. The Seminoles made a run to the Sweet 16 last year, and are now the ACC Tournament champs for the 1st time in school history. They will need to hold the Bonnies' Andrew Nicholson in check to advance on Friday. They have repeatedly shut down the nation's better players all year though.
Prediction - Florida St. 58 St. Bonaventure 52
Midwest Regional at Columbus
3 Georgetown (-4) vs. 14 Belmont
Georgetown's strength is defense and rebounding. They should be able to feast on a smaller, less athletic team like Belmont. Henry Sims will make an impact down low for the Hoyas and help them avoid an upset.
Prediction - Georgetown 74 Belmont 57
Midwest Regional at Greensboro
1 North Carolina (-15.5) vs. 16 Vermont
North Carolina possesses what is possibly the most talented roster in the country. No #1 has ever lost to a #16. There is no chance of it happening here. Carolina will win easily.
Prediction - North Carolina 88 Vermont 69
West Regional in Omaha
2 Missouri (-21.5) vs. 15 Norfolk St.
Missouri is an exceptional team, but Marcus Denmon, Kim English, and company are still seeking acceptance as a national title contender. A win over Norfolk State will not prove they are capable of that, but it will advance them to a point in which they can prove it.
Prediction - Missouri 78 Norfolk St. 58
West Regional in Columbus
8 Memphis (-3) vs. 9 St. Louis
Josh Pastner's Memphis squad is clicking at the right time. Pastner has young and talented team that is beginning to put it all together and could make a run in the tourney. Many feel like they could make some noise if they get past Saint Louis. They will escape the Billikens by a narrow margin.
Prediction - Memphis 66 St. Louis 64
South Regional at Greensboro
2 Duke (-12.5) vs. 15 Lehigh
Duke has looked vulnerable at ti in recent weeks. Lehigh has not lost in over a month. Is this the recipe of an upset? Not quite, but I do think that the Mountain Hawks can scare the Blue Devils.
Prediction - Duke 82 Lehigh 77
Miswest Regional at Nashville
4 Michigan (-5.5) vs. 13 Ohio
Michigan is coming off a season that gave them a piece of the Big Ten title for the 1st time since 1986. Now the Wolverines have their sights set on advancing to the Tournament's 2nd weekend for the 1st time since 1994. Ohio and their outstanding PG DJ Cooper stand in their way. He will need to go off for the Bobcats to pull the upset.
Prediction - Michigan 59 Ohio 58
Midwest Regional at Omaha
7 St. Mary's (-1.5) vs. 10 Purdue
Purdue is a much better team than their record indicates. Almost half of their games were played against teams in the Big Dance. They are no stranger to tough competition. Saint Mary's does not get challenged every night in the West Coast Conference. Purdue's schedule and the leadership of Robbie Hummel will have them ready to win this game.
Prediction - Purdue 71 St. Mary's 70
West Regional at Columbus
1 Michigan St. (-20) vs. 16 LIU-Brooklyn
Tom Izzo's club exceeded all expectations this season. Now they are in position to to return to a familiar place - the Final Four. The Spartans are dominant on the boards and should overpower a smaller, less physical LIU-Brooklyn squad.
Prediction - Michigan St. 95 LIU-Brooklyn 61
South Regional at Greensboro
7 Notre Dame (-2.5) vs. 10 Xavier
You have to commend both of these coaches for the jobs they've done this year. Mike Brey took a Notre Dame squad that had little expectations and lost their best player to injury and lead them to a 20-win season in the rugged Big East. Chris Mack of Xavier helped his team overcome the sad situation following the brawl against Cincinnati and has his team focused on making an impact in the Big Dance. Tu Halloway will be the best player on the court, which should give the X-Men a slight advantage.
Prediction - Xavier 66 Notre Dame 61
Midwest Regional at Nashville
5 Temple (-2.5) vs. 12 South Florida
This is a game of future Big East rivals. Temple will make the move in 2013, but will get a look at what life will be like on Friday. South Florida dominated Cal in a First Four matchup last night and will be looking to build on that momentum. Both teams are solid defensively, but Temple has more offensive firepower. That will be enough to lead the Owls to a win.
Prediction - Temple 65 South Florida 52
Midwest Regional at Omaha
2 Kansas (-14) vs. 15 Detroit
Kansas entered the season as an afterthought. But Bill Self showed that you can never count out a Kansas team. POY candidate Thomas Robinson made sure that the Jayhawks remained a Final Four contender yet again. They face one of the most electrifying mid-major players anywhere in Ray McCallum who decided to pass on the big schools to play for his dad. Kansas will win this game, but McCallum will show he was capable of playing in a big time conference.
Prediction - Kansas 66 Detroit 56
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