We started with 68 and we are down to 16. This weekend the NCAA tournament continues with the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight. In four days, we will have the Final Four set and find out which teams are heading to Houston to play for the championship. Here is my quick preview for the matchups for the Sweet Sixteen starting Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. and concluding late Friday night. (click the link below and listen while you read)
Thursday night:
East Region: 7 Michigan State vs. 3 Kansas State (6:30 TBS)
The first matchup of the Sweet 16 gives us the Spartans and the Wildcats. Tom Izzo’s Spartans knocked off 10 seed USC and then upset 2 seed Marquette to advance to their 21st Sweet 16. The Wildcats took care of 14 seed Montana State and blue blood 6 seed Kentucky. I’m going with the team that is barely keeping that region of my bracket together. Kansas State 68 Michigan State 62
West Region: 8 Arkansas vs. 4 UConn (7:15 CBS)
The Razorbacks and Huskies battle for a spot in the Elite Eight. Arkansas took care of 9 seed Illinois then stunned the defending champs 1 seed Kansas to send them home earlier than expected and ruin a repeat championship. Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman took off his shirt and was flexing after that win, but he better have his team ready for a solid UConn team that took out 13 seed Iona and knocked out my Cinderella hopeful 5 seed Saint Mary’s. The flexing stops this game for Arkansas. UConn 71 Arkansas 65
East Region: 9 Florida Atlantic vs. 4 Tennessee (9:00 TBS)
The Owls and Volunteers square off in a matchup that I certainly didn’t predict. FAU is becoming one of the small teams people are rooting for after knocking off 8 seed Memphis and taking care of 16 seed FDU after their shocking upset of 1 seed Purdue. Drunk me on St. Patrick’s Day was locked into some Owls basketball but they go up against a tough Tennessee team with a stout defense. Tennessee squeaked by 13 Louisiana and dominated 5 seed Duke. First ever Sweet 16 appearance for FAU and I think this is where their season ends. Tennessee 69 FAU 60
West Region: 3 Gonzaga vs. 2 UCLA (9:45 CBS)
This is the game of the night. Two college basketball powerhouses with UCLA who has the most NCAA championships ever (11) and Gonzaga who has become a household name for basketball recently. Both teams last made the Final Four back in 2021 with Gonzaga losing in the title game. Gonzaga took out 14 seed Grand Canyon and 6 seed TCU while UCLA blew out 15 seed UNC Asheville and held off 7 seed Northwestern. This game will come down to the very end. UCLA 78 Gonzaga 76
Friday night:
South Region: 5 San Diego State vs. 1 Alabama (6:30 TBS)
The Crimson Tide and the Aztecs both won comfortably in the second round to open up Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup’s. Bama has won by an average of 21 points so far this tournament but that will change with this game. SD State brings in a solid defense that shut down Charleston and Furman. Bama was also one of the few teams that I still have going in my bracket, and I think they carry on. Alabama 71 San Diego State 61
Midwest Region: 5 Miami vs. 1 Houston (7:15 CBS)
I was thinking I wouldn’t be biased but this my blog, so fuck it. I hope Houston steamrolls Miami and knocks them out. I hate to admit it, but Miami is a good team and they did make the Elite Eight last year. I hope history doesn’t repeat itself and Houston sends them packing. Houston is also my pick to win it all so salvage that dumpster fire that is my bracket. Miami knocked out Drake and Indiana to make it here while Houston took out Northern Kentucky and Auburn. I feel like this will be close even thought I really hope it’s not. Houston 73 Miami 69
South Region: 15 Princeton vs. 6 Creighton (9:00 TBS)
The true Cinderella of this bracket Princeton goes up against Creighton. They both eliminated solid teams from this tournament. Creighton took out NC State and Baylor (only had them going to the title game) and Princeton busted several brackets by knocking off 2 seed Arizona and a solid Missouri team. I think they have enough to keep the dream going and keep dancing. Princeton 69 Creighton 65
Midwest Region: 3 Xavier vs. 2 Texas (9:45 CBS)
This should be another fun matchup to round out the Sweet 16. Xavier took care of Kennesaw State and Pittsburgh while Hook ‘em Horns eliminated Colgate and Penn State. The Midwest region of my bracket is totally screwed so I’m just hoping for a good game. For some reason I feel this game will be very high scoring. Texas 83 Xavier 76
There you go. My picks for the Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament games. Hopefully they go better than my sorry ass bracket which I can confidently say is one of the worst I have ever done. Which team are you pulling for to win this weekend? Cheers and yay basketball!
Sweet 16 appearances by school:
UCLA-37
Michigan State-21
UConn-19
Kanas State-18
Arkansas-14
Houston-14
Gonzaga-13
Texas-11
Alabama-10
Tennessee-9
Xavier-9
Princeton-7
Miami-5
Creighton-5
San Diego State-3
Florida Atlantic-1
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