NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Predictions: Louisville and MSU Face Toughest Challenges Yet
ByThe Sweet 16 continues Friday night with the two title favorites in action and two other teams very capable of putting to death the rest of the nation's brackets.
Tennessee (11) vs. Michigan (2): March 28, 7:15 p.m.
This may not be an attractive marquee matchup like the rest of Friday night's games, but wait until its close late in the game and watch the viewers race to a TV. Tennessee scored 86 on Mass and then 83 on Mercer in a 20-point win margin. Both teams have at least two scorers capable of taking over a game. Michigan may be more battle tested from the Big Ten, but Tennessee is red hot at the right time. Tennessee will win in a major upset to make the Elite Eight.
UConn (7) vs. Iowa State (3): March 28, 7:27 p.m.
Shabazz Napier and Kevin Ollie are the protégés of Kemba Walker and Jim Calhoun and the Huskies just may be hungry enough to pull an upset over the favored Iowa State. Napier was a freshman and Ollie an assistant when Walker led Calhoun's team to the national title in 2011. Then that team nearly disbanded entirely when NCAA sanctions kept UConn out of the postseason last year. UConn will have the unfortunate task of trying to find a way to disrupt Melvin Ejim if they want to get back to the Final Four. UConn will keep it close, but Iowa State will pull away and win in the final minutes.
Kentucky (8) vs. Louisville (4): March 28, 9:45 p.m.
John Calipari and Rick Pitino are two shining examples of what coaching can do in the tournament. Pitino did not get the seeding he wanted and Calipari's team stumbled into the tournament, but both teams have played like true Final Four contenders. It is a shame they have to play in the Sweet 16. Louisville comes away with a thrilling victory clinched probably in overtime.
Michigan State (4) vs. Virginia (1): March 28, 9:57 p.m.
Michigan State has dealt with the pressure of being heavily favored to make the title game magnificently. They trounced Delaware in the first round and survived an upset from a confident Harvard team. Now they have to take down a one-seed in Virginia. Gary Harris and Adreian Payne will be too much for Virginia and the Spartans will win by at least three possessions.