2009 NCAA Tournament 2nd Round Predictions Part 2 (Sunday Games); Sweet 16

12:10PM EST #6 Arizona State vs. #3 Syracuse
Arizona State hasn't gotten much respect this season, and I am not about to change that. I will not pretend to be an expert in Pac 10 basketball, but I have not been impressed with the Pac-10 this year. Syracuse is running on all cylinders and will cruise past Arizona State. Look for Jonny Flynn to have a great game. 80-68 Syracuse

2:20 PM EST #12 Wisconsin vs. #4 Xavier
Sometimes you can't look at paper to pick a game. I am taking the Big Ten over the Atlantic 10, momentum over athleticism, and Marcus Landry over B.J. Raymond. Wisconsin will upset Xavier. 67-64 Wisconsin

2:30 PM EST #11 Dayton vs. #3 Kansas
Don't expect a blowout if you are taking Kansas with the spread. Dayton can play with anyone, and has wins over Marquette and Xavier. The win over West Virginia was not a fluke, but a win against Kansas is a lot less likely. Cole Aldrich will dominate the post, and Sherron Collins will add 20 points and 6 assists for the Jayhawks and lead Kansas to victory. 74-69 Kansas

2:40 PM EST #13 Cleveland State vs. #12 Arizona
If you had this match-up picked on your bracket, you're lying. One of the beauties of this tournament are the unexpected match-ups for Sweet Sixteen berth similar to last years San Diego vs. Western Kentucky contest. From the team that should have been in the NIT, to now a favorite to make the Sweet 16, Arizona's luck has changed drastically in a weeks time. The bottom line is that Cleveland State doesn't have one player over 6'5 who averages over 22 minutes a games. They have no answer for Arizona's Chase Budinger and will get dominated down low. 71-61 Arizona

2:50 PM EST #8 Oklahoma State vs. #1 Pittsburgh
Oklahoma State is 2-7 against top 25 this season although they were able to squeak out a one point victory over Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. Pittsburgh is too physical and talented for the Cowboys to handle. 79-67 Pittsburgh

4:50 PM EST #6 Marquette vs. #3 Missouri
This is not an easy game to predict. Both teams have had up and down seasons. Missouri has won 12 of their last 14 games and may have their best basketball ahead of them. Marquette has struggled of late, going 5-7 in their last twelve. This could go either way and I won't pretend to know who will come out on top, but since I am making predictions here, I'm going with Missouri. 73-71 Missouri

5:00 PM EST #10 USC vs. #2 Michigan State
USC is not the match-up that Michigan State wanted to see in the 2nd round of the tournament. Forward Taj Gibson is going to cause trouble for the Spartans down low. Gibson averages 14 PPG, 9 RPG, and 2.8 blocks per game. MSU Center Goran Suton will have to step up defensively for the Spartans to win this game. Guard play will play a big part in this contest. Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton both need big games and to limit turnovers. This game will come to the wire, but my money is on the Spartans. 65-64 Michigan State

5:20 PM EST #9 Sienna vs. #1 Louisville
Sienna has given us more this tournament then we could of hoped for in their double overtime win against Ohio State. Louisville has lost to a mid-major (Western Kentucky), but that was in pre-conference play on the road. If Sienna keeps it close I will be surprised. 87-68 Louisville.