Predictions and Analysis of Which NCAA Mens Teams Will Advance to the Elite 8

There are so many great match-ups in the NCAA mens tournament. I have followed the tournament very closely and I even consider myself an expert. Well, I've gotten just about as many picks right in my bracket as these so called experts and I've heard every word Digger Phelps, Steve Lavin and Dick Vitale have had to say, so sure, I guess I might know a thing or two about Sweet 16 match-ups. So without further ado, here we go:

East regional:

North Carolina #1 vs. Washington St. #4: This is a good but not great match-up. Quite possibly, this will be the Tar Heels' first real test in the NCAA tournament after blowing out the first two teams they faced, posting more than 200 combined total points. The Washington State defense is very good but they simply wont be able to compete with the huge firepower that the Tar Heels posses. Even more troubling for the Cougars is that the game is being played in Charlotte so it will be for all intensive purposes, a home game for the Tar Heels which just isn't even fair.

Tennessee #2 vs. Louisville #3: This is my prediction to be the best match-up for the Sweet 16. Here you have two very good teams with great coaches: Bruce Pearl vs. Rick Pittino. Tennessee barely got by their last opponent, Butler and meanwhile, Louisville blew out their last team by 30. They have been playing with tremendous confidence and they are my pick to advance.

result: North Carolina vs. Louisville

Midwest Regional:

Davidson #10 vs. Wisconsin #3: Hold onto your hats folks because here is my upset special. Davidson which is riding on the back of their point guard Jason Richards who leads the nation in assists, and Stephen Curry who has been averaging 35 points in this tournament, will upset the Badgers in a very close game. Davidson is my pick to be the Cinderella team of this tournament and they have high confidence and are playing tremendous basketball right now. During their regular season they played tough teams like the Tar Heels and even though they lost to those tough teams, all of those games were close. Davidson has the nation's longest winning streak at 29+ games and counting and look for them to win this one with a buzzer beater by Curry.

Kansas #1 vs. Villanova #12: Villanova will put up a fight since they are battled tested from the Big East Conference but the Jayhawks are simply too good, have too much firepower and are playing too well to lose this early.

result: Davidson vs. Kansas

South Region:

Texas #2 vs. Stanford #3: As much as I'd like to take the small upset and pick Stanford to win this game, I just can't. I was troubled by the fact that Stanford almost lost to Marquette despite getting a combined 48 points out of the Lopez twins who dominated the game. Texas has beaten UCLA and Kansas and even though Texas has a close game of their own in the last round, Texas is the pick here.

Memphis #1 vs. Michigan St. #5: Whose ready for another upset special? I sure am! Michigan State is my pick here. As much as I'd like Memphis to succeed instead of your ordinary powerhouse school, Memphis played terribly in their last game against Mississippi State. But most of all, here's why Memphis will lose this game: They are one of the three worst teams in the nation in free throw shooting percentage. For a team that is as aggressive as Memphis, they take a lot of free throws. Furthermore, free throws win and lose games for a team. Michigan St. showed that in their impressive win over Pittsburgh.

result: Texas vs. Michigan St.

West Regional:

West Virginia #7 vs. Xavier #3: As a big fan of the Big East conference, I'm picking West Virginia here. And why not? West Virginia has a history of making deep runs into the tournament and pulling off improbable upsets. Coach Huggins has his team playing well at just the right time. West Virginia pulled off a stunning upset against the Blue Devils, a team that I believe is better than Xavier.

UCLA #1 vs Western Kentucky #12: UCLA will win this game in a blowout, hands down, not even close. Too much defense, too many weapons, enough said.

result: West Virginia vs. UCLA