March 24, 2016

Seth's college basketball (CBB) March Madness bracket predictions and tournament picks for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight for the South and West regions.

March Madness is well underway and we'll giving a full breakdown on each region for the upcoming Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games.

This NCAA Tournament has been one of the wildest March Madness seen in years. I'm here to tell you some teams that I believe in for the next two rounds of the tournament. Hopefully these are the teams you have alive in your bracket! Now let's get to it. You can also find our analysis of the Midwest and East Regions here.

Editor's Note: If you are interested in more college basketball columns, you can also check out our CBB DFS lineups picks and daily league predictions.

Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight Picks for the South and West

I'm still shaking my head over Michigan State's loss to Middle Tennessee. Luckily, my bracket was not ruined like all of my friends because I didn't fill one out! I saved myself from the catastrophic damage that would be.

For all you folks complaining there are no cinderella's left, well good. I like it better when the best teams make it through to the Sweet 16. This way I get to see the top teams battle their way for a championship. Did you really want to see Northern Iowa play Oklahoma this week or Texas A&M battle the Sooners? Oklahoma against A&M is simply a better matchup, and also a game between two old Big 12 foes.

The first game Thursday night is between #2 Villanova against #3 Miami. Villanova dominated 15- seeded UNC-Asheville and 7-seeded Iowa, winning by 30 and 19, to get to their first Sweet 16 since 2009. Five Wildcats scored in double-figures in the first round matchup, and four in the second round. Forward Daniel Ochefu played great defense, garnering three blocks in both games to each to go along with three steals against Iowa.

Miami has looked shaky in their last five games, dating back to their last regular season game of the season at Virginia Tech. They squeaked past Virginia Tech in the ACC opener, and fell to Virginia in a tough game. They only led 14-seeded Buffalo by two points at halftime before using their experience to pull away and win by seven. In the second round Miami used a 20-4 start to beat Wichita State, but not before the Shockers came back and took the lead at one point. I don't like how the Hurricanes have been playing of late and do like how Villanova seems to be on a mission to prove the world wrong. Villanova's 7th ranked defense per kenpom.com, should stifle Angel Rodriguez and if Ryan Arcidiacono continues his hot play, they should get by Miami.

#5 Maryland vs #1 Kansas is a very interesting matchup. Maryland has NBA talent in Melo Trimble, Jake Layman and center Diamond Stone. They can hang around with any team, but only when they want to. For 30 minutes they played lackadaisical against Hawaii before finally waking up winning by 13. They also didn't play too well in their first round matchup against #12 South Dakota State. But, those games were against inferior opponents. If Maryland realizes their giant task of beating Kansas and comes to play, we will have a battle, but, if not, then Maryland will get rolled like they did to Wisconsin on February 13th.

We all know how good Kansas is, and how talented they are. Wayne Selden has even woke up, averaging 17 points in their last four games. Perry Ellis has been extremely efficient, shooting 58% in his last four games. Frank Mason hasn't been good in the NCAA Tournament thus far, but expect a bounce back from him. When Kansas is clicking they are unstoppable. If Maryland doesn't take Kansas seriously then expect a blowout, but if they do, then expect a tight game which Kansas ekes out.

If my predictions are correct then expect a Kansas-Villanova Elite Eight showdown. Both of those teams are experienced and battle tested. It would go down to the wire, but I would have to lean towards Kansas, based on overall talent and the depth they have to overcome foul trouble.

#3 Texas A&M vs. #2 Oklahoma is the first game the West region features Thursday. I said last week that I thought Oklahoma would be a bust based on their over-reliance for the jump shot. But, if Buddy Hield shoots like he did Sunday, they are a tough tough out. Texas A&M got extremely lucky, I still don't understand how they won. I believe A&M will be too stuck on the game against Northern Iowa and come in with a bad mentality. Lon Kruger is a great coach and Hield will not allow his team to lose in the Sweet 16. If Hield is hitting, then good luck Aggies. I'll take OU.

The final game Thursday will feature #1 Oregon against #4 Duke. Duke is so overrated, getting bounced in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament to Notre Dame. They also almost lost to NC State, a team that didn't make the NCAA Tournament, in the ACC Tournament Opener. Duke didn't impress me in their games against UNC- Wilmington or against Yale. Big deal, you beat two mid-majors.

Oregon has a chip on their shoulder, from everything saying they didn't deserve a number one seed, including me. But this game will show everyone why Oregon was indeed deserving of their one-seed. Even though, they didn't play well against St. Joe's, they were tested and battled for a hard victory. The Ducks are athletic, fast, and can shoot extremely well. Dillon Brooks is one scary player for Oregon, as he dropped in 25 against the Joes. I think Oregon can blow this one open. I think Duke is being taken more seriously by many simply based on the names, but they don't have the talent they did last year with Jahlil Okafor and Justice Winslow.

In the Elite Eight, I will take Lon Kruger to make the Final Four for the first time since 1994. This is his most talented team and Buddy Hield can shoot them there. Oklahoma against Oregon would be one high scoring affair, with both teams running up and down. It would be a terrific matchup to see.

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