The first weekend of March Madness took a toll on millions of minds and bodies worldwide, and with the Sweet 16 on the horizon, my mind has done nothing but think about the upcoming matchups. So, let’s take a peek at the eight games slated for Thursday and Friday and what my picks are for the Elite 8.
#7 MICHIGAN ST VS #3 KANSAS ST
I said this in my last blog, but I’ll say it 10 times more. Izzo is back. Michigan state looks so solid as a team, and I think that they have a one-way flight to the Elite 8. After their win over #2 Marquette this past Sunday, Izzo praised his team and staff for winning on two days of preparation. Kansas St should just book tickets home right now, because with a week for Izzo to prepare, they are toast.
#8 ARKANSAS VS #4 UCONN
Hammer UCONN. As much as I’d like to see Musselman hop on the scorer’s table and swing his shirt over his head, I think that there’s no stopping this UCONN train. Guard Jordan Hawkins said it best: “It feels like we are unbeatable”… “I think we have a really good chance to win it all”. If I made a bracket right now, I am putting UCONN in the finals.
#9 FAU VS #4 TENNESSEE
This is a tough game to pick for one reason. It all depends on how the game get’s called. In their win over Duke, Tennessee played a rediculously physical game that led to hullabaloo from many fans online. FAU’s head coach Dusty May even said this when asked how he’d prepare for Tennessee: “We’re going to study Australian rugby rules”.
In short, this game can be decided by how the refs choose to call the game. If they let the players play, Tennessee will have an easy win. If they start calling a tight game, FAU’s chances are exponentially better. It’s up in the air, but my pick is Tennessee.
#3 GONZAGA VS #2 UCLA
This is one of the only matchups I knew would happen in the Sweet 16. All Drew Timme and Jaime Jaquez Jr. do is win, and here they are facing off in round three. When I made my bracket I took UCLA, and I am sticking with my pick.
#5 SAN DIEGO ST VS #1 ALABAMA
Alabama is still going to win the whole thing in my mind. I heard an interesting take today where someone said that Alabama will only fail if they get too comfortable and start living by the three. I think that may be true for the Elite 8 and onwards, but no matter what they can beat this SDSU team with ease.
#5 MIAMI VS # 1 HOUSTON
People are riding absurdly high on Houston…almost too high. Miami guard Jordan Miller encapsulated the expectations and gratification towards this Hurricanes team well, stating: “I wouldn’t say under appreciated, but a is just come out and win basketball games”. Originally I had Houston losing to Texas in the Elite 8, but I am changing that. I think that Miami will stun Houston this Friday in Kansas City.
#15 PRINCETON VS #5 CREIGHTON
To bet against a 15 seed in the third round is sacrilege. Hammer the Tigers, and if you’re too scared, just take the +10 on the spread. Time for a squad ride for the ages…right up til the wheels fall off.
#3 XAVIER VS #2 TEXAS
As I said before, when I made my bracket I had Texas winning this game and moving onto the Elite 8 to face Houston. While I changed my Houston pick, I am sticking with Texas on this one. Xavier looks scary good, and this game has the potential to be the nail biter of the weekend, but I am not moving away from the Longhorns on this one