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Ballsy 2010 Tournament Predictions | Sweet 16 and Elite 8

By Robert Murray

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Heading into the Sweet 16, I’ve predicted one of the most boring tournaments ever. I have only one, yes one, double-digit seed reaching the second weekend. I have all four No 1’s and No 2’s reaching and three No 3’s showing up. I got one four seed, one five seed, one six seed and one 13th seed squeezing it.

Don’t sweat it though, I’m going to knock off some top seeds starting now.

HERE’S HOW IT WILL ARRIVE:

EAST REGIONAL

(4) Wisconsin over (1) Kentucky
Yep, I’m going to regret this pick. Wall & Co are probably going to destroy the Badgers, but hear me out. What’s the two things the Wildcats can’t do well? Shoot threes and shoot free throws. The Badgers will be the most physical team they’ve faced and Wisconsin will force Kentucky do both. Second, John Wall is fast, but so is Trevor Hughes. 

(2) West Virginia over (3) New Mexico
The Lobos have a star in Darington Hobson, but the Mountaineers have this guy named De’Sean Butler. You might have heard of him. This would be the perfect time for Butler to hit his 7th game winning basket of the season.

SOUTH REGIONAL

(1) Duke over (5) Texas A&M
Three years ago, Duke lost in the first round. Two years ago Duke lost in the second round. Last year Duke lost in the Sweet 16. So obviously they’ll advance to the next round this season, right? Yep, that’s all I got for you.

(3) Baylor over (2) Villanova
When Nova faced Syracuse’s zone a while back they lost…by 18. The Bears also use a similar zone. I’m not saying the Wildcats are going to lose by 18, I’m just saying they’re going to lose.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

(1) Kansas over (4) Maryland
The good news for Greives Vasquez is, after this game, he can finally start to get ready for his NBA career; money, fame, girls…all the things that make life worth living for. Also bagels, I love bagels.

(3) Georgetown over (2) Ohio State
When you get two tough teams battling it out in the Sweet 16, especially two teams that might be better than their seeding, you know you’re going to get a low-scoring tight game. Do you know what wins those kinds of games? Free throws…something the Buckeyes struggle with.

WEST REGIONAL

(1) Syracuse over (13) Murray State
Lame, I know. I went back and changed a pick from yesterday. I had the Orange going down to Gonzaga. I never do that, but I had to this time. Here’s my problem, I don’t decide my Final Four and then work my way there. Instead, I do one round per day and I don’t think about the next round at all until the next day. I always thought it was more fun to do it that way, because I would surprise even myself. It also makes me wrong often. Anyhow, I changed it. Oh and Syracuse beats the lowest seed still in the house.

(2) Kansas State over (6) Xavier
For a conference with a lot of early upsets, even I’m a little shocked I still got the top two seeds reaching the elite eight. It’s kind of boring, I know.

ELITE EIGHT

EAST REGIONAL

(2) West Virginia over (4) Wisconsin
Everyone is picking the Mountaineers to reach the Final Four. Who am I to argue? Of course I had them in the Final Four last year and they lost in the first round. It’s typical. Ask my ex-girlfriends and they’ll tell you I always peak too early.

SOUTH REGIONAL

(3) Baylor over (1) Duke
Yep, I’m picking my boys to lose. It’s not just the fact that the Houston crowd will be extremely pro-Baylor/anti-Duke, it’s the match up. The Bears got both size in the middle (Udoh) and a super quick point guard (Dunn) and I just don’t think Duke has the answers.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

(1) Kansas over (3) Georgetown
I came close to picking the Hoyas in the upset, but the Jayhawks are just too damn good. Kansas knows this is it for them. Collins, Aldrich and Henry are all gone after this season. There is no next year for this group.

WEST REGIONAL

(1) Syracuse (2) Kansas State
Zero McDonald’s All-Americans will be on display on an Orange team that returns to the Final Four for the first time since winning it all with Melo. K-State won’t be pushovers, but I like Syracuse as the second No 1 seed reaching the Final Four.

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