Missouri Basketball: What Experts Say About Tigers' NCAA Tournament Chances

Missouri seems to be a popular pick to emerge from the West Regional of the NCAA tournament bracket. While the Tigers are a No. 2 seed, many analysts like their odds against the No. 1 seed in the region, Michigan State, and the likes of Marquette, Florida and Louisville.

We all know about the quality and depth of Missouri's backcourt, but just how far can this group of elite guards go?

Let's take a look at what some experts think about the Tigers.

Eamonn Brennan

Eamonn Brennan of ESPN.com thinks highly of the Missouri Tigers. In his analysis of the West Regional, he writes, "Missouri's half of the bracket -- frankly, its whole region, less MSU -- is absolutely ripe for the taking."

He then goes on to rave about Missouri's backcourt, especially Flip Pressey, and he seems to like Missouri's odds of advancing to the Final Four.

Read the entire article here.

CBSSports.com Staff

The CBSSports.com staff wrote a quick blurb about the Missouri Tigers and their tournament prospects. The site mentions Mizzou's three wins over Baylor and one win over Kansas, but notes that its only quality non-conference win came against Notre Dame.

The article ends by stating that "the Tigers are fun to watch, tough to play against and a serious Final Four threat."

Read the entire article here.

Joe Lunardi/Doug Gottlieb

Two of ESPN.com's most respected college basketball writers have differing opinions on the Tigers.

Joe Lunardi, aka Joey Brackets, has Missouri in his Final Four over the top-seeded Michigan State Spartans.

Doug Gottlieb, however, has Florida defeating the Tigers in the round of 32, so that could be alarming.

See various ESPN.com Final Four picks: here.

My Take

Missouri should be extremely dangerous in the NCAA tournament, and may even be favored in a potential matchup against Michigan State in the Elite Eight.

The Tigers and the Spartans have very different styles of play, but that matchup would certainly be fun to watch. I foresee Missouri prevailing over Sparty en route to the first Final Four appearance in school history.