Elite 8 2016: Updated Bracket and Full Schedule for NCAA Tournament

Through one day of Sweet 16 play, the Elite Eight has the makings of a rather routine affair. 

No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Villanova cruised Thursday, setting up a showdown of epic proportions in the South Region. Ditto for No. 1 Oregon and No. 2 Oklahoma out West, meaning at least half of the games in the Elite Eight promise close affairs.

So it goes this deep in the bracket with little in the way of Cinderellas left standing. The best teams with the most depth tend to emerge, Michigan State the odd exception this year.

Before Friday's action sets the rest of the next round, let's take a look at everything to know.

Schedule and Predictions

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Pick ATS
March 25	No. 1 Virginia (-4.5) vs. No. 4 Iowa State	7:10 p.m.	CBS	Virginia
March 25	No. 6 Notre Dame (-7) vs. No. 7 Wisconsin	7:37 p.m.	TBS	Wisconsin
March 25	No. 10 Syracuse vs. No. 11 Gonzaga (-5)	9:40 p.m.	CBS	Gonzaga
March 25	No. 1 North Carolina (-6.5) vs. No. 5 Indiana	10:07 p.m.	TBS	Indiana
March 26 (Elite Eight)	No. 1 Oregon vs. No 2 Oklahoma (-1)	6:09 p.m.	CBS	Oregon
March 26 (Elite Eight)	No. 1 Kansas (-2) vs. No. 2 Villanova	8:49 p.m.	CBS	Kansas

Full, continuously updated schedule available at NCAA.com.

No. 1 Virginia (-4.5) vs. No. 4 Iowa State

Virginia watched as top seeds Kansas and Oregon took care of business Thursday, blowing through beatable opposition to keep the dream alive. 

On paper, it doesn't look like the Cavaliers will have too difficult a time doing much of the same against No. 4 Iowa State.

Whereas Virginia sits third in ESPN's RPI rankings and boasts offensive end defensive efficiency rankings of eighth or better at KenPom.com, Iowa State finished 23rd in RPI with only a third-ranked adjusted offensive efficiency as the notable advanced metric.

Not that Iowa State hasn't looked impressive. The uptempo attack has already bested No. 13 Iona, 94-81, and No. 12 Arkansas-Little Rock, 78-61. Not the most impressive slate of opponents, but it sounds like Georges Niang and the Cyclones have at least learned from past mistakes going into Friday.

"Virginia is a team we've really got to be focused on," Niang told ESPN.com. "We can't be focused on Sunday because last year we tried to focus on another team, and we lost in the first round. I mean, it would be really cool, but we're really focused and locked in on what Virginia's tendencies are."

Virginia has also imposed its will so far via its preferred strength. Malcolm Brogdon and Co. dismantled No. 16 Hampton in 81-45 fashion and followed with a 77-69 win against No. 9 Butler, another team that tried to fight the Cavaliers with a high-octane attack (ranked 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency) and failed.

That is the story Friday. Virginia has a deeper squad able to slow things down in the face of fast offenses. The Cavaliers will control the pace, eventually grinding out a win and sending a third top seed to the Elite Eight.

Prediction: Virginia 78, Iowa State 73 

No. 1 North Carolina (-6.5) vs. No. 5 Indiana

Expect nothing but fireworks between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Indiana Hoosiers Friday. 

As it should be between such prestigious programs.

North Carolina sits fifth in RPI with an adjusted offensive efficiency of the same ranking. Not only that, but Brice Johnson (16.8 points per game) leads an offense averaging 82 points per game and a silly 18 assists, not to mention 48 percent shooting from the floor.

Impressive, but Indiana isn't far behind. The Hoosiers sit 24th in RPI with an adjusted offensive efficiency ranked 10th. Yogi Ferrell (17.1 points per game) directs an attack averaging 83 points and 16 assists and not only shooting 51 percent from the floor but 42 percent from deep.

"We've got to get out and try to cut their percentage down. They're going to shoot a lot of threes," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said, according to ESPN.com. "Yogi (Ferrell) gives them so much threat with his penetration and pinching that they're going to get some threes."

Neither team has had problems posting big numbers in the tournament, with North Carolina totaling 83 and 85 points and Indiana going for 99 and 73, the lower number against a pesky Kentucky team.

Top to bottom, North Carolina is still a better team, having done its damage against a strength of schedule ranked 29th compared to Indiana's 100th. But Ferrell has enough talent and shooting around him to keep this one closer than Las Vegas predicts, with Johnson and Co. only using better depth late to pull away.

Prediction: North Carolina 84, Indiana 82

Check out Bleacher Report's live updating bracket to track your picks along the road to the Final Four.

Stats and information courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Advanced metrics courtesy of ESPN.com and KenPom.com. Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.