NCAA Bracket 2012 Predictions and Picks for Every Matchup

The brackets are out, printers all over the country are running overtime. The top seeds are no surprise: Kentucky, Syracuse, North Carolina and Michigan State.

The No. 2 seeds are almost equally as strong. Duke, Missouri, Ohio Sate and Kansas in the Final Four would surprise no one.

Here are my predictions for every first round matchup:

SOUTH REGION

First Four Game

(21-12) Mississippi Valley State 72 (15-18) Western Kentucky 62

The Hilltoppers were lucky to be in with 15-18 record. They have won six in a row, but the Delta Devils will earn the right to be destroyed by Kentucky.

Second Round

(32-2) 1. Kentucky 90

(21-12) 16. Mississippi Valley State 52

The Wildcats will take out their frustrations from losing SEC title game on Delta Devils. The Wildcats won't be in the best of moods after falling flat against Vanderbilt.

(22-10) 8. Iowa St. 77

(20-13) 9. UConn 82

The Huskies are going to make a run in this tournament. Jim Calhoun is back on the sidelines, and the resurgence starts here. The Huskies are too talented to underachieve at tournament time with their legendary coach back on the sidelines. 

(27-5) 5. Wichita State 68

(28-6) 12. VCU 60

The Shockers will send VCU head coach Shaka Smart out on a losing note. I believe he will bolt for the Illinois job. Smart has built a nice foundation, but Wichita State is a team no one will want to play in the next round.

(25-8) 4. Indiana  85

(26-9) 13. New Mexico State 70

This will be the beginning of Cody Zeller's rise on 2012 NBA draft boards. New Mexico State doesn't have the defensive presence on the interior to slow Zeller's active body. Will he stay or go? 

(26-8) 6. UNLV 59

(23-11) 11. Colorado  69

The Buffaloes play solid defense, that will especially be effective against the perimeter-oriented Rebels. Andre Roberson should dominate in the middle. He averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds so far this season.

(27-7) 3. Baylor 72

(27-7) 14. South Dakota State 75

In my first major upset, the Bears will fall as the Big 12 title game was a demoralizing defeat. This did not look like a confident bunch afterwards and an underrated South Dakota State team will take advantage.

(22-11) 7. Notre Dame 69  

(21-12) 10. Xavier 79

The Irish stumbled late in the season, and Xavier is always big around tournament time. Terrell Holloway is one of the most underrated guards in the country. He will shine as Xavier moves on.

(27-6) 2. Duke 87

(26-7) 15. Lehigh 70

The Blue Devils have struggled as of late, but not enough to lose to Lehigh. Duke should be able to fight through a poor shooting night and win on physical talent in this one.

WEST REGION

First Four Game

(25-8) BYU 93 (25-7) Iona 88

Iona was perhaps the most controversial team included in the field of 68. There stay will be short. This will be a high scoring game with two of the nation's best offenses in action.

Second Round

(27-7) 1. Michigan State 88

(25-8) 16. LIU Brooklyn 65

The Spartans will roll against Long Island U. Tom Izzo team's rarely get bit by the upset bug. A team with so much veteran leadership like the Spartans will cruise into the round of 32.

(26-8) 8. Memphis 77

(25-7) 9. Saint Louis 70

The Tigers were playing very well down the last two weeks of the season. In a week, you may begin to hear the name Will Barton mentioned as a lottery pick. The Tigers are a solid team and Barton is a big-time scorer.

(27-6) 5. New Mexico 66

(25-8) 12. Long Beach St. 80

It seems like every year a 12 beats a five, this is my pick for that occurrence this season. I have liked this team ever since I saw them play in November. The 49ers have a great inside-outside combination with Casper Ware and T.J. Robinson. This team is dangerous.

(26-9) 4. Louisville 79

(25-7) 13. Davidson 69

The Cardinals are playing with a lot of confidence after winning the Big East tournament. Remember, they were ranked as high as fourth during the season. If they play up to their potential, they could reach the Final Four.

(30-1) 6. Murray State 82

(20-11) 11. Colorado State 70

Murray State has something to prove. After only losing one game all season, they were still only seeded sixth. The Racers are a quality squad, and the sixth seed was way too low considering the year they had.

(25-7) 3. Marquette 76

(25-8) 14. BYU 64

Marquette has lost two out of three, but this a true Final Four contender. As long as they defend the perimeter, they should handle the sharpshooting Cougars. They will beat BYU easily.

(23-10) 7. Florida 72

(22-9)  10 Virginia 69

This will be an awesome game, but I'm impressed with the Gators' effort in the SEC tournament. They played Kentucky very hard and nearly pulled the upset. They will pull out the close victory.

(30-4) 2. Missouri 92

(25-9) 15. Norfolk State 63

The Tigers could make the claim for a top seed, but they will still romp here. The Tigers make up for their lack of size with confidence, tenacity and big-time three-point shooters.

EAST REGION

Second Round

(31-2) 1. Syracuse 88

(24-9) 16. UNC-Asheville 59 

Maybe the Orange can recapture their confidence here. The team hasn't been playing like a top seed over the past two weeks. They should be able to overcome their 69 percent free-throw shooting in this one.

(21-10) 8. Kansas State 72

(25-8)  9. Southern Miss 70

Kansas State has been solid all year against non-conference opponents. They have only two losses outside of the Big 12. They eek out a win in a great game.

(24-10) 5. Vanderbilt 64

(26-4)  12. Harvard 61

The Commodores barely escape after their huge win over Kentucky. Their size with Festus Ezeli in the middle will be the difference. Harvard hasn't faced an athlete like Ezeli all year long. He will be too much for them down low.

(24-9) 4. Wisconsin 70

(25-6) 13. Montana 50

The Badgers will introduce Montana to elite level defense in this one. They will pick up some bandwagon fans after the victory. The Badgers will appreciate a break from the rugged Big 10 schedule.

(24-10) 6. Cincinnati 63

(20-13) 11. Texas 68

The Bearcats' resurgence after the brawl with Xavier has been great, but the Longhorns and guards Myck Kabongo and J'Covan Brown will light them up. Texas will win in a minor upset. Kabongo probably won't be ready for the NBA just yet, but he's the best pure point guard prospect in the nation in my opinion. 

(24-9) 3. Florida State 82 

(20-11) 14. St. Bonaventure 68

The bandwagon will increase after this one. The hot shooting Noles will take it to another opponent. It's a shame we will only get to watch Bonnies' big man Andrew Nicholson in one game. Think of a slightly more mobile version of Zach Randolph, and that's Nicholson.

Michael Snaer is one of the premier clutch performers in the country and his long-range bombs will ensure this one doesn't get too close.

(25-6) 7. Gonzaga 68

(19-13) 10. West Virginia 64

Mark Few always finds a way to make his teams competitive in March. It's not the best Zags team, but the Mountaineers looked unimpressive against UConn in the Big East tournament.

This is not Bob Huggins' best group of Mountaineers; I think they may have received a gift by making the field of 68.

(27-7) 2. Ohio State 72

(24-8) 15. Loyola (MD) 49

The Buckeyes looked so dejected during Selection Sunday after losing to Michigan State. Expect them to wail on Loyola in the first round, lead by their defense.

This team is at their best when they're angry, and they will be after squandering a chance at a No. 1 seed.

MIDWEST REGION

First Four Games

(23-11) Lamar 77 (23-11) Vermont 69

Congratulations Lamar, you won a chance to get punched in the mouth by the Tar Heels. It's a cruel and unusual prize, but they'll take it nonetheless.

(20-13) South Florida 61 (24-9) California 58

The Bulls are an interesting bunch. They don't have one player that averages double figures, but they play very tough defense. They knock off Cal here, and because of their ugly style, nobody will want to play them. Unfortunately, Temple will have to.

Second Round

(29-5) 1. North Carolina 89

(23-11) 16. Lamar 65

The Tar Heels begin their march to the Final Four. North Carolina has to flip the switch now. They have too much size and talent for most teams in the nation, that especially goes for Lamar.

Heels in a rout. 

(28-5) 8. Creighton 64

(21-11) 9. Alabama 70

The Crimson Tide are extremely athletic and they play great defense. Tide allowed only 58 points per game this season. They will be too much athletically for Creighton.

(24-7) 5. Temple 63

(20-13) 12. South Florida 66

The Bulls defense will claim another victim as they pull another piece of five vs. 12 magic. I haven't been a big Temple fan all season, and this ugly style the Bulls play will give them problems.

(24-9) 4. Michigan 66

(27-7) 13. Ohio 65

The Wolverines will survive a major scare from Ohio. Ohio has won four in a row and 27 games this season—they will definitely get Michigan's attention.

Not a ton of confidence in this one, I almost chose Ohio, but I think the Wolverines will pull it out in the end.

(26-7) 6. San Diego St. 77

(22-12) 11. NC State 80

The Wolfpack are a talented bunch, they had won four in a row before narrowly falling to Tar Heels. They pull the semi-upset.

Were it not for some miscommunications on the sidelines, they could have beat UNC. They are playing well and they'll knock off Steve Fisher's bunch.

(23-8) 3. Georgetown 63

(27-7) 14. Belmont 64

The Bruins can shoot the three and they are the fourth-highest scoring team in the country. Though they are undersized, they play solid defense and they'll pull the upset.

This is a definite style mismatch, in these types of games I chose the team with the best shooters. That certainly is Belmont.

(27-5) 7. Saint Mary's 73

(21-12) 10. Purdue 66

Many will see this as a time to take the lower seed from the bigger conference, but don't be fooled. Purdue isn't that good, and Saint Mary's is solid. Of their five losses, three came to teams in the tournament, and two were ranked.

(27-6) 2. Kansas 79

(22-13) 15. Detroit 50

The nation's best player Thomas Robinson will feast on a 15th-seeded opponent that ranks 201st in the nation in rebounding as a team.

Get your feel of Robinson now. This time next year he'll be in the NBA.