NCAA Bracket 2012 Predictions: Double-Digit Seeds Primed for Sweet 16 Run

It happens every year.

A team that is essentially written off as unworthy because of a low seed shocks the world by beating two teams that they weren’t supposed to. Double-digit teams in the Sweet 16 happen every year.

Whether it be a bad matchup or just a team that is peaking at the perfect time, here are three teams with a seed of No. 10 or higher primed to land in the second weekend.

No. 10 Xavier (21-12)

Ever since the Crosstown Shootout brawl, the Musketeers have not been the same team. They lost their mojo for a while, but have rebounded lately.

Tu Holloway (17 PPG, 5.2 APG) is one of the most talented guards in the country and is going to be extremely tough to keep out of the paint.

Partner in crime Mark Lyons (15.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG) isn’t too far behind, and the combination stacks up against almost any other in the tournament. First up they get a No. 7-seeded Notre Dame team that is wildly inconsistent and more than capable of laying an egg. If anything, Xavier should be favored here.

Then it’s likely going to be No. 2 Duke. The third leading scorer for the Blue Devils, Ryan Kelly, could be out for the entire tournament. The team is rather weak inside, and the guards of Xavier can minimize the impact of Austin Rivers.

The X-men have an easier road to the Sweet 16 than you think.

No. 12 Long Beach State (25-8)

The 49ers have won 18 of 20 games and enter the tournament red hot. They are led by Casper Ware (17.4 PPG, 3.3 APG) and have already played top teams like Duke and North Carolina, two very close losses.  

With a bruiser like T.J. Robinson in the post who can handle the opponent’s best big man, this team has the ingredients to make a strong run.

Beware, New Mexico and Louisville.

No. 11 Colorado State (20-11)

The Rams are playing their best ball of the season at the perfect time, and their matchup against No. 6 Murray State is going to be one of the better of the first week.

They play a steady tempo that results in few turnovers and plenty of open looks. Rarely will the offense look chaotic, which bodes particularly well in the middle of the madness.

While their lack of size is certainly issue, they make up for it with extreme effort and efficiency. This is a well-coached team that is going to be a much tougher out then what most people currently have them pegged as.  

For your printable NCAA bracket, click here.

Follow @BigLeagueEball