NCAA Tournament 2012: Which One Seed Has the Most Difficult Path?

When it all comes down to it, the seeding process is one of the most complicated systems in all of sports. Placing teams fairly based on record, conference, RPI, and a multiple other factors seems to get more difficult with every passing season. 

The one seed is the most coveted position. While there are four of them, a one seed has never lost their opening game and usually maintains at least one of the Final Four slots every single March Madness.

Predicting which one of them falls early and which one makes a run at the national title however, is particularly tough. The road to New Orleans is lined with four games that each one seed must win, making the possible combinations almost infinite.

The top seeds' success all depends on each of their opponents in the four games leading to the Final Four.

We took a look at each one seed's path to New Orleans, and determined Michigan State's is most difficult.

Second Round: LIU Brooklyn

Making their way out of the Northeast Conference, Long Island has made a name for itself this season. The Blackbirds average an impressive 82 points per game, the third highest mark in the country.

While a one seed has never lost in this round, don't put it past any 16 seeds to make it happen sometime soon. LIU Brooklyn is a solid team with a ton of scoring capacity, which should make Tom Izzo and company a little nervous going into this game.

The Blackbirds are led by junior forwards Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere, each putting up at least 17 points per game as well as snaring 10 and eight rebounds, respectively. This is a team MSU can't underestimate. Expect the Spartans to emerge victorious, but be wary of LIU Brooklyn's potential.   

Third Round: Memphis or St. Louis

St. Louis

While this at-large team failed to take home ethe Atlantic-10 regular season title or its tournament championship, the Billikens still remain as one of those unknowns you can't overlook. This is a team that is more than capable of taking down a big shot like MSU.

Led by the prolific play of senior forward Brian Conklin, St. Louis defeated Washington, Xavier, Oklahoma, and Villanova this season. A well-rounded team with a ton of to prove, the Spartans would certainly have their hands full with the Billikens.  

Memphis

Bringing home the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles, the Tigers are dangerous. Their program is now truly rebuilt after the loss of John Calipari, and the Tigers are hoping to return to their former glory with tournament success this year.

Behind the strong play of sophomore Will Barton (18.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.0 apg), Memphis has taken down Tennessee, Miami, Southern Miss, and Belmont. With this kind of talent, any one seed would have trouble.  

Sweet Sixteen: Louisville or New Mexico

New Mexico

The Lobos took home the Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament titles. A defensive powerhouse, senior forward Drew Gordon and company are more than a handful for just about anybody.

Bringing home victories twice each over UNLV and San Diego State, New Mexico has proven their ability to match up with the best of them. This is one of those teams that is destined to make a run if all the right things fall into place, and Michigan State will be directly in their path.

Louisville

Over the course of the season, I was never very impressed with the Cardinals. After a successful non-conference slate with only a loss to Kentucky, Louisville went and lost eight conference games. 

Then, Rick Pitino and company proved why many analysts call them a tournament-ready team. The Cards blew past Marquette, Seton Hall, Notre Dame and Cincinnati on their way to the Big East Tournament title.

Elite Eight: Missouri or Marquette

Marquette

Ranking second in the Big East behind Syracuse was no simple feat this season, but the Golden Eagles seemed to pull it off with no problems. Led by superstar guard Darius Johnson-Odom, this squad has threatened to break into the elite all season long.

The Golden Eagles took down Wisconsin, Louisville, West Virginia, and Georgetown during the regular season, but lost to Louisville in their opening game in the Big East Tournament. Still, they are not a team to underestimate, and they have been my Final Four sleeper all year. 

Missouri

In what should prove to be the toughest test of all, the Tigers are possibly the most experienced team in this year's Big Dance. The Tigers are led by senior guard Marcus Denmon, but Mizzou also has talent in senior forward Ricardo Ratliffe, senior guard Kim English, and junior guard Michael Dixon. 

The Tigers racked up wins this season over Notre Dame, Kansas, Illinois, and Baylor (three times). They're one of my favorites to steal this region and head off to the Final Four for the first time in school history.

Final Four: Kentucky

As we break into the Final Four, the Spartans most likely target would be the all-powerful Kentucky. Taking the overall No. 1 seed in this year's Dance, most expect them to go all the way.

Powered by freshman phenom Anthony Davis and his crew of raw talent, every squad out there should be outmatched by the Wildcats. However, Draymond Green and company have the talent, experience and drive to push past the toughest opponent in the entire bracket. 

Michigan State was ranked No. 4 overall, so I give the selection committee some credit on actually making the Spartans' path the hardest. Unfortunately for MSU, however, this means they have some work to do.