NCAA Bracket 2012 Predictions: Last-Minute Picks for Every Matchup
It's time to start locking in your bracket for the 2012 NCAA tournament, but before you do so you need to check out these last-minute picks.
I've gone through and predicted locks and upsets for each region in the tournament, and you may want to think twice before you make your bracket official.
How many favorites don't make it out of the Round of 32? What are the percentages of yet another Cinderella story?
Those are the questions on everybody's mind, and you will find the answers in these picks.
Here's a breakdown of every region in the tournament...
South Region: Locks
1 of 9No. 1 Kentucky vs. No 16 West Kentucky: No surprises here.
No. 5 Wichita State vs. No. 12 VCU: Wichita State: VCU doesn't have another magical run in them.
No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 New Mexico State: The Hoosiers will survive a scare.
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 South Dakota State: I have this Baylor team doing big things.
No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Xavier: Should be a good game, but ND will pull away.
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Lehigh: Not a huge fan of Duke, but they shouldn't lose this game.
South Region: Upsets
2 of 9No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Connecticut: This is an experienced UConn team. I have them going far.
No. 6 UNLV vs. No. 11 Colorado: The Buffaloes are a great shooting team. Highly underrated.
West Region: Locks
3 of 9No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 16 LIU Brooklyn: This will be easy for the Spartans.
No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 St. Louis: Expecting a close game here, but Memphis comes away.
No. 5 New Mexico vs. No. 12 Long Beach State: Better team wins a good game.
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 13 Davidson: Louisville is a highly underrated team in this tournament.
No. 6 Murray State vs. No. 11 Colorado State: Murray State could make some noise this year.
No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 14 BYU: Iona would have had a shot here, but BYU won't.
No. 2 Missouri vs. No. 15 Norfolk State: Missouri is very, very good.
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West Region: Upsets
4 of 9No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Virginia: Cavaliers are hard-nosed defensively and will stop the Gators' shooters.
East Region: Locks
5 of 9No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 16 N.C. Asheville: The Orange won't fall, yet.
No. 8 Kansas State vs. No. 9 Southern Miss: This was a toss-up for me. K-State wins.
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 Harvard: Vanderbilt is going to be a tough out in this tournament.
No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 13 Montana: Upset would be trendy, but I don't see it.
No. 6 Cincinnati vs. No. 11 Texas: You will regret not trusting in the Bearcats.
No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 14 St. Bonaventure: FSU is a huge sleeper pick in my bracket.
No. 7 Gonzaga vs No. 10 West Virginia: Expecting a close, tight and entertaining win.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Loyola: Buckeyes are one-seed talented. Shouldn't have an issue.
East Region: Upsets
6 of 9If you've been paying attention you'll notice I didn't pick any upsets in the East so far. There's a reason for that.
I'm a huge favorites guy. The better teams are favorites for a reason, they are much better. Sure in the tournament anything can happen, but I lean toward the better teams taking care of business. It may sound obvious, but you don't want to pick an upset just for the sake of an upset—make sure you have a reason.
That's why you're not seeing any upsets in the East just yet.
West Region: Locks
7 of 9No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Lamar or Vermont: Doesn't matter who makes it here. UNC will roll.
No. 5 Temple vs. No. 12 Cal or USF: Same thing applies here for Temple.
No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 13 Ohio: Wolverines have Sweet 16 potential. Maybe even more.
No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 11 N.C. State: No upset looming here.
No. 3 Georgetown vs. No. 14 Belmont: Georgetown may be able to get on quite a roll starting here.
No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 15 Detroit: U of D stands no chance in this game.
West Region: Upsets
8 of 9No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Alabama: Call me crazy, but I like the Tide in this game.
No. 7 St. Mary's vs. No. 10 Purdue: The Boilermakers have one good upset in them.
What Do You Think?
9 of 9What do you think about my picks? If you agree or disagree let me know.
What's your bracket look like?
Feel free to comment with your thoughts or email me at akulha@bleacherreport.com
You can also follow me on Twitter.
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