NCAA Tournament 2012 Schedule: Sweet 16 Coverage Info and Predictions

Well that was fun.

The craziest weekend in all of sports has concluded and it didn’t disappoint. Three double-digit seeds still remain and we saw two No. 15s advance for the first time in history. The state of Ohio is 8-0.

But now that the dust has cleared it’s time to start looking forward toward the Sweet Sixteen.

The action tips off on Thursday and I think I speak for everybody when I say it can’t come soon enough. Here’s the complete schedule along with predictions:

Thursday:

East Region

No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 4 Wisconsin —7:15 p.m ET (CBS) 

The Badgers should be the favorites here as the Orange look much softer without center Fab Melo in the post.

Without Melo, this isn’t even going to be considered an upset.

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Cincinnati — 9:45 p.m ET (CBS) 

The battle of Ohio is going to be a slugfest.

Both teams are incredibly tough in the paint and points are going to be at a premium. I like Jared Sullinger over Yancy Gates to pull this one out in the end. 

West Region

No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Louisville — 7:47 p.m ET (TBS) 

This is going to be a slugfest that comes down to free-throw shooting and experience.

Advantage Spartie.

No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 7 Florida —10:17 p.m ET (TBS)

The Gators may have had the best two games of the entire tournament and enter this matchup on fire.

The Golden Eagles are more talented, but it’s impossible to pick against the red-hot Gators right now.

Friday:

South Region (Atlanta)

No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Indiana — 9:45 p.m ET (CBS) 

The Wildcats are the clear favorites to win the championship and get a shot to exact revenge on one of the two teams to beat them this season.

The players admit to getting upset just watching the ESPN commercial that shows Indiana hitting the game-winner as time expired.

They are going to get their payback in a big way.

No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 10 Xavier — 7:15 p.m ET (CBS) 

The Bears are susceptible to strong guard play and the Muskies have just that in Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons.

I think Kenny Frease can neutralize Perry Jones III and the guards will take care of the rest.

Midwest (St. Louis)

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Ohio — 7:47 p.m ET (TBS) 

The Bobcats are playing with house money while the Tar Heels are dealing with life after Kendall Marshall.

North Carolina is too talented to lose, but this is not going to be a blowout.

No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 11 North Carolina State — 10:17 p.m ET (TBS) 

CJ Leslie and the Wolfpack are hot, but the Jayhawks have way more talent.

Unless Leslie goes for 40, this is going to be a blowout. 

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