NCAA Sweet 16 2012: Power Ranking Best Games to Watch in Pivotal Round

After the dust settled from an exciting weekend of games, 16 teams emerged with a chance to claim the national title. There are several games in the Sweet 16 that will have fans around the country glued to their televisions, but a few rise above the rest.

Let's examine the best matchups as teams fight for a spot in the Elite Eight. Judging by the third round, there will be no shortage of drama.

1. Kentucky vs. Indiana

Anthony Davis has led Kentucky to easy victories over Western Kentucky and Iowa State. The top-seeded Wildcats have looked virtually unstoppable so far, but it will be interesting to see if they can maintain the same level of dominance as the level of competition increases.

Indiana almost became the latest power conference squad to fall victim to VCU, but give credit to the Hoosiers for stepping up down the stretch. Freshman sensation Cody Zeller continues to shine, scoring 30 points and adding 19 rebounds in the first two games.

Kentucky hasn't been truly tested so far, but you can expect that to change on Friday night. Indiana has enough depth to keep it close for all 40 minutes. Don't be surprised if this game is decided by which team has the ball last.

2. Michigan State vs. Louisville

Michigan State was able to hold off a late charge from Saint Louis thanks to the strong play of Keith Appling. The sophomore guards tends to get lost in the shuffle when talking about key players, but he's just as important to the Spartans' success as anybody else on the roster.

There probably isn't a team in America riding a bigger wave of momentum right now than the Cardinals. After winning the Big East Tournament, which propelled UConn to a national title last season, they have won two tight games to reach the Sweet 16.

From top to bottom, Michigan State has more talent. But when a team has as much confidence as Louisville, it's impossible to count them out. The biggest winner of this clash will undoubtedly be the fans.

3. Marquette vs. Florida

Marquette continues to fly under the radar despite the team's Big East pedigree. The Golden Eagles were able to dispatch BYU and Murray State, an underrated opponent, with relative ease and are seemingly gearing up for a deep run.

The Gators are no push over, however. They benefited from Norfolk State shocking Missouri, but have enough shooters to spread the floor and make life extremely difficult on opposing defenses. Most importantly, they are back on track after a slump near regular season's end.

Both teams not only have the ability to win this game, but to advance further in the Big Dance. The contrasting styles make it a toss-up, so it will come down to which team is better able to execute in the final few minutes.