Sweet 16 2012 Predictions: Guaranteed Winners and Losers

Three rounds of the 2012 NCAA tournament are complete. The Sweet 16 will be played on Thursday and Friday, narrowing the field to eight possible champions.

If it was not obvious before the tournament, it should be now. Picking teams based on seeding, or prior convictions, goes out the window when the Big Dance rolls around. 

Xavier, NC State and Ohio have all outplayed their respective seeds, while top seeds have lived up to the billing.

Fans must pick teams based on what they have seen in these last two games—not what they saw throughout the regular season. Whether a team is a No. 13 seed or a No. 1 seed, anyone can get hot at the right time.

Bracket pools are heating up, but it's never too late to make bold predictions.

Here are the guaranteed winners and losers from this week's Sweet 16 action.

Syracuse vs. Wisconsin

Winner: Wisconsin, 62-58

Wisconsin is like a root canal. The Badgers can hurt you, sneak up on you and are definitely annoying. Watching the Badgers play can be excruciating for fans of modern basketball.

But, they get the job done.

The Badgers' style of play can beat anyone not used to playing at their tempo. Defensively, they are disciplined. Offensively, they are methodical and stretch the floor with their big men.

If teams are not used to this, they can lose. Even if they are more talented than Wisconsin; just ask Vanderbilt. 

Syracuse narrowly escaped their second-round matchup against No. 16 seed UNC-Asheville. The Orange will not escape this one. 

Jared Berggren, Ryan Evans and Jordan Taylor can all outshoot the Orange's 2-3 zone. That is always the key when playing Boeheim's boys, and the Badgers will find a way to get it done. 

Michigan State vs. Louisville

Winner: Michigan State, 73-64

I am surprised Louisville has managed to hang around this long. Their run will end here. 

Michigan State is extremely underrated for a No. 1 seed. They do not wear fancy uniforms, their play is simple, and their head coach is one of the best leaders in sports today. 

The Spartans have arguably the most versatile player in the nation in Draymond Green and a capable supporting cast around the "Dancing Bear."

Michigan State's frontcourt is big enough to bang with anyone. Brandon Wood and Keith Appling handle the ball well in the backcourt, and Green is Green.

The Cardinals will stick around in this game because they defend well. Their offense lacks a go-to player, but Rick Pitino will find a way to keep his team in it. 

The Spartans will keep on dancing whether anyone pays attention to them or not.

Ohio State vs. Cincinnati

Winner: Ohio State, 68-62

The Ohio State Buckeyes (sort of) limped their way into the tournament. The Buckeyes are back to their old selves entering Sweet 16 play.

Jared Sullinger has looked solid through three rounds. He's still a menace one-on-one in the post. The development of his perimeter game makes him very tough to stop. 

Aaron Craft had an offensive explosion against Gonzaga in Round 2. William Buford continues to be one of the most underrated players in college basketball. When these two are knocking down shots, the Buckeyes are very tough to beat. 

Cincinnati had a red-hot start against Texas their last time out, but had problems closing the game. 

Expect the Bearcats' defense and toughness to keep them in this game, but the Buckeyes will pull it out.

Marquette vs. Florida

Winner: Marquette, 77-68

Marquette has been a very exciting team all season long. The Golden Eagles are undersized, but they boast superb athleticism. 

Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom are exciting players on both ends of the floor. Both bring toughness and a ton of skill to every game.

The Golden Eagles' supporting cast is also dangerous. Todd Mayo can provide instant offense off the bench, and starting two-guard Vander Blue is a dangerous slasher. 

Florida is definitely a threat to this Golden Eagles team. They can run and have an unparalleled amount of talent in their backcourt. 

Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton, Bradley Beal and Mike Rosario could all probably start for any team in the nation. If they are knocking down their open looks, the Gators are extremely dangerous.

Despite the Gators' talent, they are inconsistent. They turn the ball over and are lackadaisical on the defensive end. 

Energy wins out. The Golden Eagles have plenty.

Baylor vs. Xavier

Winner: Baylor, 76-66

Baylor is starting to put it all together. If they do, the remaining teams better pay attention. 

The Bears are capable of winning this game by more than 10 points. But, they are still good for at least five minutes of lazy play.

Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller, Anthony Jones and Quincy Acy provide a ridiculous amount of talent to the Bears' frontcourt. All four can score because of their athleticism or defend with their length. 

Baylor's frontcourt is talented, but their backcourt is the most important part of the equation. Former JUCO Player of the Year Pierre Jackson is a volume scorer with big-shot ability, and Brady Heslip is a marksman from downtown. 

Xavier's guards, Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons, could keep them in this game. "Could" is the key word there.

If Perry Jones III focuses on a consistent basis, he's one of the most talented players in college basketball. 

If the Bears can focus for 40 minutes straight, they are one of the best teams in college basketball.

Expect them to show that on Friday.

North Carolina vs. Ohio

Winner: North Carolina, 75-64

Kendall Marshall's status for this game is still up in the air following surgery on his broken right wrist. The Tar Heels will win this game with or without their point guard. 

If Marshall cannot go, point guard duties will be split between Stillman White and Justin Watts. Neither is the facilitator Marshall is, but then again, who is? 

The Tar Heels' frontcourt will be too much for the Bobcats either way. 

Tyler Zeller, John Henson, James Michael McAdoo and Harrison Barnes are all more than capable of taking over a game. Carolina's backcourt just has to get the ball into their hands. 

Bobcat guard D.J. Cooper is a dynamic scorer with a knack for getting to the rim, but he will be slowed down. Watts is an upgrade over Marshall defensively, and his size will bother Cooper. 

North Carolina's future is uncertain, but they will live to fight at least one more day.

Kentucky vs. Indiana

Winner: Kentucky, 73-68

Everyone remembers this shot from Indiana and Kentucky's first meeting this season. 

Does Kentucky remember this shot better than anyone else? You can bet on it. 

Can Christian Watford shock the world for a second time? Not likely.

The Wildcats will enter this game with a chip on their shoulders. That does not bode well for the Hoosiers. 

Both teams are playing very well right now, but I cannot see Indiana knocking off Kentucky for a second time. Kentucky is too talented, and too focused, to let it happen again.

John Calipari's teams are always known for the same negatives. Lack of experience, depth and defense are supposed to hurt Calipari's squads when the Big Dance rolls around.

This Kentucky team does not totally fall under that umbrella. 

Yes, they lack experience. But, Darius Miller is an upperclassmen and Doron Lamb is an experienced sophomore. 

Yes, they lack depth. But, Miller has been dynamic off the bench. 

Defensively, they bring it. Anthony Davis is the best interior defender in the game, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a typical glue guy.

The Hoosiers are playing well, but they will fall short against the Wildcats this time around.

Kansas vs. NC State

Winner: NC State, 67-64

NC State is the perfect example of a team peaking at the right time. The Wolfpack entered the tournament as a No. 11 seed, but are playing way above those expectations.

Richard Howell and C.J. Leslie are a dominant duo in the paint. Both players play tough on both ends, and both can score in a variety of ways.

The Wolfpack also have a pair of competent guards. Scott Wood is an ace from beyond the arc. Lorenzo Brown can distribute or score with great efficiency. 

The Jayhawks will be favored because of their No. 2 seed. Thomas Robinson is one of the best players in the country, but his supporting cast will be exploited on Friday.

Tyshawn Taylor is turnover-prone, and Travis Releford has overachieved all season. The Jayhawks do not have much firepower behind their Player of the Year candidate.

Howell and Leslie are capable of containing Robinson down low. The Wolfpack also have the depth to keep players fresh on the interior.

If Robinson does not provide his usual punch, the Jayhawks will go home disappointed. 

Expect that to happen. The Wolfpack will move on.