NCAA Tournament Schedule 2012: Predicting Every Sweet 16 Winner and Loser

The best four-day weekend of basketball each year is upon us: the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

Sure, the opening weekend is hectic, crazy and a lot of fun, but for my money the best basketball at the highest level is played over the second weekend.

This year, there are some truly compelling games in the Sweet 16. But will there be many, or any, upsets?

Let's find out.

East Regional

No. 1 Syracuse over No. 4 Wisconsin

This will come down to which team is able to dictate the tempo. If Wisconsin consistently keeps the game in the half court by using all of the shot clock, not turning the ball over and defending well, they'll probably win.

But if Syracuse is able to push the tempo in transition with its superior athletes, Wisconsin won't keep up. This one will be a closely contested, defensive affair, but I think the more talented Orange will find a way to win it in the end.

No. 2 Ohio State over No. 6 Cincinnati

The Bearcats are a tough, scrappy team. The Buckeyes play excellent defense and have superior talent in Jared Sullinger, Deshaun Thomas, Aaron Craft and William Buford.

I'll take talent in this one.

Midwest Regional

No. 1 North Carolina over No. 13 Ohio

Even with the possibility that Kendall Marshall won't play, I simply don't think the Bobcats can handle North Carolina on the block and on the glass. I don't see an answer on Ohio for the Tar Heels' Tyler Zeller and John Henson.

No. 2 Kansas over No. 11 NC State

The Wolfpack are capable of the upset, and I think this one will be really close. But when in doubt, side with the Jayhawks' Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor.

South Regional

No. 1 Kentucky over No. 4 Indiana

I don't think the Wildcats will lose a single game in this tournament, and yes, I think they'll have revenge against the Hoosiers. Kentucky is simply too talented to fall to Indiana twice.

No. 3 Baylor over No. 10 Xavier

I firmly believe this game could go either way, with Xavier the most likely of the double-digit seeds remaining to advance to the Elite Eight.

But Baylor is extremely balanced offensively and has advanced this far despite two lackluster performances by the team's best talent, Perry Jones III. Look for him to shoot out of his slump and bump Xavier out of the tournament.

West Regional

No. 1 Michigan State over No. 4 Louisville

In a game between two teams that play excellent defense, I believe the game will come down to which team can more consistently sink its rare open and uncontested looks.

If history is any indication, that team will be Michigan State, whose 47.6 field goal percentage on the season far exceeds the Cardinals' 42.5 percent season-long shooting. Louisville's struggle to hit jumpers will be the team's downfall against the Spartans.

No. 3 Marquette over No. 7 Florida

This one has the makings of a potential classic, with both teams led by stud guards (Darius Johnson-Odom for Marquette, Kenny Boynton and Bradley Beal for Florida) and both teams capable of scoring points in droves.

I believe this matchup slightly favors Marquette, but you won't want to miss this one—the action will be fast-paced, non-stop, high-scoring and should come down to the wire.

Hit me up on Twitter—I've tweeted from Lehigh's campus before. Seriously.