Sweet 16 Bracket 2012: Syracuse and Top Seeds on Upset Alert

Syracuse is in trouble tonight. They haven't exactly looked impressive over the past two weeks, and they are facing a Wisconsin team that plays blistering and physical defense. The Badgers allowed just under 53 points per game this season.

Beating Wisconsin tonight will require solid play at the point, and the Orange don't have a true floor general. Scoop Jardine is a short shooting guard that will be tested big time by Jordan Taylor's pressure.

Taylor is an underrated player at the point, and I think he'll have a great game against Jardine and Syracuse tonight.

The deciding factor will be the Badgers' three-point shooting and rebounding against the Orange's 2-3 zone. Wisconsin certainly has the shooters to attack the zone. Taylor, Josh Gasser and Ben Brust's accuracy will be key in attacking Syracuse. All of them shoot at least 35 percent from beyond the arc.

The Badgers will need big rebounding games from Jared Berggren and Mike Bruesewitz to take advantage of the rebounding edge the zone gives opponents. Second-chance opportunities will be huge for Wisconsin as they can lead to uncontested threes.

With the Badgers' defense and three-point shooting, I believe they will knock off the Orange tonight.

But Syracuse isn't the only No. 1 seed in peril tonight.

Michigan State has a whale of an opponent to deal with. Louisville is playing the best basketball in the country in my opinion. They are finally healthy, and PG Peyton Siva is running the team efficiently. He's dished out 5.5 assists per game through the tournament thus far, and he keys what Louisville does on offense.

The Spartans aren't in quite the same boat as Syracuse. They have been playing well. Draymond Green is averaging almost a triple-double in the tournament with 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists per game.

That said, the Spartans are not the Cardinals' equal athletically. This game will come down to which team can control tempo. That is affected primarily by the point guards.

Spartans sophomore Keith Appling will be in a tight battle with Siva for control of this game. The point guard that has the best floor game (points, assists, turnovers) will lead his team to victory. Right now, I'm leaning towards Louisville.

I can say this: The winner of this game will be a handful for Kentucky in the Final Four. I know that is looking ahead a bit, but that's how sure I am of Kentucky and the winner of this game.

It's going to be a great night of college hoops.