Elite 8 2012: Breaking Down Every Matchup

The madness is ratcheting up as the Elite Eight is set to tip off Saturday afternoon. By the end of the weekend the Final Four will be set, and we will be one step closer to crowning a 2012 national champion.

Three No. 1 seeds remain in the field after four exciting rounds of tournament play, but no team looks invincible this time of year. That's for sure.

The No. 7 Florida Gators of the West Region are the highest seed still alive in the Big Dance, and will begin the quarterfinal action with a battle against No. 4 Louisville in Phoenix.

After that, the top seeds will take center stage in Boston, Atlanta and St. Louis as the big dogs will duke it out for a ticket to New Orleans next Saturday night.

So which matchups will be key?

Which players will shine?

Who will prevail?

Join Bleacher Report as we get you set for this weekend's four regional finals, and take you through every Elite Eight matchup before the drama unfolds.

West Regional Final: No. 7 Florida vs. No. 4 Louisville

Game Time: Saturday, March 24, 4:30 PM ET, CBS

Storyline: Florida coach Billy Donovan will face off for just the seventh time against his mentor, Rick Pitino, coach of the Louisville Cardinals, in hopes of reaching the Final Four for the fourth time with the Gators.

Player to Watch: Bradley Beal, Florida—Beal is averaging 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game through three NCAA Tournament games for the Gators. He will be the best player on the floor Saturday afternoon in Phoenix, let alone the top freshman. 

Breakdown

The highest seed left dancing this March is No. 7 Florida, which benefited from the unthinkable first round upset of No. 2 Missouri by No. 15 Norfolk State.

The Gators topped No. 10 Virginia, and then steamrolled over the No. 15 Spartans before locking down No. 3 Marquette in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Louisville took down No. 13 Davidson and No. 5 New Mexico before crushing the West's No. 1 seed, Michigan State on Thursday. 

The Big East Tournament champion Cardinals have now won seven straight games, and look locked in defensively. Can they keep Florida's shooters uncomfortable for 40 minutes?

Prediction: Florida 65, Louisville 59

East Regional Final: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Syracuse

Game Time: Saturday, March 24, 7:05 PM ET, CBS

Storyline: Syracuse looks to become the first No. 1 seed to punch a ticket to the Final Four in 2012. 

Player to Watch: Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State—Thomas has been Ohio State's best player in its three tournament games thus far, averaging an impressive 25 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. If the Buckeyes are to overcome No. 1 Syracuse, it will be Ohio State's No. 1 leading the charge.

Breakdown

The Orange have looked beatable at times during their tournament run, but have withstood every test to date and even survived 14 made three-pointers by No. 4 Wisconsin on Thursday, winning by one-point over the Badgers.

The Buckeyes, on the other hand, have looked like a legitimate national championship contender in their three tourney wins, topping No. 15 Loyola (Md.), No. 7 Gonzaga and No. 6 Cincinnati while not allowing any team to score more than 66 points.

Syracuse will without a doubt play 2-3 zone throughout the game, and hope to stifle sophomore Jared Sullinger inside, forcing the Buckeyes' perimeter players to beat them by shooting over the top.

Prediction: Syracuse 62, Ohio State 55

South Regional Final: No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 1 Kentucky

Game Time: Sunday, March 25, 2:20 PM ET, CBS

Storyline: John Calipari and a loaded Kentucky Wildcats squad look to reach the Final Four with a win over the surging Baylor Bears.

Player to Watch: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky—The talented freshman is coming off by far his best game of the tournament, scoring 24 points and reeling in 10 boards in the Wildcats' win over Indiana Friday night. Kidd-Gilchrist is Kentucky's energy guy; he never quits and the intensity he brings Sunday will be critical for the Wildcats. 

Breakdown

The tournament's No. 1 overall seed, Kentucky has had a target on its back through two weeks of madness, but is still playing for all the marbles heading into the Big Dance's second weekend.

Wins over No. 8 Iowa State and No. 4 Indiana have done nothing more than prove Kentucky is for real and intimidate the rest of the field, which lack the plethora of talent that Calipari boasts.

Baylor has had an amazing tournament run as well. But the inconsistent play from Perry Jones III (14 PPG during regular season, 23 points total in three NCAA Tournament games) and the fact the Bears will rely on 6'2" sharpshooter Brady Heslip (five threes made per game in NCAA Tournament) to score their perimeter points against Kentucky will result in their downfall.

Prediction: Kentucky 76, Baylor 71

Midwest Regional Final: No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 1 North Carolina

Game Time: Sunday, March 25, 5:05 PM ET, CBS

Storyline: Two of college basketball's most storied programs and recent champions meet for a trip to New Orleans and the shot at a second national title.

Player to Watch: Tyler Zeller, North Carolina—Zeller posted a remarkable 20 points and 23 rebounds in the Tar Heels' overtime win over No. 13 Ohio on Friday night.

The 7'0" Visalia, Calif., native will be key for North Carolina in their limited transition opportunities and throughout the game on the inside against Kansas' bigs. 

Breakdown

The Tar Heels' title chances were dealt a major blow when point guard Kendall Marshall injured his wrist last weekend against No. 8 Creighton. Nonetheless, they are one win away from the Final Four.

The regular-season ACC champions will have to survive the regular season Big 12 champions, who have rode solid defense to three straight tournament wins over No. 15 Detroit, No. 10 Purdue and No. 11 NC State.

The Jayhawks are allowing just 55.7 points per game to their NCAA Tournament opponents, and have not allowed more than 60. 

North Carolina's inside duo of Zeller and John Henson will open up Kansas' defense and allow other Tar Heels to wreak havoc on the perimeter, mainly sophomore Reggie Bullock, who has made 10 of 21 three-point attempts thus far in the Big Dance.

Prediction: North Carolina 68, Kansas 65