Final Four 2012 Predictions: Ranking Potential Championship Matchups

Ladies and gentleman, I give you your 2012 NCAA tournament Final Four—Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State and Kansas.

All four of these teams have found their way to New Orleans, and now they each face the prospect of winning one more game for the chance to play in the 2012 NCAA basketball championship.

There are four possible matchups that could end up happening on April 2, but not every matchup is made equal.

Here's a power ranking of the potential championship matchups.

4. Louisville vs. Ohio State

As far as national excitement and roping in casual fans is concerned, this is probably the least interesting matchup.

Those who don't care about college basketball probably don't know enough about Cardinals coach Rick Pitino to draw them in, and like it or not Ohio State will always be a college football draw more than anything else in the public eye.

This could be a great game. Louisville plays great defense and has knocked off Michigan State, so it knows it could hang with the likes of Jared Sullinger and the Buckeyes.

That being said, I don't see the general population loving this game.

3. Louisville vs. Kansas

The Cardinals and Jayhawks would be a very interesting matchup, and fans of defensive-minded, hard-nosed basketball would love it.

It would be a classic basketball game, but the problem is that it would lack some of the "sexiness' that many are looking for in their championship games.

Both teams play excellent defense—consider Kansas held No. 1-seeded UNC to just 67 points and Louisville held No. 1-seeded Michigan State to an abysmal 44 points.

Fans of defensive basketball will be hoping for this matchup.

2. Kentucky vs. Ohio State

The Wildcats against the Buckeyes would be an incredible matchup.

This game would pin a No. 1 and No. 2, which would lead to some high-quality basketball, but they also feature similar players and good matchups.

Kentucky's Anthony Davis is considered the best big man in the country—averaging 14.3 points and 10 rebounds per game—but Ohio State's Jared Sullinger is arguably just as good—averaging 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

This would be an epic battle between two of college basketball's premier forwards.

1. Kentucky vs. Kansas

This would be a national championship that would tug on the heartstrings of nostalgic college basketball fans all over the world.

Two of the premier college basketball schools going at it for the chance to add to their prolific trophy cases.

Kansas would enter this game with three national championships under its belt, while Kentucky would come in with an incredible seven.

The Wildcats have been the best team all year, but if there is a team balanced and talented enough to stick with them punch for punch it would be Kansas.

This would be a clash of college basketball titans, and easily the best matchup.