Final Four Bracket 2012: Predicting Wild Weekend in New Orleans

Here they are, the Final Four teams left standing after a tremendous couple weeks of basketball. Breaking down their strengths and weaknesses gives us confidence that we know exactly how things are about to go down in the Big Easy. 

While I love the opening rounds of this tumultuous tourney, a wave of comfort washes over me as I am finally able to break the shackles of the March Madness bracket. 

That sheet of paper has gone bust, leaving us time to examine what really matters. Just four teams and three games remain, and we have some thoughts on the matter. 

Here is a brief breakdown on what should be one of the more memorable Final Fours. 

If you need a full bracket, check out the Official Tournament Website at CBS Sports. 

No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 1 Kentucky - Saturday, March 31st - 6:09 p.m. - CBS

You can stop with the David and Goliath comparisons, because this more like Goliath and some annoying friend of David's. 

Louisville comes in as a team that can be better described as pesky on defense. I will also accept unrelenting and underrated. 

Rick Pitino has done a fine job getting the Cardinals this far, and the obvious rivalry implications will be the main reason we tune into this one. 

Now that we got that all out, we have to go with Kentucky. This is the safest of the two predictions, and it relies heavily on the Wildcats' front line being bigger, badder and safe from any amount of cold streaks. 

I love Gorgui Dieng and credit him largely for the Cardinals' run. He will give Davis the first amount of trouble we have seen, but the Wildcats are not a one-trick pony. They have a ton of tricks and a bunch of ponies. 

Prediction: Kentucky 81, Louisville 77

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Kansas - Saturday, March 31st - 8:49 p.m. - CBS 

Now we get to the meat of Final Four. 

Sure, we have a storied rivalry and famed coaches in game one, but game two is going down to the buzzer.

We have two defensive teams that can play big and close out as well as any other in the nation. Please don't think this will be a Steelers vs. Ravens snooze fest, because these teams are also dynamic on offense as well. 

Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas will come in as the Buckeyes to watch out for, and this will certainly be a battle in the paint. 

While I like Sullinger's versatility, I can't help but give the edge in this game to Kansas, simply for the unknown that we get from Tyshawn Taylor. 

Thomas Robinson will dominate, but Jeff Withey may be the most underrated player right now. In regards to Taylor, the star guard has been frigid from three-point land, and Kansas has continued to win. 

If he can manage just a modicum of success from three, it will be the edge the Jayhawks need. 

Prediction: Kansas 73, Ohio State 72 

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