Big Ten Tournament 2013 Bracket: Predicting First Two Quarterfinals Matchups

After Syracuse knocked off Seton Hall and No. 9 seed Cincinnati blasted through Providence on Wednesday, the first two quarterfinals matchups in the 2013 Big East tournament are set.

Cincinnati will face No. 1 seed Georgetown on Thursday at 12 p.m. ET. Syracuse will face No. 4 seed Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN. The complete bracket can be found here.

So, without further ado, here's a look at how I see the first two quarterfinals matchups of the 2013 Big East tournament unfolding.

*All stats via TeamRankings.com

Cincinnati (9) vs. Georgetown (1)

I don't see Cincinnati posing much of a problem for Georgetown. In short, the Bearcats don't have the offense to compete against the Hoyas' defense.

Georgetown defeated the Bearcats in Cincinnati on Feb. 15, 62-55. The Bearcats were held to 32 percent shooting, which wasn't an aberration given A) Cincinnati is ranked 306th in the country in field-goal percentage and B) Georgetown ranks sixth in opponents' field-goal percentage.

In the February matchup, Cincinnati held Georgetown to 42 percent shooting while outrebounding the Hoyas, 36-27...yet still lost.

Despite beating Providence on Wednesday, Cincinnati shot 40 percent from the floor. The Bearcats simply do not have the offense to conquer the Hoyas.

Prediction: Georgetown 64, Cincinnati 52

Syracuse (5) vs. Pittsburgh (4)

Syracuse lost by 10 points to Pittsburgh in their sole regular-season matchup this season.

In the 65-55 showdown on Feb. 3 in Pittsburgh, the Panthers shot 48 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Orange, 37-21 (including 14 offensive rebounds). Given Pittsburgh has shot 47.9 percent for the season (15th in the nation) and ranks 11th in the country in total rebounding rate, that wasn't a mirage, folks.

Syracuse is ranked 137th in field-goal percentage (43.9 percent). Shooting 56 percent from the floor against Seton Hall in the second round is great, but Seton Hall isn't Pittsburgh. Pitt also ranks 24th in opponents' field-goal percentage.

Add the fact that Syracuse allowed Seton Hall to shoot 51 percent from the floor on Wednesday and I don't see this working out well for Jim Boeheim's squad.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 64, Syracuse 58