NCAA Brackets 2013: Smart Sweet 16 Selections That Will Boost Your Bracket

Putting together a winning tournament bracket is no easy task. Choosing too many upsets can prove disastrous, but the same holds true for playing the numbers and relying too heavily on top-seeded teams.

A red “X” on a few matchups in the round of 64 won’t sink your bracket, but the big money is made in the third round and beyond. Making some smart selections for your Sweet 16 field can make the difference between bragging rights and embarrassment.

Here are a few Sweet 16 picks that will set you apart from the competition and provide a good chance of coming out on top in your tournament bracket challenge.

No. 7 Creighton Bluejays

Creighton is a popular pick to cruise though the second round against Cincinnati, but not too many people are riding the Bluejays train to the Sweet 16 past Duke. If any team has the chance to pull a big upset in the third round, it’s Creighton.

The Bluejays are arguably the most potent offensive team in the country. Led by junior forward Doug McDermott’s 23.1 points per game, Creighton boasts the No. 24 scoring offense (75.4 PPG) and the No. 1 field-goal percentage (50.8) in college basketball.  

Assuming Creighton gets past No. 10 Cincinnati (and Duke does the same against Albany), this third-round matchup could be one of the best of the tournament. Both teams love to shoot the three.

All four of Creighton’s top shooters are draining better than 40 percent of their shots from behind the arc. When a team like that gets hot, there’s not much that can slow it down.

Duke has 12-1 odds of winning the tournament this year (per Bovada.lv), but don’t be surprised to see the Blue Devils upset by a Creighton squad that puts up points in bunches en route to the Sweet 16.

No. 5 VCU Rams

VCU isn’t flying under anyone’s radar this year, but a tough South Region may prevent the Rams from a Cinderella run in the tournament. Still, the Sweet 16 isn’t unlikely, even with matchups against Akron and Michigan potentially standing in the way.

Shaka Smart has boosted his program to new heights in recent years, punctuated by a Final Four appearance in 2011 and a second-round win last season against fifth-seeded Wichita State. The Rams won’t settle for anything less than a title this season.

After shedding its mid-major tag with a move to the Atlantic 10 this season, VCU won’t be catching anyone off guard. But even with the extra attention, the Rams have a chance to shake up a lot of brackets with an upset over No. 4 Michigan in the third round.

Consistent offense is the name of the game in the Big Dance, and VCU has plenty to go around. Four Rams are averaging double-digit points this season, including standout sophomore guard Treveon Graham.

VCU can light it up from beyond the arc (35.6 percent), and with the No. 11 scoring average in the country (78 PPG), there isn’t a team in the South Region that can slow the Rams down if they get hot.

A potential third-round matchup with Michigan will be a tough test, but the smart money is on VCU to advance past the Wolverines to the Sweet 16.

No. 4 Saint Louis Billikens

Even with the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region, Saint Louis isn’t getting much love. Don’t sleep on the Billikens.

Offense goes a long way in the tournament, but there’s a lot to be said for defense and depth—both of which Saint Louis has in spades.

The Billikens held 11 of their last 15 opponents to less than 60 points, losing just one game in that stretch. With three wins over Butler and two against VCU down the stretch, Saint Louis has proven that it can do some damage in the Big Dance.

There’s nothing particularly worrisome about Saint Louis’ second-round matchup with New Mexico State, though the Billikens will have their work cut out for them should they face Oklahoma State in the third round.

Provided its defense plays to the level that carried Saint Louis into the postseason, there’s little reason to believe that the Sweet 16 will be out of reach. That may be as far as the Billikens advance, though, with No. 1 overall seed Louisville potentially awaiting them in the fourth round.

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