March Madness 2013 Bracket: Predicting Which Team Will Escape Each Region

It is not easy predicting the NCAA tournament, but hopefully the next few rounds will see a little return to normalcy. 

This year's Sweet 16 features a No. 12 seed Oregon, a No. 13 seed La Salle and, for the first time ever, a No. 15 seed in Florida Gulf Coast. While it would be a challenge for any of them to advance further, it would not be surprising to see at least one of them in the Elite Eight.

However, it is important not to forget about the top squads that are still the favorites to win it all. Louisville coasted to a victory over Colorado State, while Kansas and Indiana struggled a bit more in the third round. Still, these three No. 1 seeds feature plenty of talent and will be a tough out for any opposing team.

With only 15 games remaining in March Madness, here is a look at which teams will be meeting in Atlanta for the Final Four.

Bracket

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Midwest Region

Oregon did its job to prove that it was better than the No. 12 seed that it was given by the committee. However, beating Oklahoma State and Saint Louis will not prepare the Ducks to face Louisville. 

The Cardinals will cause too much pressure for Oregon's young ball-handlers and it will lead to plenty of turnovers and easy baskets for Louisville.

Meanwhile, Michigan State faces Duke in a matchup of two of the best coaches in college basketball. Tom Izzo and Mike Krzyzewski have been to plenty of Final Fours over their careers, but the difference in this one will be defense.

Duke and Michigan State can both defend the perimeter and proved as much in their last games. However, the Blue Devils are much more reliant on the outside shot and will struggle to score against the Spartans.

In the regional final, Keith Appling will have to prove he can handle the pressure of Louisville's full-court press. Since the end of the regular season, the point guard has six assists and seven turnovers in four games. 

The Spartans are simply not quick enough to beat the Cardinals and will lose in the Elite Eight.

Predicted winner: Louisville

South Region

Despite the fact that Kansas has won 12 of its last 13 games, there is reason for the Jayhawks to be concerned. There is plenty of veteran leadership, but the entire backcourt has been inconsistent all year.

Most recently, star freshman Ben McLemore is struggling to find his shot while Elijah Johnson also can be hit or miss.

Meanwhile, Michigan is playing as well as it has all season, with Trey Burke finding open shots for his teammates all over the floor. In addition, Mitch McGary has played very well lately and will provide balance inside against the likes of Jeff Withey and Kevin Young.

In the other regional semifinal, Cinderella story Florida Gulf Coast looks to continue its great run to the Elite Eight. Unfortunately, a week for Florida coach Billy Donovan to prepare defensively will cause Brett Comer and company to struggle. 

Florida should be able to use its balanced attack, which is something the Eagles have not seen yet, to advance.

In a matchup between Florida and Michigan, it could come down to the last few plays of the game. While the Wolverines can trust Trey Burke to make plays, the Gators have struggled to find a go-to scorer with the game on the line.

Michigan should be able to do what is necessary to advance out of the South. 

Predicted winner: Michigan

East Region

While the rest of the field is full of craziness, the East region is all chalk in the Sweet 16. However, the two matchups will be very different.

When No. 1 Indiana takes on No. 4 Syracuse, the game will come down to offensive consistency. The Orange sometimes go on long droughts without a field goal, while Indiana has a few players it can trust to make a play.

Even if the 2-3 zone bottles up Cody Zeller, there are plenty of three-point shooters to be able to outscore this offense.

In the other matchup, Miami and Marquette will play a much quicker, guard-heavy game. The Golden Eagles love to drive to the net and finish around the rim, but the Hurricanes are one of few teams who can defend that type of offense.

ACC Defensive Player of the Year Durand Scott can handle Vander Blue, while Miami is much less reliant on a single scorer. This should help the veteran team advance.

The regional final might be the only matchup between a No. 1 and No. 2 seed, so fans should enjoy this. However, the Hoosiers should be able to defend well at every position and apply the pressure with their ability to hit the three-point shot with consistency.

Indiana has too much talent not to reach the Final Four.

Predicted winner: Indiana

West Region

This region has become a little unbalanced, with a No. 9 and No. 13 seed sitting at the top of the region hoping to reach the Elite Eight.

Wichita State might be the favorite, but it is tough to expect another outstanding shooting performance like the Shockers displayed in the win over Gonzaga. La Salle's athleticism will simply be too much for the MVC team.

Ohio State should also use the momentum of its buzzer-beating win to be able to top Arizona in the regional semifinals. If Aaron Craft and LaQuinton Ross can score like they did against Iowa State, there are few teams in the country that can compete with this team.

That goes for the next round as well, where the Buckeyes would have to beat the Explorers. Both teams will be able to score, but Ohio State plays a much better brand of defense and it should help the squad advance to the Final Four for the second year in a row.

Predicted winner: Ohio State

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