NCAA Bracket 2013: Sweet 16 Games with Most Upset Potential

The Sweet 16 is almost upon us, and that means we could be in store for some jaw-dropping upsets. Three of the four No. 1 seeds remain, but to say that they are locks to make the Final Four is anything but the truth.

The fact is that this year's Sweet 16, which can be seen via the Bleacher Report Live Bracket, is probably one of the deepest in years, and picking the winners is going to be tough for anyone. Each game has upset potential, though not every game will be one. But the fact that some stand out as key upset possibilities says a lot.

Take the No. 12 seed Oregon Ducks, for example. They were the champions of a fairly weak Pac-12 Conference, and they have already taken out two higher-seeded squads. In the Sweet 16, momentum is definitely on their side.

That's just one team, however, and the rest of the games for this round of the tournament have some upset potential that could send (more) shockwaves throughout everyone's bracket.

No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 12 Oregon

When the Ducks drew a first-round matchup against a tough Oklahoma State squad led by surefire lottery pick Marcus Smart, the team's hopes looked dim. Instead, Oregon employed a lockdown defense that contained Smart from start to finish, as he was limited to 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

Meanwhile, Oregon ran the table in out-rebounding Oklahoma State 44-30 en route to an upset victory, and then took out the feisty Saint Louis Billikens in the Round of 32.

The Ducks will face a different type of giant in top-ranked Louisville, which has ridden a great tournament from guard Russ Smith to this stage. With their great balance of fast-paced, aggressive offense combined with a strong defense that ranks first in the nation in steals, with 15.5 per game, the Cardinals could easily manhandle Oregon the way they did their first two opponents in North Carolina A&T and Colorado State.

However, Oregon has a key weapon that Louisville does not, and that's a pure hustle rebounder. Senior Arsalan Kazemi has posted 16.5 boards per game in the tournament, while Louisville big man Gorgui Dieng has averaged only five per game over his team's first two contests.

So long as the Ducks can keep on winning the battles on the boards as well as be in full communication on offense, there's every possibility that they can slay yet another giant en route to the Elite Eight, and perhaps farther.

No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Michigan

Despite a terrible performance from freshman guard Ben McLemore against North Carolina, the Kansas Jayhawks are back in the Sweet 16. Awaiting them are the Michigan Wolverines, who definitely have some well-deserved attention going into this game after they defeated the havoc defense of Virginia Commonwealth in the Round of 32.

Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. are a deadly backcourt tandem, and the athleticism of freshman Glenn Robinson III is just an added bonus. It's a small lineup, but keep in mind that Kansas struggled against that in UNC.

If the Wolverines can be effective on offense and be as pesky on defense as they were against VCU, then they can easily slay the No. 1 giant and advance to the Elite Eight. Otherwise, they'll just be a team that was dynamic, and little else.

No. 3 Florida vs. No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast

People may not want to admit it, but the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles are a team we should be taking seriously. They have already defeated seemingly elite teams in Georgetown and San Diego State, and their fast-paced game combined with their overwhelming desire to win easily makes them a constant contender for an upset win.

This game also has a bit of a rivalry aspect to it, what with the battle for state pride, and the Gators were the best team in an incredibly weak SEC this season. Just the same, head coach Billy Donovan is a tournament veteran with two championships on his resume, and if there's anyone who will be fully prepared for FGCU, it's him.

The fact is that as talented as Florida may be, Florida Gulf Coast has been out to make a statement ever since the tournament began. The team is already the first No. 15 seed to make the Sweet 16, and being the first to make the Elite Eight would be an even grander accomplishment.

All eyes are sure to be on this contest, and the winner is definitely going to be a squad to watch down the stretch.