NCAA Tournament 2013: Predicting Friday's Sweet 16 Action

We don't need to wait for the second half of the Sweet 16 to conclude before setting the Elite Eight matchups. I already know who is going to win on Friday.

March doesn't get mad enough to throw off these immaculate predictions. 

No. 12 Oregon vs. No. 1 Louisville

After getting an unreasonably low seed, Oregon has looked fantastic. The Ducks have won their two tourney games by a combined 30 points.

However, their run is about to come to an end. This is a terrible matchup for Oregon.

The Louisville Cardinals are loaded with talent and go nine deep. They use that depth and their athleticism to fuel a tenacious full-court defense that pressures teams into turnovers and bad possessions. The Cardinals finished second in the nation in opponent turnovers and turnovers per game.

This is bad news for an Oregon team that is 299th in the nation in turnovers per game, according to NCAA.com. 

Prediction: Louisville 67, Oregon 52

No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 1 Kansas

All eyes will be on Kansas' Ben McLemore in this game. He is amazingly talented and a likely lottery selection, but he has been terrible in the tournament. He is just 2-for-14 in Kansas' two tourney games.

If McLemore doesn't improve, the Jayhawks have no chance, and even if he does play well, he'll have a hard time matching the output of the Wolverines' talented backcourt. 

Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. have been outstanding for Michigan. Against VCU's pressure defense in the round of 32, the duo combined for 32 points and 10 assists. 

Kansas' Jeff Withey has been great, and he is a solid inside presence for the Jayhawks on offense and defense, but the Wolverines have a nice answer with 6’10” freshman Mitch McGary.

McGary has been coming into his own in the tournament. He is averaging 17 points and 11.5 rebounds in the Wolverines' two tourney games.

Michigan will prove to be too much for the Jayhawks to handle. 

Prediction: Michigan 71, Kansas 65

No. 3 Michigan State 66 vs. No. 2 Duke

I can't wait for this game. It is a fantastic matchup on many levels. For starters, we have the dream matchup of coaches with tournament legends Tom Izzo and Mike Krzyzewski. 

But this is also a great matchup on the court. Duke is a great three-point shooting team, and it carries the fifth-best three-point percentage. However, Michigan State plays excellent defense on the perimeter and is 17th in opponent three-point percentage. 

The Spartans have the defense to force Duke into misses. This is going to put a premium on rebounding, and that is one thing the Blue Devils do not do well. 

Duke is 244th in offensive-rebound percentage and 199th in defensive. The Spartans are 45th in offensive-rebound percentage and 40th in defensive. 

That edge on the glass will carry the Spartans to victory. 

Prediction: Michigan State 69, Duke 62 

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

I want to predict FGCU to win, but this matchup does not allow it.  

While this high-flying group dismantled a tough Georgetown defense, it will be a little harder against a Gators team that has a decided size advantage in the paint.

The real problem for the Eagles, though, is going to come on the other end of the court.

Florida, according to KenPom, has the fourth-most efficient offense in the nation, and FGCU does not have the tightest defense. It allowed an effective opponent field-goal percentage of 47.1, which is 112th in the nation. 

The Gators will advance with relative ease. 

Prediction: Florida 82, FGCU 68