NCAA Bracket 2015: Odds and Predictions for Sweet 16 Showdowns

The entire country is already swept up in March Madness, but things are about to get much more interesting. Sweet 16 action is about to begin, and the stage is set for all 16 programs to continue their trek to a potential national championship.

Myriad teams entered the massive tournament, but the second weekend separates the contenders from the pretenders. With so many powerhouse teams like Kentucky, Wisconsin and Arizona, this week promises to narrow the field down to only the most deserving programs.

Can a team like NC State continue its improbable run? Will Kentucky remain undefeated heading into the Final Four? What will the fate be for the other No. 1 seeds after Villanova was taken down over the weekend?

In anticipation of the showdowns, here's a look at the full odds and predictions for the Sweet 16.

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Spread	Prediction
March 26	7:15 PM	(7) Wichita St. vs. (3) Notre Dame	WSU -1	Wichita State
March 26	7:47 PM	(4) North Carolina vs. (1) Wisconsin	WIS -3.5	Wisconsin
March 26	9:45 PM	(5) West Virginia vs. (1) Kentucky	UK -12.5	Kentucky
March 26	10:17 PM	(6) Xavier vs. (2) Arizona	ARI -9	Arizona
March 27	7:15 PM	(11) UCLA vs. (2) Gonzaga	GON -10	Gonzaga
March 27	7:37 PM	(8) NC State vs. (4) Louisville	LOU -1.5	NC State
March 27	9:45 PM	(5) Utah vs. (1) Duke	DU -4.5	Duke
March 27	10:07 PM	(7) Michigan St. vs. (3) Oklahoma	MSU -2	Michigan State

Best Matchup to Watch: Kentucky vs. West Virginia

Sure, every game in the NCAA tournament is a test, but the Sweet 16 will really turn the pressure up for Kentucky. The Wildcats were pushed by Cincinnati in the round of 32, but they will need to dissect a potent West Virginia defense on Thursday evening.

The Mountaineers may have come up short against Baylor in the Big 12 tournament, but they have still put together a strong season. Sophomore Devin Williams is averaging 18.3 points over the last four games and isn't threatened by the Wildcats, via Ralph D. Russo of The Associated Press:

Going along with Williams' quiet confidence, WVU coach Bob Huggins has never backed down from a challenge. During his career, he's also enjoyed plenty of success against Kentucky coach John Calipari, per ESPN College Basketball:

"

It is the 3rd meeting in the NCAA Tournament between WVU & UK. Bob Huggins is 8-2 all time against John Calipari pic.twitter.com/1z4RDRYB58

— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) March 23, 2015"

All signs point toward a tight matchup, especially when considering how strong each team is defensively.

The Wildcats have been nearly flawless on defense, holding opponents to an average of just 53.9 points per game, which ranks third in the country. At 6.9 blocks per game, Kentucky clearly gets the job done with intensity in the paint.

On the other side, West Virginia leads the country in steals with 10.9 per game. That hasn't slowed any during the tournament, as ESPN Stats & Info points out:

Regardless of who comes out on top, both teams will put on a show for viewers all across the country with their outstanding play. Expect nothing less than a back-and-forth battle that will boil down to which team is able to control the boards and break down the other team's defense.

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