March Madness 2015 Schedule: TV Info, Live Stream and Thursday's Sweet 16 Picks

The opening weekend may be the most fun four days on the sporting calendar and the most exciting of the NCAA tournament, but the best basketball of the tournament starts being displayed during the Sweet 16.

The pretenders are gone, and the contenders can start to smell the glory that awaits them four wins down the road.

Let's take a look at the bracket, viewing info and predictions for Thursday's Sweet 16 schedule.

Bracket

Schedule

Time (ET)	Matchup	TV	Pick
7:15 p.m.	(7) Wichita State vs. (3) Notre Dame	CBS	Notre Dame
7:47 p.m.	(4) North Carolina vs. (1) Wisconsin	TBS	Wisconsin
9:45 p.m.	(5) West Virginia vs. (1) Kentucky	CBS	Kentucky
10:17 p.m.	(6) Xavier vs. (2) Arizona	TBS	Arizona

All games streaming on March Madness Live.

Preview

Without question, the game that has the most potential to turn into a thrilling, high-scoring, back-and-forth contest is No. 1 Wisconsin facing No. 4 North Carolina.

Wisconsin is very efficient on the offensive end, shooting 48.0 percent from the field, 21st in the nation. North Carolina scores 77.9 points per game, 17th in the nation, and just put 87 points on a good Arkansas team. 

But North Carolina is likely to be down a key player, as Kennedy Meeks isn't expected to play, and that could very well be the difference in this one. Meeks gives the Tar Heels 7.5 rebounds a game, and without him down on the block, Frank Kaminsky could have a big game.

To beat Wisconsin, you have to be at your best. Without Meeks, North Carolina won't be its best.

The Badgers will advance. 

You also need to be your best facing Kentucky. You need the Wildcats to be playing pretty poorly, and you need to be a bit lucky, too. And, well, you need a lot to go your way. Does West Virginia have the formula to pull off the feat?

Maybe. The Mountaineers are a physical, scrappy team that likes to press and take teams out of their natural rhythm. The problem against Kentucky, of course, is that it can play multiple ways.

The Wildcats can beat you in the half court, and they can beat you running. They can shoot poorly and still beat you with defense, rebounding and driving the lane with their superior size and athleticism. 

West Virginia will test Kentucky. The Mountaineers will annoy the Wildcats, but they won't beat them.

Xavier hasn't been truly tested yet in this tournament. That will end against Arizona, a more athletic, defensively impenetrable team than the Musketeers have faced this season.

Xavier is a smart, efficient group that plays team offense and will fight the Wildcats tooth and nail. It won't, however, be able to overcome Arizona's superior physical presence or the Wildcats' top defense, which allows just 59.0 points per game, 15th in the nation.

Finally, Wichita State and Notre Dame is probably the most even matchup of the day. Notre Dame has squeaked out two wins but also has shown it knows how to win tight contests.

The Irish also have the best player in this game in Jerian Grant, who has yet to truly go off in this tournament but is good for a win by himself when he gets hot.

Wichita State is an excellent team. Wins over Northern Iowa, Indiana and Kansas—and an overtime loss to Utah—illustrate that fact. The Shockers are a great defensive team and have their own stud in Ron Baker.

But Notre Dame just seems to have a bit of magic about it right now. Add in the fact that Grant is due for a big performance, and expect the Fighting Irish to sneak away with a victory.