NFLNBANHLMLBWNBARoland-GarrosSoccer
Featured Video
Mitchell Headed to 1st Conference Finals 🔥
DES MOINES, IA - MARCH 19:  Frank Mason III #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks goes up against Amida Brimah #35 of the Connecticut Huskies during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 19, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IA - MARCH 19: Frank Mason III #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks goes up against Amida Brimah #35 of the Connecticut Huskies during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 19, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Sweet 16 2016: Complete Schedule, Updated Bracket and Predictions

Michelle BrutonMar 24, 2016

If the National Invitation Tournament wasn't satisfying your college hoops fix in the absence of March Madness games, fear not: NCAA action returns Thursday with No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 Miami tipping off at 7:10 p.m. ET. 

Here we have the full slate of games, including tip-off and TV information, as well as the full tournament bracket, which may not look anything like yours in a March that's been especially mad this year. 

Once you know which games are happening when, we'll make some predictions for the eight matchups set to take place over the next two days. 

TOP NEWS

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship
North Carolina v Duke
March 24No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 Miami (Fla.)7:10 p.m.CBS
March 24No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Texas A&M7:37 p.m.TBS
March 24No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 5 Maryland9:40 p.m.CBS
March 24No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 4 Duke10:07 p.m.TBS
March 25No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 4 Iowa State7:10 p.m.CBS
March 25No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Wisconsin7:27 p.m.TBS
March 25No. 10 Syracuse vs. No. 11 Gonzaga9:40 p.m.CBS
March 25No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana9:57 p.m.TBS

No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 1 Kansas

Maryland draws the unenviable straw of having to face red-hot Kansas in the Sweet 16, and needless to say, the Terrapins are big underdogs; the Jayhawks are seven-point favorites, per Odds Shark.  

Sure, Maryland features stout defensive play, allowing just 66 points per game, and has played well in close contests to get to this point. However, that's about the only category in which the Terrapins get the nod; Kansas comes out on top in offense (82 points per game), offensive rebounds (11), defensive rebounds (27), three pointers (8) and steals (7).

The Jayhawks are more than hungry for a championship; they're starving, and the team is going for its 17th straight win with a victory on Thursday. 

Prediction: Kansas 82, Maryland 72

No. 4 Duke vs. No. 1 Oregon

This is a juicy clash between the defending national champion in Duke and a new national title contender in Oregon.

Not to mention the fact that this matchup features a historic heavy-hitter and a modern heavyweight: Duke is in the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in the last eight years, while Oregon has reached the Sweet 16 five times in history, per NCAA.com

Oregon only opened as 2.5-point favorites, per Odds Shark, but is projected to defeat the Blue Devils handily 82-69.

Indeed, while the Ducks have averaged 79 points per game, fewer than Duke's 81, they are holding opponents to just 69 points per game, and all indications point to that being the case on Thursday as well. 

Prediction: Oregon 80, Duke 72

No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Wisconsin

Is it time to start taking Wisconsin seriously?

While perhaps no one is underestimating the Badgers, who made it as far as the national final last year, they lost a huge chunk of their talented corps in Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky. 

Bronson Koenig has been electric, gaining national attention for sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer to carry his team over No. 2 Xavier. 

Notre Dame also won its last matchup at the last second, but defeating No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin does not instill as much confidence as defeating a No. 2 seed many thought could make it all the way, which gives Wisconsin an edge. 

Prediction: Wisconsin 69, Notre Dame 63

Check out Bleacher Report's live updating bracket to track your picks along the road to the Final Four.

Mitchell Headed to 1st Conference Finals 🔥

TOP NEWS

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship
North Carolina v Duke
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament – Sweet Sixteen - Practice Day – San Jose
B/R

TRENDING ON B/R