2016 First Four Predictions

Here are my predictions for the First Four round of the 2016 NCAA tournament.

Tuesday, March 15th
(E16) Florida Gulf Coast (20-13) vs (E16) Fairleigh Dickinson (18-14)- 6:40, truTV: Neither of these two teams won their conference regular season titles, but they won their conference tournaments and here they are. FDU has been playing well for a while now, but FGCU is the more superior team and will keep on dancing into the Round of 64.
Prediction: Florida Gulf Coast

(S11) Vanderbilt (19-13) vs (S11) Wichita State (24-8)- 9:10, truTV: This could be the best First Four game like, ever. Both of these teams are very good and there were compelling arguments all last week about whether these two teams should be in the field or not because neither of them win their conference tournaments. I believe the Shockers should be in this tournament, but not in the First Four and for the Commodores, they should be here in the First Four. That said, I do like Fred Van Bleet, Ron Baker and the Shockers to move on to play a very good Arizona team in the Round of 64.
Prediction: Wichita State

Wednesday, March 16th
(W16) Holy Cross (14-19) vs (W16) Southern (22-12)- 6:40, truTV: Both of these teams are here courtesy of winning their respective conference tournaments. Holy Cross is the lone sub-500 team in the field and this team was 10-19 as a 9-seed in the Patriot League tournament and played their way here, while Southern was a 4-seed in the SWAC tournament and played their way here too. I'm going to go with the Jaguars to move on and play a Oregon team that's a well deserved one-seed.
Prediction: Southern

(E11) Tulsa (20-12) vs (E11) Michigan (22-12)-9:10, truTV: Both of these teams here since they have received at-large bids. I don't think Tulsa belongs in the field, although I'm OK with Michigan being in. This is the game I feel the Monmouth Hawks belong in and not the Golden Hurricane, who belong in the NIT. The Wolverines are flat out a better team than the Golden Hurricane and they'll move on to play Notre Dame in the Round of 64.
Prediction: Michigan