Here are my predictions for the Round of 32 for the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The games will be held at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho, Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and Viejas Arena in San Diego, California.
Saturday, March 17th
(E9) Alabama (20-15) vs (E1) Villanova (31-4)- 12:10, CBS: This should be a very fun and entertaining game. The Tide are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Wildcats are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Radford Highlanders. The Tide have the best player in this game in Colin Sexton (and John Petty has played well for them too), but the Wildcats are just better led by Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson.
Prediction: Villanova
(MW7) Rhode Island (26-7) vs (MW2) Duke (27-7)- 2:40, CBS: This should be another dandy of a game. The Rams are coming off an epic Round of 64 overtime win over the Oklahoma Sooners. The Blue Devils are coming off a Round of 64 thrashing over the Iona Gaels. The Rams have a fun four-guard lineup that features EC Matthews and Jared Terrell, but the a Blue Devils are just the better team led by Marvin Bagley and Company and they'll advance in what should be a close game.
Prediction: Duke
(S13) Buffalo (27-8) vs (S5) Kentucky (25-10)- 5:15, CBS: This is such a fascinating game from so many standpoints. The Bulls are coming off an absolute thrashing of an upset over the Arizona Wildcats, who are dealing with some turmoil. The Wildcats are coming off a narrow win over the Davidson Wildcats in which they make did not make a three-point shot. You know what? Give me the Bulls to advance to the Sweet 16, why not? This is March.
Prediction: Buffalo
(S11) Loyola-Chicago (29-5) vs (S3) Tennessee (26-8)- 6:10, TNT: The Ramblers are coming off an epic Round of 64 win over the Miami Hurricanes thanks to a game winning three pointer by Donte Ingram. The Vols are coming off a Round of 64 thrashing over the Wright State Raiders. Clayton Kuster is a great player for the Ramblers, but give me the Vols led by SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams.
Prediction: Tennessee
(MW8) Seton Hall (21-11) vs (MW1) Kansas (28-7)- 7:10, TBS: The Pirates are coming off a Round of 64 win over the North Carolina State Wolfpack. The Jayhawks are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Penn Quakers. The Pirates have a nice core of Desi Rodriguez, Myles Powell, and Angelo Delgado, but the Jayhawks are the better team led by DeVonte Graham and Malik Newman.
Prediction: Kansas
(W5) Ohio State (25-8) vs (W4) Gonzaga (31-4)- 7:45, CBS: This should be a fun game. The Buckeyes are coming off a Round of 64 win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. The Bulldogs are coming off a Round of 64 win over the UNC Greensboro Spartans. Both of these teams played close games in the Round of 64 and I like Kieta Bates-Diop to lead the way for the Buckeyes to advance.
Prediction: Ohio State
(E6) Florida (22-12) vs (E3) Texas Tech (25-9)- 8:40, TNT: This should be an interesting game. The Gators are coming off a Round of 64 win over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. The Red Raiders are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Stephen F. Austin Jackrabbits in which they had to pull away late in. I can totally see the Gators winning here, but give me Red Raiders here to advance led by Keenan Evans.
Prediction: Texas Tech
(W6) Houston (27-7) vs (W3) Michigan (29-7)- 9:40, TBS: This has the makings of a great one. The Cougars are coming off an epic Round of 64 win over the San Diego State Aztecs. The Wolverines are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Montana Grizzlies. The best player in this game is Rob Gray, but the Wolverines are the better team here and I like them to advance.
Prediction: Michigan
Sunday, March 18th
(E10) Butler (21-13) vs (E10) Purdue (29-6)- 12:10, CBS: The Bulldogs are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Boiler Makers are coming off a Round of 64 thrashing over the Cal State Fullerton Titans. It would be very Butler of them to come out and win this game, but I'm taking the Boiler Makers in a close on in spite of the injury to Isaac Haas.
Prediction: Purdue
(MW11) Syracuse (30-4) vs (MW3) Michigan State (22-13)- 2:40, CBS: The Orange are coming off a Round of 64 win over the TCU Horned Frogs. The Spartans are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Bucknell Bison. I won't be shocked if the Orange give the Spartans a game here, but Sparty is the better team led by Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Prediction: Michigan State
(W7) Texas A&M (21-12) vs (W2) North Carolina (26-10)- 5:15, CBS: The Aggies are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Providence Friars. The Tar Heels are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Lipscomb Bisons. The Aggies have the talent and capability of beating Carolina, but the Heels just have more talent.
Prediction: North Carolina
(S7) Nevada (28-7) vs (S2) Cincinnati (31-4)- 6:10, TNT: The Wolf Pack are coming off a great overtime Round of 64 win over the Texas Longhorns. The Bearcats are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Georgia State Panthers. The Bearcats defense will be too much for the Wolf Pack as Jacob Evans and Gary Clark will lead the way.
Prediction: Cincinnati
(MW5) Clemson (24-9) vs (MW4) Auburn (26-7)- 7:10, TBS: The Clemson Tigers are coming off a nice Round of 64 win over the popular upset pick New Mexico State Aggies. The Auburn Tigers are coming off a narrow Round of 64 win over the Charleston Cougars. Both of these teams have suffered significant injuries to key players, but Auburn will win the Battle of the Tigers to advance.
Prediction: Auburn
(S16) UMBC (25-10) vs (S9) Kansas State (23-11)- 7:45, truTV: The Riverteers are coming off history by becoming the first team ever to defeat a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament in beating the Virginia Cavaliers. The Wildcats are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Creighton Bluejays. I see a letdown for the Riverteers as Dean Wade and the Wildcats will advance.
Prediction: Kansas State
(W9) Florida State (21-11) vs (W1) Xavier (29-5)- 8:40, TNT: Here we have a rematch from the Round of 32 from a year ago. The Seminoles are coming off a nice Round of 64 win over the Missouri Tigers. The Musketeers are coming off a Round of 64 thrashing over the Texas Southern Tigers. Leonard Hamilton should have his team well prepared, but Chris Mack's team is just way better led by Trevon Bluiett.
Prediction: Xavier
(E13) Marshall (25-10) vs (E5) West Virginia (25-10)- 9:40, TBS: The Thundering Herd are coming off a great Round of 64 upset win over the Wichita State Shockers. The Mountaineers are coming off a Round of 64 win over the Murray State Racers. The Thundering Herd won't be an easy out, but the Mountaineers will advance led by Jevon Carter.
Prediction: West Virginia
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