Here are my predictions for the Round of 32 of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Saturday Second Round games will be held at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, and the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Sunday Second Round games will be held at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Saturday, March 23rd
(E6) Maryland (23-10) vs (E3) LSU (27-6)- 12:10, CBS: This is a fascinating Second Round game. The Terps survived the upset bid by Belmont and are solid led by Bruno Fernando and Jaylen Smith in that front-court. The Tigers got by Yale and they have a very good team led by Tremont Waters and Naz Reid. The issue is that the Tigers don't have coach Will Wade and at some point distractions will get to this team as the Terps take advantage and move on to the second weekend.
Prediction: Maryland
(MW7) Wofford (30-4) vs (MW2) Kentucky (28-6)- 2:40, CBS: This game is very intriguing. The Terriers had to pull away late against a solid Seton Hall team and Fletcher Magee was amazing. The Wildcats cruised against Abilene Christian despite the PJ Washington injury. Washington or not, the Wildcats are more talented than the Terriers and Keldon Johnson will help lead the way to the second weekend in a close one.
Prediction: Kentucky
(W10) Florida (20-15) vs (W2) Michigan (27-8)- 5:15, CBS: This should be a interesting game. The Gators got by a Nevada team that didn't shoot well in that game. The Wolverines cruised over a decent Montana team. Jalen Hudson, KeVaughn Allen, and Chase Johnson are good players, but the Wolverines have better players with Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, Zavier Simpson, and Iggy Brazdeikis and they'll advance.
Prediction: Michigan
(W12) Murray State (28-4) vs (W4) Florida State (28-6)- 6:10, TNT: The Racers are coming off a fantastic win over Marquette courtesy of a triple-double by Ja Morant. The Seminoles are coming off a close win over Vermont and Mfiondu Kabengele was outstanding. The Seminoles don't have Phil Cofer and his absence was showed in their close win, so give me Morant and the Racers to the Sweet 16.
Prediction: Murray State
(W9) Baylor (20-12) vs (W1) Gonzaga (31-3)- 7:10, TBS: The Bears are coming off a very good win over Syracuse, in which the Orange were missing a key player in Frank Howard. The Bulldogs are coming off a predictable domination over Fairleigh Dickinson. It's amazing the Bears have got this far without Tristian Clark, but the Zags are so much better led by their core of Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke, Zach Norvell, and Filip Petrušev.
Prediction: Gonzaga
(E10) Minnesota (22-13) vs (E2) Michigan State (29-6)- 7:45, CBS: It's rare to see a conference matchup in the second round but here we are. The Golden Gophers are coming off a great shooting performance in their win over Louisville. The Spartans are coming off a somewhat scare against Bradley. Jordan Murphy is someone that's going to keep the Gophs in this game, but Sparty has more talent led by Cassius Winston and Nick Ward as they'll advance to their first Sweet 16 in four years.
Prediction: Michigan State
(S6) Villanova (26-9) vs (S3) Purdue (24-9)- 8:40, TNT: This should be a fun game between two solid teams. The Wildcats are coming off a close win over Saint Mary's. The Boiler Makers are coming off a dominant win over Old Dominion. Phil Booth and Eric Paschall will keep 'Nova in the game, but give me Carsen Edwards and the Boiler Makers to advance.
Prediction: Purdue
(W5) Auburn (27-9) vs (W4) Kansas (26-9)- 9:40, TBS: Here's a battle of the FBI! The Tigers are coming off a close call against New Mexico State in which they nearly gave away the game. The Jayhawks are coming off a dominant win over Northeastern. This is a hard call but give me Bryce Brown and Jared Harper to lead the way for the Tigers to go to the Sweet 16 over a Jayhawks team that's very good with Dedric Lawson, Devon Dotson, and Quentin Grimes, but is missing key players in Udoka Azubuike and LeGerald Vick.
Prediction: Auburn
Sunday, March 24th
(S10) Iowa (23-11) vs (S2) Tennessee (30-5)- 12:10, CBS: The Hawkeyes are coming off a nice win over Cincinnati and they overcame a double digit second half to do so. The Volunteers are coming off a scare against Colgate and they wound up surviving in the end. Luka Garza was great in the Hawkeyes comeback, but I think that the Vols had their wake up call and Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, and Kyle Alexander will lead the way to a blowout to the Sweet 16.
Prediction: Tennessee
(MW9) Washington (27-8) vs (MW1) North Carolina (28-6)- 2:40, CBS: The Huskies are coming off a great win over Utah State. The Tar Heels were down to sixteen seeded Iona at halftime, but pulled away in the second half. Jaylen Nowell will keep the Hawkeyes in this for most of the game, but the Tar Heels will pull away late led by Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye, Nassir Little, and Coby White.
Prediction: North Carolina
(E9) UCF (26-7) vs (E1) Duke (30-5)- 5:15, CBS: The Knights are coming off a great performance over VCU. The Blue Devils got off to a slow start in their Round of 64 game against North Dakota State. Tacko Fall and the Knights normally play good defense, but too much Zion for them to handle as the Blue Devils role.
Prediction: Duke
(W6) Buffalo (32-3) vs (W3) Texas Tech (27-5)- 6:10, TNT: This is going to be some game. The Bulls are coming off a good win over their former coach Bobby Hurley and Arizona State. The Red Raiders are coming off a dominant win over Northern Kentucky. CJ Massinburg, Jeremy Harris, and Nick Perkins will hit their shots, but Jarrett Culver will be the best player on the court and he'll take the Red Raider to the Sweet 16.
Prediction: Texas Tech
(E12) Liberty (29-6) vs (E4) Virginia Tech (25-8)- 7:10, TBS: The Flames are coming of an outstanding win over Mississippi State. The Hokies are coming off a dominant win over an overrated Saint Louis team. Scottie James is a character of a player who will get his points and boards, but the Hokies are better team led by Justin Robinson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker as they'll get to the second weekend.
Prediction: Virginia Tech
(S9) Oklahoma (20-13) vs (S1) Virginia (30-3)- 7:45, truTV: The Sooners are coming off a hot shooting performance in their win over Ole Miss. The Cavaliers were down double digits in the first half to sixteen seeded Gardner-Webb, but rebounded to win. The Sooners have guys with Kristian Doolittle and Christian James, but the Cavs are much better led by D'Andre Hunter, Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, and Jack Salt.
Prediction: Virginia
(MW11) Ohio State (20-14) vs (M3) Houston (32-3)- 8:40, TNT: The Buckeyes are coming off a good win over Iowa State. The Cougars are coming off a dominant win over Georgia State. Kaleb Wesson will keep the Buckeyes in this one, but the Cougars will get the win led by Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis.
Prediction: Houston
(S13) UC Irvine (31-5) vs (S12) Oregon (24-12)- 9:40, TBS: This is going to be interesting. The Aneaters are coming off a great upset win over Kansas State. The Ducks are coming off a great win over Wisconsin. The Aneaters are a fun story and they have good players in Evan Leonard, Max Hazzard, and a lot of guys who are related to NBA legends and current NBA players and coaches, but the Ducks are the better team led by Louis King and Payton Prichard.
Prediction: Oregon
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