2012 NCAA Bracket Picks: South Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections

2012 NCAA Bracket Picks: South Region Odds, Predictions and Expert Bracketology Projections: To say that the South Region of the 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket is loaded would be an understatement. From the top-overall seed in Kentucky to the last two tournament champions in Connecticut and Duke, the sport’s traditional powers are all represented. Throw in last year’s Final Four Cinderella VCU, and the South Region has more than its fair share of storylines heading into the first slate of games.

NCAA South Bracket Favorites to Make the Final Four

Kentucky: Despite the loss in the SEC tournament title game, the Wildcats are still a juggernaut in the field of 68. They have the top-rated NBA prospect in center Anthony Davis and the second-rated prospect in forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Throw in matchup nightmare Terrence Jones and highly-touted point guard Marquis Teague, and Kentucky’s lineup is oozing with talent. Perimeter scoring can be an issue at times for the Wildcats, but with Davis inside blocking shots at a record pace for a strong defense, they should be able to continue steamrolling their way to the Final Four.

Baylor: Although the Bears struggled against conference rivals Kansas and Missouri this season, they beat just about everyone else. Baylor won’t have to get past the Tigers or the Jayhawks to reach the Final Four, and that could be bad news for anyone else in the region. Yes, the Bears can be soft at times, but there is no denying their talent level. Baylor has two strong scoring options in the post in Quicy Acy and Perry Jones III. The Bears also have one of the better point guards in the country in Pierre Jackson. With the exception of Kentucky, Baylor should have a size advantage against every team in the region.

NCAA South Bracket Upset Specials

Xavier over Notre Dame: Since the infamous brawl against their in-state rival Cincinnati, the Musketeers are just 14-11. However, they were a top-10 team at one point this year, and the same collection of talent is still on the roster. Guards Mark Lyons and Tu Holloway form one of the better backcourts in the tournament field, and if they get hot, Xavier can put plenty of points on the board. For a Notre Dame team that has struggled to score at times and struggled to contain high-scoring guards, Xavier is a potential matchup nightmare.

VCU over Wichita State: One of the biggest advantages for mid-major teams like Wichita State is that the crowd inevitably pulls for them because of their status as an underdog. However, VCU is an even bigger underdog than the Shockers, making the Rams the likely crowd favorite. More importantly, VCU has the added experience of last season’s surprising run to the Final Four, and as Butler showed last year with another run to the title game, there is no substitute for tournament experience. The Rams may not make it back to the Final Four, but they can definitely win a game or two.

NCAA South Bracket High Seed on Alert

Indiana: The Hoosiers are the most-improved team in the country, and thanks to a high-scoring offense, they were nearly unstoppable at home. Unfortunately for Indiana, the NCAA tournament isn’t played at Assembly Hall. Freshman forward Cody Zeller has been the biggest reason for the team’s impressive turnaround this year, but he has also been at his best at home. More importantly, an early exit in the Big 10 tournament was proof that a neutral site is no different than a true road game. Unless he and the rest of the Hoosiers suddenly overcome their issues away from home, Indiana could be bounced at almost any point.

NCAA South Bracket PREDICTION: No. 1 seed Kentucky Wildcats

Vegas Favorites and Odds to win the 2012 South Region
Get 2012 South Region Odds on each individual game at Bovada Sportsbook
111 Kentucky -144
112 Duke +422
113 Baylor +577
114 Indiana +1405
115 Wichita St. +903
116 UNLV +3011
117 Notre Dame +5017
118 Iowa St. +6001
119 Connecticut +3001
120 Xavier +10000
121 Colorado +15053
122 VCU +10036
123 New Mexico St. +20070
124 South Dakota St. +20070
125 Lehigh +20070
126 Miss. Valley St. +20070
127 Western Kentucky +20070