2013 Sweet 16 Picks and Predictions: South Region Odds and Free Picks – NCAA Tournament Betting: Aside one from one small exception, the South Region of the NCAA Bracket has gone according to plan with the three of the top seeds all advancing to the Sweet 16. Of course, the one exception is a rather large one. The Florida Golf Coast Eagles have become the first No. 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16, adding a bit of history to an otherwise chalk region of the bracket. While many fans will be pulling for the Cinderella of the region, the Eagles won’t have an easy road with powerhouses Kansas and Florida both potentially standing in their way. Throw in a revived Michigan program, and the South Region of the NCAA bracket should be interesting.
2013 Sweet 16 South Region Matchup Previews
No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 1 Kansas: Two of the more disrespected teams in any region of the NCAA Bracket will meet in this matchup. After limping to the finish line with a 6-6 record, the Wolverines were left for dead by many. The same goes for a Jayhawks squad that has struggled on offense at times and even lost to TCU during the regular season. However, both teams have turned it on when it matters most, and both delivered convincing wins in the Round of 32 to set up the Sweet 16 showdown.
The game will be a battle of opposing strengths with center Jeff Withey giving Kansas a huge size advantage against a young Michigan frontcourt. On the flip side, the Wolverines’ dynamic duo of Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. will be a tough matchup for a Jayhawks’ team that has been searching for consistent point guard play most of the year. The team that is best able to neutralize the other side’s advantage is ultimately going to come out on top and advance to the Elite Eight.
At the end of the day, it is going to be tough for Michigan’s young, inexperienced frontcourt to contend with Withey. Keep in mind that the Wolverines struggled this season with the larger frontcourts of Indiana and Michigan State, and the Jayhawks bring a similar lineup to the table. Burke and company are going to have a hard time getting to the rim, and while the Wolverines have some perimeter firepower, it is going to be tough for Michigan to knock off Kansas if Burke and company are shooting mainly jump shots. It may not be pretty, but the Jayhawks will grind out another victory.
2012 Sweet 16 South Region Projected Winner: Kansas
No. 15 Florida Golf Coast vs. No. 3 Florida: There is nothing like an in-state rivalry to add a little drama to the NCAA Tournament, especially when it is the ultimate David versus Goliath story. Florida Golf Coast is the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet 16, and standing between the Eagles and a spot in the Elite Eight is a Florida program that is the last school to win back-to-back national championships. The stature of these two teams couldn’t be more different, but there is no bigger equalizer in sports than the NCAA Tournament.
Led by Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Sherwood Brown, the Eagles have been a high-flying, highlight reel of dunks and other impressive plays. Plain and simple, Florida Golf Coast has been the more energetic, more athletic team in both its games thus far and literally run its opponents off the court. However, the Gators have a fast, intense defense that ranks among the best in the country in points allowed. They are also one of the best passing teams in the country, and they have the perimeter firepower to stretch defenses and the muscle inside the score in the paint. The biggest factor in deciding the outcome will likely be whether to Gators have to try to keep pace with the speedy Eagles or if Florida Golf Coast will have to try to execute as well as Florida.
While the Eagles have already ousted a defensive-minded team in Georgetown during the NCAA Tournament and an athletic team in Miami during the regular season, Florida Golf Coast also got smashed by VCU and Duke during the regular season. Like the Rams, the Gators have a similar in-your-face defense fueled by speedy guards, and like the Blue Devils, the Gators can spread the floor and score from the perimeter. The balance that Florida has on both ends of the court and the combination of speed and athleticism the Gators bring to the table should be enough to end the Eagles’ Cinderella run.
2013 Sweet 16 South Region Projected Winner: Florida
2013 Sweet 16 South Region Favorite to Make the Final Four
Florida: After falling in the Elite Eight in tight games in each of the past two seasons, Billy Donovan finally has the team to get the Gators back to the Final Four for the fourth time in his coaching tenure. The perimeter firepower that Florida possesses is nothing new, but this group’s attention to detail on the defensive end of the court should make the difference. With Scottie Wilbekin, Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario controlling things on the perimeter and Erik Murphy and Patrick Young providing the size inside, Florida has enough pieces in pace to make the run to Atlanta.
Odds to win the South Region
8142 Florida -130
8143 Florida Gulf Coast +2000
8145 Kansas +200
8146 Michigan +250
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