2014 NCAA Tournament Picks & Predictions: Round of 64 Upset Specials for Each Region

2014 NCAA Tournament Picks & Predictions: Round of 64 Upset Specials for Each Region: If the first two days of the NCAA tournament don’t provide the most thrills and excitement in sports, I don’t know what does. There are buzzer-beaters, wild finishes and always a David or two that is able to slay a Goliath. While everyone wants to be the one that finds the trendy upset pick of the early rounds, the truth is that picking too many upsets is only going to ruin your bracket. On the flip side, nailing the Cinderella teams of the tournament can help set your bracket apart over the long haul or allow you to score a big payoff on a single game bet. With that in mind, here is a closer look at one serious upset that could happen in each region of the 2014 NCAA tournament.

South Region: Stephen F. Austin over VCU

The 12th-seeded Lumberjacks certainly have momentum on their side heading into their second-round meeting with the fifth-seeded VCU Rams. After all, Stephen F. Austin has won 28 straight games, dominating the Southland Conference in the process. Meanwhile, both of these teams love to apply tremendous pressure on defense to try to force opponents into making quick decisions and mistakes. In other words, the Lumberjacks should be very familiar with the frantic style of play VCU uses to surprise most opponents. Meanwhile, the Rams haven’t been very efficient on offense this year, shooting just 42.0 percent as a team. This game is likely to be played at a crazy pace with plenty of turnovers on both sides, and the Lumberjacks are the team with nothing to lose. Don’t be surprised if Stephen F. Austin emerges from the chaos with the victory.

East Region: Harvard over Cincinnati

This matchup is a battle of defensive-minded teams, and both teams are happy to play at a slower pace. However, the teams differ on the offensive end. Cincinnati is basically a one-man show on offense with Sean Kilpatrick shouldering a bulk of the load. Meanwhile, the Crimson have five different players in averaging double figures. While Harvard can focus their defense entirely on shutting down Kilpatrick, the Bearcats will have to defend every player on the court. This game seems destined to be a closer, low-scoring affair, and the Crimson should have every opportunity to pull off an upset.

West Region: New Mexico State over San Diego State

The Aztecs are one of the better defensive teams in the country, but the Aggies have an X-factor that can’t be matched with amount of preparation or game planning. New Mexico State is the tallest team in the country, and 7’5″ Sim Bhullar is the tallest of the bunch. The Aggies also rank ninth in the country in field goal percentage, and if they can control the paint and the glass, San Diego State could be in trouble.

Midwest Region: Mercer over Duke

Although this would qualify as a monumental upset, let’s not act like Duke has been unflappable in the NCAA tournament lately. The Blue Devils have been knocked out in the opening weekend three times in the last seven seasons, including twice in their first game. Meanwhile, Mercer has actually been fairly solid on offense, ranking in the top 25 nationally in scoring and in the top 30 in field goal percentage. Mercer also has a legit go-to scorer in forward Langston Hall. On the flip side, Duke definitely has the superior athletes, but they can be a little dependent on the 3-point shot. If the Blue Devils struggle a bit early on, the Bears have the offense to put the pressure on them. For a young Duke team, a close game early could cause the nerves to set in late. Once that happens, an upset is possible.

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