2014 Sweet 16 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: South Region Sweet 16 Matchup Previews

2014 Sweet 16 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: South Region Sweet 16 Matchup Previews: The first weekend of the 2014 NCAA tournament is in the books, and the South Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket has an interesting blend of teams remaining. While a couple of heavyweights in Florida and UCLA remain in the top half of the bracket, a couple of Cinderella stories in Stanford and Dayton are still alive in the bottom half. Ultimately, it is going to come down to one of the powerhouses versus one of the underdogs for a spot in the Final Four, but in the meantime, the teams will try to survive their Sweet 16 matchups Thursday in Memphis.

2014 Sweet 16 South Region Matchup Previews

No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 1 Florida: This game will be a contrast of styles as the stingy defense of the Gators takes on the potent offense of the Bruins. Thus far, both teams have been on top of their respective games in the NCAA tournament with Florida holding opponents to just 50 points per game and UCLA scoring 76.5 points per game. Something will have to give in this matchup.

While the Gators are a solid all-around team, they don’t have an overwhelmingly powerful offense. If they are going to win the game, they can’t afford to get into a fast-paced shootout with the Bruins. On the flip side, UCLA has to up the tempo whenever possible in order to get easy baskets in transition. If the Bruins let Florida’s defense consistently get set and try to beat them in a half-court game, they are going to have issues. The matchup between Florida point guard and defensive stalwart Scottie Wilbekin and UCLA point guard and triple-double threat Kyle Anderson will be a big deciding factor.

UCLA actually has experience playing a stout defensive team, and the Bruins split a pair of meetings with Arizona this year, speeding up the pace in both games. However, the Gators are a little more balanced on the offensive end, a little bigger inside and a little better at defending the perimeter. All those little differences will make a big difference and allow Florida to move on.

2014 Sweet 16 South Region Projected Winner: Florida

No. 11 Dayton vs. No. 10 Stanford: Dayton and Stanford weren’t supposed to make it to the Sweet 16, but after Thursday, one team will be on to the Elite Eight. The Flyers have reached this point by slipping past Ohio State with a game-winning bucket in the final seconds in the second round and by surviving a last-second shot by Syracuse in the third round. Stanford’s road hasn’t been quite as dramatic, but they have survived close matchups with New Mexico and Kansas to reach the Sweet 16. In other words, both teams should be used to playing under pressure.

Both teams have been particularly stout on the defensive end during their tournament runs, and opponents have yet to reach the 60-point mark against either side. With that in mind, Thursday’s game figures to be another slower-paced defensive battle, and the team that can execute the best in the half court will likely emerge victorious. While 3-point shooting can always be an X-factor, the inside/outside combo that Stanford has with guard Chasson Randle and forward Dwight Powell should tip the scales in their favor. Not to mention the fact the overall athleticism of the Cardinal was on full display last round when they held a Kansas team averaging nearly 80 points to just 57 points.

2014 Sweet 16 South Region Projected Winner: Stanford

2014 Sweet 16 South Region Favorite to Make the Final Four

Florida: The teams that are best equipped to defeat the Gators are those with a quality offense and solid defense, but there really isn’t a team with that type of balance remaining in the South Region. There is a reason that the Gators haven’t lost since December 2. They bring intensity on defense each and every game, and while they might not always click the entire game on offense, they have enough different weapons that someone always seems to step up. Depth and balance have been key for Florida all year, and neither element is going anywhere. The Gators should march on to Arlington.

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