2016 NCAA Bracket Picks: South Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections

2016 NCAA Bracket Picks – South Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections: The South Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket isn’t short on talent. Not only does the region contain the No. 1 overall seed, the Kansas Jayhawks, but it also contains traditional powers Arizona and Connecticut. Even some of the more inconsistent teams in the region are armed with NBA lottery talent, so there is danger lurking throughout the South Region.

2016 NCAA Bracket Picks: South Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections

NCAA South Bracket Favorites to Make the Final Four

Kansas: It is becoming rare in college basketball that a team possesses both high-end talent and experience, but the Jayhawks have both this season. They have playmakers in the backcourt in Wayne Selden Jr. and Frank Mason III, and they have a proven post scorer in Perry Ellis. They also have plenty of punch from the perimeter. Kansas is as battle tested as any team in the field this year, and the Jayhawks have all the pieces to reach the Final Four.

California: The Golden Bears are young, but they are also one of the most talented teams in the country. In fact, they have three likely first-round picks in their starting lineup in Tyrone Wallace, Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb. Like many young teams, California has had some bad losses this year. However, they slaughtered Oregon at home and lost by one on the road in overtime to Virginia. Both those teams earned No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, so at their best, the Golden Bears can beat anyone.

NCAA South Bracket Upset Specials

South Dakota State over Maryland: There is no denying that Maryland has plenty of talent with Melo Trimble and Diamond Stone leading an offense that has five proven scorers. Unfortunately, the Terrapins have struggled to live up to their potential throughout the year, leaving them vulnerable against a South Dakota State squad that has plenty of perimeter firepower. The Jackrabbits have three players averaging more than 14.0 points per game, and of SDSU catches fire from deep, Maryland could be sent packing early, especially if the Terps have one of their lackluster efforts.

Temple over Iowa: Guard play is always important amid the pressure-packed atmosphere of March, and led by Quenton DeCosey, the Owls have a rock solid backcourt. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes come sputtering into the NCAA Tournament, and after ranking among the top teams in the country early in the year, they lost five of their final six games to end up as a No. 7 seed. It is usually tough for teams to suddenly right the ship, making Iowa a prime candidate for an early exit.

NCAA South Bracket High Seed on Alert

Villanova: The Wildcats have developed a dubious habit of being bounced in the by the end of the first weekend, despite being one of the top seeds. Villanova inked a No. 2 seed this year, and another early exit could be on tap. Sure, the Wildcats looked impressive in conference play, but let’s be honest, the new Big East is a shell of the former Big East. Meanwhile, Villanova was crushed by Oklahoma and Virginia out of conference, so this year’s team has done little to prove they can actually beat top competition. Don’t be surprised if the Wildcats bow out early yet again.

NCAA South Bracket PREDICTION: Kansas Jayhawks

You can get expert 2016 March Madness picks and 2016 March Madness predictions this month from NSAwins.com’s top handicappers plus a pre-filled downloadable and printable 2016 March Madness Bracket to help you win your office pool!