2016 Sweet 16 West Region Predictions and Free Picks – NCAA Tournament Predictions

2016 Sweet 16 West Region Predictions and Free Picks – NCAA Tournament Predictions: The 2016 NCAA Tournament was supposed to be one of the most chaotic in history, but don’t tell that to the West Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket. With the Sweet 16 set to begin Thursday, the four top seeds in the West Region are still alive and kicking. Granted, it wasn’t all smooth sailing, but at the end of the day, the four teams that were projected to reach the Sweet 16 did just that. Of course, the matchups only get tougher from here on out, and there will be no shortage of powerhouse programs and elite individual talent on display as the West Region’s crowns a winner and send on team on the Final Four.

2016 Sweet 16 West Region Matchup Previews

No. 4 Duke vs. No. 1 Oregon: It hasn’t been an easy rode for either team, but the Ducks and the Blue Devils will meet with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. After cruising in the opening round, the top-seeded Ducks needed a late comeback to sneak by Saint Joe’s in the Round of 32. As for the Blue Devils, they survived a shootout against UNC Wilmington in the opening round and had to hold off a comeback from Yale to reach the Sweet 16.

Oregon is a deep team, balanced team that has the athletes to play a variety of styles. The Ducks can get up and down the court and score if need be, but they also have the rim protectors inside to clamp down on defense. On the flip side, Duke has to win with its offense. The defensive lapses that plagued them during the regular season haven’t gone away, but with Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram, the Blue Devils have the offensive weapons to out-gun most opponents.

The X-factor in this matchup is Ingram, and while the freshman’s name has been mentioned in conversation for the No. 1 overall pick for the NBA draft all year, he has really taken his game to the next level in the NCAA Tournament. He has been more aggressive taking the ball to the basket, especially when Duke has a big possession. Ingram will be the best player on the court, and with him asserting his will in big spots, Duke will pull off the upset.

Projected Winner: Duke Blue Devils

No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Oklahoma: It is an absolute miracle that the Aggies are in the Sweet 16. Down 12 points with 44 seconds to play against Northern Iowa in the Round of 32, a combination of big shots and horrible mistakes by the Panthers allowed Texas A&M to force a pair of overtimes and eventually advance. The Sooners got some heroics as well to reach this point, with Buddy Hield score 29 points in the second half against VUC, including 21 of his team’s final 25 points.

As one-dimensional as the Hield and company can be on offense, the Sooners are actually a solid defensive team. Meanwhile, Texas A&M can struggle to score and times, especially if Danuel House isn’t connecting, but the Aggies’ physical defense always seems to keep them in games.

This game could easily become a defensive-oriented, grind-it-out type of game, and in a game where big shots in big spots will be crucial, it is impossible to bet against Hield. All year, he has been able to score no matter what type of defense is thrown at him, and he will be the difference in what is otherwise a matchup between two somewhat equal teams.

Projected Winner: Oklahoma Sooners

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!