2017 Sweet 16 East Region Predictions and Free Picks – NCAA Tournament Predictions

2017 Sweet 16 East Region Predictions and Free Picks – NCAA Tournament Predictions: When the 2016 NCAA Tournament bracket was released, I think the East Region would offer the friendliest path to the Final Four for the top seeds. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The East Region has been a bracket buster, and heading into the Sweet 16, it is the only region where neither the No. 1 seed nor No. 2 seed made it past the opening weekend. Needless to say, the East Region is suddenly wide open, and it ensures that there will at least be one surprise team advancing to the Final Four. Let’s take a closer look at both matchups in the wild East Region.

2017 Sweet 16 East Region Predictions and Free Picks – NCAA Tournament Predictions

2017 Sweet 16 East Region Matchup Previews

No. 8 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Florida: While it is not a big surprise to see the fourth-seeded Gators in the Sweet 16, not many people had them facing the Badgers. Wisconsin knocked off the defending national champion and top-seeded Villanova Wildcats to reach the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season.

Points should be at a premium in this one. Both teams win with their defenses, and while Wisconsin held Villanova to just 62 points in the Round of 32, Florida completely shut down Virginia in a 65-39 win. Both teams bring plenty of experience to the table, as well. Granted, the Badgers are more battled tested in March, but the Gators both four senior starters in their own right.

In the end, I think Wisconsin’s star players, Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig, will be the difference. After inconsistent play throughout the year, both have been at their best down the stretch. Throw in all the experience the Badgers have in the NCAA Tournament, and I think Wisconsin advances.

Projected Winner: Wisconsin Badgers

No. 7 South Carolina vs. No. 3 Baylor: If you like physical, defensive-minded battles, make sure to tune into this game. Both the Gamecocks and Bears will grind out games on the defensive end, and they aren’t afraid to win ugly.

Scoring points has been an issue for both teams at times, but ironically, both teams have been burning up the nets during the NCAA Tournament. South Carolina scored 93 in its opening game and 88 in an upset of Duke while the Bears scored 91 in the Round of 64 and 82 to reach the Sweet 16. The scoring outbursts are particularly shocking for the Gamecocks, who shot just 41.8 percent from the field as a team this season.

I think that high-scoring trend ends in this matchup for both sides, and I think it will be the Bears that come out on top. Granted, South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwell can be a one-man wrecking crew for the Gamecocks, but the driving lanes and trips to the foul line that have been there in the first two games are going to be few and far between against Baylor. Meanwhile, Baylor’s ability to score inside with Johnathan Motley will be a major asset in a defensive battle.

Projected Winner: Baylor Bears

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