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2008 NCAA Tournament Predictions - East Region
Jimmy Boyd’s 2008 NCAA tournament predictions start in the East Region
where the North Carolina Tar Heels are the number one seed. There are some high
quality sleepers in this region, but if the Tar Heels aren’t able to advance to
the Final Four when playing all there games leading up to it in the state of
North Carolina, this team will have greatly underachieved. Find out if I have
the Tar Heels coming out of the East Region or if one of the solid sleepers can
end the run of the tournament’s overall number one.
First Round
It really doesn’t matter if North Carolina plays Coppin State or Mount Saint
Mary’s, the Heels stand no chance at being the first number one seed to ever
lose to a 16. I like the Indiana Hoosiers to prevail over Arkansas in an 8/9
seed battle. Eric Gordon and D.J. White, arguably the two best players in the
Big Ten, will take the Hoosiers into the second round. While the 12 over the 5
seed is the popular upset pick in the first round, I don’t see this George Mason
team as one good enough to make a run like it did in 2005. Notre Dame will
advance behind Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody. Moving right on down
the line, Washington State’s defense is just way too tough to give 13 seed
Winthrop a chance. I have an upset going down in the 6 versus the 11 seed
matchup with St. Joseph’s upsetting Oklahoma. St. Joe’s is playing its best ball
at the right time and is full of confidence right now. Louisville will easily
handle 14 seed Boise State, Butler takes care of South Alabama, and Tennessee
coasts past American to cap off round one.
Second Round
While Indiana is as good an eight seed as you’ll see in the Big Dance, the
Hoosiers won’t have enough fire power to match up with the Tar Heels for 40
minutes. Eric Gordon’s inexperience in big games likely shows in this round
against an experienced Tar Heels squad playing in its home state. While
Washington State is as solid a defensive team as you’ll find, the Irish have too
much offensive fire power and the Cougars will not be able to match it. I don’t
see St. Joe’s getting any further than round two as they meet a Louisville team
that is well rounded on both ends of the floor. Butler is a team with a chance
to give Tennessee a scare, but when it’s all said and done, the Vols are one of
the most talented offensive teams in the country and I think that will be enough
to keep them alive.
Regional Semis
Notre Dame’s 215th ranked scoring defense will finally catch up with the Irish
against the number one seed Tar Heels. I feel Tennessee is the weakest of the
two seeds and that Louisville is actually the better team. Rick Pitino is the
better coach in this matchup as well, and ultimately, Tennessee’s defensive
shortcomings keep the Vols from the Elite 8.
Regional Finals
And there were two. North Carolina was eliminated in the Elite 8 a year ago by
Georgetown, but the Heels will not be denied this time. Louisville’s pressure
defense won’t have near the effect on the Heels that it has on most of the Big
East schools. Ty Lawson is one of the best guards in the country. He will handle
the pressure and the Heels will cut down the nets.
Jimmy Boyd’s NCAA tournament picks
are second to none in the handicapping industry. Mr. Boyd lives for March
Madness and he’s ready to beat the
college basketball odds throughout the Big Dance. Sign up for a low cost
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