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2008 NCAA Tournament Predictions - Midwest Region
With Kansas returning all but one player from a team which advanced to the
Elite 8 in 2007 and the Georgetown Hoyas returning all but one player from a
team which made the Final Four, the national champion just might come out of the
Midwest region. Find out if Jimmy has one of these teams advancing to the Final
Four in San Antonio in this 2008 NCAA tournament predictions article.
First Round
Kansas is among the deepest, most experienced teams in the tourney and will have
no problem with Portland State in round one. UNLV is a squad which can beat
anyone on its home floor, but I am not convinced in this team’s ability on the
road. Not many people know about Kent State, but I’ll take the Golden Flashes
here as they play great defense. Villanova over Clemson is this year’s 12 over a
5 seed upset. Clemson will not be able to match the energy and intensity that is
displayed against ACC rivals Duke and North Carolina in the ACC tourney. Siena
could certainly give Vandy a scare, but I like the Commodores to win here in
game that is probably too close for comfort. Kansas State has two very talented
players in Michael Beasley and Bill Walker, but the Trojans have been great on
the road all season and Tim Floyd’s defensive game plans are genius. I’ll take
the Trojans. Wisconsin will get back to round two with a win over CSU Fullerton.
I like a very talented Davidson team to pull off a small upset over Gonzaga and
Georgetown to easily get past UMBC.
Second Round
Kansas will advance to the Sweet 16 over Kent State. The Jayhawks have
All-American caliber players at every spot and this one shouldn’t be close.
Villanova looks like this season’s Cinderella. Vandy has been a great home team
this season, but very susceptible on the road. Nova has better wins in a better
conference and that will hold up here. USC and Wisconsin both play great defense
so I will side with USC here as O.J. Mayo’s ability to create his own shot will
be the X-factor. Georgetown is on a mission after making the Final Four a season
ago. Davidson has showed that it can play giants tough with near wins over North
Carolina and Duke, but the Wildcats ultimately will have no answer for Roy
Hibbert.
Regional Semis
This is where Nova’s night at the ball ends as Kansas is just too good with too
much depth. USC versus Georgetown will be a great game, but this is where the
experience factor weighs largely in the Hoyas’ favor. Georgetown advances.
Regional Finals
We will see number one seed Kansas take on number two seed Georgetown for a trip
to San Antonio in the Midwest. The ultimate factor will be that Georgetown lost
Jeff Gray, its best all-around player a season ago. He was huge for them in last
year’s NCAA tourney. With Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, and the
X-factor Sherron Collins, I like Kansas to get to the Final Four.
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
premium package and break the bank through the national title game with Jimmy B.
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