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2008 NCAA Tournament Predictions - South Region
With Memphis, Stanford, Pitt, Michigan State, and Texas as well as a number
of other teams capable of making length runs, the South Region appears to be the
toughest road to the Final Four. Jimmy Boyd’s 2008 NCAA tournament
predictions will take you through the region round by round and ultimately
unveiling his Final Four pick.
First Round
Texas Arlington will be no match for a strong Memphis team which reached the
Elite Eight last season. This could be one of the biggest blowouts of the
tourney. Oregon was spectacular in the NCAA tourney last season, and the Ducks
have underachieved in the Pac this season in my opinion. I like Oregon to pull
off the small 9 seed over an 8 seed upset over Mississippi State. Temple is
another 12 seed which looks dangerous, but Tom Izzo knows how to get the job
done in March. Drew Neitzel does not want to end his college career in the first
round. I’ll take the Spartans. Pitt keeps right on rolling over Oral Roberts
using the momentum it gained in winning the Big East tourney. We liked an 11
over a 6 in the East and I like another one here in the South with Kentucky
taking down Marquette. Stanford crushes Ivy League champ Cornell, St. Mary’s
shocks Miami (Florida) and Texas handles Austin Peay.
Second Round
Memphis rolls past Oregon into the Sweet 16 as Oregon’s defense fails them
against a high octane Tigers’ attack. Pitt takes out Michigan State in the Sweet
16 as the team that beat Duke early in the year is back playing its best hoops
of the season. Also, the Spartans have had trouble scoring at times. All Pitt
has to do is shut down Drew Neitzel to pull off the win and I think they get it
done. Stanford is tough as nails with the Lopez twins inside. They’ll advance
against Kentucky. St. Mary’s won’t be able to matchup with Texas’s stellar
backcourt as D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams have a field day.
Regional Semis
This is where I see Pitt finally being exposed. This is not a team with the
ability to run up and down the floor with Memphis. I like the Tigers to wear
down the Panthers with their press and advance to the Elite Eight for a second
straight year. With Stanford versus Texas, it’s guards versus forwards with
Austin and Abrams giving Texas’ backcourt the edge and the Lopez twins giving
Stanford’s frontcourt the advantage. This should be the best regional semifinal
matchup we see with Stanford moving on. Team’s which are too perimeter oriented
must rely on shooting the ball well and that is not something the can be counted
on against Stanford’s defense. The Cardinal will own the boards and win a tough
one to reach the round of eight.
Regional Finals
While I believe Memphis is as talented as anyone, this team has not played many
tough games in Conference USA, and the ones it played early in the season in
non-conference play are far off in the distance now. Tennessee was Memphis’ only
test late in the season and the Vols, a team which does not play great defense,
won this game. Stanford played in the toughest league and has played a lot of
close games against high caliber opponents like UCLA. This gives the Cardinal
the advantage here. I’m moving them into 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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