College Basketball Tournament Picks: West Region Predictions
Let's take a look at my college basketball tournament picks for the West region of the NCAA men's basketball tourney. I rate the West region as the weakest just ahead of the East region. In my mind the 2 thru 5 seeds are of a lesser caliber than the other 3 regions. The number 2 seed Duke has lost 4 of their last 9. The 3rd seed Xavier lost to St. Joseph's twice in the last 2 weeks. The 4th seed UConn Huskies have lost 3 of their last 6. The 5th seed Drake Bulldogs lost 3 of their last 6 MVC games before running the table in the MVC tourney. I think UCLA has the easiest path to the Final Four out of all the number 1 seeds. Let's get to my college basketball tournament picks:
1st Round College Basketball Tournament Picks - West Region
I'm advancing UCLA and Duke into the second round without any second-guessing. Xavier over Georgia should be a safe pick, but I'm a little nervous about it. We all saw what Georgia did in the
1st Round College Basketball Tournament Picks - West Region
I'm advancing UCLA and Duke into the second round without any second-guessing. Xavier over Georgia should be a safe pick, but I'm a little nervous about it. We all saw what Georgia did in the
SEC tourney, plus Xavier has lost 2 of their last 4 games. I'm sticking with Xavier but some people will undoubtedly pick the upset in that one. I feel pretty safe picking Connecticut over San Diego except for the fact UConn has lost 3 of their last 6 games to Villanova, Providence, and West Virginia. Cross my fingers on that one.
BYU vs Texas A&M - I'm going with the Aggies as they did beat Texas during the season. I wasn't impressed with BYU in the Mountain West tourney championship.
Drake vs Western Kentucky - I'd have to say there is upset potential here but I'm sticking with Drake since they're 28-4, beat Butler late in the season, and won the MVC regular season and tournament championships.
Purdue vs Baylor - Purdue has lost 3 of their last 6 games. Baylor has won just 5 of their last 13 games. I'm going with the Boilermakers as they beat Wisconsin twice on the year.
West Virginia vs Arizona - I'm picking the Mountaineers. Arizona is fortunate to even be in the tourney as they have only won four of their last twelve games and two of those came against Oregon State who didn't win a single Pac-10 game all year.
2nd Round College Basketball Tournament Picks - West Region
In the second round of the West region I have UCLA vs Texas A&M, Drake vs UConn, Purdue vs Xavier, and West Virginia vs Duke. I'm advancing UCLA as it would be a major upset if the Bruins lost to Texas A&M in the second round. Drake vs UConn is a toss up. It's difficult to judge Drake given the fact they are coming out of the MVC which was probably down a bit this season. I'm going to pick UConn since they had a solid run of wins during the middle portion of the season that included wins over Marquette, Indiana, Pitt, and Notre Dame. Purdue vs Xavier is also a toss up. Tough to judge either team given their recent losses. I'm going with Xavier which along with Memphis gives me two teams in the Sweet 16 from mid-major conferences.
Sweet 16 College Basketball Tournament Picks - West Region
In the Sweet 16 round of the West region I have UCLA vs Connecticut and Xavier vs Duke. I'm moving UCLA into the Elite 8 without too much extra thought. UConn has lost 3 of their last 6 and UCLA has won 10 straight. Xavier vs Duke is a great game pitting one of the best mid-major teams against a traditional college basketball power. I'm picking the Blue Devils in a game that will see plenty of three pointers.
Elite 8 Round College Basketball Tournament Picks - West Region
I have UCLA vs Duke in the Elite 8 and I think the only way Duke can stay in the game is if they are hitting an above average percentage on three pointers. Duke lives and dies by the 3 and everyone knows it. UCLA will be prepared for that and will also win the battle in the paint since Duke is more of a perimeter team.
Final Four College Basketball Tournament Picks - West vs South
In the Final Four I have UCLA facing Texas from the South region in a matchup that could easily go either way. Texas beat UCLA earlier in the season, however I think UCLA is better now than they were at the beginning of the year and the Collison - Love combination will knock the Longhorns out.
I have UCLA beating North Carolina is the national championship game. The Bruins find ways to win and they were impressive all season long including the Pac-10 tournament. Collison and Love versus Lawson and Hansbrough. The national championship game usually features future NBA players and I predict this one will be no different. UCLA finds a way to beat North Carolina for the title.
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BYU vs Texas A&M - I'm going with the Aggies as they did beat Texas during the season. I wasn't impressed with BYU in the Mountain West tourney championship.
Drake vs Western Kentucky - I'd have to say there is upset potential here but I'm sticking with Drake since they're 28-4, beat Butler late in the season, and won the MVC regular season and tournament championships.
Purdue vs Baylor - Purdue has lost 3 of their last 6 games. Baylor has won just 5 of their last 13 games. I'm going with the Boilermakers as they beat Wisconsin twice on the year.
West Virginia vs Arizona - I'm picking the Mountaineers. Arizona is fortunate to even be in the tourney as they have only won four of their last twelve games and two of those came against Oregon State who didn't win a single Pac-10 game all year.
2nd Round College Basketball Tournament Picks - West Region
In the second round of the West region I have UCLA vs Texas A&M, Drake vs UConn, Purdue vs Xavier, and West Virginia vs Duke. I'm advancing UCLA as it would be a major upset if the Bruins lost to Texas A&M in the second round. Drake vs UConn is a toss up. It's difficult to judge Drake given the fact they are coming out of the MVC which was probably down a bit this season. I'm going to pick UConn since they had a solid run of wins during the middle portion of the season that included wins over Marquette, Indiana, Pitt, and Notre Dame. Purdue vs Xavier is also a toss up. Tough to judge either team given their recent losses. I'm going with Xavier which along with Memphis gives me two teams in the Sweet 16 from mid-major conferences.
Sweet 16 College Basketball Tournament Picks - West Region
In the Sweet 16 round of the West region I have UCLA vs Connecticut and Xavier vs Duke. I'm moving UCLA into the Elite 8 without too much extra thought. UConn has lost 3 of their last 6 and UCLA has won 10 straight. Xavier vs Duke is a great game pitting one of the best mid-major teams against a traditional college basketball power. I'm picking the Blue Devils in a game that will see plenty of three pointers.
Elite 8 Round College Basketball Tournament Picks - West Region
I have UCLA vs Duke in the Elite 8 and I think the only way Duke can stay in the game is if they are hitting an above average percentage on three pointers. Duke lives and dies by the 3 and everyone knows it. UCLA will be prepared for that and will also win the battle in the paint since Duke is more of a perimeter team.
Final Four College Basketball Tournament Picks - West vs South
In the Final Four I have UCLA facing Texas from the South region in a matchup that could easily go either way. Texas beat UCLA earlier in the season, however I think UCLA is better now than they were at the beginning of the year and the Collison - Love combination will knock the Longhorns out.
I have UCLA beating North Carolina is the national championship game. The Bruins find ways to win and they were impressive all season long including the Pac-10 tournament. Collison and Love versus Lawson and Hansbrough. The national championship game usually features future NBA players and I predict this one will be no different. UCLA finds a way to beat North Carolina for the title.
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