2012 NCAA Tournament Third Round Predictions

South Region

#1 Kentucky over #8 Iowa St.

The reason why I am picking Kentucky over Iowa St. is simple. First off, Kentucky is playing in Louisville, Ky and that is basically a home game. Second, Iowa St. cannot force turnovers. In their second round game against UConn, Iowa St. only forced four turnovers. One thing Kentucky and UConn have in common is that they average the same number of turnovers per game this season. Kentucky averages twelve turnovers per game and if Iowa St. could not force turnovers against UConn then they will have an even harder time doing so against Kentucky.

#12 VCU over #4 Indiana

This pick is completely based off of a hunch. To me, the VCU team that I saw in the second round of the NCAA Tournament reminds me very much of the VCU team I saw last year go from the First Four all the way to the Final Four. Do not get me wrong, Indiana is a good team, but March Madness does not listen to logic. Also, I give VCU the edge because of their head coach, Shaka Smart. Smart seems to always keep his team mentally in the game. No matter what is going on, he always seems to be able to pump his team up and that it very important. This game to me is an upset alert for sure.

#3 Baylor over #11 Colorado

Just like the Kentucky-Iowa St. game, this game is going to boil down to turnovers. In their second round game against UNLV, Colorado turned over the ball twenty-three times. That is too many turnovers if you want to advance to the Sweet 16. In my opinion, Colorado got lucky in their second round game against UNLV. Colorado should learn that lightning doe not strike twice. Baylor will come out with more intensity and if Colorado has 20+ turnovers then they will lose this game.

#15 Lehigh over #10 Xavier

Lehigh pulled off one of the shockers of the second round against the Duke Blue Devils. I was so impressed by their performance that I’m going to pick them to beat Xavier in their third round match-up. To me, I feel that Lehigh has the one player to lead them to the Sweet 16 and that player comes in the form of C.J. McCollum. McCollum had thirty points in Lehigh’s second round game and got to the foul line for sixteen foul shots. Also, Lehigh did not turn over the ball. Xavier in their second round game against Notre Dame turned the ball over ten times. I am feeling like Lehigh will force Xavier to turn the ball over too much and let C.J. McCollum do his work.