We’ve reached the Sweet 16 portion of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, with two SEC teams still having a shot at winning the national championship.
Kentucky and Texas A&M are still in the mix, and both will take the court on Thursday in hopes of advancing one step closer to the Final Four.
As always, my predictions are based on team analysis and who I think will win. Score projections are for my own amusement.
Let’s get to the picks.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 253-78
No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 7 Texas A&M – 7:37 PM EST, TBS
The key for the Aggies in this game will be coming out and running everything through Robert Williams and Tyler Davis.
The Wolverines certainly have some size to match them, as Mo Wagner and Jon Teske will be the two biggest players on the court. However, Williams and Davis have the skills necessary to navigate around them and control the paint.
If Texas A&M is forced to rely on too many jump shots, it could be advantage Michigan. If the Aggies find a way to make things difficult inside, then they should be able to dictate the style of play in this game.
John Beilein’s team is one of the hottest in the country right now in winning 11 straight games, while Texas A&M is playing like the team we saw in pre-conference play. That should equal a very close game from start to finish.
I know how well the Aggies played against North Carolina, but I feel like this could be a more difficult matchup due to Michigan’s ability to force opponents into taking bad shots.
I’ll go with the Wolverines to score the narrow victory.
Prediction: Michigan 68, Texas A&M 65
No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Kansas State – 9:37 PM EST, CBS
Everyone is talking about Kentucky’s “easy” draw, but some are ignoring how well John Calipari’s team has played since mid-February.
The Wildcats have only lost once since Valentine’s Day, and their improved perimeter shooting has made it nearly impossible to slow them down on the offensive side of the court.
Of course, Kansas State isn’t exactly a slouch on defense. Bruce Weber’s squad ranks in the top 20 nationally in defensive efficiency and haven’t allowed more than 59 points thus far in this tournament.
This particular game will likely be decided inside the lane. Kentucky’s size and length can be a real problem on the offensive glass, and Kansas State hasn’t been great in preventing teams from getting extra opportunities on offense.
Another positive for Kentucky is that this game is in Atlanta, which means that there will be plenty of blue in the crowd.
Kevin Knox and company have been playing excellent basketball for a while now, and I think they keep it rolling here.
Prediction: Kentucky 71, Kansas State 63
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