March Madness Sweet 16 Preview & Prediction Pt. 2

The Sweet 16 will end this Friday, and it will go out with a bang with plenty more March Madness to come.

At this point of the tournament having a busted bracket is just part of the game. The competition is getting fiercer round by round, and there is still room for a few upsets along the way. We have four games that will be played on Friday (Check out Times/TV Channel here). 

Here are my preview and predictions for Friday's Sweet 16 match-ups.

 #1 Virginia Cavaliers vs #4 Michigan State Spartans

The Cavaliers have been dominate all season. That's why they were awarded a #1 seed instead of teams like Louisville and Michigan State. They are allowing the fewest points in the NCAA and have not allowed their last five opponents to score over 63 points. They are shooting above 80% from the free throw line and 46% from downtown.

The Spartans have been an offensive machine during the tournament. Coach Tom Izzo has implemented a pass happy team that has them averaging about 16 assists per game. They have also been clutch at the charity strike, shooting 85% as a team. Their center Adreian Payne was a monster in the first game with 41 points, while Branden Dawson took control of the second with 26 points and 9 rebounds.

The difference maker in this game will be coaching. Coach Izzo is the better coach of the two and he has his squad playing their best ball of the season. The Cavaliers will put up a fight but expect Sparty takes control down the stretch.

Prediction:

Getty Images

Michigan State 68, Virginia 63

#7 Connecticut Huskies vs #3 Iowa State Cyclones

The Huskies won a difficult overtime game in the second round against an upset minded Saint Joseph's team. Then they went on to beat the #2 seed out of the East region, Villanova thanks to senior guard Shabazz Napier's 25 points. Napier has been doing his best Kemba Walker impression during the tournament (averaging just below 25 ppg). The Huskies defense has also been doing work in the turnover department, averaging 8.5 steals per game during the tournament.

The Cyclones have had an impressive season that included winning the Big 12 tournament and have not lost since the beginning of March. They Cyclones lost a key piece of their offense in their first game when Georges Niang who is the team’s leading scorer (24 ppg) and second in both assists (4 apg) and rebounds (6 rbg) broke his foot. Their coming off a nice victory over North Carolina, although that one ended a little bizarre. DeAndre Kane stepped up in Niang’s absence scoring 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 7 assists.

This is an upset to some but easy decision for me, the Connecticut Huskies will get the victory over Iowa State. The Cyclones already are out their leading scorer and if it wasn't for a missed timeout by the officials in their last game, this could very well be a UNC vs UConn match-up. Napier is hoopin' right now, and thanks to being Kemba's right hand man in their last national championship he knows exactly what you have to do to get back.

Prediction:

(Jessica Hill/Associated Press)

Connecticut 82, Iowa State 74

#11 Tennessee Volunteers vs #2 Michigan Wolverines

The Tennessee Volunteers have had the longest journey in the tournament. First they had to win their play-in game just to get into the tournament, which they did over Iowa, then they knocked off a UMass team that was ranked way higher than they should have been, and after that they faced a Mercer team that was still coming down from their biggest win in school history. The Volunteers true test lies ahead when they put their season on the line against the Michigan Wolverines. Expect big games from the Vol's Jarnell Stokes and Jordan McRae.

The Wolverines have played a relatively easy schedule. The Wolverines have been winning with great defense and even better shooting. They are shooting a very respectable 46% from the 3-point line, with most of those coming from Nik Stauskas(7-15). Stauskas was the floor general against Texas, racking up 8 assists and is averaging 16 ppg through the tournament.

This game could be decided by whichever team can make the most runs and grab the most rebounds. The Volunteers should win the rebound battle like Texas did in Michigan's last game. They should also be able to keep up with the scoring of Michigan and will steal the win for the upset.

Prediction:

Adam Lau/GoVolsXtra

Tennessee 76, Michigan 72

#8 Kentucky Wildcats vs #4 Louisville Cardinals 

The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off a win over previously undefeated Wichita State and are bringing nothing but confidence against one of the schools biggest rivals. This Kentucky team has been up and down all season but may have finally got things together, and just in time. They have been dominating the boards in the tourney, bringing down 72 rebounds in their first two games. The Harrison twins have been the conductors of this machine.

Louisville has been given an easy road to the Sweet 16 and will finally have a test when they play Kentucky. They had some issues with turnovers in their last game against St Louis, but the Billikens had turnover issues of their own that Louisville capitalized on. Luke Hancock, who had his own shining moments during last year’schampionship run, took the game over against St Louis knocking down 21 points.

The winner of the "Battle of the Bluegrass" NCAA tournament style is a toss-up for the most part. They are instate rivals so the tenacity is automatically there but who can perform with the pressure of the bright lights in the NCAA tournament best. I give the advantage to a team with some senior leadership and that's Louisville. Like I said this one could go either way. Kentucky won their meeting earlier in the season, but Coach Pitino and his boys should be able to withstand the storm this time around.

Prediction:

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Louisville 79, Kentucky 77

This is going to set up a great Elite 8 this weekend and I know I can't wait. Now get to your TV and put the games on!

Any problems with my Sweet 16 Predictions? Leave me a comment and tell my why or contact me via Twitter @therealrikrok89.