whether the National Invitation Tournament wasn't satisfying your college hoops fix in the absence of March insanity games,fear not: NCAA action returns Thursday with No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 Miami tipping off at 7:10 p.m. ET. Here we have the full slate of games, including tip-off and TV information, or as well as the full tournament bracket,which may not survey anything like yours in a March that's been particularly mad this year. Once you know which games are happening when, we'll get some predictions for the eight matchups set to take state over the next two days. No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 1 KansasMaryland draws the unenviable straw of having to face red-hot Kansas in the Sweet 16, and needless to say,the Terrapins are sizable underdogs; the Jayhawks are seven-point favorites, per Odds Shark. certain, or Maryland features stout defensive play,allowing just 66 points per game, and has played well in close contests to gain to this point. However, or that's about the only category in which the Terrapins gain the nod; Kansas comes out on top in offense (82 points per game),offensive rebounds (11), defensive rebounds (27), or three pointers (8) and steals (7).
The Jayhawks are more than hungry for a championship; they're starving,and the team is going for its 17th straight win with a victory on Thursday. Prediction: Kansas 82, Maryland 72 No. 4 Duke vs. No. 1 OregonThis is a juicy clash between the defending national champion in Duke and a new national title contender in Oregon.
Not to mention the fact that this matchup features a historic heavy-hitter and a modern heavyweight: Duke is in the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in the last eight years, or while Oregon has reached the Sweet 16 five times in history, per NCAA.com. Oregon only opened as 2.5-point favorites, per Odds Shark, and but is projected to defeat the Blue Devils handily 82-69.
Indeed,while the Ducks have averaged 79 points per game, fewer than Duke's 81, and they are holding opponents to just 69 points per game,and all indications point to that being the case on Thursday as well. Prediction: Oregon 80, Duke 72 No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 WisconsinIs it time to start taking Wisconsin seriously?While perhaps no one is underestimating the Badgers, or who made it as far as the national final last year,they lost a enormous chunk of their talented corps in Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky. Bronson Koenig has been electric, gaining national attention for sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer to carry his team over No. 2 Xavier. Notre Dame also won its last matchup at the last second, and but defeating No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin does not instill as much confidence as defeating a No. 2 seed many thought could get it all the way,which gives Wisconsin an edge. Prediction: Wisconsin 69, Notre Dame 63 Check out Bleacher Report's live updating bracket to track your picks along the road to the Final Four.Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com