WEST REGION PREDICTIONS – 2013 NCAA Tournament Free Picks & Sleepers
Basketball in the West often gets a bad wrap. They aren’t all in this region but teams from the PAC 12, MWC, WCC and pretty well represented. Heck one of them even got a #1 seed. For me this is the lightest bracket of them all and not because Gonzaga is at the top.
Odds to win WEST Region from Bookmaker:
Its the entire rest of the pairings, which gives them a great chance at something special. I don’t care what the advanced metrics say, I am not buying Pitt as an elite team.
The Elite
Gonzaga +200 – I think Gonzaga is set up beautifully in this bracket. Most of the good teams out west are slow down types which could get them off their games but I think they have gotten better since they lost by a point at Butler way back when.
Even if they get caught in one of those they have the offense spurtabilty to overcome and pull away
Ohio State +200 – They give the #2 seeded Buckeyes the same odds but I wouldn’t touch OSU in this tournament. After the round of 64 they are fair game. They looked better in the Big Ten tournament but this team still struggles too much to score points to be considered elite. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
I am not buying Aaron Craft as a reliable point producer.
The Contenders
Kansas State +1800 – I was surprised at this big number on Kansas State. I am not fond of the Wildcats but they are growing on me. The thing I like best about them is Rodney McGruder. There are very few late game clutch players in college hoops and he might be the best of them.
The sometimes go to him 5 or more possessions in a row.
Wisconsin +400 – Wisconsin has to be the most frightening team out there for the top seeds. They have already embarrassed Ohio State once this season and are the rare top defensive team that is also an efficient shooting team.
When they are on their game they salt away 10 minute stretches that make you ask what the heck just happened. Probably the Zags greatest threat.
Sleeper
Iowa State +2500 – This is one of those cases where the first game might be the most challenging as they search for momentum. If the Cyclones can beat Notre Dame then I like their chances to be competitive against every other team in this bracket…except Gonzaga.
This team has shooting bigs and teams don’t like playing against squads like that.
Predictions
- 1. Wisconsin embarasses Oe Miss
- 2. The winner of Boise State/La Salle will push K-State to the final possession
- 3. Ohio State is the first #2 seed eliminated
- 4. The Big East loses both teams in this region on the first day
- 5. A “Mid-Major school takes this region – most likely Gonzaga
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