2013 NCAA Tournament Predictions: South Region

Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NCAA tournament field is set, and it’s time to go region by region and make predictions as to who will be advancing to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the Final Four.

After breaking down the matchups, here’s what my bracket looks like in the South:

FIRST ROUND

#1 Kansas over #16 Western Kentucky
#8 North Carolina over #9 Villanova
#5 VCU over #12 Akron
#13 South Dakota State over #4 Michigan
#11 Minnesota over #6 UCLA
#3 Florida over #14 Northwestern State
#7 San Diego State over #10 Oklahoma
#2 Georgetown over #15 Florida Gulf-Coast

SECOND ROUND

#1 Kansas over #8 North Carolina
#5 VCU over #13 South Dakota State
#3 Florida over #11 Minnesota
#2 Georgetown over #7 San Diego State

SWEET 16

#5 VCU over #1 Kansas
#3 Florida over #2 Georgetown

SOUTH REGIONAL FINAL

#3 Florida over #5 VCU

WRAPUP

Of the four regions, this is the toughest to predict. I literally changed the possible scenarios in the Sweet 16 part of this bracket about eight times before deciding on a Florida/VCU final. I’m still not sold on it, but that’s what I’m going with.

Billy Donovan’s team has been unable to win a close game all year long. I see that changing here. They have the shooting, they have the inside game, and they have the intangibles. Now they have to find a way to pull out games down the stretch.

But again, I could see all four teams that I have advancing to the Sweet 16 making it to the Final Four.

I think we’re overlooking the Jayhawks simply because of potential matchup with VCU. The Rams are a hot pick to make a run to Atlanta. and given their excellent pressure defense, it makes sense. Georgetown is a great team, don’t get me wrong. However, I just have a feeling that they are going to stumble against the Patric Young and the Gators.