NCAA Basketball: 2018 Emerald Coast Classic preview and predictions

Favorites and Predictions

Coming into this tournament, the Cincinnati Bearcats have to be the favorite in this classic with Baylor being a close second. The Bearcats only loss this year is to a currently undefeated and ranked opponent and all of their other games they have dominated. Jarron Cumberland can score the ball at a seriously high rate and if guys like Cane Broome and Nysier Brooks get going then they are tough to beat. Also, they play some of the best defense in the country and they will make it tough to get every single basket for their opponents. They are also extremely well coached and will not make many mistakes that their opponent can capitalize on.

For the dark horse of the tournament, we will stay with the top half of the bracket in the Ole Miss Rebels. They play Baylor on Friday and will be tested, but they avoid Cincinnati until Saturday if they beat Baylor. Ole Miss shoots the ball from deep well at 41.5 percent as a team and they have  a star in Terence Davis that can take over any game with the flip of a switch. He almost led them to a victory over Butler after scoring 30. If he plays well and they shoot the ball from deep as well as they have been, they will be a tough out.

Let’s take a look at my predictions for the 2018 Emerald Coast Classic:

Game 1: Southern vs Western Michigan – Western Michigan

Game 2: Nicholls State vs North Carolina Central – Nicholls State

Game 3: George Mason vs Cincinnati – Cincinnati

Game 4: Ole Miss vs Baylor – Ole Miss

Game 5: Southern vs North Carolina Central – Southern

Game 6: Western Michigan vs Nicholls State – Nicholls State 

Game 7: Baylor vs George Mason – Baylor

Game 8 (Championship): Ole Miss vs Cincinnati – Cincinnati