Sweet Sixteen Showdown: Bold Predictions

0:00On March 26th, the sweet 16th and March madness brings some of the best coaches and matchups in the east, south, west, and midwest regions. Think new rivalries like Iowa vs Nebraska, Houston on its own court and potential showdowns such as Arkansas against Arizona or Iowa State, facing Michigan. With Elite 8 spots on the line Thursday and Friday, here are 5 bold predictions to watch. First, Iowa edges out Nebraska in a tight rivalry game. They're a third meeting in 6 weeks. The Hawkeyes have the top player and a coach with tons of tournament wins, pushing them past the evenly matched corn huskers. Meanwhile, Duke survives a defensive battle with St. John's, scraping by in the lowest scoring game of the round thanks to the Red Storm's tough defense. Michigan should dominate Alabama, whose high-powered offense crumbles against the Wolverine Stingy defense led by their star center. Alabama's poor defensive rankings make them vulnerable, especially after looking shaky in earlier rounds.

1:02Expect Arkansas to stun Arizona in an overtime thriller, potentially the best game of the sweet 16th. On top of that, one coach from this round, maybe from Arizona, Michigan, Alabama, or Iowa State, will likely leave for a powerhouse job like North. Carolina or Kansas, these predictions could shake up brackets and coaching staff alike, setting the stage for an unpredictable Elite 8.