Paste BN Sports expert picks for NCAA tournament Sweet 16 games
"Survive and advance" is the rallying cry for NCAA tournament teams. While Duke saw its season's mortality bounce around the rim three times before falling out against Central Florida, Tennessee survived in overtime, and LSU used a game-winner to advance here, the rest of the remaining teams have mostly evaded madness en route to the Sweet 16.
But can we really expect double-digit victories with the top three seeds from each region still playing? It's highly unlikely.
Which teams win Thursday and Friday to reach the Elite Eight? And which teams advance to the Final Four after the second weekend?
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NEED TO KNOW: Breakdowns of Thursday's NCAA tournament games
Paste BN Sports' college basketball staff writers make their expert picks.
Dan Wolken, Paste BN Sports
- Gonzaga vs. Florida State winner: Florida State
- Tennessee vs. Purdue winner: Purdue
- Michigan vs. Texas Tech winner: Michigan
- Virginia vs. Oregon winner: Virginia
- Michigan State vs. LSU winner: Michigan State
- North Carolina vs. Auburn winner: North Carolina
- Duke vs. Virginia Tech winner: Duke
- Kentucky vs. Houston winner: Houston
— Final Four: Duke over Michigan, Virginia over Houston
— Title winner: Duke over Virginia
Scott Gleeson, Paste BN Sports
- Gonzaga vs. Florida State winner: Florida State
- Tennessee vs. Purdue winner: Purdue
- Michigan vs. Texas Tech winner: Texas Tech
- Virginia vs. Oregon winner: Virginia
- Michigan State vs. LSU winner: Michigan State
- North Carolina vs. Auburn winner: Auburn
- Duke vs. Virginia Tech winner: Duke
- Kentucky vs. Houston winner: Kentucky
— Final Four: Duke over Texas Tech, Virginia over Kentucky
— Title winner: Virginia over Duke
George Schroeder, Paste BN Sports
- Gonzaga vs. Florida State winner: Gonzaga
- Tennessee vs. Purdue winner: Tennessee
- Michigan vs. Texas Tech winner: Texas Tech
- Virginia vs. Oregon winner: Virginia
- Michigan State vs. LSU winner: Michigan State
- North Carolina vs. Auburn winner: North Carolina
- Duke vs. Virginia Tech winner: Duke
- Kentucky vs. Houston winner: Kentucky
— Final Four: Duke over Texas Tech, Tennessee over North Carolina
— Title winner: Tennessee over Duke
Nancy Armour, Paste BN Sports
- Gonzaga vs. Florida State winner: Gonzaga
- Tennessee vs. Purdue winner: Purdue
- Michigan vs. Texas Tech winner: Michigan
- Virginia vs. Oregon winner: Oregon
- Michigan State vs. LSU winner: Michigan State
- North Carolina vs. Auburn winner: North Carolina
- Duke vs. Virginia Tech winner: Duke
- Kentucky vs. Houston winner: Kentucky
— Final Four: Michigan State over Gonzaga, North Carolina over Purdue
— Title winner: North Carolina
Eddie Timanus, Paste BN Sports
- Gonzaga vs. Florida State winner: Gonzaga
- Tennessee vs. Purdue winner: Tennessee
- Michigan vs. Texas Tech winner: Texas Tech
- Virginia vs. Oregon winner: Virginia
- Michigan State vs. LSU winner: Michigan State
- North Carolina vs. Auburn winner: North Carolina
- Duke vs. Virginia Tech winner: Duke
- Kentucky vs. Houston winner: Kentucky
— Final Four: Duke over Gonzaga, North Carolina over Tennessee
— Title winner: Duke