March Madness 2014: Saturday’s Elite Eight predictions for South, West regions

Last night saw the end of Iowa State’s run through the NCAA tournament, but that doesn’t mean the predictions stop. Eight teams remain and seven games are left to decide who will be the 2013-14 national champion.

Mar 27, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Florida Gators guard Scottie Wilbekin (5) and UCLA Bruins guard Jordan Adams (3) go after a loose ball during the second half in the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Two more games and teams will be eliminated after today, but what’s already been eliminated is this site’s credentials to pick games. We went a whopping 0-4 last night, missing on the upset pick with Tennessee, the biased pick with the Cyclones, and missing on both Virginia and Louisville.

Sure, each game was marginally different at the end and that 0-4 could have easily been 4-0 if things went differently. But we press on.

South Regional Final – at Memphis, TN

(11)Dayton (26-10) at (1)Florida (35-2) – 5:09 PM CT, TBS

Is this finally the night that the Flyers’ magic comes to an end? They’re the only team left that’s a double-digit seed. Unfortunately, they’re a double-digit dog to Florida. As fun as it is to see them riot on the streets after each win, that will come to a crashing halt tonight. The Gators were the overall number-one team heading into the tournament, and they will be a clear favorite to win it all after disposing of Dayton easily if Michael Frazier has another big night like he had against UCLA, because he’ll make things a lot easier for Casey Prather, Patric Young, and Scottie Wilbekin (who all average double-digits in points per game).

Prediction: Florida 79-62 (Odds: FLA -10.5, O134)

West Regional Final – at Anaheim, CA

Mar 27, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Aaron Gordon (11) dunks the ball past San Diego State Aztecs forward Matt Shrigley (40) during the second half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

(2)Wisconsin (29-7) at (1)Arizona (33-4) – 7:49 PM CT, TBS

Didn’t the Badgers look dangerously good against Baylor or what? Wisconsin’s MO each night is to shut down opponents on offense while drilling them with 3’s from the perimeter. Thing is, like Wisky, Arizona doesn’t give up 3-pointers. Both teams have given up around the same amount of 3-pointers (ARIZ: 167, WISC: 177) while facing around the same amount of attempts (ARIZ: 524, WISC: 523). Neutralize the perimeter, and the Wildcats have the edge on the boards and assists. I’ll take the Pac-12 to have a representative in the Final Four.

Prediction: Arizona 63-56 (Odds: ARIZ -3, U132)