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March Madness 2021: Predicting the winners of the Elite Eight games

By Mike Phillips

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 28: Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines takes a shot against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 28, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 28: Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines takes a shot against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 28, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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The Elite Eight matchups are set and this is how all four games will play out.

The 2021 NCAA Tournament has been a strong success with all but one game played to this point. There has been plenty of drama and some historic upsets, but the Elite Eight looks largely similar to what a lot of experts predicted it would look at the start of the tournament.

The matchups are set with a trip to the Final Four on the line but how will each region play out? Read on to find out with a breakdown of each March Madness game set for the next two days.

March Madness: Elite Eight predictions

Midwest Region – No. 12 Oregon State vs. No. 2 Houston

The Beavers have joined an elite fraternity of March Madness underdog stories, becoming just the second No. 12 seed to ever reach the Elite Eight after Missouri did it back in 2002. Head coach Wayne Tinkle has done a great job with Oregon State, which has had to win every game since they showed up in Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament to extend their season and has done so in a variety of ways against strong opponents like Tennessee, Oregon, Colorado, Oklahoma State and Loyola-Chicago.

The Cougars are looking to get back to the Final Four for the first time since the Phi Slama Jama days but Kelvin Sampson’s team has shown some vulnerability down the stretch, trailing Rutgers late in the Round of 32 before rallying to win and barely surviving a pair of games against Memphis down the stretch of the AAC season. While there’s no doubt that Houston is the better team Oregon State is hotter and more battle-tested, making them the pick to get to the Final Four.

Prediction: Oregon State 66, Houston 62

South Region – No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Baylor

Few expected the Razorbacks to be relevant this season but Eric Musselman has done a great job assembling a talented roster headlined by NBA prospect Moses Moody. Despite their high-flying offense, Arkansas has struggled to get going in the NCAA Tournament, falling behind early in each of their first three games before rallying to win, with the last two victories coming by just two points.

Baylor used its offensive firepower to get past the first weekend of the tournament but had to rediscover its defensive chops to outlast Villanova in the Sweet 16. That versatility should allow the Bears to jump ahead of Arkansas and bury the Razorbacks behind a cavalcade of three-point shooting.

Prediction: Baylor 79, Arkansas 69

West Region – No. 6 USC vs. No. 1 Gonzaga

All great champions have to face at least one tough test on the road to the Final Four. Gonzaga hasn’t had to face theirs yet thanks to a path filled with teams they could handle easily, but that will change against a game USC team that is loaded with talent.

The Trojans can throw a ton of size at Gonzaga with brothers Evan and Isaiah Mobley offering Andy Enfield’s team the chance to dominate on the interior. This game will be very close but USC’s suspect free-throw shooting will come back to haunt the Trojans in a game they could easily steal.

Prediction: Gonzaga 85, USC 80

East Region – No. 11 UCLA vs. No. 1 Michigan

The Pac-12 party continues as UCLA has gone from the First Four to the Elite Eight, taking down Michigan State, BYU, Abilene Christian and Alabama to earn their way into this matchup with Michigan. Head coach Mick Cronin deserves a ton of credit for helping the Bruins peak in March, including an impressive display in overtime against Alabama after facing a gut-punch of a buzzer-beater and without the services of Johnny Juzang, who fouled out in regulation.

Taking on Michigan is a big step up in weight class for the Bruins, however, and their run should come to an end here. The Wolverines are more versatile offensively and can knock down their free throws, which should be enough to secure a win in a game that will be extremely close thanks to UCLA’s ability to slow the contest’s tempo down to a crawl.

Prediction: Michigan 72, UCLA 68

Next. 20 biggest upsets in the history of March Madness. dark

For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.

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