Why Kentucky will win: Have you seen this team play? Kentucky can pound the ball inside and have no drop-off at all when John Calipari goes to his bench. But UK can also take teams apart with its guards, including Aaron and Andrew Harrison, two guys who have plenty of NCAA Tournament experience from last year. Kentucky has another gear it can turn to when the pressure is on, and the mystique of this team means a lot in the quick-turnaround atmosphere of the Dance.

Why Cincinnati will win: How can Cincy win? Maybe if the Bearcats work some voodoo spells on UK’s bigs or they summon a demon take out UK’s frontline. Cincinnati is athletic, but it isn’t blessed with the best shooters around. The only option for Cincy is to attack the basket to get UK’s bigs in foul trouble, and the Bearcats have to turn up the defense to create a lot of turnovers. Rattling the Wildcat guards will be everything.

What will happen: Kentucky is going to pound the ball inside to take advantage of its size, and the Wildcats will dominate on the glass on both ends. UK’s ability to create off the dribble will leave Cincinnati’s defense on its heels, and the Wildcats are going to roll.
Prediction:Kentucky 85, Cincinnati 72