IB's Elite Eight Predictions

[IdahoBoy]

All matches will be shown LIVE on CSTV. There is a thread at the top of the board with internet streams and livestats links.



4:00 pm EST/3:00 pm CST/1:00 pm PST/11:00 am HST
Green Bay, Wisconsin - Wisconsin and Stanford won't take long. Stanford's Ogonna Nnamani still has a little bit of chance of being the National Player of the Year and she wants to show she's at least worthy of a glance from Stacey Gordon's limelight. Stanford is playing lights out at this point in the season and is always a Final Four contender. This should not be an exception year for them.
IB's pick: Stanford in 4.

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6:00 pm EST/5:00 pm CST/3:00 pm PST/1:00 pm HST
Louisville, Kentucky - Nebraska is #1 ranked and seeded in the land. USC is the two-time defending National Champions. I think anyone watching this match is in for a treat. I like the matchup of height in this one, even though USC has the edge in numbers, I think Nebraska has the edge in mobility of the towers.

It's going to come down to passing and coverage because these are two well-oiled machines right now.

I predict a 5-gamer if USC can maintain passing focus and if they can contain Pavan, they just might win. My pick the winner's success relies on that!

IB's pick: USC in 5

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8:00 pm EST/7:00 pm CST/5:00 pm PST/3:00 pm HST
Minneapolis, Minnesota - Buckeyes and Gophers. I don't think I ever want to know what a "Buckeye" really is, but I love the "the" in front of OSU's name. On similar grounds, I'm not sure how a Gopher can be Golden. Both teams had 5-game thrillers to treat the Minnesota faithful last night. It could come down to who is the most rested tonight, as these teams split during the regular season. Stacey Gordon's performance follows her leading opponent for the coveted National Player of the Year (or should we say Continental POY?), so she has the "Fear Factor" advantage of knowing what it's gonna take. This will probably be the hardest fought match of the night between the two most even teams. Regardless of the winner, we'll all be winners for having witnessed it.

IB's pick: Ohio State in 5

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10:00 pm EST/9:00 pm CST/7:00 pm PST/5:00 pm HST

Seattle, Washington - Pac-10 Showdown: UCLA Bruins. Washington Huskies. Count on the masses showing up for this one. Something about a Pac-10 matchup for the right to go to the Final Four should send shivers down all of our spines. This one is electric. UCLA is riding high off an upset of the 2-seed. Washington is trying to prove it's worth and keep players healthy enough to defend it's majority of the season 1 ranking. Both teams have fought injuries all season, but it appears UCLA has battled through the pain and is relatively healthy. Washington still has question marks. I originally picked Washington to win this one, but that "Magnum PI-little gut feeling" is telling me that the Bruins prevail if they can take it in 4, the crowd will be too much if it goes 5.

IB's pick: UCLA in 4

[bigfan]

I am getting nervous, I actually agree with 3 of your picks.

[blob]

I feel better about Washington's chances now.

[IdahoBoy]

OldMan said:

I feel better about Washington's chances now.

LOL!

Mo power sasquatch lovah.

[beachman]

IB I certainly hope that your predictions are very very wrong! Yuk, at the thought of 3 PAC-10 teams in the FF. No interest or excitement there unfortunately as neither U$C nor UCLA have any fan base at all, vurtually none. Neither school will even fill out their 150 tickets I fear and we need people in those seats!

My picks, and I have to hold my nose on one: Stanford(hold my nose), Washington(they win easily) Nebraska, and Minnesota(toughest to call of all but home field advantage is the main advantage here). I HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED because if U$C beats Nebraska we will lose 500 ticket sales....ain't football.....doesn't mean %*$# at U$C! Plus you all know how I feel about Haley!

[dogfan]

if uw wins, im coming , if i can find a ticket, grew up in Buena Park *S* Time to see the parents

[blob]

Sasquatch plays for USC, not UW !!

[IdahoBoy]

OldMan said:

Sasquatch plays for USC, not UW !!

Well... Sasquatch LIVES in Seattle.

Ever seen Harry and the Hendersons?

[blob]

Oops, there is no PAC 10 mens volleyball. Meant to say
Mountain Pacific VB

[USAFAN]

At this point, I really don't care who gets to the final four I just hope that someone else besides Stanford, USC, or Nebraska wins the championship. This whole yer we've been discussing the parity around the country, only to have Stanford, the 2001 Champ and 2002 runner up, USC the two time defending champ, and Nebraska the 2000 champs on the cusp of winning it all again. I wanna see someone who hasn't won before like Minnestoa, Washington, or Ohio State win it.

[IdahoBoy]

USAFAN said:

At this point, I really don't care who gets to the Final Four I just hope that someone else besides Stanford, USC, or Nebraska wins the championship. This whole yer we've been discussing the parity around the country, only to have Stanford, the 2001 Champ and 2002 runner up, USC the two time defending champ, and Nebraska the 2000 champs on the cusp of winning it all again. I wanna see someone who hasn't won before like Minnestoa, Washington, or Ohio State win it.

Nice to have you back posting USAFan, you've been quiet lately.