The field of eight is set for today and tomorrow after a riveting and surprising Sweet 16 round. The No.1 overall seed Crimson Tide fell to a defensive juggernaut in San Diego State. The pressure of the big moments can be tough on teams that don’t have a lot of experience against teams that do. The Crimson Tide had a nice season, though there was a lot of controversy.

Sweet 16 record

Straight up, 4-4

ATS, 4-4

Here’s a look at the Elite 8 matchups along with predictions.

Today

East Region

No. 9 (seeded) Florida Atlantic (34-3) vs. No. 3 Kansas State (26-9)

Madison Square Garden, Bite the Biiig Apple. 20,789

5:09 PM CT

TBS

KSU by 2

Florida Atlantic is relentless and they showed it in handling Tennessee Thursday Night. It’s hard to go against this talented Conference USA Team. UAB is doin’ work in the NIT as is North Texas, as both are in the Final Four so it’s proven to be a stellar conference. But I’ll take Markquis Nowell, the terrific point guard for the Wildcats, who scored 20 points and dished out an all time NCAA Tournament record 19 assists in K State’s 98-93 overtime victory over Michigan State Thursday Night. I like Nowell and his team to have a little more magic than a prolific Owls team. Give me the team from the Little Apple, Manhattan, Kansas in New Yawk.

Kansas State 77, Florida Atlantic 74

West Region

No.4 UConn (28-8) vs. No.3 Gonzaga (31-5)

T-Mobile Arena, Vegas, 20,000.

7:49 PM CT

TBS

UConn by 2 1/2

This will be a blockbustuh I may be going against the grain because the Huskies look unstoppable right now, but I’ll take my White’s World Bracket national champion led by superstar senior Drew Timme.

Gonzaga 86, UConn 84

Sunday

South Region

No.6 Creighton (24-12) vs. No.5 San Diego State (30-6)

KFC Yumi Center, Louisville, KY., 22,090

1:20 PM CT

CBS

Creighton by 1 1/2

I can’t go against the team that shut down Brandon Miller and the No.1 overall seed Crimson Tide with suffocating, tenacious defense. Defense always travels.

San Diego State 71, Creighton 69

Midwest Region

No. 5 Miami (28-7) vs. No. 2 Texas (29-8)

T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO., 18,000

4:05 PM CT

CBS

Texas by 4

Miami shredded Houston last night with their three point shooting. Wow, what an offensive juggernaut. Texas is prolific as well, and maybe more so than the Canes on the defensive end though defense may not be as much of a factor in this one as the offenses shine. But defense should play a role at the end. This is another tough prediction, but I’ll take the Horns in a classic.

Texas 85, Miami 80