By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

One of the great things about the NCAA Tournament is its unpredictability. On the flip side, that unpredictability can sometimes lend itself to a less than exciting Final Four.

If you’re a fan who enjoys those football games that are a defensive battle, ending in a score of 6-3, go ahead and pop some popcorn and get snuggled in because this year’s Final Four is your “Citizen Kane.” If you’re not, it’s your “Gigli”.

While it may not be the most exciting set of games when you compare it to what may have been, it doesn’t mean they won’t be entertaining, or that any of the four teams aren’t deserving of being there.

Let’s go ahead and start with, in my opinion, the least intriguing matchup of the two, Texas Tech vs. Michigan State.

The Red Raiders have been college basketball’s most efficient team on the defensive end for most of, if not the entire season, and they are every bit as good as their ranking.

Offensively however, outside of Jarrett Culver, there’s not much there. Think it’s more enjoyable to watch Virginia team of years past, but with the same low scoring results.

Michigan State on the other hand, doesn’t do anything great, but doesn’t really have a glaring weakness. You pretty much know what you’re going to get from them; rebounding, tough defense, and meticulous execution.

If Cassius Winston can create enough space to get his shot off with any type of consistency, the Spartans have a chance. If not, I’m going with Texas Tech in a game that’s score not make it into the 60’s.

The Virginia/Auburn game has the potential to be great. As much as people want to bemoan the Cavaliers pack-line defense, and with good reason, their offense is underrated.

They’ve struggled on the offensive side throughout most of the tournament, but they showed in the second half of the Purdue game what they’re capable of doing.

And Auburn is like a real life version of NBA JAM, if it consisted of college teams. They are so feast or famine on both sides of the ball, the anticipation leading up to their games is like buying a lottery ticket; you could win the jackpot or lose all your money, but either way the excitement is all in the finding out.

I’m leaning towards Virginia, but after Auburn ran  through the gauntlet of Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky in pretty convincing fashion, I also feel like Auburn should be the favorite.

Honestly, I have no idea how a Tigers fan makes it through the season without breaking a tv in a frustration one minute and then running through the streets naked in complete adulation the next. (For the record, I’m going with Virginia over Texas Tech in the championship game.)

The point is made almost every year that as much as we yearn for that Cinderella run the begin the tournament, we want the best teams in finish it off in the Final Four. There may not be any of the “Bluebloods” in this year’s Final Four, but all four participants have had strong seasons and been impressive in their respective tournament runs.

I’m sure there aren’t too many brackets that had these pairings, and while it may not be the Final Four most of us expected, that unpredictability may be just what makes this year’s event more exciting than predicted.