Pat Forde's predictions

What does Pat Forde say?

2) Duke-Kentucky III is pre-empted by Utah-Michigan State
Everyone remembers the two regional final classics of the 1990s – the Christian Laettner shot in 1992 and the less-heralded Kentucky comeback in '98. What people don't remember are the other times post-Laettner that the selection committee unsuccessfully tried to pit the Blue Devils and Wildcats.

In 1994, Duke was a No. 2 seed and Kentucky a No. 3, but the Wildcats were stunned in the second round by Marquette. In 2001, the committee outdid itself, pointing the two toward a regional final in Philadelphia (site of the '92 game), but USC upset Kentucky in the Sweet 16.

It would be another swell matchup this time around. Failing that, CBS would take either of the two as regional-final consolation prizes. It likely would be less pleased by Utes-Spartans.

Utah does have Andrew Bogut as a drawing card, and Michigan State does have Tom Izzo. But Ray Giacoletti could spend all day on a street corner in Austin without being recognized as the coach of the Utes, and the Spartans' players have an odd dearth of charisma.

We'll see how that plays out!