After a packed slate of first round matches in men’s NCAA Tournament play, attention swiftly turns to Sunday. There, the 16 teams who earned a buy will meet those who won Thursday. How exactly each match plays out remains to be seen. It’s true that some advantages come with Thursday night play. As long as injuries are avoided, those that won can certainly establish some rhythm. The inverse is of course the mental and physical exhaustion that comes with tournament play. Either way, Sunday’s games should be thrilling in their own right. Here’s a look at all 16 of them.

Kentucky vs. South Florida 11/20, 6 p.m.

Kentucky is the only unbeaten side in the nation and has seldom looked tested despite playing a tough schedule. It boasts a well rounded attack that gets goals from everywhere. Nick Gutmann is one of the best assist-getters in the nation, with 16 to his name thus far. There is reason for concern, though, as top scorer Eythor Bjorgolfsson will Sunday’s contest due to suspension. There are plenty of attacking options available, but the Wildcats might not be as potent going forward as usual.

They will meet a South Florida team that put four past Hofstra in the first round. The Bulls have bloomed late this season, but make up for a well rounded side, with some serious scoring talent. Still, it’s difficult not to see Kentucky winning here — if only by a narrow margin.

Prediction: Kentucky 2-1 South Florida

Akron vs. Pittsburgh, 11/20 1 p.m.

Akron is the 16th seed and is perhaps slightly fortunate to be hosting after a few rocky results. But its nonconference slate was perhaps convincing enough to impress the committee. The talent is certainly there to back it up. Jason Shokalook and Dyson Claprier get the goals, while Mitch Budler is a reliable keeper. There’s also some defensive talent in Malik henry and Will Jackson. And regardless of the personnel, head coach Jared Nimick always makes his teams hard to beat.

In a rematch of one of the regular season’s best contests, the Zips will face Pittsburgh. The Panthers didn’t make it too easy on themselves against Cleveland State but still squeaked out a 2-1 win. Crucially, though, Bertin Jacquesson found some form, bagging a brace in the win. If he’s firing, the Panthers can compete with anyone.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 2-1 Akron

Cornell vs. Maryland, 11/20, 2 p.m.

The Big Red have been one of the most consistent teams in the nation, and have a quality win over Syracuse to show for it. They don’t overwhelm opponents but have steadily picked up results over the course of their challenging slate. Brandon Morales is the star, with eight goals and eight assists to his name this year. But there’s talent everywhere, and Cornell can give any team a game.

Maryland, meanwhile, is coming off an impressive offensive performance. The Terps led Fairleigh Dickinson 3-0 by half time, and spent most of the second half of their contest rotating. Some sloppy goals will have disappointed head coach Sasho Cirovski, but the attack looks promising ahead of a big game. This one is a toss up, but Maryland’s playoff experience might just be enough.

Prediction: Maryland 1-0 Cornell

Syracuse vs. Penn, 11/20 p.m.

No one really saw Syracuse coming, but head coach Ian McIntyre has pieced together one of the most balanced teams in the nation. More than anything, the Orange are very difficult to beat. Their defensive line is experienced and physical, while transfer goalkeeper Russell Shealy is enjoying his best year as a college student. Levonte Johnson is also a handful for any defender.

Any questions about the legitimacy of the Ivy League were quickly dispelled in Penn's 3-0 thrashing of Rutgers Thursday night. The Quakers turned in a complete performance, scoring three impressive goals while also defending for moments when Rutgers applied pressure. But it was a high intensity game, one that will test the legs come Sunday. A rested Syracuse team might be too much to handle.

Prediction: Syracuse 3-1 Penn

Lipscomb vs. Western Michigan, 11/20 3 p.m.

Lipscomb always figured to be among the ASUN’s best, but a break into the national scene — and top 10 seed — was unexpected. Still, the Bison deserve to be here. They keep the ball out of the net reliably and play expensive soccer that can cause any team problems. Jelldrik Dallmann has also evolved into a reliable striker, something any tournament contender needs.

Western Michigan was a trendy pick for an upset Thursday night, and it did just that, beating Louisville, 2-1. But this was far from a smash and grab. The Broncos took the game to the Cardinals, and although they needed extra time to settle things, the result felt fair. But they might be left to rue those extra 20 minutes, especially on the road.

Prediction: Lipscomb 3-2 Western Michigan

SMU vs. Vermont, 11/20, 8 p.m.

How good is SMU? It’s difficult to judge. Sometimes, the Mustangs look like one of the best sides in the nation — especially when Knut Ahlander is firing. But there are some weaknesses here, notably defensively, as they concede 12 shots per game. It will largely depend on matchups, then, and Vermont appears to be an interesting one.

Alex Nagy will be the real issue. He pulls the strings in the midfield for Vermont and was at his incisive best Thursday night. Though he didn’t score or assist, his buzz on the ball helped lift the Catamounts to a 3-2 win over a resilient Quinnipiac side. It’s a long way from Vermont to Texas, and the Catamounts haven’t been as dominant on the road. This one is a coin flip.

Prediction: Vermont 1-0 SMU

Oregon State vs. Portland, 11/20 9 p.m.

Oregon State picked the right time to heat up. The Beavers upset then-undefeated Washington last time out and will look to keep that momentum going. They are paced by Pac 12 Player of the Year Joran Gerbert, whose ability to control the midfield allows the Beavers to dictate the flow of games. If he can keep them ticking, a strong run of form might just continue.

In their way is a Portland side that was relatively comfortable against UC Riverside, running out 2-1 winners. The Pilots haven’t been too convincing in recent weeks, but still have a deep lineup with goals all over the pitch. They’ll need more from Brandon Cambridge to get something out of this fixture. The forward has cooled off after a rampant start to the season, but can still change a game when he’s on it.

Prediction: Oregon State 3-2 Portland

Stanford vs. High Point, 11/20 8 p.m.

Another west coast team to show its quality late in the season, Stanford is the sort of well rounded squad that could cause problems over the next few weeks. The Cardinal are typically deep, with center back Keegan Hughes dominating at the back and Shane de Flores contributing in attack. Cameron Cilley pulls the strings in the middle, keeping the possession-heavy Cardinal flowing.

Will High Point just be happy to have made it this far? Probably not. The Panthers have equaled — and bested — power 5 opponents all season, and won’t shy away from one of the nation’s best teams. They’re a crafty side. Vertical and quick, the Panthers don’t waste time getting down the pitch. They can also hit from set pieces. At the very least, this won’t be a comfortable contest for the Cardinal

Prediction: Stanford 1-0 High Point

UNC Greensboro vs. Ohio State, 11/20 6 p.m.

The Spartans can score in bunches and are tied for 6th with 44 goals on the year. Marco Afonso is the most obvious offensive threat while attacking midfielder JC Ngando is one of the best playmakers around. The Spartans haven’t been forced to defend much, but have limited high scoring Clemson and blanked SMU.

It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. Ohio State brushed aside Wake Forest, 3-0, in the first round, with Anthony Samways rounding into form to dispatch the Deacons. But consistency has eluded them so far this season, and November isn’t the best time to try to rediscover form. A performance similar to that Thursday night will make this one close. Anything less and UNCG will punish them.

Prediction: UNCG 3-2 Ohio State

Indiana vs. Saint Louis, 11/20 12 p.m.

Coach Todd Yeagley took a while to figure out his team, but the Hoosiers come into the tournament with a clearly defined system and talent all over the field. Daniel Munie orchestrates everything from the back, while outside midfielder Ryan Wittenbrink serves as the main creative force. There’s energy up front, too, in the form of Sam Sarver.

The bad news for Indiana is it faces a Saint Louis team that has gotten hot at the right time. This iteration of the Billikens is far different tan the one that made a playoff run last year, but some key figures remain. One of them, Seth Anderson, was the difference maker as they beat Memphis 4-2, Thursday night. The forward played sparingly last year but has stepped into a bigger role this fall. And though the numbers haven't been there, he affects the game in a major way. That’s enough to give Indiana a scare.

Prediction: Indiana 2-2 Saint Louis (Indiana wins on PKs)

Virginia vs. Marshall, 11/20 1 p.m.

After an inconsistent start to the season, the Cavaliers have really figured things out, and appear primed for a run. Leonardo Afonso is the star, creating chances and serving as a real handful as an attacking midfielder and in the front line. But there are goals around him, too, especially in Kome Ugobu and Phil Horton. Holden Brown has also been excellent of late in goal.

What to make of Marshall? Chris Grassie’s team endured a tricky 90 minute Thursday night, but still got a much-needed win against Elon. The Herd haven’t been as fluid as he might like in recent weeks, but they certainly have the quality to hurt any team. Matthew Bell could be the key man. The striker’s scoring has slowed down after a hot start, but he can still be clinical inside the box. He’ll need to be against a tough Virginia defense.

Prediction: Virginia 1-0 Marshall

Duke vs. Denver, 11/20, 1 p.m.

Everything seemed to be going very well for the Blue Devils until they were upset by Clemson in the ACC Tournament. The Tigers exposed some defensive weaknesses, showing how easily they can be hit on the break. But Duke can also be devastating going forward, especially with Shak Mohammed leading the line. Peter Stroud is also an elite midfielder.

But the Blue Devils don’t have the easiest draw. They face a Denver side coming off a 1-0 win over San Diego in snowy conditions. And the Pios are a better side than they showed Thursday, with attacking quality all over the pitch and a star player in Sam Bassett. Though Duke will be favorite, Denver could give the No. 7 seed a real scare.

Prediction: Duke 2-1 Denver

Florida International vs. New Hampshire, 11/20, 6 p.m.

FIU continues to improve under Kyle Russell. The third year head coach has given the Panthers a lift, and they could have a run in them this year. Stephen Afrifa’s form will be the key. The forward is sometimes inconsistent, but he’s quick on the break and has tallied 10 goals so far — including four game-winners.

New Hampshire was relatively controlled in perhaps the easiest first round tie in the tournament, seeing off Seton Hall, 2-1. The Wildcats still aren’t at their best, but have found ways to win over the last few weeks, creating chances off set pieces, and, on Thursday, long throw ins. Those small moments can make for big results.

Prediction: FIU 2-1 New Hampshire

Tulsa vs. Georgetown, 11/20 7 p.m.

Tulsa’s success over the next few weeks largely depends on which version of the team will show up. Will it be the one that blanked Charlotte, thrashed FAU and edged Memphis? Or will the less reliable Hurricanes show up, the team that lost to South Florida, SMU and FIU? The quality is certainly there, especially in the form of Alex Meinhard and Malik Henry Scott. But inconsistencies have plagued this team — and they will need to be amended soon.

The Hurricanes will play an in form Georgetown side. The Hoyas dealt with Navy comfortably in the first round, beating the Midshipmen 2-0. It’s a young roster, but the youth have performed — especially down the stretch of the season. Jacob Murrell is steadily becoming one of the best young forwards in the Big East. The freshman bagged both goals against Navy and now has seven on the season. He’ll be hard to stop.

Prediction: Tulsa 2-1 Georgetown

Washington vs. Creighton, 11/20, 8 p.m.

Small hiccups aside, Washington has looked among the best teams in the nation this year. The Huskies have impact players all over the pitch, including the prolific duo of Lucas Meek and Ilijah Paul. Their struggles — if there are any — might be at the other end of the pitch. Washington hasn’t played too many high scoring teams, and could well be stretched by a Creighton side that features Duncan McGuire. It’s certainly a bad time to play the Bluejays. They trailed Missouri State until the 83rd minute Thursday night, but scored twice in short order to pull off a 2-1 win. Whether they can recreate that magic against a more impressive opponent remains to be seen, but they certainly won’t lack belief. The question, then, becomes one of quality. And the Huskies might have too much.

Prediction: Washington 3-1 Creighton

UCLA vs. Clemson, 11/20, 8 p.m.

Clemson enjoyed a successful last few weeks to the season, becoming the lowest seed to ever advance to an ACC Tournament championship. And although it eventually fell to a solid Syracuse side, there was a lot to like in the back end of the season. The attacking talent is certainly there, with Ousmane Sylla and Brandon Parrish leading the way. And although the defense can be a bit leaky, it's an experienced group that won’t be easy to break down.

That’ll be a tough job for UCLA. The Bruins were perhaps fortunate to earn a bid, as they lacked a signature conference win. Still, they hung around with both Stanford and Washington, which was enough to earn them the favor of the committee. Cal Baptist gave them a hard time Thursday night, but UCLA had enough in the end for a 2-1 win. Scoring goals has been a real issue for them. If Sunday turns into a shootout, they might not keep up.

Prediction: Clemson 2-0 UCLA

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