Both the New Mexico Lobos and Stanford Cardinal got a tough draw in the 2014 NCAA tournament. Both teams are capable of making a Sweet 16 run, but only one team will have the chance of doing so after this contest.

These No. 7 vs. No. 10 seed matchups are always very hard to predict. You don’t know if it is going to be a close one or a complete blowout, but that’s kind of how the entire NCAA tourney works out.

The Lobos just got done winning the MW tournament and have won nine of 10. The Cardinal have lost four in their last seven.

What to Watch For

Chasson Randle, Kendall Williams and Cameron Bairstow. There will definitely be other talented players on the court in this game, but those three are arguably the best.

Randle is leading Stanford with 18.7 points per game and can drop 20+ on any team in the tournament.

Williams is averaging 16.4 points per game and is shooting 40.4 percent from the three-point line. Bairstow could be the best player in this contest, though. He is putting up 20.3 points per game and has had quite the breakout season for the Lobos.

Prediction

I am going to have to go with the mid-major in this one. Both teams entered the season with relatively high expectations, but it is New Mexico that is coming off of a tournament championship and it is New Mexico that lost in its first game of the  dance last year as a No. 3 seed. You better believe that this team will be trying to avenge its loss from last season.

New Mexico 78 Stanford 62

Trevor Lowry is a Senior Writer and Copy Editor at www.RantSports.com. If you’re a tweeter feel free to follow him @TheTrevorLowry or add him to your network on Google.