Akers' Final Four predictions

SEMIFINALS
Florida vs. UCLA – This isn't the 2006 championship game all over again, though the rematch is intriguing. Darren Collison has replaced Jordan Farmar at the point, and that's worked out well for the Bruins. Arron Afflalo doesn't figure to go 3-for-10 again from the field. But the Gators are different, too. They gave up NBA millions to get here, which is just how much this moment is worth to them now. Winner: Florida.

Georgetown vs. Ohio State – The last time an NCAA tournament game featured a pair of 7-footers like this … do we have to go back to the Hoyas' Patrick Ewing and Houston's Akeem Olajuwon in 1984? Greg Oden and Roy Hibbert are no Ewing and Olajuwon, at least not yet, but Oden has that sort of defensive potential and Hibbert is rapidly improving. Winner: Ohio State.

CHAMPIONSHIP
Florida vs. Ohio State – The stars of last season and the stars of tomorrow meet up to see who will be the stars of today. Buckeyes freshmen Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. won't be sneaking up on the field the way that Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara did in 2003, however. In the end, championship-game experience should win out. Winner: Florida.