Can Kentucky upset Ohio State in the Sweet 16?

According to offshore bookmaker BetUS, the answer is no. Right now, Ohio State is favored by six points over Kentucky

When looking at the  betting public, the answer is no with 72% of the action on the favored Buckeyes.

ESPN analyst Scott Van Pelt even has Kentucky facing Ohio State in his Sweet 16 bracket selections, but like the rest of the betting world has Ohio State moving on and eventually winning the 2011 NCAA Championship.

So with everyone from the experts who make the odds to the experts on television backing Ohio State, does Kentucky have a chance on Friday? The answer is yes. Do not get me wrong, everything will need to align to beat an amazing team like Ohio State who not only can score at will in the low post but is first nationally in three-point accuracy (42.4%) and second in overall field goal percentage (49.9%). So what will need to happen for the Wildcats to down the Buckeyes and move on to the Elite 8? Well here is what stars will need to align to disappoint tons of people who have Ohio State circled in the finals of their brackets:

Kentucky senior Josh Harrellson will need to have the game of his career in trying to slow down Ohio State superstar Jared Sullinger. Josh Harrellson had a great season in the SEC with rebounds per game (8.8) and field goal percentage (.604). In this one he is playing for something more. Pride for both himself and the Kentucky program. Many people are not aware of the fact recruiters in the Midwest felt he was not "tough enough" to play basketball in the Big Ten. So as fate would have it, he will have have the "toughest" assignment of his life on the biggest stage in trying to more the storied program of Kentucky past the pre-ordained National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio State must not be able to drain three-pointers at will. To keep Sullinger and the low post game in check, Kentucky will be forced to use the double team to perfection. The problem in that approach means unless the NCAA allows Kentucky to use an extra player, the Ohio State gunners will be getting open looks beyond the arc. George Mason is quite aware of the three-point threat after having Buckeyes senior David Lighy go 7-7 on long range bombs. Kentucky will be forced to focus on the inside and pray to the basketball gods that Ohio State has an "off game" from long distance.

Brandon Knight will have to try and top his tournament performance against West Virginia when he dropped in 30 points. Knight has come up big for the Wildcats in almost every big matchup, including games against Florida, Notre Dame and North Carolina.

Depth. Despite being the top team in the country, Ohio State basically is playing a seven man rotation. Either foul trouble or "off nights" would allow Kentucky to focus on three or four players versus seven guys capable of scoring each time they touch the ball.

Talent vs. talent and playing a perfect game, Ohio State would win this game 100% of the time. But, there is a reason it is called March Madness so do not be suprised if Cinderella is decked out in "Kentucky Blue" on Friday.