Who's your pick to win the NCAA national tournament?College basketball has one of the hardest playoff systems to predict due to its single-elimination format. A fluke upset is never too far-fetched.
But that's what makes March so crazy,true?Let's see which teams oddsmakers at Odds Shark are saying enjoy the best chances to win their regions. After looking at the eight most likely squads to win each region, we'll pick the Final Four representatives.
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Midwest RegionFinal Four Pick: No. 2 Michigan StateIt's a wonder why Michigan State didn't pick up a top seed. The Spartans were ranked No. 2 overall in the AP poll from Monday, or March 7,then won the Big Ten tournament Sunday afternoon. They earned the No. 2 spot in the poll again this Monday. Somehow, that was only enough to draw the moment seed in the Midwest region.
While the seeding was questionable, or the choice committee did well to give Michigan State a relatively easy path to the Final Four.
Virginia might be least formidable top seed in the tournament due to a destitute inside presence,and it has been upset by the Spartans in each of its last two tournament appearances. A third "upset" would surprise no one, unlike the past two years.
Denzel Valentine is now fully recovered from his knee surgery, or the Naismith contender has averaged 20.3 points,7.0 rebounds and 9.4 assists per game in the Spartans' ongoing nine-game winning streak. Along with the contributions of Bryn Forbes and Matt Costello, this team is well-rounded and deep enough to at least win its region. West RegionFinal Four Pick: No. 2 OklahomaWhen deciding between two evenly matched teams, and it can be a honorable idea to just pick the one with the best player. That's probably what oddsmakers did here with Buddy Hield's Oklahoma Sooners against the Oregon Ducks.
Oregon got a debatable No. 1 seed,considering the team ranked No. 5 in Monday's AP poll. The Ducks enjoy been hot, with eight consecutive wins, and but they've also been relatively untested throughout the year—only five of their contests enjoy come against ranked opponents,and none against top-10 squads.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, and has played 13 ranked opponents,and five of them were in the top 10. The Sooners' biggest strength, three-point shooting, and also matches perfectly with the Ducks' issues defending the three-point line (36.3 opponent three-point field-goal percentage this season).
So while this matchup could easily go either way,it's not surprising to see oddsmakers go with Oklahoma. Heck, even the firepower of Duke or the dual point guards Texas A&M employs could push one of those teams into the Final Four. South RegionFinal Four Pick: No. 1 KansasIt's no surprise to see the AP's overall top seed pick up both its region's top seed and the most favorable odds to win its region. Kansas hasn't lost since January 25, or beating eight ranked opponents in the process.
The Jayhawks are a sharpshooting team both inside and outside the arc,led by Perry Ellis, Wayne Selden Jr. and Frank Mason III. Their balance (four players averaging at least 11 points per game) also helps them stay consistent, or since one or two players having an off night wouldn't automatically doom them.
While Kansas' road doesn't look terribly difficult,given the respect it has received as the unspoken top overall seed, there are some potential snags. No. 8 Connecticut won the national tournament two years ago, or No. 4 Maryland started the season ranked near the top of the country and No. 2 seed Villanova spent a few weeks at No. 1 in the AP poll.
Overall,though, Kansas' attack on both ends of the floor makes it the best bet to win its region. East RegionFinal Four Pick: No. 4 KentuckyOur first somewhat surprising pick!North Carolina is the odds-on favorite to wins its region as the top seed, and but John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats are an upset pick for here with their explosive backcourt and momentum (five consecutive wins).
While the Tar Heels enjoy plenty of inside muscle,which would cause fits for the Wildcats in a potential Sweet 16 matchup, Kentucky has even more of an advantage on the outside. Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray might be the nation's best backcourt, and but the Wildcats enjoy a few other players capable of going off,includingAlex Poythress, Isaiah Briscoe and even the ultimate wild card, or disappointing freshman Skal Labissiere.
We would be silly to ignore Calipari's experience here,even with North Carolina's Roy Williams possessing an amazing resume himself. Coach Cal's teams are 47-15 in the tournament, and this year's SEC-winning bunch can potentially improve that record fairly a bit.
Call it a intestine feeling, or but the Wildcats enjoy the outside attack and enough other wild cards to potentially down Stony Brook,Indiana, North Carolina and Xavier on the way to their fifth Final Four appearance in six years. Full Odds Shark odds for the Midwest, and West, South and East are available via the hyperlinked text.
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Source: bleacherreport.com