Elite 8 2015: Full Schedule and Final Four Bracket Predictions

The madness only intensifies before the NCAA tournament comes to a close.

Obvious, right? Maybe not considering just how routine the Sweet 16 was, with a stunning lack of shocking outcomes. Usual faces line the docket of the Elite Eight, which does nothing short of ensure a wild sprint to the finish.

No matter which way fans lean when it comes to picking the Final Four, there's little doubt each team will have earned the berth when the dust settles. With two top seeds, two unexpected teams and Kentucky still in the running, surviving the Elite Eight on its own is something to celebrate.

Before Saturday's action begins, let's nail down a Final Four.

2015 Elite Eight Schedule and Odds

Date	Matchup (Odds)	Time (ET)	TV	Pick
Sat., 3/28	No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Arizona (-1)	6:09 p.m.	TBS	Wisconsin
Sat., 3/28	No. 1 Kentucky (-11.5) vs. No. 3 Notre Dame	8:49 p.m.	TBS	Kentucky
Sun., 3/29	No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 7 Michigan State (-1)	2:20 p.m.	CBS	Michigan State
Sun., 3/29	No. 1 Duke (-2) vs. No. 2 Gonzaga	5:05 p.m.	CBS	Duke

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark as of March 28 at 1 p.m. ET.

Final Four Predictions 

As has been the case each round before it, let's get the obvious out of the way first when it comes to the Elite Eight—Kentucky isn't losing.

There's more reason than ever to believe it might happen, though. No. 3 Notre Dame isn't a joke, even though questionable performances against Northeastern and Butler to start the tournament placed the Fighting Irish as underdogs against Wichita State.

No matter, as an 81-70 outcome against the Shockers shows, as does strong words from coach Mike Brey.

"Weren't we two-point underdogs to Wichita State?" Brey said, per the Chicago Tribune's Chris Hine. "That's kind of driven this crew the whole year. They love it. They relish it. Maybe it helps us play loose and attack more. If that's the case, I love being 12-point underdogs (against Kentucky)."

With the team ranked second in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom.com, playing loose is what Jerian Grant (16.6 points per game) and Notre Dame need to stand a chance.

It's a tough sell against these Wildcats, an undefeated team hot off a 78-39 thumping of West Virginia. Sometimes a hot hand and loose play just don't get the job done against a brick wall of NBA talent nine deep.

Wisconsin-Arizona is more entertaining.

Both teams love to control the pace of contests and do so at quite an elite level. Even better, there isn't some wild talent disparity.

Team	ADJ OFF	ADJ DEF
Wisconsin	1	50
Arizona	7	3

Arizona hasn't seen a true test yet and features four players who average double-digit production and six averaging at least 9.1 points per game. T.J. McConnell facilitates (6.3 assists per game), while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson does the dirty work (11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game) while playing strong defense.

Strong defense may not be enough, though, not against a team led by Frank Kaminsky, which can receive a boost when he struggles (such as 23 points from Sam Dekker against North Carolina in the Sweet 16).

In a battle of ball-control offenses, it's always better to roll with the team featuring one of the nation's top talents, even more so after these two squads met in the bracket last year, with Kaminsky shouldering the load and helping the Badgers to advance.

The other No. 1-2 showdown offers intrigue too, with Gonzaga over its Sweet 16 and UCLA woes. 

The Bulldogs love to get out and run, ranking among the best teams in the nation in average points (79.1) and assists (16.5) and coming in No. 1 in field-goal percentage (.524). Kyle Wiltjer (16.8 PPG) is the star.

All the above is great. Gonzaga shouldn't be the just-happy-to-be-here team at all, but the first Elite Eight appearance of the Mark Few era and two losses to date means the season is a success regardless.

Yes, this is building a team up to put it down. Gonzaga is great on the offensive end of the court and ranks fourth in adjusted offense at KenPom.com—but Duke ranks third.

Duke's last game out tells the whole story. In a 63-57 dismissal of Utah, star Jahlil Okafor scored just six points. No matter, three other players scored in double digits, led by 21 from another freshman, Justise Winslow.

The Blue Devils are too deep, efficient across the board and well coached to lose to the Bulldogs.

As for the last piece of the puzzle, there's no easy answer for Louisville-Michigan State.

Louisville embodies defensive efficiency, Michigan State the opposite. The former is lucky to be alive after close calls against UC Irvine and Northern Iowa before distancing itself from NC State.

Team	ADJ OFF	ADJ DEF
Louisville	64	5
Michigan State	13	47

Michigan State can't say the same, as an upset of second-seeded Virginia, in which the Cavaliers could only shoot 29.8 percent from the floor, speaks to how well the Spartans are playing once again in the bracket.

The Spartans seem in better form at this point after flustering Oklahoma into 36.4 percent shooting and a 4-of-17 mark from deep while getting 24 points from Travis Trice and another 18 from Denzel Valentine.

In a contest capable of swinging either way between two legendary coaches, logic says to roll with the team touting better momentum and a tougher schedule, two factors favoring the Spartans. So too does simple on-court matchups, as Michigan State's guards can keep pace with Louisville's, and the Spartans' suffocating defense can keep opposing big men in check down low.

The result, of course, is a star-studded Final Four.

And more madness.

Final Four Prediction: Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan State, Duke.

Stats and info are courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.