March Madness 2013 Bracket: Ranking Top 3 Title Contenders in Elite Eight Field

While the rounds of 64 and 32 are the most fun part of March Madness, the real business of crowning a champion starts in the Elite Eight. 

Anyone can catch fire and make a run in the first few rounds of the tournament, it takes a real contender to make it this far. 

All eight of the teams left in the field have a shot at cutting down the nets and being serenaded by "One Shining Moment" when all is said and done. But all contenders aren't created equal. 

Based upon performance to this point in the tournament and the road that lies ahead, here are the three most likely teams to win it all in Atlanta.

1. Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals entered the tournament as the overall No. 1 seed, and they've done nothing to lose that title. 

Russ Smith has been unstoppable on the perimeter. He scored 31 points against Oregon and has proven he can take over down the stretch. Gorgui Dieng is one of the best post defenders in the nation, and the Cardinals defense has been suffocating. 

Duke will definitely provide the best challenge to the Cardinals. It has been more battle-tested in the tournament with wins over Michigan State and Creighton. 

Even with the comparatively easy road to the Elite Eight and very few challenges in the tournament thus far, the Cardinals remain the team to beat. 

2. Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines entered the tournament as a No. 4 seed, but they quickly proved that they are one of the tournament's elite teams.

They opened up with a dominant win over South Dakota State and an even more impressive blowout win over Virginia Commonwealth and their pressure defense. The Wolverines take care of the ball (only nine turnovers per game) and have one of the best guards in the tournament in Trey Burke.

Mitch McGary has taken his game to all-new levels with 14 rebounds in each of his last two games with over 20 points in each of those contests. A matchup with No. 3 seed Florida awaits, but the Gators have yet to play a team with a single-digit seeding.

The Wolverines have heated up at just the right time and could ride the magic to a Final Four appearance.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes just keep coming up big when it matters most.

Two game-winners in a row, and the Buckeyes are set up for a run to the national championship game. 

Ohio State hasn't had the toughest road to the Elite Eight. The highest seed it played was No. 6 seed Arizona, but that game took place in Los Angeles, which turned out to be a road game essentially. 

Aaron Craft is one of the best on-court leaders in the country, and Deshaun Thomas' versatility as a scorer (he's scored 20 points or more in all three tournament games) makes him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the field. 

A potential Final Four matchup with Louisville keeps Ohio State out of the No. 2 spot on this list, but it could definitely make it to the championship game with a Duke upset of Louisville.