Final Four Predictions 2015: Picks, Best Odds to Win National Championship
The NCAA tournament always features plenty of upsets in the early rounds, but there should be a different strategy when picking a team to win it all.
This season has featured one team standing above the rest as Kentucky enters the year with an undefeated record. Meanwhile, a few other elite squads have proven to be among the best in the nation and should remain top contenders heading into the three-week event.
As a result, don't be surprised if the final few rounds of the bracket feature a lot of chalk as the better teams avoid upsets. Here is a look at the top odds to win a championship as well as picks to reach the Final Four.
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| Kentucky | 1/1 |
| Duke | 17/2 |
| Wisconsin | 9/1 |
| Arizona | 12/1 |
| Virginia | 12/1 |
| Gonzaga | 14/1 |
| Villanova | 16/1 |
| Kansas | 20/1 |
| Notre Dame | 25/1 |
| Utah | 28/1 |
| North Carolina | 33/1 |
| Iowa State | 33/1 |
| Northern Iowa | 50/1 |
| Maryland | 50/1 |
| Louisville | 50/1 |
| Wichita State | 50/1 |
| Ohio State | 50/1 |
| Oklahoma | 66/1 |
| Arkansas | 66/1 |
| Michigan State | 66/1 |
| West Virginia | 75/1 |
| Butler | 75/1 |
| LSU | 75/1 |
| Baylor | 75/1 |
| Georgetown | 100/1 |
| SMU | 100/1 |
| Ole Miss | 100/1 |
| Providence | 100/1 |
| Xavier | 200/1 |
| Indiana | 200/1 |
| Iowa | 200/1 |
| NC State | 200/1 |
| Texas | 200/1 |
| St. John's | 300/1 |
| --- | --- |
All Your Bracket Essentials
Midwest: No. 1 Kentucky
While there is always debate with just about everything surrounding the NCAA tournament, no one could rationally argue against Kentucky as the No. 1 overall team. The most talented squad in the nation ran the table with an undefeated regular season and kept it up by winning the SEC tournament.
Everyone can complain about where they landed in the bracket, but as Mark Titus of Grantland joked, all paths run through the Wildcats:
Kentucky will have some tough challenges throughout the region, including potential early tests against Purdue, West Virginia or Maryland as well as Elite Eight possibilities like Notre Dame or Kansas. Still, this is the best team in the nation, and it should make it through the first two weekends.
East: No. 1 Villanova
Villanova is a tough team to trust based solely on what the head coach said about his team recently.
"We could win it," coach Jay Wright said Saturday, via Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. "But we could get beat by anybody. It's just the way college basketball is. We're not Kentucky in terms of depth and talent, but we could beat them. But we could lose to a 15 or 16, too, if we don't play right. I just think that's what we are."
This should terrify anyone ready to fill out their brackets. On the other hand, it's important to remember this is an incredibly talented squad with six players who average over nine points per game and can take over at any time.
The entire region is full of defensive-minded squads like Virginia, Oklahoma, Louisville and Northern Iowa, but the Wildcats have the depth and talent to make it through to the Final Four.
South: No. 3 Iowa State
Duke is the top seed in the region and favorite to reach the Final Four for good reason. Jahlil Okafor is arguably the best interior scorer in the country, while the backcourt tandem of Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook always tend to make big plays when it matters most.
However, ESPN's Jeff Borzello noted the intrigue in this potential Elite Eight:
Iowa State is one of the top offensive teams in the nation thanks to its ability to spread the floor and either make three-pointers or penetrate into the lane. Considering Duke's defensive problems at times this year, including in the recent loss to a Notre Dame team with a similar style, the Cyclones have a chance to pull off the upset after also knocking off Gonzaga.
West: No. 2 Arizona
There are a bunch of good teams within the West region, but this is one that seems likely to go chalk with Wisconsin and Arizona battling in the Elite Eight.
The Badgers have one of the top offenses in the nation, one featuring the matchup nightmare that is Frank Kaminsky. He can score inside as well as spread the floor with the ability to shoot, something that could cause even a great defensive team like Arizona to have problems.
Still, the Wildcats have enough size and length to limit the entire Wisconsin lineup, while T.J. McConnell can ensure a solid offensive performance on the other end. Add in the athleticism and scoring ability of Stanley Johnson, and Arizona should be able to finally get back to the Final Four.
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