NCAA Tournament Bracket 2015: Early Championship Odds, Predictions for Top Seeds

The Kentucky Wildcats are the top overall seed in the 2015 NCAA tournament, and frankly, they should be cutting down the nets in Indianapolis when the Final Four concludes.

ESPN's Darren Rovell notes just how prominent the perception is that Kentucky will go all the way out of the Midwest Region:

There is plenty of reason to believe in the Wildcats, not least of which is their 34-0 record. However, there are three other No. 1 seeds in Villanova (East), Wisconsin (West) and Duke (South) that are keen to emerge victorious from their own bracket clusters.

Below is an overview of the early national championship odds, preceded by basic NCAA tourney information and capped with predictions as to how the top seeds will fare in March Madness.

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Key Tournament Information

Dates: March 17 through April 6

Channels: CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV

Live Stream: March Madness Live

Bracket and Schedule

Team	Odds
Kentucky	1-1
Wisconsin	13-2
Duke	13-2
Villanova	8-1
Arizona	12-1
Virginia	17-1
Gonzaga	22-1
North Carolina	25-1
Iowa State	35-1

Predictions for Top Seeds

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Even odds are pretty darn good for Kentucky, especially since the No. 2 co-favorites in Wisconsin and Duke are considered longer shots, 6.5 times over.

ESPN PR recorded how network analyst Jay Bilas feels 12th-seeded Buffalo has a real chance to upend West Virginia in the round of 64:

Although Maryland was ranked in the Top 10 in the previous AP poll, the Terrapins find themselves a No. 4 seed and on Kentucky's side of the bracket, otherwise known as the wrong side.

Maryland's lack of size and underwhelming proficiency on the offensive end will pose no real threat to the Wildcats—provided the Terrapins get past either West Virginia or Buffalo.

The Midwest simply isn't that tough, so Kentucky will steamroll its way to the Final Four. As for who might meet Kentucky in the national semifinals, all signs point to a West regional final between Wisconsin and No. 2 seed Arizona.

Last year, the Badgers got through to the Final Four with a one-point overtime victory over Arizona. This time around, Arizona is armed with a freshman phenom in Stanley Johnson who leads the team in scoring, and Brandon Ashley was hurt for 2014's run but is fit and in full force now.

As good as Frank Kaminsky has been all season long, Arizona's suffocating defense that ranks third in KenPom.com's rankings and its vengeance factor will be too much for the Badgers to overcome.

Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight sees advanced numbers that suggest Arizona will make it through:

And in light of the following ESPN comparison to Duke, Arizona is basically a top seed as it is:

"

Duke or Arizona...which team deserves to be a #1 seed? pic.twitter.com/yAWuHPW1Z2

— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) March 15, 2015"

Not that the Blue Devils are out of their element atop the South Region, though.

Duke has a formidable squad with Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook in the backcourt, Justise Winslow on the wing and Jahlil Okafor dominating down low. Okafor doesn't mandate the Blue Devils to rely on the three-point shot as often, and even if Duke falls in love with the jump shot, Okafor is the type of force who can crash the glass with great results.

The completeness of this year's team and a draw that isn't too difficult suggests the Blue Devils have what it takes to not only make the Final Four, but to play Kentucky for all the marbles.

That means Villanova will fall at some point. Coach Jay Wright's squad is a strong first seed unfortunately charged with a tough road to Indianapolis.

Upset pitfalls loom for Villanova as early as the round of 32, when it faces the winner of LSU and NC State. Then the Wildcats have to take on either the grinding defense of Louisville or Northern Iowa's explosive, perimeter-oriented offense.

The prediction here is that Northern Iowa turns out to be a Cinderella and defeats Villanova in the Sweet 16.

This leaves just two No. 1 seeds in the Final Four, but Duke and Kentucky play each other in the national title, with the Wildcats taking all the cake thanks to superior size, depth and team defense.