March Madness 2015: Picks, Odds, Advice and Schedule After Saturday's Elite 8

One sequel, then one scare.

That's what happened during the Elite Eight on Saturday as Wisconsin got past Arizona for the second straight year in Los Angeles. Sam Dekker hit five high-arching three pointers on his way to a career-high 27 points. Frank Kaminsky scored 29.

Later, Kentucky jostled back and forth with Notre Dame in a shockingly thrilling contest that featured more than a dozen lead changes. The Wildcats trailed by two points with just under two minutes to play before Andrew Harrison hit a pair of game-clinching free throws and preserved Kentucky's perfect record.

The Badgers and Wildcats have now punched their tickets to the Final Four in Indianapolis, and Sunday's finish to the Elite Eight is sure to provide plenty more excitement. Here's a look at the matchups and predictions. 

Matchup	Date	Time	TV	Point Spread	Predicted Winner
Louisville vs. Michigan State	Sunday, March 29	2:20 p.m.	CBS	Michigan State (-2.5)	Michigan State
Duke vs. Gonzaga	Sunday, March 29	5:05 p.m.	CBS	Duke (-2.5)	Gonzaga

Advice and Predictions

Pick the Littler Legend

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Rick Pitino and Tom Izzo, coaches for No. 4 Louisville and No. 7 Michigan State, respectively, always look so pristine in their suits and seem to always have a clarity about them. So it's surprising that the two legends with 15 Final Fours between them will meet Sunday to decide the tournament's most confusing and wrecked region. 

Then again, it's really not very surprising at all. Both teams appeared to be headed in the wrong direction earlier this season. Michigan State lost to the likes of Texas Southern and Nebraska before closing out the regular season with a 4-1 record, its lone loss coming to Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament title game.

Louisville had to scrap almost everything and start over after dismissing senior point guard Chris Jones and turning the reins over to freshman Quentin Snider. Now, behind Snider and Montrezl Harrell, the Cardinals are seeking their third Final Four berth in four years.

The Spartans have been rejuvenated behind Travis Trice. Since moving from point guard to shooting guard, said Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal, Trice has been averaging 17.8 points per game and has buoyed his entire team with his playmaking.

Pick the coach of the team with the lowest remaining seed in the tournament to advance and continue the improbable run.

Prediction: Michigan State wins close.

Too Hot in Houston

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The hot-scoring Kyle Wiltjer and fast-rising Domantas Sabonis have Gonzaga in its 17th consecutive NCAA tournament. And while they were a cute story as recently as 10 years ago, real expectations have been attached to the Bulldogs in recent years, and many wondered aloud if they would make it out of the second round of this year's tournament.

They did.

And now there's just another reason for naysayers to doubt them, says SportsCenter:

"

Crazy Stat of Day: Duke will face Gonzaga in Elite 8. Bulldogs are 0-6 all-time against 1-seeds in NCAA Tournament.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 28, 2015"

Gonzaga has looked fantastic for most of the season, but particularly in its last two games, easily dispatching a tough Iowa squad and gritty UCLA. But on Sunday, Duke will provide the Bulldogs with their stiffest test, thanks to senior point guard Quinn Cook, who is surrounded by the outstanding freshman trio of Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones. The Blue Devils are just a win away from their 16th Final Four, and they have their sights set on Indianapolis.

Gonzaga has used its experience—the Bulldogs' starting five has three seniors—to silence its critics at every turn so far this tournament. Expect it to continue that trend and win out over Duke's youth.

Prediction: Gonzaga wins in overtime.