NCAA Bracket 2015: Early Predictions for Final Four Schedule

There are so many intriguing possibilities for the national championship game in the NCAA tournament. With the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats set to take on fellow No. 1 seed the Wisconsin Badgers, and the Michigan State Spartans battling the Duke Blue Devils, there's no shortage of big-time programs and big-name coaches.

Between Kentucky's John Calipari, Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, there's a total of six national championships. The only coach in the Final Four that hasn't reached the mountaintop is Wisconsin's Bo Ryan.

Wouldn't it be cool to see Kentucky take on instate rival Louisville in the ultimate battle for national supremacy and bragging rights in the Bluegrass State? Likewise, there's also appeal in seeing Kentucky battle Duke, considering those two teams spent the majority of the season as the top squads in the country.

There's also the potential head-to-head battle between Duke's Jahlil Okafor and Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns. One of them will very likely be the No. 1 pick in the June NBA draft. Quite honestly, if Wisconsin upsets Kentucky, the commercial appeal will wane a bit. However, that doesn't mean we won't see a heck of a title game between the Badgers and either the Spartans or the Blue Devils.

Here's a look at my early predictions for the national semifinals and championship game.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Kentucky Too Athletic for Wisconsin

Heather Ainsworth/Associated Press

There were a few reasons the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were able to push Kentucky to the brink. Their efficient and patient offense forced Kentucky to defend late into possessions. That requires discipline, which was lacking for the Wildcats at points late in the first half and early in the second.

Secondly, Notre Dame had the athleticism and size in the backcourt to create issues for Kentucky's smallish guards. After the 68-66 victory, Calipari said this, per the TBS broadcast: "We didn't play very well and Notre Dame, I thought, controlled the whole thing, but we made the plays. We figured out a way to win it. We're just saying one more game, play our best. We've had other tests, but we have a will to win."

The Badgers have size with Bronson Koenig (6'4"), Josh Gasser (6'4") and Traevon Jackson (6'3"), but that trio lacks the quickness to contend with Tyler Ulis, Andrew and Aaron Harrison and Devon Booker on the perimeter. 

Wisconsin will play man-to-man defense, but it won't hold against Kentucky's athletes. The Wildcats will win by 10 points.

Duke Will Stop Michigan State's Mild Cinderella Run

Semifinals	Date and Time (ET)	Prediction
National Championship	Date and Time (ET)	Prediction
Kentucky vs. Wisconsin	Saturday, April 4 at 8:49 p.m.	Kentucky
Duke vs. Michigan State	Saturday, April 4 at 6:09 p.m.	Duke
Kentucky vs. Duke	Monday, April 6 at 9:18 p.m.	Kentucky

Duke looked dominant defensively in the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Sunday. Despite being out-rebounded by the Bulldogs' big frontcourt, Duke's pressure defense forced 13 Gonzaga turnovers en route to the 66-52 win.

Duke won't have to contend with an abundance of size when it plays the Spartans. Michigan State simply doesn't have the length in the frontcourt to defend Okafor. The Spartans will have to double-team, and Okafor has shown the willingness to move the ball to the open man in these situations.

In the win over Gonzaga, all five Duke starters had at least 10 field-goal attempts. Size and unselfishness will push Duke to the national championship game.

Kentucky is a Team of Destiny

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Duke has a star in Okafor who deserves to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. It is obviously well coached and has the ability to lock down defensively. Still, it won't be enough to topple Kentucky in the title game.

The Wildcats are only getting stronger with each test, and they have proven to be just as clutch as they are talented. From the Harrison twins to Towns, this team has proven it can step up to meet a challenge and perform well late in close games.

With its depth, talent, experience and poise, the Wildcats will run the table and finish 40-0 with a national championship.

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