NCAA Tournament 2015: Picks, Odds Advice, Updated Schedule for Final Four

As close of a call as Kentucky had in its last test before advancing to the Final Four, coach John Calipari's Wildcats are still the prohibitive, odds-on favorites to win the 2015 NCAA tournament.

Any team making a historic run like this through March Madness will get just about every opponent's best shot. That won't change when Kentucky squares off with a Wisconsin team that returns many key contributors from the 2014 team that lost to the Wildcats in the national semifinals.

Two other exceptional programs in Michigan State and Duke will open the Final Four action after winning the East and South regions, respectively, Sunday.

ESPN Stats & Info notes just how much coaching prowess occupies the sidelines in this March Madness conclusion:

Here is a look at the Final Four schedule, including picks and odds advice for what lies ahead to close out what's been a fantastic Big Dance.

Date	Game	Start Time (ET)	Network	Odds	Pick
Saturday, April 4	No. 1 Duke vs. No. 7 Michigan State	6:09 p.m.	TBS	Duke (-4.5)	Duke
Saturday, April 4	No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 1 Wisconsin	8:49 p.m.	TBS	Kentucky (-5)	Kentucky

Final Four Odds Analysis

Since Kentucky won just 68-66 over Notre Dame and will face a Wisconsin team that will try to avenge last year's Final Four loss to the Wildcats, it makes sense the Wildcats are favored by only five points.

Frank Kaminsky proved he could take on an elite defense when he put up 29 points on Arizona in the Elite Eight, devastating a different batch of Wildcats.

But Sam Dekker has put up career-high point totals twice in as many games, and he can't be counted on to do that for a third straight time, which is likely what it'd take for Kentucky to lose.

CBS Sports' Seth Davis hints at this in his analysis when referencing how well the Badgers did to knock off Arizona:

Kentucky's Harrison twins both stand at about 6'6", which gives them a tremendous length advantage on the perimeter against the likes of Josh Gasser and Bronson Koenig. There aren't many players Wisconsin can count on from the bench, so it's almost all on Kaminsky to get it done.

Calipari's fervent faith in his phenomenal players is also evident:

It was impressive enough that the Badgers fought past Arizona for a second time in as many years in the Elite Eight. This Kentucky squad is just too loaded to get within five points, as oddsmakers project.

Duke, too, should cover its 4.5-point spread versus the Spartans, which ESPN's RJ Bell tweeted shortly after the Blue Devils' 66-52 victory over Gonzaga on Sunday.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Bulldogs' explosive offense was held in check, so Duke shouldn't have a problem guarding Michigan State despite the Blue Devils' own depth being a question mark. The days between games will help their starting lineup recover.

Star Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor has the tools to dominate Sparty down low, even if he hasn't been all too assertive in recent games.

Synergy Sports Tech highlights how passive Okafor has played, something that shouldn't happen against a more diminutive Michigan State frontcourt:

The guard tandem of Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice is strong, but Duke's duo of Tyus Jones—who has innate chemistry with Okafor as a longtime friend—and senior Quinn Cook is simply better than the Spartans'.

As decorated as all the programs in the Final Four are, the first two games on tap aren't likely to come down to the final possession or ultimately have a close score in the end. If the two favorites make it through, Kentucky will be expected to beat Duke and continue its undefeated record.

A Kentucky-Duke final would likely be the highest quality of basketball possible to emerge from this NCAA tournament. The combination of star power, sheer size between Okafor and Kentucky's front line and athletic ability could create a national championship for the ages.