March Madness 2015: Updated Bracket and Bold Predictions for Final Four

Bold predictions are what fuel a successful bracket. One must go out on a limb to choose upsets that others don't in an effort to gain an edge in office pools.

The Final Four is on the horizon, so why stop now? Let's continue to be bold.

The quest for the 2015 NCAA championship is nearly at its conclusion. Four teams remain, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. There are obvious favorites in each contest, but throw those out the window.

This is the Final Four.

Below are bold predictions, including an updated bracket, ahead of Saturday's game action.

Bold Predictions

Wisconsin Stuns Kentucky

A perfect mark will be spoiled after 40 minutes of play on Saturday. Yes, the Kentucky Wildcats have worked hard to earn their current 38-0 mark, but they've yet to face a foe like the Wisconsin Badgers.

The most polished offensive club in the country, the Badgers can outscore anyone—and they'll do it quickly. Whether its Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker or somebody else, expect a majority of possessions to result in points.

CBSSports.com's Matt Norlander wrote about why their efficiency might give Kentucky fits: "If Notre Dame was a river for Kentucky to ford, Wisconsin is a white-capped rapid. The Badgers have an offensive rating of 127.5, meaning they are dousing foes at a blazing rate. UW's scoring nearly 128 points per 100 possessions. Unheard of at the college level."

Of course, Kentucky boasts a defense capable of suppressing the juggernaut. SI.com's Ted Keith wrote about how each school has overcome threats to their talents:

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Kentucky leads the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. Wisconsin leads the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency. Both teams put those traits on display en route to the Final Four. The Wildcats have held NCAA tournament opponents to 32.8% field goal shooting and 20.3% from three-point range. The Badgers have shot 49.8% from the field in the tourney and 41.6% from three. Both teams have already vanquished an opponent that threatened to cancel out their supposed advantage. Wisconsin blitzed Arizona, which was third in the nation in defensive efficiency, by shooting 80% in the second half of the West Regional final. And Kentucky stymied Notre Dame, which was second in the nation in offensive efficiency, holding the Irish to 28.6% three-point shooting to escape in the Midwest Regional final.

"

Wisconsin has even received a boost offensively during the NCAA tournament. Dekker has caught fire, as ESPN College BBall tweeted:

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Sam Dekker has gone for 20+ points three times in the NCAA Tournament, matching his total from the regular season. pic.twitter.com/iyrSigpCUY

— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) March 31, 2015"

With Dekker red-hot and Kaminsky producing like his usual self, this Wisconsin unit is difficult to shut down. Not even Kentucky's incredible length and athleticism should be able to stave off a Badgers team that is hungry for an NCAA title.

Expect a tight contest, but look for Wisconsin to pull away in the final minutes. Dekker, not Kaminsky, will lead the charge.

Prediction: Wisconsin wins, 78-73

Michigan State Takes Duke to Overtime

Duke took care of Michigan State by 10 in mid-November, but that's a thing of the past. This Spartans teams is far different than it was in the early stages of the season.

Head coach Tom Izzo is making magic out of a roster that is certainly less talented than others he has had in the past. But the wins keep coming. USA Today's Nicole Auerbach wrote about the team's recent run:

"

The Spartans, seeded seventh, knocked out the No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds in the East region. ('I'm not going to apologize for that any way, shape, or form,' Izzo said.) Led by a coach who has built a legacy on milking the most out of his teams in March, Michigan State has lost to just one team this month — Wisconsin, which is also Final Four-bound.

"

The roll the Spartans are on makes it appear as if the Blue Devils, a team with innumerable weapons, may not have an easy go of it on Saturday.

Michigan State must get creative offensively to counter the versatility of Duke's best scorers. Jahlil Okafor commands the post, and the slashers and shooters he has around him at all times round out a balanced attack for head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Izzo is one of the smartest minds in college basketball though, so he will certainly think of ways to exploit Coach K's defense and trade blows with Duke. That's why an overtime thriller is certainly in the cards.

Combine two of the top coaches in the sport with two of the most successful teams in March, and you've set yourself up for a memorable contest.

But all magic fades. Izzo's club will eventually be ousted by a team with better individual stars. Next to Kentucky, Duke is perhaps the most talented team in the nation. When it comes to overtime, sometimes it's all about having the most dominant single performer.

Look for Michigan State to do everything in its power to stay alive, but for Duke to prove too much to handle.

Prediction: Duke wins, 81-78 (OT)

Kenny DeJohn is a Breaking News Team Featured Columnist. Follow him on Twitter.