NCAA Tournament 2015: Picks and Updated Odds Ahead of Final Four Schedule

The Kentucky Wildcats and Duke Blue Devils look to be on a collision course for the national championship game. Both teams are favored to win in the national semifinals by five points over the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan State Spartans, respectively, per Odds Shark. I don't see either game being that close.

Many Big 10 fans will be rooting for the Spartans and Badgers to pull the upset, but there's good reason the Wildcats and Blue Devils are favored.

Time(ET)	Matchup	TV
6:09 p.m.	(7) Michigan State vs (1) Duke	TBS
8:49 p.m.	(1) Wisconsin vs (1) Kentucky	TBS

Too Much Athleticism

David Stephenson/Associated Press

The Wisconsin Badgers' best attribute is their tenacious man-to-man defense. It has allowed the team to hold opponents to just 57.8 points on 35.2 percent shooting from the field. The problem with this defensive approach against Kentucky is that Wisconsin doesn't match up well with the Wildcats.

With dribble penetration from Tyler Ulis, Andrew and Aaron Harrison, Kentucky has the perimeter threats to break down Wisconsin's defense. The Harrisons and Devin Booker are the sharpshooters who can knock down the three once the defense is forced to collapse.

On the block, Karl-Anthony Towns shouldn't see a big from Wisconsin who can ever hold him without the help of a double team. It looks as if the Badgers defense might be scrambling much of the game.

Likewise, the Wildcats' depth should prove to be a factor as well. By the second half, Kentucky will have the fresher bodies, and it should pull away for a double-digit win.

Too Much Size

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Gavin Schilling and Branden Dawson will not be able to match up against Duke's Jahlil Okafor, Amile Jefferson and Marshall Plumlee on the inside. Dawson is averaging 9.1 rebounds per game, but he still stands just 6'6". That's simply not going to cut it against the Blue Devils on the inside.

Tom Izzo's teams always compete, but there's only so much the Spartans will be able to do—unless they're red hot from three-point range. Even if that happens, Duke has the gunners in Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones to match them shot for shot.

In either case, Duke pulls away in the second half to set up the battle with Kentucky.

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