Final Four 2017 Schedule: TV Info and Updated Bracket for NCAA Showdowns

Hollywood would have a hard time writing a better script for this year's Final Four. 

The 2017 men's basketball tournament seems to have it all. A defensive-minded top seed made it through. A Cinderella continues to will itself past any and all challengers. A flashy offensive team with the jerseys to match will keep dancing. Don't forget another top seed seeming unbeatable when healthy.

Call it a lot to digest, which is nothing but a great situation given the break before the games begin. For bettors looking to play the lines out of Las Vegas, the more time the better—a Final Four akin to such a dangerous minefield hasn't come around in a long time.

Which isn't to say the odds are impossible to play. A chance to recoup after a wild bracket or add to next year's bankroll certainly exists. Below, let's look at the schedule and break down each matchup.

Final Four Schedule and Updated Bracket

Date	Matchups	Time (ET)	TV	Spread
April 1	South Carolina (7) vs. Gonzaga (1)	6:09 p.m.	CBS	Gonzaga (-6.5)
April 1	Oregon (3) vs. North Carolina (1)	8:49 p.m.	CBS	North Carolina (-4.5)

South Carolina (7) vs. Gonzaga (1)

On its face, there isn't anything quite like a meeting between a pair of programs making a Final Four debut. ESPN Stats & Info provided the historical context:

But seventh-seeded South Carolina against top-seeded Gonzaga goes much deeper.

This isn't a case of just-happy-to-be-here teams. The Gamecocks (43rd in ESPN's RPI rankings) bully any team they step onto the hardwood with. A No. 2 slot in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom.com explains much—like an 88-81 victory against second-seeded Duke, holding third-seeded Baylor to 30.4 percent shooting (17 of 56) in a 70-50 blowout or holding fourth-seeded Florida to no conversions from deep in the second half of a 77-70 victory.

The Gamecocks are simply a team that doesn't blink under pressure, hence three of their four tournament games boasting second-half comebacks. SEC Player of the Year Sindarius Thornwell has scored 24 or more points in each contest, while Chris Silva patrols the paint and has 31 boards and five blocks over four games.

Not that Gonzaga (eighth RPI) isn't up to the task. The Bulldogs actually rank first in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom. Gonzaga gave most everyone with those advancing far in the bracket a heart attack in the Sweet 16 with a 61-58 escape job past fourth-seeded West Virginia, though the Mountaineers only shot 26.7 percent from the floor (16 of 60). The Bulldogs seemed to recover against 11th-seeded Xavier, holding the Musketeers to 35.5 percent (22 of 62) in an 83-59 rout.

Las Vegas clearly likes the Bulldogs in this one. But it's hard to ignore what the Gamecocks have done consistently this bracket, with good size and a relentless defense flustering opponents as games near a conclusion. It's important to remember these traits had South Carolina looking great all year, hence a 2-2 mark against the RPI top 25.

Look for the Cinderella story to stay alive. Gonzaga hasn't shown enough offensive consistency to think the team can put up enough over a full 40 minutes to counter the Gamecocks defense.

Prediction: South Carolina 66, Gonzaga 63

Oregon (3) vs. North Carolina (1)

Call the Final Four a tale of opposing styles. 

Fans can expect more of a track meet between third-seeded Oregon (ninth RPI) and top-seeded North Carolina (fifth RPI).

Oregon, ranked 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom, had close calls against 11th-seeded Rhode Island, 75-72, and seventh-seeded Michigan, 69-68, before quieting any doubters—the Ducks slammed top-seeded Kansas, 74-60.

There, the Ducks got a game-high 27 points from Tyler Dorsey and another 17 from Dillon Brooks while the Jayhawks only managed 35 percent shooting from the floor (21 of 60). The difference between the Jayhawks and the seeds that almost upset the Ducks? The would-be upsets were by opponents capable of matching Oregon's explosive firepower.

Which North Carolina can.

The Tar Heels are sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom, cruising through the tournament even while Joel Berry II struggled with a slight ankle issue, moving past eighth-seeded Arkansas in 72-65 fashion before blowing away fourth-seeded Butler, 92-80. Slipping past second-seeded Kentucky topped off the resume after a 75-73 escape despite only hitting three shots from range.

When Berry is 100 percent and his penetration spaces the floor, it doesn't look like there is a team in the bracket that can beat the Tar Heels. He dropped 26 points against Butler in the rout before just 11 against the Wildcats. Either way, the Tar Heels have flexed better depth than any team in the nation, with Luke Maye coming off the bench and scoring 16 or more over the team's past two outings—including the game-winner over UK.

This pace and depth will leave the Ducks searching for answers if the shots aren't falling.

Prediction: North Carolina 78, Oregon 70

Advanced metrics courtesy of ESPN.com. Odds via OddsShark.com.