NCAA Tournament Bracket 2018: Predictions, Odds, Printable Bracket and More

The NCAA tournament field is set, and it's time to start filling out brackets. 

The tournament appears to be wide-open, but the top four seeds appear to be quite formidable. Those who hear the "wide open" description from the college basketball analysts on television and talk shows may be taking a big chance if they believe that Virginia, Villanova, Kansas and Xavier will be eliminated in the first three rounds.

It could happen and one of them may go, but it will take monumental efforts for these teams to get beaten early in the tournament.

Sixty-eight teams had their tickets punched to the 2018 NCAA tournament Sunday night, and here are regional brackets as well as a printable bracket.

Villanova is listed by OddsShark as the favorite to win the tournament at plus-350, followed by Duke at plus-500, followed by Virginia and Michigan State at plus-600. 

Here's a look at how and when the tournament will play out.

Tournament chart courtesy of NCAA.com.

ROUND	SITE	DATE(S)
First Four	Dayton	March 13-14
First/Second	Pittsburgh	March 15 and 17
First/Second	Wichita	March 15 and 17
First/Second	Dallas	March 15 and 17
First/Second	Boise	March 15 and 17
First/Second	Charlotte	March 16 and 18
First/Second	Detroit	March 16 and 18
First/Second	Nashville	March 16 and 18
First/Second	San Diego	March 16 and 18
Midwest Regional	Omaha	March 23 and 25
West Regional	Los Angeles	March 22 and 24
South Regional	Atlanta	March 22 and 24
East Regional	Boston	March 23 and 25
Final Four	San Antonio	March 31, April 2

All games will be broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. The games can also be live-streamed at NCAA.com.

While the top-seeded teams look quite dangerous, the No. 2 seeds may also be formidable.

Cincinnati is the No. 2 seed in the South and is quite capable of pushing Virginia if those teams meet in the regional final.

Purdue was quite consistent in the Big Ten, and if the Boilermakers can make it to the regional final in the East, they will have to take on the favored Villanova Wildcats. Purdue has an excellent team, but Jay Wright's Wildcats continue to figure out ways to win, as they did in the Big East tournament final against Providence.

Second-seeded Duke has not had the kind of season that the Blue Devils usually have under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, and the Midwest region appears quite intimidating. Not only would the Blue Devils have to take on Kansas at the regional final level, they would be forced to meet Michigan State in the third round.

Second-seeded North Carolina will try to get back to the Final Four after winning the tournament last year. They are in the same region as Xavier, and the Tar Heels don't appear to have the defensive prowess that previous Tar Heel teams have had. It may be hard for North Carolina to make it past the third round.

Predictions

It should be fairly smooth sailing for Virginia and Villanova in the South and East regions, respectively.

They may get pushed in a game or two, but both should make it to the Final Four.

Kansas eliminated Michigan State from the tournament a year ago, and it would not be a surprise if the Jayhawks and Spartans met in the regional final. This time, Tom Izzo and the Spartans earn the victory and move on to San Antonio.

The West is the most wide-open of the four regions, and look for fourth-seeded Gonzaga to take advantage and earn a spot in the Final Four.

Look for the powerful Villanova Wildcats to win their second national championship in the last three years.