Final Four Predictions 2018: Picks, Best Odds to Win National Championship

This may be the most wide-open NCAA tournament in recent memory, but does that mean lower-seeded teams have better chances to win the national championship than in most years?

It's difficult to see No. 1 seeds Virginia and Villanova suffering upsets in the first four rounds of the tournament and not get to the Final Four. The Cavaliers are the unanimous No. 1 team in the most recent AP and coaches' polls, and they won both the ACC regular-season and conference tournament titles.

Virginia is the top defensive team in the nation, as the Cavaliers give up just 53.4 points per game. Kyle Guy is averaging a team-high 14.1 points per game, and he is joined by Devon Hall and Ty Jerome as the Cavaliers' double-digit scorers. Hall is averaging 12.0 points per night and connecting on 46.5 percent of his shots from the field, while Jerome is scoring 10.5 points per night and connecting on an eye-catching 90.2 percent of his shots from the free-throw line.

While they should be challenged by second-seeded Cincinnati, third-seeded Tennessee or fourth-seeded Arizona in the South Regional, it would be something of a shocker if the Cavaliers don't get to San Antonio and the Final Four.

The Cavaliers are hoping to get to the Final Four for the third time in school history. Virginia made it to that lofty status in 1981 and 1984. 

"I wouldn’t say pressure is the word," Guy said, per Aaron Beard of the Associated Press. "But you know, that's definitely in the back of our minds. We're just trying to do this for each other."

Villanova may be just as dominant in the East Regional as Virginia is in the South. The Wildcats are loaded with talent and are led by one of the top coaches in college basketball in Jay Wright.

The Wildcats won the national championship two years ago, and they have an explosive 1-2 punch with Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges.

Brunson, the USA Today player of the year, is averaging 19.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and he is connecting on 53.1 percent of his shots from the field. Bridges is right behind with 18.0 points per night and collecting 5.4 rebounds per game.

In addition to Brunson and Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo is the team's third-leading scorer with a mark of 13.1 points per game, and he is also an excellent clutch performer.

Kansas is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional, but the Jayhawks may have a much tougher run to the Final Four since they have to compete with second-seeded Duke, third-seeded Michigan State and fourth-seeded Clemson.

We see Michigan State finally beating long-time nemesis Duke. The Spartans trail in the all-time series by a 2-12 margin, and they have lost their last seven meetings with the Blue Devils. Tom Izzo's team is also looking for revenge on the Jayhawks after Kansas knocked it out of the tournament last year.

Xavier is the top seed in the West Regional, but we see Gonzaga, the No. 4 seed, emerging from the bracket. Johnathan Williams and Killian Tillie are the Bulldogs' leading scorers with averages of 13.5 and 13.4 points per game, respectively.

Gonzaga also has three other players averaging double figures in scoring.

Villanova comes into the tournament with odds of plus-450, according to OddsShark. A bettor who wagers $100 on the Wildcats would earn a profit of $450 if Villanova wins the tournament.

Virginia is the second choice at plus-500, while Michigan State comes into the tournament at plus-750. However, Gonzaga is much more of a long shot at plus-2500. 

Since the Bulldogs are such big longshots, they appear to be the best play to bring the strongest return for a bettor.

Here's a look at OddsShark's top contenders for the 2018 national title:

Villanova +600
Virginia +650
Duke +800
Michigan State +1100
Arizona +1200
Kansas +1200
Purdue +1200
Cincinnati +1200
Michigan +1400
North Carolina +1400
Xavier +1500
Gonzaga +1500
Kentucky +1600
West Virginia +2500
Texas Tech +4000
Tennessee +4000
Wichita State +4000