Elite 8 Bracket: Predictions, Odds, Updated Schedule and More

The Ramblers of Loyola-Chicago have been thriving and surviving in their first three games of the NCAA tournament.

Head coach Porter Moser's team has found a way to execute down the stretch in victories over Miami, Tennessee and Nevada. However, the 11th-seeded Ramblers have had little margin for error as they have earned those three victories by a combined four points.

In addition to the inspiration the Ramblers get from media darling Sister Jean, Loyola plays hounding defense and does an excellent job of working the ball around to the open man.

Clayton Custer, Donte Ingram and Marques Townes have each hit game-winning shots in the three tournament games, and they are Loyola's three leading scorers.

The Ramblers will have to be at their best against the hard-nosed Kansas State Wildcats in their Elite Eight matchup Saturday. Bruce Weber's team outlasted the talented Kentucky Wildcats, and they should be ready for everything the Ramblers have to offer.

Ninth-seeded Kansas State has been steeled by Big 12 competition, and they may not be as yielding down the stretch as Loyola's first three NCAA opponents. 

Barry Brown sliced through the Kentucky defense and extended a one-point lead to three in the late going, and that was the key moment in that Sweet 16 victory. Xavier Sneed is an explosive scorer, and if Dean Wade can contribute while playing with a foot injury, that should give Kansas State a lift.

Kansas State is a 1.5-point favorite over Loyola, per OddsShark, in a game that will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET in Atlanta, but Loyola will find a way to get to the Final Four.

Here's a look at the Elite Eight Schedule for games that will be played Saturday and Sunday.

Elite Eight Schedule, Odds and Predictions, (Odds courtesy of OddsShark)

No. 9 Kansas State vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS), Kansas State -1.5

No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 9 Florida State (Saturday, 8:49 p.m., TBS), Michigan -4.5

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 1 Villanova (Sunday, 2:20 p.m. and CBS), No line listed

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 1 Kansas (Sunday, 5:05 p.m. and CBS), No line listed

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Michigan vs. Florida State

The Michigan Wolverines have been on fire in recent weeks, as they rolled to the Big Ten Conference Tournament title before winning their first three games of the NCAA Tournament.

They took apart the Texas A&M Aggies by a 99-72 score Thursday night. The third-seeded Wolverines had a sensational shooting night in the win, as they made 39 of 63 shots from the field and 14 of 24 from beyond the arc. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 24 points to lead the Wolverines and Moe Wagner added 21 points.

While Michigan was routing Texas A&M, the ninth-seeded Florida State Seminoles systematically got the best of favored Gonzaga. Florida State saw all 11 of its participants get on the scoresheet in a 75-60 victory.

Terance Mann led the way for the Seminoles with 18 points, but no other Florida State player reached double figures.

Since both teams are playing such sharp basketball, this could be another down-to-the-wire NCAA tournament game. The Wolverines are 4.5-point favorites, and the game will start at 8:49 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. Michigan advances to the Final Four.

Texas Tech vs. Villanova

The Red Raiders played a dynamic game in beating Purdue in the Sweet 16, but the assignment against Jay Wright's Wildcats will be much tougher.

Villanova showed a powerful offensive game in beating an excellent West Virginia team to get to the Elite Eight.

Jalen Brunson is almost certainly the best player on the court, and that should help the Wildcats find a way to outlast the Red Raiders and get to the Final Four.

Duke vs. Kansas

This may be the most competitive game in the Elite Eight, as both of these power programs smell the Final Four.

The Jayhawks rolled to a big lead over Clemson in the Sweet 16, but Bill Self's team nearly gave the game away. That should allow him to demand a much better effort against the Blue Devils.

It's hard to see Kansas building the same kind of lead against Duke, but look for Kansas to play much better down the stretch than the Jayhawks did against the Tigers. Kansas has been stopped in the Elite Eight each of the last two years, but not this time.

Kansas eliminates Duke from the NCAA Tournament.