Final Four 2018: Schedule, Odds, Predictions for NCAA Tournament Semifinals

Only four teams remain in the 2018 NCAA men's basketball tournament with Sunday's two games in the books.

The Loyola Ramblers and Michigan Wolverines secured Final Four berths Saturday night, and the Villanova Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks will be joining them in San Antonio. Villanova defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders 71-59, and Kansas needed overtime to dispatch the Duke Blue Devils 85-81.

Here's a look at the updated bracket and a preview for the two semifinals.

NCAA Tournament Bracket

Final Four Schedule

March 31

No. 11 Loyola of Chicago vs. No. 3 Michigan (-5), 6:09 p.m. ET; TBS

No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 1 Villanova (-4), 8:49 p.m. ET; TBS

Odds are courtesy of OddsShark.

Final Four Preview

No. 11 Loyola-Chicago vs. No. 3 Michigan

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As great a story as Loyola-Chicago is, the Ramblers could be in for a rude awakening when they face off with Michigan. Four combined points were the difference in their first three games of the tournament, and Virginia's first-round exit meant they avoided the Cavaliers in the Elite Eight.

Loyola-Chicago has ridden its luck and had a relatively easy road to the semifinals.

Granted, the same could be said of the Wolverines. They haven't played a team seeded better than sixth, and they needed a game-winning three at the buzzer to defeat Houston.

Jordan Poole knocks it down as the clock expires

Michigan's offense remains a cause for concern as well.

The Wolverines shot 61.9 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from three-point range in their 99-72  Sweet 16 win over Texas A&M. In their other three tournament games, they combined to shoot 39.4 percent overall and 25.0 from beyond the arc.

That could be a problem against Loyola-Chicago, which ranks 18th in adjusted defense and 315th in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom.com. A slow, methodical game will be right in the Ramblers' wheelhouse, especially if the Wolverines' are hitting below 40 percent of their shot attempts.

Moritz Wagner's performance will be vital in Michigan enjoying another offensive showing like it did against Texas A&M. The junior forward was 8-of-12 for 21 points in the victory over the Aggies, compared to 8-of-20 for 24 combined points in the team's other two tourney games.

A 6'11" stretch 4 could wreak havoc against a team without a regular rotation player taller than 6'9". If Wagner gets going early, the Wolverines could coast to an easy win. He would set the table for the rest of the offense.

Michigan gets the slight edge on the strength of Wagner and a solid supporting cast.

Prediction: Michigan 67, Loyola-Chicago 60

No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 1 Villanova

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Villanova has been a rarity in this tournament in being a top seed that lived up to the hype. They advanced to the Final Four and did so by winning each of their four tourney games by double digits, though the 12-point margin of victory in the Wildcats' win over Texas Tech is somewhat deceiving.

Generally speaking, Villanova has been the most consistent program in college basketball:

Kansas may have a strong case to earn that distinction, which makes it a little ironic the Wildcats and Jayhawks are facing off in the semifinals.

The Jayhawks have had to work a lot harder to get to the Final Four. Kansas beat Seton Hall and Clemson by four points apiece and needed Grayson Allen's shot to roll off the rim to head to overtime against Duke.

The big question will be whether Kansas can slow down Villanova's offense, which ranks first in the country in scoring (87.0 points per game) and fifth in field-goal percentage (50.3). Kansas is 142nd in scoring defense (70.9 points) and 73rd in opponent field-goal percentage (42.3).

Illustrating Villanova's offensive depth, six Wildcats players were averaging double figures in scoring entering Sunday. A player as important as Jalen Brunson going 4-of-14 in the Elite Eight may have doomed other teams, but Villanova still defeated the Red Raiders.

That same Texas Tech team beat Kansas on the road in January and then lost by just two points to the Jayhawks in February.

Duke shot 42.9 percent from the field Sunday but made just seven of their 29 three-point attempts. Allen and Gary Trent Jr. were a combined 10-of-31. Kansas can lock things down against an elite offensive team on its best night.

This game is almost too close to call. Villanova is the stronger team from top to bottom, and the Wildcats have an edge in what will be an important individual matchup between Brunson and Devonte' Graham.

Prediction: Villanova 81, Kansas 77