Final Four 2018: Bracket, Teams, Predictions, Odds and More

Loyola-Chicago has become the story of the NCAA tournament through the first two weeks of the competition, but the Ramblers have moved into a different league as they prepare for the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, this weekend.

Sister Jean has become a media darling as she roots for her Ramblers and does interviews, but head coach Porter Moser has put together a team that has proved it can play with the big boys.

The 11-seeded Ramblers have strung together wins over Miami, Tennessee, Nevada and Kansas State to earn a Final Four date with Michigan.

Few gave Loyola much of a chance at the start of the tournament, but it has shown its mettle down the stretch with three victories before dismantling a very tough Kansas State Wildcat team.

They will have to rise to a new level when they face Michigan in the Final Four semifinal game at 6:05 p.m. ET Saturday. The Wolverines are five-point favorites over the Ramblers, per OddsShark.

Ben Richardson was the best player on the court for the Ramblers with 23 points in the win over Kansas State. However, it has been a different hero every night for Loyola.

Clayton Custer hit the game-winning shot for the Ramblers in their second-round victory over Tennessee, and he also leads the Ramblers in scoring with 13.2 points per game. Donte Ingram and Marques Townes follow with 11.3 and 11.2 points per game, respectively. Ingram hit the game-winner against Miami, while Townes was the hero against Nevada.

Michigan has had a dynamic run, as it won the Big Ten tournament prior to four NCAA tournament wins. 

It beat Florida State 58-54 in the Elite Eight as Charles Matthews led the way with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Head coach John Beilein's team did not see his team shoot well (19-of-49 from the field), but he was impressed with the effort. "I've never seen a team work so hard and be so connected on both ends of the floor," Beilein said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "Even when things do not go right on the offensive end, they were exceptional on defense."

Moe Wagner leads the Wolverines with 14.3 points per game and he is also pulling down 6.9 rebounds per game. Matthews is right behind with 13.0 points per night, and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman is adding 12.8 points per game. 

Look for Loyola to come out with another strong game, but the powerful Wolverines have won 13 matchups in a row, and they will take over in the final 10 minutes and win the game by double digits.

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Villanova vs. Kansas

The Wildcats and the Jayhawks will square off at 8:45 p.m., and Jay Wright's Villanova team is a four-point favorite.

The Wildcats eliminated athletic Texas Tech 71-59 Sunday, but it was not one of the team's better offensive games. Villanova made just 19-of-57 shots overall, and were an anemic 4-of-24 from beyond the arc.

However, while the lid was on the basket for much of the game, Villanova showed off its ferocious defense, solid rebounding and stellar free-throw shooting.

Texas Tech made just 20-of-60 shots, and Villanova had a 51-33 edge on the boards. The Wildcats also made 29-of-35 shots from the free-throw line. Eric Paschall had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the victors.

The Wildcats will get pushed hard by Kansas. The Jayhawks earned their way to the Final Four with their classic 85-81 overtime triumph over the Duke Blue Devils.

Malik Newman put the Jayhawks on his back and punched the ticket to San Antonio. He scored a game-high 32 points and all 13 points in overtime for Bill Self's team.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski was gracious in defeat. "It was an honor to play in this game," he said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "I think both teams were deserving of winning."

Villanova is loaded with talent, and Jalen Brunson is probably the best player in the Final Four. Brunson is averaging 19.3 points per game and shooting 53.5 percent from the field.

Devonte Graham is averaging 17.3 points per game and also adding 7.4 assists.

Kansas played a remarkable game in beating the Blue Devils, but the Wildcats are too strong and too consistent, and Villanova will beat Kansas and cover the four-point spread.