Final Four 2018: TV Schedule, Bracket and Predictions for NCAA Semifinals

The Final Four participants of the 2018 men's NCAA tournament look appropriately predictable and inconceivable.

That combination shouldn't be able to exist. But remember, this is March, a month defined by madness.

Top-seeded Villanova and Kansas have gone as far as the selection committee said they should. Sister Jean's 11th-seeded Loyola-Chicago, however, has engineered one of the more improbable bracket-busting runs in memory.

The fun part is seedings and backstories no longer carry much weight. At this point of the tourney, everyone is comfortable on the dance floor and confident in their chances of surviving and advancing.

As the four squads prepare for Saturday's semifinals, let's run through all the pertinent info for the games and predict their outcomes.

Tournament TV Info

Saturday, March 31

No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago, 6:09 p.m. ET on TBS

No. 1 Villanova vs. No. 1 Kansas, 8:49 p.m. ET on TBS

Monday, April 2

National Championship, 9:20 p.m. ET on TBS

Predictions

Michigan vs. Loyola-Chicago

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

The eight-seed line difference between the Wolverines and the Ramblers isn't an accurate depiction of the separation between these squads.

KenPom.com's rankings have both inside the top 30, although Michigan still enjoys a comfortable edge (seventh to 30th).

But stylistic similarities suggest this contest will be tight. Each team has a really good defense and not-as-good-but-still-efficient offense. They play at an almost identical pace (Loyola-Chicago is 315th in tempo, Michigan is 326th) and get good-to-great outside shooting from their top scoring options.

"They may do it on different scales, but Loyola-Chicago is the Michigan of the mid-major world," Sports Illustrated's Michael Beller wrote. "Or, if you prefer it the other way, Michigan is the Loyola-Chicago of the power conferences."

That said, these teams aren't mirror images of one another.

Loyola-Chicago starts four guards and a center who doesn't often leave the post. Michigan goes with two guards, a wing, a versatile power forward and a stretch-5. The Ramblers are the better shooting team, but the Wolverines get shooting from more positions.

A cold spell from distance could doom either side. Loyola-Chicago has mostly played with a minuscule margin for error (three wins by two points or fewer), and Michigan barely survived the second and fourth rounds when it went a combined 12-of-52 from outside (23.1 percent).

Loyola-Chicago might feel destiny is on its side, but Michigan has two tangible advantages that will prove the difference.

The first is guard Zavier Simpson, the best perimeter defender left in the tournament. The second is the aforementioned floor-spacing center, Moritz Wagner, who stands 6'11" and stripes 39.6 percent of his long-range looks. The Ramblers will have a tough time countering one, let alone both.

Predicted Winner: Michigan

Villanova vs. Kansas

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

This isn't just the battle of the blue bloods. It's a showdown between two of the nation's elite offenses, with the Wildcats sitting first in offensive efficiency and the Jayhawks checking in four spots behind.

Both attacks are orchestrated by experienced, NBA-bound floor generals in Jalen Brunson (Villanova) and Devonte' Graham (Kansas). Each squad also has big-league talent on the wings, with the Wildcats' Mikal Bridges and the Jayhawks' Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Malik Newman.

The collection of perimeter talent in this tilt is remarkable. Villanova's top-four scorers all shoot 38.5 percent or better from three. Kansas' top three options all top 40 percent from range, and its fifth best scorer, Lagerald Vick, has hit 59 threes at a 37.8-percent clip.

While this game likely won't hinge on the bigs, Kansas center Udoka Azubuike is a player to watch.

The 7-footer has had trouble staying on the court, opening the tournament with a knee injury and exiting the last two games early with five fouls. He's an above-the-rim difference-maker when he's out there, but Kansas needs him inside the lines to keep pace with what has been this tournament's most consistent team.

While both clubs follow the lead of upperclassmen, Villanova still has an edge in experience. The Wildcats won this tournament just two years ago with the likes of Brunson, Bridges and Phil Booth all playing critical roles.

This game will be appointment-viewing. If you haven't already cleared your schedule for Saturday night, you have the next 48 hours to do so.

But in the end, it's hard to find a reason to pick against Villanova.

As good as the Jayhawks are, the Wildcats have a more efficient offense, a stingier defense and better shooting scoring leaders. The differences between the teams aren't great, but they're enough to push Jay Wright and his bunch back into its second title game in three years.

Predicted Winner: Villanova

Statistics used courtesy of KenPom and Sports-Reference.