Final Four 2011: 5 Bold Predictions for the Final Four

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is down to the Final Four, and only one team can be crowned the national champions.

For just the third time in college basketball history, the Final Four will not have a No. 1 seed, as the participants are a mixture of big name schools and underdogs.

The Kentucky Wildcats will face off against the UConn Huskies and the Butler Bulldogs will take on the surprising VCU Rams. With all of the last-minute drama and excitement the tournament has brought so far, the Final Four is destined to be filled with surprises.

UConn Will Beat Kentucky by Double Digits

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ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 26: Jeremy Lamb #3 of the Connecticut Huskies dunks the ball against Solomon Hill #44 of the Arizona Wildcats during the west regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 26, 2011 in Anaheim

The UConn Huskies have really impressed in this tournament despite the skeptics (including me) who doubted them.

They are on a dominating winning streak that has seen them blow through the competition. The Huskies have beaten teams that are twice the size they are and have overcome every obstacle.

They have seen some of their younger players like Jeremy Lamb rise to the occasion and become a clutch player during this fantastic run. UConn matches up well against the Wildcats, and they should get an easy win and advance to the national championship game by double digits.

One Game Will Go to Overtime

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 26: The Butler Bulldogs celebrate after defeating the Florida Gators 74 to 71 in overtime during the Southeast regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 26, 2011 in New Orleans, Loui

This may not seem like such a bold prediction, but with just three games left, the odds are against overtime. However with the way this tournament has shaped up, one thing is for certain, anything can happen.

In a tournament filled with buzzer-beaters and nail-biting finishes, the finale will be filled with drama, and at least one game will go to overtime.

Butler and VCU Combine to Score Less Than 120 Points

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 26: Alex Tyus #23 of the Florida Gators has his shot blocked by Shawn Vanzant #2 and Matt Howard #54 of the Butler Bulldogs during the Southeast regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on M

If you like defense, then tune into the first-round game between Butler and VCU.

Both teams play a solid halfcourt offense and rely on defense to win ballgames. While a rash of three-pointers could blow this bold prediction out of the water, I am confident this will stay below 120 points.

This game will be a chess match between two up-and-coming coaches will turn into a slow-down, grind-it-out type of game. The game will be exciting, but defense will rule the night in a low-scoring slug fest.

Kemba Walker Will Score 40 Points Against Kentucky

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ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 26: Kemba Walker #15 of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates after a play towards the end of the game against the Arizona Wildcats during the west regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March

Walker is hands down the best player in the tournament, and he has the ability to take over a basketball game. Big players step up in big games, and the stage is set for Walker to score big.

Walker has a favorable matchup, and head coach Jim Calhoun knows how to put him in matchups to succeed.  Calhoun switches Walker to the position with the weaker defender to give him a great chance to shine.

Walker goes off for 40 as he takes over the Final Four.

Butler Will Win the National Championship

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 26: Shelvin Mack #1 of the Butler Bulldogs reacts during their game against the Florida Gators in overtime of the Southeast regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 26, 2011 in New

Why not?

The Butler Bulldogs have the most experience since they were on this national stage just a year ago and were a buzzer-beater away from winning it all. Matt Howard is a solid leader on the court, and Brad Stevens is the hottest coach in the land.

They play solid defense, and when they are down, they never give up.

Shelvin Mack is becoming a shining star on this team and is the go-to-guy with the game on the line. In what should be a brilliant finish to a stunning tournament, the Butler Bulldogs will be crowned the 2011 national champions.

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at [e-mail].