Bold (Crazy) NCAA Tournament Predictions

We all know with the start of March Madness that things none of us can foresee are about to happen. So I figured what the heck I will try to predict them anyway!

1). All-Big Ten Teams will be gone by Sunday night!

The highest seeded Big Ten team is seeded at number 4 for a reason; the conference was not very good this year. Purdue led by Caleb Swanigan and a red-hot Michigan team are their best hopes for the sweet 16. Michigan will face a tough test in their first matchup against a very underrated Oklahoma State team, and if they advance to the weekend, the Louisville Cardinals will await the Wolverines. Purdue will face a Vermont team that is capable of beating the Boilers, and the next round would find them against Iowa State.

2). SMU will make it to the sweet sixteen!

The Mustangs have not lost since December and are maybe the hottest team entering the tournament. They will play the winner of Providence/USC and their second round matchup will be most likely against a Baylor team that has struggled as of late. Don’t be surprised if they give Duke a run in the sweet sixteen.

3). Middle Tennessee State will advance to the elite eight

This is a better team than the one that upset Michigan State in last year’s tournament. Plus the draw is favorable with a first-round matchup against Minnesota. In the second round, they would probably face Butler and Butler has been one of the most inconsistent teams in the country this year. To get to the final eight they will most likely have to beat North Carolina, and it might be going out on a limb to predict this, but if I wasn’t going out on a limb why would I even be writing this article?

4). The Kentucky Wildcats will not make it past the second round

I believe the Wildcats will lose to either Wichita State or Dayton in the second round of play. Wichita State and Dayton are both very dangerous and talented teams, and the Wildcats have had trouble as of late putting together a complete 40 minutes of play.

5). Only one number one seed will advance to the final four

As of late one seeds have had trouble getting to the final four, and this year will be no different.

6). None of the play-in teams will advance to the final 32

In the past, at least one play-in team has advanced to at least the round of 32, not this year.

7). No SEC teams will advance past Sunday night

I know a lot of you might have thought I was crazy saying this about the Big Ten, and I am going to say it now about the SEC. The SEC has Kentucky, and that is their best shot to advance, but remember I think they lose in the second round.

8). Gonzaga will win the National Championship

This is Coach Mark Few’s most talented and complete team, and their bracket is not overly tough. Notre Dame, West Virginia and finally Arizona are the toughest teams in their bracket. Remember they already took care of Arizona relatively easy earlier in the season. The biggest stumbling block for the Zags could be a final four matchup with defending National Champion Villanova or possibly Duke. I feel this will be the year the Zags break through.