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Charles Barkley picks Arizona to win NCAA Tournament (Video)

By Noah Torr

Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns former guard Charles Barkley in attendance of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sportsfor
Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns former guard Charles Barkley in attendance of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sportsfor /
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Charles Barkley has made his pick for the winner of the NCAA Tournament.

Charles Barkley has announced who will win the 2017 NCAA Tournament this year. On CBS Sunday evening, Barkley had his Final Four with Villanova, Louisville, North Carolina and Arizona.

Related: Printable NCAA Tournament Bracket

Once Barkley finished off naming his Final Four, studio host Ernie Johnson asked Barkley who his winner will be. There was not an immediate response from Barkley. Then, feeling the pressure from his co-anchor, he picked Arizona to take it all this year.

There you have it. Barkley has picked the Wildcats to cut down the nets.

Honestly, it would not be a shock to anyone if Arizona did end up winning it all. Arizona does not have the toughest side of the bracket to compete on. Although, if the bracket plays out the way that Barkley is intending it to, then Arizona would have to go through defending champion, Villanova.

Arizona has played at an elite level this year. They ranked at No. 7 in the AP poll just before the tournament started. In the Pac-12 tournament, Arizona did beat the red-hot UCLA in the tournament 86-75 and then beat Oregon in the championship game 83-80. Arizona has made their case to all the bracketologists out there in the world that they are to be taken seriously and could prove to be a tough out.

Barkley has long been a face of sports gambling so it’ll be interesting to see if he makes any wagers on the Wildcats cutting down the nets on April 3 when the championship game is held. It wouldn’t be the first time that Barkley has gone out on a limb for a team, but there’s a great chance his bold prediction could come to fruition in a few short weeks.

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