2018 NCAA Tournament: Elite Eight Predictions
By Mike Marteny
2018 NCAA Tournament: Elite Eight Predictions
It was a rough first weekend for just about everyone. We saw the greatest upset in college basketball history. We saw two one seeds and two two seeds go down. For the first time ever, we had a region that failed to advance any of the top four seeds into the regional semifinals. So, uh, how’s your bracket?
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It it’s like mine, I was ready to toss it in after UMBC beat Virginia. Common sense prevailed, and I figured that hey, I still have three other teams left and some upsets picked. Then Michigan State lost. Then North Carolina. Turns out I was drawing dead by Friday evening, I just didn’t want to admit it.
Fortunately, the round by round game is still alive, and we have a mostly clean slate! And the best part: each correct pick earns a donation to Coaches vs. Cancer. So keep playing the round by round!
I only have 38 out of 60 games correct. This is a far cry from last year, but I got more than half right in the first part of this weekend, so I can’t complain too much. Let’s keep going with my picks for the Final Four!
(1)Villanova vs. (3)Texas Tech:
This is my most chalky bracket left. VIllanova did a great job of handling the West Virginia press. Though the Mountaineers can score this year, they still couldn’t stop the Wildcats. Villanova just has too many weapons.
I picked one out of the four brackets right! The only team I have besides this region is Kansas. Texas Tech bullied Purdue in that game despite the Boilermakers having the size advantage. Keenan Evans is carrying this team. He has carried them all the way to the school’s first ever Elite Eight appearance.
This is a really tough matchup for Texas Tech. However, they are playing very well right now. I think Tech hangs around, much like West Virginia did, but Villanova just has too many weapons. These are two very good all around teams, and I’m looking forward to this one!
Pick: Villanova
(3)Michigan vs. (9)Florida State:
That Florida State defense is huge and nasty. The Seminoles have gotten good draws throughout so far, but Michigan is going to give them some issues with the sharpshooters from outside. The snipers tore apart a Texas A&M team that was playing very well lately. Not as well as Michigan and their 12 game winning streak.
Florida State’s defense has the length and athleticism to get out and contest shots on the wing. They have to to have any chance at beating a hot Michigan team. When it comes down to it, I would have taken both Xavier and Gonzaga to beat Michigan. It stands to reason that I will take Florida State to as well.
Only two 9 seeds have ever made the Final Four. Wichita State in 2013 and Penn in 1979. With two of them still in the Elite Eight, there is a great chance that we get at least one more this year.
Pick: Florida State
(9)Kansas State vs. (11)Loyola-Chicago:
A nine and 11 seed have never faced off in the NCAA tournament. Big surprise, right? Well, it’s going to happen. Believe it or not, more 11 seeds have made the Final Four than 9 seeds. The run by VCU from First Four to Final Four in 2011, the miracle run of George Mason in 2006, and the unlikely run of LSU in 1986. Can the Ramblers add their name to the list?
Kansas State uglied up the game against Kentucky. The Wildcats shot a ton of free throws, but their inability to knock them down sent the highest remaining seed in the South home. The Ramblers wrecked Sister Jean’s bracket, but I think she forgave them for their win over Nevada.
I see this as a rough game. Loyola plays similar to Kansas State, but the Wildcats have perfected the ugly game. I won’t be a bit shocked if Loyola takes this, and a part of me hopes they do. I just think Kansas State is way too physical for them.
Pick: Kansas State
(1)Kansas vs. (2)Duke:
Kansas very nearly blew this game. The Jayhawks blew most of a 20 point lead thanks to the superb play of Gabe DeVoe. DeVoe set a Clemson tournament record with 31 points against the Jayhawks, but he got little help from his teammates. Kansas is now 6-1 in Omaha. The only loss? It was to Wichita State in 2015.
Syracuse succeeded in dirtying up the game and making Duke play ugly. They also succeeded in frustrating the Blue Devils into poor shots. It wasn’t enough. Syracuse was a little too physical, sending the Blue Devils to the foul line a lot. Duke only shot 39% from the floor, but the 28 free throws made a huge difference. And despite Syracuse making Duke play ugly, the Blue Devils turned it over just seven times.
Well, this is a heavyweight match if there ever was one. There are a lot of Duke fans roaming around Omaha. Almost as many as Kansas fans. Almost. If Duke doesn’t take better shots, the Jayhawks are capable of blowing them off the court. However, if Kansas doesn’t stay out of foul trouble, they are going to have a hard time keeping Duke under wraps.
Kansas played far better basketball tonight, but Duke’s was largely a byproduct of Syracuse making that game ugly. As I mentioned before, Kansas doesn’t lose in Omaha very often. That will be the deciding factor.
Pick: Kansas
We have a little of everything in the Elite Eight. Kansas vs. Duke in an ultimate heavyweight bout. Texas Tech making their first ever Elite Eight appearance. A 9 vs. 11 seed for the first time ever. And a Michigan team riding a 12 game winning streak. You don’t want to miss any of these!