Previewing the Smart Choice Final Four picks

Looking for a mulligan after a crazy start to March Madness? Check out the Smart Choice picks for the 2023 Final Four in Houston.

If you are like most people in this country, your March Madness bracket has been shattered a million ways to Sunday. Top dogs like Purdue, Kansas, Duke and Arizona were sent packing early as the field has shrunk from 68 to 16 in dramatic fashion.

With the regionals set to begin on Thursday night with the East and West brackets, many sites are offering a second chance pool to try and project the Final Four from here. What may seem so simple, picking four teams out of 16 to get to Houston, is still so complicated given the craziness of this tournament.

Whether you’re filling out a second chance bracket or looking to make some wagers, here are the Smart Choice picks to reach the Final Four next Saturday.

Smart Choice Final Four Picks

South Region

The South has experienced plenty of chaos as its 2, 3 and 4-seeds are all gone after the first weekend. 15-seed Princeton is going to be the sentimental favorite in Louisville but the Tigers’ run will come to an end against red-hot Creighton.

The Bluejays will advance to the regional final against top-seed Alabama, which simply has too much firepower for 5-seed San Diego State to overcome. The matchup between Creighton and Alabama should be tremendous theater but the Crimson Tide’s overall talent edge and depth will power Nate Oats’ team to the Final Four.

Pick: Alabama

Midwest Region

The chalk has largely held in the Midwest as the top four seeds have made it to Kansas City. The health of guard Marcus Sasser will be key for Houston, which is almost impossible to stop with him fully available.

A week off should help Sasser be healthy enough to lead the Cougars past Miami and set the stage for an all-Texas showdown with the Longhorns outlasting Xavier to reach the Elite Eight. This game requires overtime but Houston proves why they were a No, 1 seed and advance to their second Final Four in the past three years.

Pick: Houston

West Region

Kansas’ exit has shaken things up as surging Arkansas joins UConn, UCLA and Gonzaga in Las Vegas. The Huskies are rolling and send the Razorbacks packing while UCLA gets revenge for its 2021 Final Four exit at the hands of Gonzaga by knocking out the Bulldogs.

A UConn-UCLA regional final would be epic and the public will likely back the Huskies thanks to their tremendous form and the Bruins’ absurd list of injuries. UCLA is the best defensive team in the field, however, and they shut down the Huskies to win a low-scoring Elite Eight matchup.

Pick: UCLA

East Region

If you thought the South was crazy, get a load of the East Region. The top two seeds got upset early, leaving Kansas State as the headlining act in New York City alongside Tennessee, Michigan State and Florida Atlantic.

Tom Izzo’s magic runs out at Madison Square Garden as the Wildcats knock out the Spartans and square off with Florida Atlantic, who win a physical affair with Tennessee to get to the regional final. The upstart Owls would probably have the backing of the New York faithful, who always love a good underdog, but Kansas State seals the deal to reach the Final Four in Jerome Tang’s first year as head coach.

Pick: Kansas State

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