NCAA Basketball Tournament 2018: Predicting the results

Midwest Region

Midwest Region bracket predictions

First Round

Ever since the additional play-in games were added for the 11th seed, one team has made it to the second round every year but one. There is always a team that doesn't belong in the tournament that will get a win in the first round, and I think that's going to be Arizona State defeating Syracuse in the play-in and then TCU in the first round.

Second Round

It's a pretty ho-hum second round of the tournament as I have the top four seeds in the Midwest Region all advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. It's really hard to fathom anyone beating Kansas, Duke, Michigan State, and Auburn here.

Sweet Sixteen

Although the second round was ho-hum, the Sweet Sixteen match-ups could provide to be some of the best in the tournament. Many would dismiss Kansas and Auburn on paper, but Auburn has three stars and great free throw shooting.

I feel like that game will be closer than Michigan State and Duke actually. It's hard to beat Izzo twice in the same year. With Duke struggling down the stretch, I have to go with the Spartans here.

Elite Eight

Two traditional powers meet in the Midwest Region's Elite Eight with Michigan State and Kansas. The Jayhawks survived the toughest conference in the nation; which his how they're a No. 1 seed with seven losses.

The fact that any one of the five starters can go off on any given night puts them ahead of Michigan State here for a third trip to the Final Four for Bill Self.