2018 NCAA Bracketology: Midwest Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections

2018 NCAA Bracketology – Midwest Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections: The Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket is ridiculously loaded at the top. If you were going to list the top contenders for this year’s national championship, there is a good chance three of the teams in this region would end up in your Top 5. Let’s take a closer look at the absolutely stacked Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket.

2018 NCAA Bracketology: Midwest Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections

NCAA Midwest Bracket Favorites to Make the Final Four

Kansas: The Jayhawks grabbed another Big 12 title on their way to another No. 1 seed, and this Kansas team has as much perimeter firepower as I can remember. The big question mark for the Jayhawks is the health of big man Udoka Azubuike, who has been out with a knee sprain. With him patrolling the paint, Kansas is a national title threat. Without him, I’m not sure the Jayhawks make it out of the second weekend.

Duke: In terms of overall talent, I’m not sure any team in the country can match Duke weapon for weapon. Marvin Bagley III can score almost at will on the block, Grayson Allen can get scorching hot from deep, Gary Trent Jr. is another sharpshooter and Wendell Carter Jr. is a nightly double-double threat. Yes, the Blue Devils seem to sleepwalk for stretches, which has led to bad losses this year. Now that the stakes are much higher, this young, talented team could focus up and make a push to San Antonio.

Michigan State: It’s March, so that means Tom Izzo’s bunch should strike fear into any opponent. As always, the Spartans will lock you up on the defensive end, but this team also has elite athletes. Miles Bridges can be a two-way force and is headed for the NBA lottery, and Jaren Jackson Jr. also looks like a star in the making. The Spartans are balanced, disciplined and battle tested. Izzo has a Final Four-caliber team and a potential title threat.

NCAA Midwest Bracket Upset Specials

Oklahoma over Rhode Island: The Sooners absolutely collapsed down the stretch, finishing the year on a 4-11 skid and allowing opponents to score pretty much at will. Fortunately for Oklahoma, the NCAA Tournament offers new life, and they have one of the most explosive scorers in the country to lean on in Trae Young. Whether he is scoring himself or finding open shooters, Young is the engine that drives a Top 5 scoring attack. Rhode Island will hustle and grind it out, but they don’t have the overall talent of Young and the Sooners. Whether the Sooners belong in the NCAA Tournament is up for debate, but now that they are in, they can advance.

Arizona State/Syracuse over TCU: The Horned Frogs can light it up on the offensive end, but they also allow opponents to score in bunches. More concerning, TCU has become even shakier on defense down the stretch, and the high-powered offense has been inconsistent. Not surprisingly, the Horned Frogs finished the year on a 7-7 stretch, and they are going to be vulnerable against whichever team they face in the Round of 64.

NCAA Midwest Bracket High Seed on Alert

Auburn: The Tigers had an excellent season, but they finished the year on a 2-4 slide, and it is no coincidence that the slump started when forward Anfernee McLemore was lost to an injury. Without their dynamic shot blocker, the Tigers just haven’t been the same team, especially on the defensive end. It’s hard for any team to adjust to the loss of a key player late in the year, and Auburn doesn’t have any more time to figure things out.

NCAA Midwest Bracket PREDICTION: Duke Blue Devils

You can get expert 2018 NCAA Tournament picks and 2018 NCAA Tournament predictions this month from NSAwins.com’s top handicappers plus a pre-filled downloadable and printable 2018 NCAA Tournament Bracket to help you win your office pool!