The stage is set for the Final Four in San Antonio. The action tips off Saturday, with the national title game coming on Monday. Here is a look at the four teams that remain from one of the wildest NCAA basketball tournaments in recent memory.
Villanova Wildcats
Odds To Win March Madness: -105
Villanova won the East Region as the top seed in convincing fashion, taking all four games by an average of 19.2 points. Things got a little harder in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, but the Wildcats still pulled out double-digit wins over West Virginia and Texas Tech. They showed that they can win any type of game their opponent wants to play. West Virginia tried to speed it up and press the Wildcats and Villanova hit 13 of 24 three-point attempts. Then, the Wildcats couldn’t hit a shot against Texas Tech, so they used their defense to get back to the Final Four, their first return since winning the title in 2016. They’re an experienced team that doesn’t take anything for granted and are deserving favorites to win it all once again. Villanova is a 5-point favorite over Kansas in their Saturday matchup.
Michigan Wolverines
Odds To Win March Madness: +260
The Wolverines took the West Region as a No. 3 seed. They have won in different ways, initially laboring before beating Montana by 14, then needing a Jordan Poole three-pointer at the buzzer to edge Houston. They blew out Texas A&M with a barrage of three-pointers (14-for-24, to be exact) and then slipped past Florida State with their defense. Michigan is eighth in the country in points allowed and can lock teams down, but if the Wolverines shoot like they did against Texas A&M, they’re very tough to beat. They’re a 5-point favorite in their Final Four matchup with Loyola-Chicago.
Kansas Jayhawks
Odds To Win March Madness: +350
The Jayhawks were somewhat unheralded as a No. 1 seed in the Midwest. They didn’t look great in wins over Penn and Seton Hall, but then they moved past Clemson and eliminated Duke in overtime in arguably the best game of the tournament so far. The Jayhawks are a resilient team and don’t back down when things get tough. They seem to have some grit, which previous Kansas teams had been criticized for lacking. If they play their best basketball, the Jayhawks can definitely knock off Villanova and even win it all.
Loyola-Chicago Ramblers
Odds To Win March Madness: +900
The Ramblers are the Cinderella of the ball, the first No. 11 seed to make it to the Final Four since VCU in 2011. They pulled out close games against Miami, Tennessee and Nevada before thumping Kansas State by 16 points to win the wild South Region. It was an impressive win because every time the Wildcats went to make a run, Loyola-Chicago came right back at them. This is a well-drilled team that follows instructions to the letter and plays extremely hard. While their chaplain, 98-year-old Sister Jean, is getting all of the attention, the Ramblers as a basketball team are no joke. Michigan had better not overlook them on Saturday in San Antonio because the Ramblers have proved they can play with anyone.