My Picks to Win the 2018 NCAA Tournament

By Tommy Kane

Published: March 15th, 2018

Volume II: Issue XVII

My 2018 Bracket above

It’s one shining moment in America today as the 2018 NCAA Tournament will commence at 12:15 with the tip-off between Oklahoma and Rhode Island. This year isn’t the first year that I have done a bracket, but the first year that I will be posting my best bracket on my blog. You can now hold me accountable for whom I picked this year. This year will be an exciting year with Syracuse winning their first match against Arizona State to head to the actual Tournament. It will also be interesting to see how Trae Young and the overrated Sooners will do in their first match. With that being said, let’s get to the Madness with a bracket breakdown!

South Region:

In the South Region, I have the #1 seed Virginia moving on to the Final Four. They have only lost one ACC game this year and have been very dominant against their opponents. They can play both defense and offense really well. I have #9 Kansas State upsetting #8 Creighton, to face Virginia in the second round. I have Arizona beating Buffalo and Kentucky pulling a close one against Davidson. Davidson is known to be a sleeper, so this will be a close one. Buffalo is very good shooting deep, so it is possible that they will rattle Arizona’s defense. Miami and Tennessee should be able to advance and face each other in the second round, as well as Cincinnati and Texas. I think Texas will pull an upset against Nevada, as 10 seeds do often. In the next round, I have Arizona pulling away from Kentucky to face Virginia. I also have Miami upsetting Tennessee and Cincinnati beating Texas in a close match-up. Ultimately, it comes down to Cincinnati against Virginia, where Virginia will win and move on to the Final Four.

West Region:

In the West Region, I have the #1 seed Xavier moving on to the Final Four. They have won a couple of good games this season and I think they are underrated because they are in the Big East. Florida State will upset Missouri in a close #8 vs #9 match. ACC teams are reliable picks in the Tournament. I have Gonzaga and Ohio State advancing to the next round to play each other. Houston will pull through against San Diego State and Michigan will escape Montana. To round it out, Providence will upset Texas A&M, as North Carolina will take care of business against Lipscomb. Gonzaga will eventually beat Ohio State, Michigan will beat Houston, and UNC will beat Providence. Gonzaga will face Xavier and lose, while UNC will beat Michigan in a tight one. Ultimately, Xavier will beat UNC (while being considered an underdog) and move on to the Final Four to play Virginia.

East Region:

In the East Region, I have the #1 seed Villanova going to the Final Four. They have had a pretty solid year, and have a lot of experience in the Tournament. Virginia Tech will upset Alabama in a game of the ages. West Virginia and Wichita State will win their first round matches. Florida and Texas Tech will play each other, and Butler will upset Arkansas to face Purdue. West Virginia will upset Wichita and Texas Tech will beat Florida. Purdue will play Texas Tech after beating a tough Butler squad. Texas Tech will upset Purdue to play Villanova in the Elite Eight. In a close game that may go into overtime, Villanova will edge out Texas Tech to go to yet another Final Four with Jay Wright. Texas Tech has already shocked the nation by going that far!

Midwest Region:

In the Midwest Region, I have #1 seed Kansas taking it to the Final Four. Kansas seems to always be a great team in the Tournament, and with this year, they almost seem unstoppable. NC State pulls an upset over Seton Hall, as Clemson and Auburn beat their first round opponents. Syracuse pulls the upset over TCU, while Michigan State escapes a close one over Bucknell. Rhode Island beats up Trae Young and the overrated Sooners to face Duke. Clemson will upset Auburn and make Charles Barkley cry for days. Syracuse will attempt to stop Michigan State, but it would not be enough. Finally, Duke would defeat Rhode Island to play Michigan State. When it comes down to it, Kansas will beat Clemson and Michigan State will upset Duke, as this happens often in the Tourney. Kansas will then beat Michigan State and head to the Final Four yet again!

Final Four:

This Final Four seems improbable, four #1 seeds making it all the way? Why not this year? I feel as though these #1 seeds are strong this year and could take it all the way. Virginia will beat Xavier and Kansas will beat Villanova. Both the Big East teams will not get to play each other in the Championship. For the Championship, I think that Virginia will beat Kansas with a strong performance on both sides of the ball. They will control the tempo and dictate the game until the end. Virginia is the strongest team this year; they will be able to exert that force and win the whole thing. Virginia is my National Champion!

How do you feel about this bracket? Do you agree or disagree? We will find out in the next couple of weeks who gets to dance and who gets to go home. I just hope Syracuse can pull a few upsets and win the National Championship this year! Enjoy the games this week and the next couple of weeks. Go Cuse!