After reaching Elite Eight round, our experts have predictions for winner of Final Four
We've made to the Elite Eight of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
It took 56 games, too many close games and not that many upsets. If you are of the betting persuasion, you might call this a "chalk" tournament.
Michigan State's alive, but Michigan is gone. Duke but nobody else from the ACC is standing. The SEC sent 14 teams and there's still hope for an all SEC Final Four.
Which school will win the Final Four? Will the SEC bring a quartet? And will the Mitten State have a hand in this?
Our experts have a few predictions, some that will make you happy and others that will make you go, "hmmmm."
Tony Garcia, Michigan beat reporter
If MSU beats Auburn, Izzo will be an incredible 10-0 vs. SEC teams in the NCAA tournament. The Spartans will smell a chance at their first title in a quarter century, but as often happens when Izzo gets to the final weekend, it will be a short stay as Walter Clayton Jr. is too much. On the other side of the bracket, Duke (which survives Alabama in the Elite 8) pulls away from Houston late in the second half and sets up a matchup of the two best teams in America. The Sith win again. National title pick: Duke 83, Florida 76
Carlos Monarrez, columnist
Michigan State has had a strong tournament that will continue with a physical, defense-first victory over Auburn in the Elite Eight. But after Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils win a shootout with Alabama, they’ll have too much offense for the Spartans to contend with. The pick: Duke 92, MSU 84
Jeff Seidel, columnist
After Duke got by Arizona, I’m gonna stick with my earlier prediction. This time of year, you go with future professionals, so I’m sticking with Duke, which has six NBA prospects, including three projected lottery picks. Cooper Flagg will give Jon Scheyer his first natty. The first one since Coach K.
Chris Solari, Michigan State beat reporter
The Spartans’ strong season comes to an end against a Florida team that has offensive and defensive capabilities MSU has yet to deal with. But the Gators run into a buzzsaw in the title game as Cooper Flagg and Duke roll through Houston and to the Blue Devils’ first post-Mike Krzyzewski national championship.