In the season of no clear favorite and no obvious dominant team, you can make a case for numerous teams as a smart pick to win it all. When the NCAA Tournament began, Michigan State emerged as the trendy pick, with 22.2% of brackets in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge going with the Spartans.
You know how that worked out. So who do you go with now? I’m thinking North Carolina Tar Heels; and here’s how.
Yes, we made a fearless pick for every single game left in March madness.
(For our game preview and score prediction of Virginia-Iowa State go here)
(For our game preview and score prediction of Syracuse-Gonzaga go here)
#5 Maryland over #1 Kansas
Bill Self’s KU have a very upset prone history, and Maryland has national title level talent.
#3 Miami over #2 Villanova
Big East basketball is like Bon Jovi- huge in the ’80s, had some moments in the ’90s, and not really worth focusing on today.
#1 North Carolina Tar Heels over #5 Indiana
Tom Crean deserves more credit than he gets, but he won’t be carrying the Big Ten flag any further; sorry.
#6 Notre Dame over #7 Wisconsin
The Golf magazine reading, polo wearing crowd in blue and gold will end up happier than the gold magazine reading, polo wearing crowd in red.
(Related: 16 things to know this Sweet 16)
Regional Finals
#3 Miami over #5 Maryland
ACC continues its dominance; even the football schools are getting in on the act.
#1 North Carolina Tar Heels over #6 Notre Dame
Once again Mike Brey did a fine job getting his team to overachieve, but once again talent eventually wins out in this ACC on ACC criminal violence.
#4 Duke over #1 Oregon
The bracket assembling committee may think the Pac 12 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but we do not. Grayson Allen, the next Christian Laettner, and his mates advance further.
#2 Oklahoma over #3 Texas A&M
You really thought this game was football didn’t you? Sooners, national player of the year front-runner Buddy Hield, will march on forward.
#1 Virginia over #4 Iowa State
This will be a bummer for Chicago Bulls Head Coach Fred Hoiberg. Well, at least his kids came to visit at the United Center. Here’s the link to our full game preview and score prediction.
#11 Gonzaga over #10 Syracuse
The Zags HBO reality series is about to become much more popular. Gonzaga as the rare 11-seed favorite in a Sweet 16 game beats the 10-seed. Here’s the link to our full game preview and score prediction.
Regional Finals
#2 Oklahoma over #4 Duke
This was supposed to be a proverbial “rebuilding year” in Durham, so credit Coach K for the job he’s done this season. Duke will be back with a bunch of McDonald’s All-Americans in the fold next year; as usual.
#1 Virginia over #11 Gonzaga
Like the state motto says “Virginia is for lovers,” and now for Final Four participants.
Final Four
Oklahoma over Miami
You knew Sooner rather than later the Canes run was going to end. Former Illini Coach Lon Kruger will coach in his first national title game. Hield assumes role of this tourney’s alpha dog. We have now have our true cover story guy.
North Carolina Tar Heels over Virginia
Tony Bennett is becoming a rock star college basketball coach, (well, given his famous name, he’s more of a standard singing college hoops coach) but the road ends here. ACC continues their record-setting, ground-breaking NCAA Tournament.
Title
North Carolina Tar Heels over Oklahoma
In a year of parity and no dominant team we end up with a #1 vs #2 final between two power five conference powers. Yes, a record 10 double digit seeds advanced this year, but in the end it’s one of the sport’s ruling elite blue bloods who will get it done. Roy Williams has been there before. He’ll close the deal as we go North Carolina Tar Heels over Hield in the end.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram