2022 March Madness Tournament Bold Predictions
The 2022 March Madness Tournament is just about here. Selection Sunday happens on March 13. Then starting on March 15, the best 68 teams in the nation throw down for the right to call themselves NCAA Men’s College Basketball Champions. Check out five bold predictions for this season’s March Madness Tournament.
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Five Bold Predictions for the 2022 March Madness Tournament
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— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 28, 2022
AP Top 25 teams that took an L last week:
1. Gonzaga ❌
2. Arizona ❌
3. Auburn ❌
4. Purdue ❌
5. Kansas ❌
6. Kentucky ❌
8. Villanova ❌
9. Texas Tech ❌
12. UCLA ❌
15. Illinois ❌
22. Ohio State ❌
READ MORE: Top 2022 College Basketball Conference Winners Predictions
1. Three 1-seeds will make the Final Four
Every season, we love to fill out brackets and circle underdogs to make the Final Four and win the National Championship. Although dogs often play well, 1-seeds and 2-seeds almost always win the title.
This season, though, there is no clear cut overall 1-seed. 7 teams in the Top 10 lost on Feb. 26, proving that the Selection Committee is going to have a heck of a time seeding contenders. But although the committee will struggle to find four legit 1-seeds, no worries if you like to back chalk.
Three 1-seeds will make the Final Four this season because three-of-four 1-seeds should go to Gonzaga, Arizona, and Auburn. Those three squads have been the most consistent during the season.
2. No Big Ten team will make the Final Four
It’s impossible to take the Big Ten for granted. Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Ohio State have Final Four contender talent. But although all of the Big Ten’s best can make it to the Final Four, none of them will this season because teams in the Big Ten spend an entire regular season and a conference tournament beating each other up.
By the time the Elite Eight rolls around, every Big Ten team in the NCAA Tournament is gassed. Just look at what happened to the Michigan Wolverines versus the UCLA Bruins in the 2021 tournament.
3. Kentucky will be the lone 2-seed to march to the Final Four
This is a bold prediction. If we hand Auburn the SEC Conference Tournament, which begins on March 9, we have no choice but to make Kentucky a 2-seed.
Coach Cal won’t mind to start the tournament a 2-seed. Calipari knows he can count on Oscar Tshiebwe or Sahvir Wheeler to make a last second winning shot. Those two players will lead the Wildcats to the Final Four.
4. Baylor will be the Big 12 team that gets to New Orleans
On Feb. 26, Baylor beat Kansas. The Bears must win the Big 12 Conference Tournament. If they do, Baylor should secure a 1-seed, which gives them a huge chance to make the Final Four. Kansas will fall to a 2-seed. Even as a 2, Kansas has the talent to make it to the Final Four. The problem, though, is that the Jayhawks rely almost exclusively on Ochai Agbaji. Kansas isn’t as deep as Baylor, which means Bill Self’s squad, even if they grab a 1-seed, is more likely to end their tournament dreams before making it to the Big Easy than the Bears.
5. Arizona is the only team that will make it to the Elite Eight from the Pac-12
Not only will preseason #2 UCLA not make it to the Final Four, but the Bruins won’t even get past the Sweet 16. Simply put, Arizona is the better team. Sure, Colorado blasted U-of-A on Feb. 26. But Zona will bounce back from the loss, win the Pac-12 Conference Tournament, and enter the NCAA Tournament a 1-seed. Neither UCLA or USC, two surprise squads in last season’s March Madness Tournament, will do enough to make it to the Elite Eight.
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