NCAA Tournament Predictions: Top Seed in Each Bracket
Predicting the Top Seed In Each Bracket of the NCAA Tournament
With the College Basketball season a little over halfway over, conference games now start to become a factor on who makes it to the big dance and who does not.
The season has had its share of surprises, comebacks, statement wins and upset wins. You name it, it has happened at some point this season. If this is how the season has gone so far, we are in for yet another crazy tournament once March comes around. Then again, why do you think it is called March Madness?
Only four teams remaining are undefeated at the halfway point of the season and there is still time for other teams to make some statements and get the win they need to make their case for one of the four No. 1 seeds in the tournament. As it was last year the NCAA Tournament will be split into four regions. The Midwest, West, South, and East. Normally how the bracket goes is that each No. 1 Seed gets to play in the tournament in their region which is similar to a home court advantage in the NBA. One team from each bracket or region goes out to Arlington to play in the Final Four for the chance to win a championship. Strap in once the tournament begins. There is one thing that should not surprise fans is that there will be suspense, upsets, and maybe even a Cinderella team or two.
With that in mind, here are the four teams that I believe will get the top seed in each bracket. This also will come with what region each of these four teams will play in to begin their journey to the ultimate prize.
Tylor Walden is a Denver Broncos writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TylorDWalden, “like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
The Four No. 1 Seeds
Halfway through the season, the four teams I see claiming the No. 1 Seeds in the tournament are the Arizona Wildcats, Michigan State Spartans, Syracuse Orange, and the Wichita State Shockers. Three of these four teams are undefeated at this point and I believe each one has a legitimate shot at the top seeds.
Arizona Wildcats - West Region
The Wildcats have been quite the surprise team in my eyes this season. Last year they got to the Sweet 16 as the No. 6 seed before falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes. This team has the talent to run the table. While they have yet to play a ranked team this season, there is faith in the Wildcats that they can exceed expectations and get just a bit further this time around.
Michigan State Spartans - Midwest Region
Even though the Spartans have already tasted defeat this season, there is never any reason to doubt Tom Izzo's squad. The only teams I can see standing in their way of the No. 1 seed are the Wisconsin Badgers and the Ohio State Buckeyes. They have already beat the Buckeyes once this season and only have to play the Badgers once this season. The Spartans are always a tough out in the Big Dance and with a No. 1 seed can be even more challenging to eliminate.
Syracuse Orange - East Region
The Orange are in my eyes the best rounded team out of the four I have selected. They have already proven to be a solid team by knocking off the Baylor Bears who are in the top ten right now and have defeated the previously unbeaten Villanova Wildcats, who have been a surprise on their own. This team as a No. 4 Seed in last year's tournament has already tasted success by getting to the Final Four the previous year. If they can do that as a No. 4, think about how they will perform as a No. 1. Scary thought. The only team that could stand in their way is the Duke Blue Devils, which they still have to play twice. If they can beat Big Bad Blue, they should be in the discussion.
Wichita State Shockers - South Region
The Shockers are my wild card to get a No. 1 Seed in this year's tournament. While they have not played a ranked opponent and have a rather weak schedule in front of them, this team's previous success in the tournament should give them consideration for the top seeded honor. Especially the run they made last year. The Shockers were the Cinderella team of 2013 getting all the way to the Final Four before losing to the eventual champion Louisville Cardinals. This team is now under everyone's radar. If they end up going undefeated the rest of the way, there should be no reason to deny the Shockers of a top seed, no matter who they played.
