NCAA Tournament Bracketology 2018 - West Region

Written by AccuScore Staff
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2018 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: West Region

Xavier has the no. 1 seed in the West after losing in its conference tournament final to Providence, and thought that doesn't spell upset for the Bulldogs against the winner of the North Carolina Central Eagles or the Texas Southern Tigers, AccuScore has Xavier exiting in the Sweet 16 to fellow Bulldogs, Gonzaga.

The Zags have become tournament regulars, and that means something this time of year. UNC Greensboro doesn't expect to pose much of a challenge, but the game against Ohio State should provide a tougher test before Xavier arrives at the Sweet 16. On the bottom half of the bracket, North Carolina and Michigan are the two clear favorites to make the Sweet 16. No.3 Michigan wins the proverbial coin flip with a 51-49 edge in simulations over no. 2 North Carolina in what promises to be a heck of a game if both teams can survive and advance to that point. Then, the computer is calling another 51-49 coin flip on Gonzaga advancing to the Final Four as a no. 4 seed. Gonzaga claimed its sixth straight WCC title with a 20-point beatdown of BYU in the championship game, so the Bulldogs are tournament ready and have the right pedigree to cause a couple upsets along the way.

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In terms of raw percentages, AccuScore calculates Gonzaga has a 33.54% chance of making the Final Four and 5.27% chance of winning the championship, while North Carolina is close behind with 20.86% chance of making the Final Four and 4.6% chance of winning it all. Michigan is the third most likely team to win the West at 16.63% to reach the Final Four, followed by Xavier at 11.75% emerge as the no. 1 seed out of the West region.

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South Region
MidWest Region
East Region

South Region: NCAA Tournament Bracketology 2017

Written by Rohit Ghosh

Follow @rohitghosh on Twitter

2017 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: South Region

Odds to Win South Region

North Carolina 5/4
Kentucky 11/4
UCLA 5/1
Butler 10/1
Wichita State 10/1
Cincinnati 14/1
Dayton 28/1
Minnesota U 28/1
Middle Tennessee St 40/1
Arkansas 50/1
Seton Hall 50/1
Wake Forest 75/1
Kansas State 100/1
Kent State 200/1
Northern Kentucky 200/1
Texas Southern 200/1
Winthrop 200/1

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Deserving of the Nod?

Not everyone agrees on UNC getting the No. 1 seed, having lost to Duke two-of-three times this season. With 11 top-50 wins this season tho, it was tough for voters to shy away.

If you don't agree with AccuScore's upset pick of Middle Tenn. over UNC in the Elite 8, the Tar Heels just might deserve a lot more Final Four-related discussion than the sim data suggests.

Upset Alert, or Not

When the bracket was set, there was some notable action on No. 13 Winthrop taking it over No. 4 Butler. It's the highest the Bulldogs have ever been seeded and the public seems to disagree. AccuScore sim data, however, would go with the seeded-favorite in this first-round matchup.

Players to Watch

With UCLA in the field, we already know Lonzo Ball will garner more than enough attention. At 6'6", the freshman guard has made a name for himself and will look to catapult that legacy to the pro level with his play in the tourney.

Beyond the hype, though, most hoops fans know not to overlook Kentucky's Malik Monk in this region. Averaging nearly 21 points per game, watch for Monk to try and lead his No. 2-seeded UK squad to the Final Four.

Value Pick & Final Word

If you're scowering the bracket looking for value picks -- either to reach the Final Four or win the tourney -- look no further than the South region.

At 40:1 odds, Middle Tennessee provides some hidden value -- a lot for a little. What's hidden though is the fact that while it has a 40:1 chance to win the region, it -- by far -- has the best odds for a No. 12 seed to win the tourney at 250:1. Nevada and Princeton are at 500:1, while NC Wilmington is at 1000:1.

AccuScore data has Middle Tennessee reaching the Elite 8 for a matchup against the UCLA Bruins.

AccuScore’s Bracketology Previews
West Region
Midwest Region