With the start of the 2018 men’s college basketball national championship tournament just around the corner, it’s a perfect time to for some expert college hoops predictions and look at some key numbers that could help you cash in early and often over the course of this year’s tournament.
Let’s get started with some March Madness betting predictions.
2018 March Madness Betting Predictions and Key Numbers
Mood in March 🕺💃pic.twitter.com/uSCL5nvcP4
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 7, 2018
Purdue
The 10th-ranked Boilermakers are going to the Final Four!
Auburn
The 16th-ranked Tigers (25-6) are reaching the Elite Eight at the very least!
Michigan
Seventh-ranked Michigan (28-7) is on fire at just the right time. I smell an Elite Eight appearance looming at the very least!
Ohio State
The 17th-ranked Buckeyes (24-8)will need a miracle to make it to the Sweet 16.
Houston
The 21st-ranked Cougars (24-6) aren’t quite the Phi Slamma Jjamma squad they were back when Hakeem OOlajuwon and Clyde the Glide’ Drexler were throwing it down, but I see a Sweet 16 appearance in the works.
Rhode Island
The 25th-ranked Rams (23-6) are going to upset at least one team ranked fourth or higher in whatever region they play in!
Kansas
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. The ninth-ranked Jayhawks (24-7) are not reaching the Final Four. As a matter of fact, I’m thinking the Elite Eight may be out of their reach.
North Carolina
The wildly inconsistent 12th-ranked Tar Heels (22-9) won’t make a Final Four – or Elite Eight appearance either – although I’m not necessarily going out on a limb to predict that!
Xavier
The Musketeers (27-4) finished the regular season ranked third in the country , but they also suffered a pair of completely humbling double-digit losses to Villanova that make me believe an Elite Eight appearance is the best they’ll do!
Wichita State
The 11th-ranked Shockers (24-6) will reach the Final Four people!
Cincinnati
The eighth-ranked Bearcats (27-4) are going to reach the Elite Eight at the very least.
Okay, let’s take a look at a trio of key March madness betting numbers you need to know!
By The Numbers
20 or Higher!
If your favorite March madness team plays great offense, but so-so defense or vice versa, it’s not the worst thing to ever happen. However, you should know that teams that excel at both ends of the floor generally win the national championship. Thirteen of the past 14 national champions finished in the top 20 in both, offensive and defensive efficiency ratings. The only school that didn’t fit this description was the 2014 UConn squad that finished 39th in defensive efficiency that year. Four teams fit the championship-winning criteria this year and I have two of them in my Final Four ironically (Villanova, Wichita State, Gonzaga and Kentucky).
12the Man!
It’s almost universally known, but March Madness college basketball betting enthusiasts everywhere should think 12! Why is that you ask? Because a No. 12 seed has taken out a No. 5 seed in 25 of the past 28 years. In the last five years, No. 12 seeds have won half of the 20 matchups that have taken place against No. 5 seeds.
1-and-Done!
There’s a reason why John Calipari’s Kentucky teams – and other programs like Duke’s – are perennially powerful. Because they get a ton of elite talent…duh! A whopping 35 of the last 37 national champions had at least one McDonald’s high school All-American on their roster. Only 2002 Maryland and 2014 Connecticut didn’t have one.
