March Madness 2016: Predicting Top Four Seeds!

If you didn’t know it before…you know it now! Backing one of the four No. 1 seeds to bring home the bacon and bag the 2016 March Madness national championship will likely result in a high probability that you cash in your NCAAB betting wagers on this year’s national champion.

March Madness 2016: Predicting Top Four Seeds and How They’ll Fare!

And why is that you ask? Because a No. 1 seed has won three of the last four national championships and seven of the last nine overall. Don’t believe me? Here they are!  

2014-15	Indianapolis	(1) Wisconsin vs. (1) Duke	68-63	1, 140	Underdog, Under
2013-14	North Texas	(8) Kentucky vs. (7) Connecticut	60-54	2.5, 135	Underdog, Under
2012-13	Atlanta	(4) Michigan vs. (1) Louisville	82-76	4, 138	Favorite, Over
2011-12	New Orleans	(2) Kansas vs. (1) Kentucky	67-59	6.5, 138	Favorite, Under
2010-11	Houston	(8) Butler vs. (3) Connecticut	53-41	3, 132	Favorite, Under
2009-10	Indianapolis	(5) Butler vs. (1) Duke	61-59	7, 128.5	Underdog, Under
2008-09	Detroit	(2) Mich. State vs. (1) North Carolina	89-72	7.5, 153	Favorite, Over
2007-08	San Antonio	(1) Memphis vs. (1) Kansas	75-68 (OT)	2, 146	Underdog, Under
2006-07	Atlanta	(1) Ohio State vs. (1) Florida	84-75	4, 140	Favorite, Over

  Now that you know a No. 1 seed has a great chance of bring home the national championship hardware, here is my take on this year’s four No. 1 seeds and what likely lies in store for each.

Kansas (30-4 SU, 21-11 ATS)

The No. 1 overall seed and the top seed in the South region, the Jayhawks look like a virtual shoo-in to smack Austin Peay senseless in their opener. Kansas will the play either Colorado or UConn in the next round and according to analytics, the Jayhawks have an 86 percent chance of beating either ballclub. I like the Jayhawks to beat No. 2 Villanova in the Elite Eight before facing the West region winner in the Final Four. I’ve got Kansas beating whoever wins the West region to reach the national championship opposite either North Carolina or Michigan State.

Virginia (26-7 SU, 17-14 ATS)

The No. 1 seed in the Midwest region, Virginia is an absolute monster defensively as the Cavaliers ranked a stellar third in points allowed (59.7 ppg). I like the Cavs t win their opener and third round game against either Texas Tech or Butler Bulldogs before they run into trouble in the form of No. 5 Purdue. While Virginia has an elite player in senior shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon (18.7 ppg), I think Virginia is going to be in big trouble against the Boilermakers huge – and talented – frontcourt. Call me crazy, but I think Virginia’s 2016 March Madness run will come to an abrupt halt against Purdue in the Sweet 16!

North Carolina (28-6 SU, 16-17-1 ATS)

The top seed in the East region, North Carolina often looks like the best team in the country – when they’re not underachieving because of a lack of maturity. Carolina will win their opener and will almost assuredly pound either USC or Providence in the third round before they run into a bit of trouble against No. 5 Indiana in the Sweet 16. If the Heels get past the Hoosier (they will…narrowly) they’ll face either No. 3 West Virginia or No. 2 Xavier (It’s going to be WVU people). After narrowly getting past the Mountaineers press defense, the Heels will matchup up against either Michigan State or Purdue in the Final Four. If the Heels have to face the Boilermakers, I say all bets are off. If they face Michigan State, I like Carolina to fall to the more mature Spartans.

Oregon (28-6 SU, 19-12 ATS)

The Ducks are the least likely No. 1 seed to win the national championship and I believe that sentiment is right on the mark with the Ducks playing a bunch of inferior teams in the so-so Pac-12. After winning their opener, Oregon could face trouble in the very next round against either t. Joe’s or Cincinnati. If the Ducks get past either ballclub (they will) they’ll likely face No. 4 Duke in the Sweet 16, if not No. 5 Baylor. Oregon will beat either ballclub en route to the Elite Eight, but I expect they’ll get stopped there by No. 2 Oklahoma. No matter how you slice it, Oregon will not hoist this year’s national championship trophy!