4 Bold Predictions for the West Region
With first round games getting underway today, you’re running out of time to fill out your NCAA Tournament brackets. So, if you haven’t put ink to bracket yet, or if you’ve got some time to make changes, we’ve got some bold predictions that could help you win your office pool. Here are four things that will happen in the West region:
1. Gonzaga Will NOT Reach the Final Four
This pick may not be bold to some, but considering that the Bulldogs are currently getting 10/1 odds to win the entire tournament, it’s safe to say that many will make the mistake of taking the Zags too deep.
With the season that Gonzaga had, it definitely deserved a number one seed, but that doesn’t change the fact that it will have a tough time navigating through the West region, which includes the kind of caliber teams that Gonzaga has not been tested against yet this year.
Considering that Gonzaga has still never reached a Final Four, it’s hard to put the Bulldogs up at the top of the contender list. They’ll probably win a couple of games, but don’t expect them to make it past the Elite Eight.
2. Belmont Will Knock off Arizona
The committee obviously didn’t know what to do with Pac-12 teams in this tournament. They placed the conference champion Ducks at a 12-seed and then third-place Arizona in a number six slot. This misplaced seeding will contribute to an upset that many bracket-fillers won’t see coming. However, also contributing to the upset is just how underrated the unknown Belmont Bruins are.
The Bruins are coming in as the fourth best scoring and field goal shooting team in the country. Yes, they played many inferior foes during the regular season, but they certainly have a capable offense, one that should be able to score plenty of points against an Arizona team that limped its way down the stretch with three losses in its last five games. Take Belmont to earn the victory and advance to the round of 32.
3. Notre Dame Will Upset Ohio StateÂ
Assuming that Notre Dame and Ohio State both advance past their opening round tests, they’ll square off in the round of 32. Since Ohio State is coming off its Big Ten title – a conference many consider to be the best in the nation – most bettors are going to take the Buckeyes into the Sweet Sixteen, but not this bettor.
The Irish have been somewhat shaky this season, but with wins over Kentucky, Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette and Villanova on their resume, they’ve proven they can compete with the nation’s elite. And even though Ohio State is playing well as of late, they haven’t been exactly dominant in their recent wins. Be bold and take Notre Dame to advance.
4. New Mexico Will Win the West Region and Reach the Final Four
Many are considering the West to be the weakest region with Gonzaga in the number one spot, so if Ohio State does go down, the door will be open for three-seed New Mexico to win the region and make its way to the Final Four.
The Lobos impressed by winning the Mountain West title – a conference that has five teams in the NCAA Tournament this year – Â and notably featured one of the best defenses in the country. Their strong half-court game will keep them fresh during the tournament, whereas other fast-paced squads may get fatigued. Take the Lobos to conquer the West and surprise everyone in your pool.
