Improbable Final Four, Predictable Eventual Champ

Let’s face it, outside of North Carolina it’s an improbable Final Four. I would be very surprised if many fans had South Carolina in the National Semifinals when you filled out your brackets. And to some degree, Oregon and even Gonzaga fall into that category of surprises. I had Villanova and Kansas in Monday's championship game, and obviously that’s not happening. I hate to pick the favorites, but that’s what I am going to do. Gonzaga and North Carolina will advance to the title game, and this year the Tar Heels won’t finish second.

They say all good things must come to an end and the feel-good stories of South Carolina and Oregon will end short of those program's respective dreams this weekend. The Gamecocks have been the epitome of an underdog playing with a chip on its shoulder and head coach Frank Martin has won over a country of college basketball fans and even the casual viewer. Many people sold Oregon short when the Ducks lost their 3rd-leading scorer, Chris Boucher, before the tournament started, but someone forget to tell the trio of Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey and Jordan Bell that their teammates' injury was their death knell.

All of those things said, I'm sticking to the earlier prediction, Gonazga vs North Carolina with the Tar Heels cutting down the nets.