NCAA tournament predictions from Couch, Solari

Last year, both Chris Solari and Joe Rexrode picked Michigan State to win the national title. As we all know, that didn't exactly happen. But that won't stop Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch from making Final Four and national champion picks this year.

CHRIS SOLARI

EAST

Villanova

Defending national champion Villanova is the overall No. 1 seed but is only fourth in the odds to win it all again. To do so, it’ll likely have to get through the favorite according to VegasInsiders.com – No. 2 seed Duke. But keep an eye on Baylor, a 3-seed that had been ranked No. 1 in the nation earlier this season.

WEST

Arizona

In the academic-heavy side of the bracket, top-seeded Gonzaga will meet its downfall early against 8-seeded and nothing-to-lose Northwestern. That will open the door for No. 2 seed Arizona, which should have little trouble with any other team remaining other than a Sweet 16 game against 6-seeded Maryland and Melo Trimble.

MIDWEST

Louisville

What would you give to see Michigan State vs. Michigan for a spot in the Final Four? How about the Wolverines vs. Purdue? Or the Spartans and Boilermakers in the Sweet 16? All possible, none likely – though Purdue will upset top-seed Kansas and clear the path for 2-seed Louisville to get to the Final Four in Phoenix.

SOUTH

North Carolina

This mushy bracket is the epitome of the NCAA Tournament and college basketball this season – three blueblood contenders who are head and shoulders above a middling group of pretenders. Dayton could provide a road bump for No. 2 seed Kentucky, but 3-seed UCLA will outrun the young Wildcats to the Elite Eight. That’s where top-seeded North Carolina will be waiting after coasting through its first three games and holding on against the Bruins.

NATIONAL CHAMPION

Villanova

Last year’s championship game between Villanova and North Carolina was one for the ages, and that kind of experience will allow Jay Wright to guide the Wildcats to once again knock off the Tar Heels in the final.

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GRAHAM COUCH

MIDWEST

Michigan

Even with the Wolverines’ impressive run in the Big Ten tournament, this is still an underdog pick. Michigan, the 7 seed in the Midwest, received a brutal draw, including an opening-round matchup with a similarly hot and well-coached Oklahoma State club. Then Michigan would likely see Louisville, followed by Oregon to get to the regional final, where Kansas or Purdue could await. Still, no team in the country right now is playing more impressively than the Wolverines. They have the parts — a driven senior point guard; two emerging future sophomore NBA forwards. Let’s see how far they can ride this thing.

EAST

Villanova

The defending national champion Wildcats are a tough, savvy and talented group with a favorable early draw, as the top seed in the East. Wisconsin, Virginia and Florida are good clubs in their path, but all a notch below the ’Cats. Duke, Baylor or SMU likely await in the regional final. All are capable. None are as seasoned as Villanova.

SOUTH

Kentucky

The Wildcats, the No. 2 seed in the South, seem to have plowed through an early February wall and are playing as well as ever. They’ve got size and shooters and an NBA lottery pick in Malik Monk who might be the country’s best scorer. Wichita State and UCLA are potentially tough matchups in their half of the bracket, but nobody has more talent. North Carolina, the top seed, has an easier road, but I’ll take UK in a head-to-head regional final matchup in Memphis.

WEST

Gonzaga

The Zags' weak conference schedule puts into question whether they’re actually among the top four teams. I think they are. They showed it in the non-conference portion of the schedule and dominated the West Coast Conference. Northwestern or Vanderbilt will be an early test in the second round. Notre Dame and West Virginia also lurk, as does Arizona in the other half of the bracket. But Gonzaga has size, good athletes and great guard play, all the elements to make a run.

NATIONAL CHAMPION

Kentucky

There is no clear best team in college basketball. Kentucky, in my opinion, has all the parts and the most upside. When the Wildcats are right, they’re too much for most of the field, including probably Michigan and Gonzaga in the Final Four. If Villanova is across from them in the national championship, it’ll be a helluva test. ’Nova’s lack of interior depth will be the difference.