March Madness Predictions: MSU's Run & Final Four

0:00On March 19, the most thrilling weekend in college basketball is almost here, with the March Madness bracket deadline closing and fast. Riders from the only colors gathered to share their bold predictions, especially for Michigan State Spartans under Coach Tom Izzo. They debated everything from MSU's potential run, to key upsets and surprise champions, all while inviting fans to join in with their own picks, expectations for MSU very wildly among the crew. Some see an early exit in the second round against South Florida, while others push them to the Elite 8 or even the final 4 with a big win over. Yukon, they agree point guard Jeremy Fears must dominate to get past the first weekend, though a few spotlight big man Jackson Kohler as the real X-Pactor 4. Consistent scoring, on seeding, most say the three seed fits after MSU's late season stumble against UCLA in the Big Ten tournament, landing them in a tough region.

1:00Comparing this roster to Izzo's past Final 4 teams, it's solid on defense and rebounding, but lacks the offensive firepower or guard depth of those, loaded squads from the late 90s and early 2000s. Final 4 picks spread across UCLA, Duke, Houston, Purdue, and more, with no two riders agreeing on a champion, Purdue, Florida, even Arizona top. Upsets look slim, but South Florida and Texas A&M could snack first round wins, and the Big Ten might dominate the Elite 8 with three or four teams. As the gains tip off, these take set the stage for plenty of debate, and we'll see whose bracket holds up through the madness.