Bing Predicts: March Madness Final Four
The one thing that is predictable about the NCAA tournament is that absolutely nothing can be predicted. Or, at a minimum, it's incredibly difficult. The Elite Eight games saw two #1 teams fall, including championship favorite Duke, sending brackets and bettors into a frenzy. What's left is the Final Four: the last two games to determine who will vie for the ultimate tournament championship.
The Final Four contests are played on April 6 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., and feature the #1 ranked Virginia Cavaliers vs. the #5 ranked Auburn Tigers; and the #2 ranked Michigan State Spartans vs. the #3 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders.
With the help of Bing's March Madness prediction engine, Stacker looked at the final two games to determine who has the best chance of cutting down the nets this year. Will the Tigers pull off the ultimate upset? Can Texas Tech surprise the gambling world? Will Virginia avenge its loss to a 16-seed in 2018 by going all the way? Can the Spartans take home a third NCAA championship? Find out who has the best shot to advance with Stacker's Final Four preview and make your wagers accordingly (and carefully).
You may also like: See how Bing predicted March Madness Elite Eight
Virginia (1) vs. Auburn (5)
Game time: Saturday, April 6, 6:09 p.m. EST
Auburn's best player Chuma Okeke suffered a catastrophic injury in the team's Sweet 16 upset of #1 seed North Carolina. But even with their star athlete out (he was wheeled courtside for the game), Auburn pulled off a second straight upset by wiping out Kentucky and landing in the first Final Four in the school's history. Virginia, meanwhile, is riding high after squeaking by a feverish Purdue team in a game that went into overtime. Virginia is the #1 seed, so the odds are in its favor, but don't count out Auburn, as the team has rallied around its injured star in ways no one could have predicted.
Michigan State (2) vs. Texas Tech (3)
Game time: Saturday, April 6, 8:49 p.m. EST
The Texas Tech Red Raiders made it to the team's first Final Four in school history and reached this late stage by upsetting the #1 seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs, the #2 seeded Michigan Wolverines, and by walloping the #6 seeded Buffalo Bulls. Michigan State, however, is a perennial favorite and is entering its eighth Final Four since coach Tom Izzo took over the team in 1995. The Spartans should have a slight edge, but will have to slow down the Red Raiders star guard Jarrett Culver who has averaged 22.4 points per game in the tournament.
Bing Predicts: Michigan State
Bing Predicts Winner: Michigan State (56% chance)
See more on Michigan State and Texas Tech
