The NCAA Tournament is down to the Sweet 16. With the games still a few days away, it's a perfect time to power rank the remaining teams. Of course, this is March, so don't be surprised if one of the lower ranked teams finds a way to continue pulling off upsets.
The East Region is in a state of chaos (the top two seeds are out), but the other regions are in solid shape in terms of top teams left. For each team, we'll also provide the Vegas odds for winning the tournament. But the power rankings themselves are based on the quality of teams, with some consideration to their path to a title.
16. Xavier Musketeers
If Xavier was at 100 percent, they'd be much higher. But with Myles Davis off the team and Edmond Sumner hurt, XU just doesn't quite have the firepower. A Sweet 16 run was mighty impressive, but with Arizona up next, I think that's as far as the Muskies go. Hopefully Trevon Bluiett can put on one more show though.
Vegas odds: 100-1
15. South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina made the Sweet 16 for the first time ever, but that's as far as this Cinderella will go. They can beat Baylor, but remember, they won't benefit from the favorable crowd they had in the first two games. Sindarius Thornwell will put on another show, but I think Baylor guts out a win.
Vegas odds: 80-1
14. Butler Bulldogs
Never doubt Butler, even without Brad Stevens. But it's one thing to not doubt them and another to think they'll upset North Carolina. The Bulldogs will give the Tar Heels a fight, but there's a reason their Vegas odds are so low.
Vegas odds: 40-1
13. Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue is a solid team, but a matchup with Kansas doesn't bode well for them. The Boilermakers are the first of several teams with very little separation between them. As much as I love Caleb Swanigan, I think the music stops in the Sweet 16.
Vegas odds: 18-1
12. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan is one of the hottest teams still alive and in March, that counts for quite a bit. The key guys - Moritz Wagner, D.J. Wilson, Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton Jr. are all playing like they need to. But against Oregon, that could stop.
Vegas odds: 18-1
11. Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin confuses me. They looked good early this year, before totally falling apart and limping into the NCAA Tournament. But, they're coming off a win over the No. 1 seeded team in Villanova and have a winnable matchup against Florida. Maybe they'll end up with another unexpected Final Four run. However, I'll go with two other East teams ahead of them.
Vegas odds: 18-1
10. Oregon Ducks
Oregon is the most curious team on this list. They barely snuck by Rhode Island and without Chris Boucher, they're being counted out quickly. Heck, they have lower odds than all but three teams left! I think the Tyler Dorsey-Dillon Brooks combo is enough for this team to get past Michigan, but not Kansas.
Vegas odds: 20-1
9. West Virginia Mountaineers
Press Virginia had some issues against Bucknell, but it worked well enough against Notre Dame. The matchup against Gonzaga is intriguing and I worry about the Mountaineers' chances against the Bulldogs' bigs. WVU is a tough out.
Vegas odds: 18-1
8. Florida Gators
Florida really took it to Virginia, pounding them 65-39. They have a favorable draw now, as most teams would rathe play Wisconsin than No. 1 overall seed Villanova. The Badgers will be a tough out (they seem to play their best ball this time of the year), but I think the Gators will pick up a win. In the mess that is the East Region, the Gators have a real Final Four shot.
Vegas odds: 18-1
7. Baylor Bears
Baylor is an interesting team. They're the top seed left in the East Region, yet Florida and Wisconsin hold the same Vegas odds on winning the tournament. Baylor is far from a perfect team, but I like their draw against a South Carolina team no longer playing in Greenville.
Vegas odds: 18-1
6. UCLA Bruins
UCLA is a blast to watch: that brand of fast-paced, high-scoring basketball makes for interesting games. But their lack of defense will eventually cause them to fall in the tourney. I've got UK over them, but UCLA is among the top eight teams left.
Vegas odds: 7-1
5. Gonzaga Bulldogs
The lowest-ranked No. 1 seed, I don't have the Zags getting to the Final Four. I do think they'll get past West Virginia this week, but I've got them falling to Arizona. This is a good Gonzaga team and deserving of the No. 1 seed, but I think they come up just short of their Final Four bid.
Vegas odds: 6-1
4. North Carolina Tar Heels
One of three No. 1 seeds left, there's a strong argument that UNC should be at least the No. 2 team. But I didn't have the Tar Heels coming out of the South and I won't change that now. This is a really good team (and they're one the four best left), but I worry about the guard play. The game against Arkansas could have gone the wrong way, and I'm not feeling super confident about North Carolina right now.
Vegas odds: 4-1
3. Kentucky Wildcats
Yes, UNC is the No. 1 seed in the same region as Kentucky. But since I've got UK knocking off North Carolina in my bracket, I should probably stick with that for the power rankings. I love this UK team and they have the guard play to go deep. They have the most difficult draw of anyone in the tourney (seriously, how was Wichita State a 10 seed?), but the talent is there. They're one of my three Final Four teams left and I think they'll knock off the Tar Heels. Malik Monk hasn't gone off yet in the Tournament. But it will happen.
Vegas odds: 7-1
2. Arizona Wildcats
I have Arizona going to the championship game and I like their path right now. They are the team I feel most confident about, as they draw the lowest seeded team left in the tourney (No. 11 Xavier). I think Arizona will be able to beat a Gonzaga team they lost by seven to early this year (without Allonzo Trier). After that, they need to be a No. 3 seed or lower. This is a really good Arizona team and I'm sticking with my bracket prediction and keeping them at No. 2.
Vegas odds: 6-1
1. Kansas Jayhawks
I have Kansas winning my bracket, so why change where I have them seeded? With Frank Mason, Josh Jackson and the rest of the crew power the Jayhawks, I think they're the best team left in the NCAA Tournament and they've handled both Michigan State and UC Davis with relative ease.
Vegas odds: 4-1
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