Kansas is America's favorite, but experts like Michigan State to win NCAA tournament

The national brackets favor Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Michigan State to meet in the Final Four.

March 17, 2016 at 3:39PM
Michigan State guard/forward Branden Dawson hugs head coach Tom Izzo as he wake to the bench in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament Sunday, March 16, 2014, in Indianapolis. Michigan State won 69-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State guard/forward Branden Dawson hugs head coach Tom Izzo as he wake to the bench in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament Sunday, March 16, 2014, in Indianapolis. Michigan State won 69-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Kansas is the nation's pick to win the NCAA tournament. Even President Barack Obama picked the Jayhawks and Bill Self to win the national championship.

The Jayhawks are a 53 percent favorite over Michigan State to win the national championship game in ESPN's national bracket. The same final matchup and champion were predicted in CBS Sports' national bracket.

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Final Four matchups were also the same in each bracket: Kansas vs. Oklahoma and North Carolina vs. Michigan State. Each entry into ESPN and CBS Sports' tournament challenge is counted as a vote and the results make up the national brackets.

The experts, however, including our college basketball beat writer Amelia Rayno, mostly like Big Ten tournament champion Michigan State to win it all.

Among those in agreement with Rayno are Seth Greenberg, Dick Vitale, Charles Barkley and Clark Kellogg. ESPN's Andy Katz, who interviewed President Obama while he made his picks, agreed with POTUS and picked Kansas to win.

Here is a look at what other basketball minds are predicting (Final Four, winner in bold):

Amelia Rayno, Star Tribune (Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Michigan State)

Dick Vitale, ESPN (Kentucky, Oklahoma, Kansas, Michigan State)

ADVERTISEMENT

Andy Katz, ESPN (Kansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Michigan State)

Seth Greenberg, ESPN (Oregon, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State)

Jeff Goodman ESPN (Kansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Michigan State)

Jay Williams, ESPN (Oregon, North Carolina, Kansas, Michigan State)

Doug Gottlieb, ESPN (Kentucky, Oklahoma, California, Michigan State)

Jay Bilas, ESPN (North Carolina, Texas A&M, Kansas, Michigan State)

Charles Barkley, CBS Sports (North Carolina, Oregon, Michigan State, Kansas)

Clark Kellogg, CBS Sports (North Carolina, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Kansas)

Seth Davis, CBS Sports (West Virginia, Texas A&M, Michigan State, Kansas)

Kenny Smith, CBS Sports (North Carolina, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Maryland)

Wally Szczerbiak, CBS Sports (Kansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan State)

If you need more expect picks, ESPN and CBS Sports have plenty. Or just check out Rayno's breakdown as you fill out any last-minute brackets.

about the writer

about the writer

jason.gonzalez

More from Sports

See More
card image
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune

Randle was a strong candidate to play in the All-Star Game on Sunday, but was not chosen and will head to the beach instead.

card image