Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways for the Wolverines in the West Region

Who will win and who might be upset?

In terms of the favorites in the West Region, the top four seeds are a good start, as Xavier, Michigan, North Carolina and Gonzaga are the teams to beat. Ohio State is in the mix too, along with Houston.

All those teams seem to have a decent chance to getting to the second weekend and even the Elite 8. But which has the best chance of losing out the first weekend? Michigan will have two tough games no matter what. Montana is legit and whether its Houston or San Diego State in the round of 32, it won’t be easy.

Ohio State is another team that should be on alert in the first round. South Dakota State is a dangerous team and the Buckeyes haven’t been firing on all cylinders lately. The Jackrabbits are making their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, which doesn’t bode well for the team from Ohio.

Missouri, the eighth-seeded team with potential NBA lottery pick Michael Porter Jr., could pose problems for Xavier, if the Tigers get past Florida State and Providence is another team to watch. The 10th-seeded Friars have a history of tournament upsets and could be trouble for UNC.

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Ultimately, I see a Sweet 16 that features chalk. But when it comes to March Madness, anything is possible.