March Madness Picks: USA TODAY experts like MSU to reach Final Four this year
Michigan State reaching the Final Four is a common thought for the college basketball experts at USA TODAY.
A number of USA TODAY writers provided their expert picks for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, including who would make the Final Four this year. To no surprise, Michigan State was one of the common picks from the group of five writers included in the post.
Jordan Mendoza, Erick Smith and Dan Wolken all selected Michigan State to win the South Region and advance to the Final Four this year. Smith also likes the Spartans to make the National Championship game, but lose to Duke.
Michigan State opens the NCAA Tournament on Friday night in a matchup against No. 15 seed Bryant in Cleveland. Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on Friday.
I'm honestly a bit surprised at the amount of love the Spartans are getting from not only the USA TODAY crew here, but across the nation when it comes to reaching the Final Four. It's not that I don't think Michigan State is more than capable of a deep March run, I just assumed many would ride with the No. 1 overall seed Auburn Tigers as the easy pick to win the South Region. Hopefully, the Spartans come through and prove Mendoza, Smith and Wolken to be geniuses in taking Michigan State over Auburn in the South Region.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Spartans getting March Madness love from USA TODAY staff
Topics
-
USA TODAY Sports' March Madness expert picks includes Florida Gators among title winners
One of USA TODAY Sports' five college basketball experts picked Florida Gators to win NCAA Tournament, two others expect to see them in the finalsYahoo Sports - 10h -
Michigan State basketball picked to make March Madness Final Four by several analysts
Michigan State basketball was picked to make the Final Four of the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament by several analysts on Selection Sunday. Here's more:Yahoo Sports - 1d -
March Madness upset pick for Final Four bracket: Experts pick Cinderella for 2025 NCAAs
Four experts pick their Cinderella upset team to ruin March Madness and make the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio to help you fill out your bracket.Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Can Tennessee basketball reach Final Four in March Madness bracket? Our prediction
Can Tennessee basketball reach NCAA bracket’s Final Four? Our 2025 March Madness predictions show how Vols can make run in tournament.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Can Oregon basketball reach Final Four in March Madness bracket? Our prediction
Can Oregon basketball reach NCAA bracket’s Final Four? Our 2025 March Madness predictions show how Ducks can make run in tournament.Yahoo Sports - 14h -
Why Michigan basketball can make March Madness run to the Final Four
Michigan basketball has an unstoppable frontcourt, a backcourt that's peaking and a coach who has been to the Final Four in March Madness.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Why Michigan State basketball can make March Madness run to the Final Four
Here are three reasons Michigan State basketball can make a run to what would be Tom Izzo's ninth Final Four.Yahoo Sports - 17h -
Michigan State basketball up to No. 7 in this week's USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Find out where Michigan State basketball is ranked in this week's USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll heading into the 2025 NCAA tournament.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
State champion Albertus Magnus rolls past Middletown to reach girls basketball Final Four
Defending state Class AA champ Albertus Magnus reaches AAA Final Four with dominant win over Middletown in girls basketball regional finalYahoo Sports - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring
Lewis is coming off a 2024 season that saw him appear in just 82 games due to quadriceps and adductor issues.Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Texans to pick up Derek Stingley's Jr.'s fifth-year option ahead of extension
The Houston Texans will have Derek Stingley Jr. under contract through 2029 after agreeing to pick up one final year on his rookie deal.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
MLB hyped up a video game-like replay view from the Tokyo Dome and fans justifiably hated it
The on-field replay did not go over how MLB expected.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
The Players Championship 2025 prize money: Full payout from the $25 million purse
Here's how the $25 million purse will be paid out this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Auburn basketball’s first round opponent revealed ahead of 2025 NCAA Tournament
Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St. Francis in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s bracket.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More in Sports
-
WVU snub 'robbery' at highest level, gov. says
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey wants his attorney general to investigate and work closely with the NCAA to ensure the men's tournament selection process is transparent and fair.ESPN - 19m -
NCAA Tournament 2025 bracket: Computer simulation predicts surprising upsets, March Madness picks, sleepers
When does the March Madness 2025 schedule start, and when are 2025 NCAA Tournament brackets due? The 2025 March Madness bracket begins on Thursday, March 20CBS Sports - 39m -
MLB's villains or its gold standard? How the Los Angeles Dodgers got here
Love them or loathe them, the defending champs built a new evil empire with a series of monumental moves.ESPN - 54m -
With Paul George out for the year, 76ers look ahead to NBA draft lottery with immense stakes for franchise
It all comes down to the ping pong balls now for Philadelphia, and the stakes have never been higherCBS Sports - 1h -
S. Alabama has NIT invite nixed: 'Unacceptable'
South Alabama had its invitation to the NIT rescinded after the Jaguars were informed they would be playing, a decision the coach called "unacceptable."ESPN - 1h