Why Michigan State Is a Valuable Longshot to Make Final Four

  • No. 7 seed Michigan State (-135) is a two-point favorite over Kansas State in the Sweet Sixteen.
  • Since 2013, there has been a seven-seed or lower in the Final Four in eight of nine NCAA tournaments.
  • The Spartans have +300 odds to make the Final Four.

HOUSTON – Historic trends indicate that there will once again be another seven-seed or lower in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four. Michigan State is a great candidate to make the Final Four out of the remaining longshot teams.

The Final Four in 2019 consisted of a No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 5 seed, the only NCAA Tournament since 2013 where all the Final Four teams were lower than a seven seed.

Based on this trend, there is a longshot to be found that will advance past the Sweet Sixteen and into the Final Four.

The current teams remaining that are seven seeds or lower are Princeton (15), Florida Atlantic (9), Arkansas (8), and Michigan State (7).

Princeton has been the biggest surprise of this year’s tournament, knocking off No. 2 Arizona and No. 7 Missouri. The miracle run is likely to come to an end, as they now must beat Creighton and the winner of Alabama-San Diego State to advance to the Final Four.

Arkansas is another team that has the potential to make a Final Four but has an incredibly tough path to get there.

Despite taking down No. 1 seed Kansas, two of the top four teams with the shortest odds to win the National Championship, UCLA (+700) and UConn (+900), are in Arkansas’s West region.

The Razorbacks must defeat UConn and the winner of UCLA-Gonzaga to make a Final Four appearance.

The East region is up for grabs, with No. 1 seed Purdue and No. 2 seed Marquette eliminated.

Two longshot teams in No. 9 Florida Atlantic and No. 7 Michigan State make up half the remaining field in this region.

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Florida Atlantic is promising but they face a Tennessee team that is coming off an impressive victory over the red-hot Duke Blue Devils.

Michigan State is the best longshot of the bunch, presenting +300 odds on online sportsbooks to make the Final Four.

Michigan State’s Head Coach Tom Izzo is Mr. March.

After pulling the upset against No. 2 seed Marquette, Izzo now holds the record with 16 wins as a lower-seeded team in the NCAA tournament.

This historic accomplishment and Michigan State’s prominence in March has led the Spartans to be 2-point favorites over No. 3 seed Kansas State in the Sweet Sixteen.

Their win against Marquette was a statement. Not only because Marquette was one of the best teams in the tournament, but because Michigan State beat them by nine while not playing very well.

The Spartans went two for 16 from three-point range and gave up a 13-point lead in the first half. The adjustments made by Tom Izzo’s squad show that their experience and poise can lead them to a win over Kansas State in the Sweet Sixteen and eventually a Final Four appearance.

Michigan State’s +300 odds to make the Final Four on college basketball betting sites are valuable.