Selection Sunday is easily one of the sports’ biggest Sundays each year. March Madness has become such a huge part of our culture that putting together a bracket is something even people who have little interest in the game enjoy. Whether you’re very serious about your choices, are competing against your co-workers, trying to outdo your friends, or are completing a bracket just because, we’ve compiled a swift breakdown of who some experts are picking.

We have reached out to our featured experts to find out who they think will advance to the Final Four and why. In addition, they are also sharing their thoughts on their favorite Cinderalla team heading into the big tournament. We’ve also added picks from experts around the web to provide additional assistance. You won’t find more expert picks anywhere.

The crew at TeamRankings.com stayed up all night crunching the March Madness numbers. Get the best bracket for your pool

Featured Experts:
Bobby Sylvester – FantasyPros
Geoff Lambert – Going For 2
Keith Goldner – numberFire
Adam Cook – The Fake Basketball
Zack Rewis – The Fantasy Fix

Q1. Who are your picks for the Final Four and why?

East: Duke (1) | West: Nevada (7) | South: Virginia (1) | Midwest: Kentucky (2)
“Duke may have a tough 1/4 game versus Virginia Tech and possibly one of the best three teams in the country potentially awaiting them in the Elite Eight, but they’ve got three of the best players in the country and as long as they can stay healthy, they ought to be the heavy favorites. Kentucky is a remarkable 11-4 versus BPI top-50 teams, including a win versus the top seed in their region, UNC. Virginia, meanwhile, has by far the easiest path with a cupcake four-seed in Kansas State and Tennessee, which is the weakest two-seed in the tournament. Nevada may turn some heads, but that isn’t the point. Rather, I want to win my bracket contest and no one is going to have them despite being a preseason top-10 team that returned their three top scorers after an Elite Eight trip last year. Michigan and Gonzaga are both vulnerable, so don’t be shocked when Eric Musselman’s Wolfpack make another run.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

East: Duke (1) | West: Florida State (4) | South: Virginia (1) | Midwest: Houston (3)
“Duke and UVA are the No. 1 and 1A of this tournament, and Duke has the best player in the country — and it’s not even close. Florida State has experience on their side having made the Elite Eight last year and they win with defense, something they will need as they progress through the tournament. Finally, Houston has the recipe for success in this tournament with elite level guard play from Corey Davis Jr. and Armoni Brooks. Great guard play wins games in a tournament like this, and I think they make a surprise visit to the Final Four.”
– Geoff Lambert (Going For 2)

East: Duke (1) | West: Michigan (2) | South: Virginia (1) | Midwest: North Carolina (1)
“Duke has only lost one game all year at full strength (Gonzaga). With Zion Williamson healthy and committed to playing, Duke is the best team in the country. Michigan’s 4-out style offense creates mismatch problems along with being one of the best defensive teams in the country. John Beilein has a strong history in the NCAA tournament. Virginia’s slow pace makes them susceptible to upsets, but the South region is extremely weak. Virginia should be focused after the UMBC upset in 2018. North Carolina was a few minutes away from beating Duke in the ACC Tournament. They have a good balance of talented youth and veteran experience.”
– Adam Cook (The Fake Basketball)

East: Duke (1) | West: Gonzaga (1) | South: Virginia (1) | Midwest: Iowa State (6)
“At numberFire, we think the selection committee was much more efficient this year and have chalk making it to the Final Four. Duke is still our favorite, despite their rankings being lower due to Zion Williamson’s injury. I like Iowa State (or any lower seed) in the Midwest due to the fact that UNC and Kentucky are the worst No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the tournament per our rankings, and Iowa State is the best No. 6 seed.”
– Keith Goldner (numberFire)

East: Duke (1) | West: Gonzaga (1) | South: Tennessee (2) | Midwest: North Carolina (1)
“My Final Four is a bit boring with Duke, Gonzaga, North Carolina, and Tennessee advancing to Minneapolis. Duke needs no reasoning; they’re loaded and tough to stop when Zion Williamson is healthy. Gonzaga has a fairly tough path, but I feel their experience and well-rounded skills will withstand the madness. Tennessee has a reasonably easy trip to the Elite Eight before having a very close game with Virginia, which I have the Vols taking. It’s a rough road to Minnesota for UNC, but the Heels’s non-stop up-tempo pace and rebounding will just be too much to stop their Final Four run.”
– Zack Rewis (The Fantasy Fix)

Q2. What Cinderella team do you think has the best chance of making it deep in the tournament and why?

South: UC Irvine (13)
“I’ve already explained why Nevada is in my Final Four so let’s turn to a double-digit seed with a chance to splash into the Sweet 16. UC Irvine already has 30 wins and is coming in on a 16-game winning streak. Granted, they haven’t been tested much, but they’ve got the best path for a double-digit team to advance out of their sub-region. Kansas State may have been more deserving of a six seed than a four seed, plus they struggle on offense at times. Likewise, their probable second-round matchup would see them take on a similarly vulnerable offensive squad in the Wisconsin Badgers.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

“It’s probably a common answer, but UC Irvine is a really good team that landed in a truly salivating spot. The Anteaters are a matchup nightmare for Kansas State, who struggles to score at the rim, where UC Irvine is already beastly on defense. In the Round of 32, they’ll either get a ‘meh’ Wisconsin team or a hot Oregon squad, either of which UC Irvine would have a great shot against. Any time you see a #13 seed with this much potential for a Sweet 16 showing, you have to take your chances on it. Murray State, Belmont, St. Mary’s, and Florida are a few others that I am liking as upset potentials to consider.”
– Zack Rewis (The Fantasy Fix)

West: Murray State (12)
“With a top NBA prospect in Ja Morant and the No. 8 opponent-adjusted offense in the country, according to numberFire, they are poised to make a run as a No. 12 seed. Murray State also has a defense in the 92nd percentile, making them extremely balanced. Their biggest challenge will be an extremely talented, but inconsistent Gonzaga team in the Elite Eight.”
– Keith Goldner (numberFire)

Midwest: New Mexico State (12)
“The Aggies are one of the deeper teams in the tournament and they use their bench to their advantage by wearing opposing teams down. They are also among the nation’s best offensive rebounding teams and their consistency and tenacity will take them farther than anyone thought they could go.”
– Geoff Lambert (Going For 2)

West: Syracuse (8)
“Syracuse can struggle offensively, but their patented 2-3 zone is hard to prepare for in a tournament style setting. They upset Michigan State in the second round in 2018. They have a path to the Elite Eight with Baylor, Gonzaga, and Florida State all being mediocre three-point shooting teams.”
– Adam Cook (The Fake Basketball)

Final Four & Championship Picks from Other Experts:

* Links provided to picks and reasoning from each respective expert.

Top voted teams for each region: East: Duke, West: Gonzaga, South: Tennessee, Midwest: N. Carolina/Kentucky (tie)

Your 2019 Consensus Predicted NCAA Champion: Duke!

Thank you to all the experts for their March Madness predictions. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter for more advice and insight.