March Madness 2018 is down to the Final Four! Heading to San Antonio, Texas to battle for the 2018 NCAA championship are the Michigan Wolverines, Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, Villanova Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks. The Jayhawks were the fourth and final team to punch their ticket to the Final Four following Sunday night's 85-81 win over the Duke Blue Devils.
Ramblers on a mission from God?
When Dan Aykroyd, a.k.a. Elwood Blues, uttered his famous line “We’re on a mission from God” in the classic movie “The Blues Brothers,” he had no idea that nearly 40 years later the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers would be on that same mission -- except this one is on the hardwood.
The Ramblers, a 70,000 to 1 longshot when the March Madness Tournament began, are two wins away from pulling off arguably the biggest upset in sports history. Heck, just the fact that they are in the Final Four is incredible.
Just like Jake and Elwood, the Ramblers basketball team believes they have divine intervention on their side -- and her name is Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt.
According to SI.com, Loyola-Chicago's 98-year-old chaplain, Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt, best known as Sister Jean, has gained rock-star level status while her favorite team has made a miracle run to the Final Four. It is safe to say that Sister Jean has become the face of Loyola basketball, even to the point of having her own bobblehead doll. If somehow the Ramblers win the NCAA title, Sister Jean may get a Co-MVP award.
Odds, Final Four schedule
While Loyola was one of the biggest underdogs heading into the tourney, they still hold that honor in the Final Four. At +700, the Ramblers are still the biggest underdog on the board. That seems to suit this team fine.
The favorites to win the 2018 NCAA title are the Villanova Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines, who are neck and neck for the top spot, followed by Kansas, then Loyola.
At +200, the Villanova Wildcats are the favorites to win the tourney. If Jay Wright can lead Nova back to capturing the NCAA title, it will be the Wildcats' second national championship in three years. Villanova defeated North Carolina 77-74 in 2016.
Is anyone hotter than the Michigan Wolverines? Winners of 13 straight and playing their best basketball of the season, Michigan is second overall in the favorites department at +250. Right behind the Wolverines are the Kansas Jayhawks at +400.
This could be one of the best Final Four's in NCAA history. Every team really can make a case for winning it all.
Here is a look at the Final Four schedule:
Saturday, March 31
6:09 p.m. ET -- No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago -- TBS
8:49 p.m. -- No. 1 Villanova vs. No. 1 Kansas -- TBS
Monday, April 2
9:20 p.m. -- NCAA Championship