2022 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Bracket, Odds & Predictions

Kansas is one of the favorites to win the 2022 NCAA Tournament, but if the Jayhawks are to make it to New Orleans, they will first have to navigate the challenges that lie ahead in the Midwest Region.

So far, so good for the Jayhawks. Along with taking out Texas Southern and Creighton to reach the Sweet 16, the region has opened up with #2 Auburn, #3 Wisconsin, and #5 Iowa, their apparent biggest threats, all already eliminated.

Ahead of Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup with #4 seed Providence, Kansas is two wins from continuing a rather impressive feat. Each of the previous three times the Final Four has been in New Orleans (1993, 2003, and 2012), the Jayhawks have been one of the participants and made the title game in the latter two.

It’s certainly no guarantee of success, but that history is on their side. And with a double-digit seed awaiting in the Elite Eight (the winner of the Iowa State-Miami game), the Jayhawks are heavily favored to be one of the last four teams standing.

Will the Jayhawks take care of business in Chicago? Here are the odds to win the Midwest Region:

Odds to Win the Midwest Region of the 2022 NCAA Tournament

Pre-tournament odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Teams in bold are still in the tournament after the second round of the tournament.

Midwest Region Odds Prior to the NCAA Tournament

• #1 Kansas +200
• #2 Auburn +250
• #5 Iowa +420
• #3 Wisconsin +1100
• #6 LSU +1400
• #7 USC +2500
• #9 Creighton +3200
• #10 Miami (FL) +3200
• #4 Providence +3900
• #11 Iowa State +4600
• #12 Richmond +6500
• #13 South Dakota State +20000
• #14 Colgate +20000
• #16 Texas Southern +25000
• #15 Jacksonville State +25000

Current Odds to Win the Midwest Region (After the Second Round)

• #1 Kansas -200
• #10 Miami (FL) +500
• #11 Iowa State +600
• #4 Providence +650

2022 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Venues & Locations

• Midwest Region First and Second Round Venues & Locations: Buffalo, New York (KeyBank Center), Fort Worth, Texas (Dickies Arena), Greenville, South Carolina (Bon Secours Wellness Arena), Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Fiserv Forum)
• Midwest Region Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight Venue & Location: Chicago, Illinois (United Center)

2022 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Bracket

Midwest Region First Round

Fort Worth, Texas (Dickies Arena – Thursday, March 17)

#1 Kansas 83, #16 Texas Southern 56
#9 Creighton 72, #8 San Diego State 69

Buffalo, New York (KeyBank Center – Thursday, March 17)

#12 Richmond 67, #5 Iowa 63
#4 Providence 66, #13 South Dakota State 57

Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Friday. March 18)

#11 Iowa State 59, #6 LSU 54
#3 Wisconsin 67, #14 Colgate 60

Greenville, South Carolina (Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Friday, March 18)

#10 Miami (FL) 68, #7 USC 66
#2 Auburn 80, #15 Jacksonville State 61

Midwest Region Second Round

Fort Worth, Texas (Dickies Arena – Saturday, March 19)

#1 Kansas 79, #9 Creighton 72

Buffalo, New York (KeyBank Center – Saturday, March 19)

#4 Providence 79, #13 Richmond 51

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Fiserv Forum – Sunday, March 20)

#11 Iowa State 54, #3 Wisconsin 49

Greenville, South Carolina (Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Sunday, March 20)

#10 Miami (FL) 79, #2 Auburn 61

Midwest Region Semifinals (Sweet 16)

Chicago, Illinois (United Center – Friday, March 25)

#4 Providence vs. #1 Kansas, 7:29 p.m. ET, TBS

#11 Iowa State vs. #10 Miami (FL), 9:59 p.m. ET, TBS

Midwest Region Final (Elite Eight)

Chicago, Illinois (United Center – Sunday, March 27)

Iowa State/Miami winner vs. Providence/Kansas winner, TBD, TBD

2022 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Predictions: Who Will Win the Region?

Pick: Kansas (+200)

The Jayhawks had a little stumble at the back end of the regular season, as they lost at Baylor, lost at TCU, then had to rally to beat TCU at home in the rematch.

But the fact that the Jayhawks won two of their biggest games of the season, the regular season co-championship clincher against Texas and the Big 12 tourney title game against Texas Tech, without leading scorer and first-team All-American Ochai Agbaji (19.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 40.5% 3PT) at his best is what sets this team up well for a deep NCAA Tournament run.

Kansas might have to survive a serious test in the second round against San Diego State, who is second in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency.

But here’s a look at who the Jayhawks had to play in the Big 12 this season:

Notable Opponents for Kansas This Season

• Texas Tech: 1st
• Oklahoma State: 5th
• Iowa State: 10th
• Texas: 13th
• Baylor: 14th
• North Texas: 15th
• TCU: 24th
• Kentucky: 25th

In every matchup against the teams listed above, including their losses to Texas Tech (67), Texas (76), Baylor (70), and TCU (64), the Jayhawks scored at least 60 points, which may be the magic number against the Aztecs.

Kansas ranks 25th in the country in scoring (78.6 PPG) and can keep up with potential Sweet Sixteen opponent Iowa (fourth – 83.8 PPG) and potential Elite Eight opponent Auburn (23rd – 78.7 PPG) if they have to win that way.

Don’t forget about Wisconsin, you’re saying? While the Badgers had a great season, they have yet to advance past the Sweet Sixteen in Greg Gard’s tenure.

And as reliant as Kansas may seem to be on Agbaji, Wisconsin is even more reliant on Johnny Davis. Auburn (eighth in defensive efficiency, fourth in two-point field goal defense) has the goods to get the Big Ten Player of the Year off of his game in a Sweet Sixteen showdown.

Kansas is not my pick to win the 2022 NCAA Tournament. I like–read elsewhere to find out who–more than I like the Jayhawks. But KU is my pick to come out of the Midwest and make yet another Final Four trip to New Orleans.

Midwest Region Best Value Bet: Wisconsin to Reach the Sweet Sixteen (+125 at Bovada Sportsbook)

I don’t love Wisconsin to go any further than the Sweet Sixteen, but I don’t see the Badgers exiting in the first two rounds.

Colgate is certainly a dangerous first-round opponent and must not be overlooked. The Raiders are one of the best shooting teams in the NCAA Tournament field. They rank second in the country (to fellow Midwest Region team South Dakota State) in three-point shooting (40.3 percent) and 25th in field-goal percentage (47.6 percent).

But I do look for Wisconsin to get past Colgate and either LSU or Iowa State in the second round. The Tigers (22-11) are without former coach Will Wade, who was fired this past Saturday, and were not great over the second half of the season after starting 15-1.

The Cyclones (20-12) had a similar drop-off after a strong start. They started the season 12-0 and opened Big 12 play ranked in the top ten. Since then, they are 8-12 and enter the NCAA Tournament on a three-game losing streak.

What’s worse is that Iowa State failed to hit 50 points in two of those three losses, scoring only 36 points against Oklahoma State–at home, at that–and 41 against Texas Tech in a 31-point loss in the Big 12 tournament.

The Sweet Sixteen may be Wisconsin’s ceiling, but there is good betting value in backing them to get there.

Result: I wasn’t particularly high on Wisconsin’s chances, but they didn’t even reach the ceiling I had in mind, thanks to a defensive masterpiece by Iowa State in the second round.

2022 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Early Upset Pick

#13 South Dakota State over #4 Providence

As stated above, the Jackrabbits are the nation’s best three-point shooting team, coming in at a clip of 44.9 percent. SDSU is also second to Gonzaga in field goal percentage (52.7 percent) and scoring (86.7 points per game).

Despite winning the Big East regular season title, Providence hasn’t gotten a lot of love all season. That is continuing into the NCAA Tournament, based on having the tenth-best odds to win the Midwest Region despite being the #4 seed.

Prior to the bracket being released, I did like the Friars as one of the top March Madness sleepers. After all, you don’t just luck your way into winning the title of one of the top conferences in college basketball, even if you are considered the luckiest team in the country.

However, this is about as bad of a matchup as Ed Cooley’s squad could have gotten. The Friars have thrived in close games, but falling behind against a team that can shoot and score at such a high clip is a recipe for disaster.

Look for South Dakota State to send Providence packing and for coach Eric Henderson to be a hot name in the coaching carousel over the next few weeks.

Result: Providence 66, South Dakota State 57 – Well, I didn’t expect South Dakota State to make 38.6 percent overall and 30.4 percent from three.

Other 2022 NCAA Tournament Regions

• South Region
• East Region
• West Region