:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72117456/usa_today_20324432.0.jpg "March Madness predictions 2023: Instant Men's Final Four picks as semifinal matchups decided for NCAA Tournament")
The Final Four for the 2023 NCAA Men's Tournament is set as four teams will take the floor at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, for the national semifinals on Saturday
Here are our initial, gut feeling picks for how the national semifinal round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament will shake out.
No. 9 Florida Atlantic (Conference USA) vs. No. 5 San Diego State (Mountain West)
No one could have possibly predicted a Final Four matchup featuring FAU and San Diego State, but here we are. These have been two of the best mid-major teams in the entire country and have proved all throughout the NCAA Tournament that their success hasn't been a fluke.
I'll lean with San Diego State to win here. The Aztecs' defense has been elite all season long and that should play a major factor in a large stadium where the sight lines will be off for shooters.
No. 5 Miami (ACC) vs. No. 4 UConn (Big East)
The second game of the Final Four will feature two former Big East foes going at it in Houston. UConn is the only program in this year's Final Four that has been here before while Miami has reached the national semifinals for the very first time.
I'll go with UConn simply because it has been the most dominant team in this year's NCAA Tournament. The Huskies have been a sledgehammer these last two weekends, winning each of their games by at least 15 points. It's hard to pick against them.