NCAA Bracket 2012 Predictions: Notre Dame Upset By Xavier In SB Nation's Projections

The 2012 NCAA Tournament is about to start, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are ready to rock after weathering the Big East storm throughout the regular season. The Xavier Musketeers are first up in a No. 7 - No. 10 matchup favoring the Irish, and then the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils loom as the next big challenge to reach the Sweet Sixteen. SB Nation's Bill Connelly has released his NCAA Bracket Predictions, and he believes Notre Dame will be a one-and-done team in March Madness. After Xavier takes down the Irish, and then they go on to lose to Duke, if that is any consolation to Irish fans.

The Final Four teams that emerge are the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats, No. 2 Missouri Tigers, No. 3 Florida State Seminoles and No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks. The national championship game comes down to a matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks, with Kentucky pulling out a 77-71 victory to cut down the nets, even if they eventually have to take down the banners.

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For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a completeprintable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.