Former President Barack Obama Picks UCLA to Make Final Four

The Bruins have found themselves a high-profile supporter on the eve of March Madness.

Former United States president Barack Obama posted his annual NCAA tournament bracket picks Wednesday on Twitter. Obama has No. 2 seed UCLA men's basketball going all the way to the Final Four before losing to No. 1 seed Houston.

Obama picked No. 5 seed Duke to cut down the nets at the end of the tournament, with the Blue Devils going through No. 3 seed Baylor on their side of the Final Four to reach the finals.

Since he started publicly posting his brackets when he took office, Obama has correctly picked the champion twice – North Carolina in 2009 and the Tar Heels again in 2017. Obama picked one Final Four team correctly in 2022 and two in 2021.

According to the nation's 44th president, the Bruins will beat No. 15 seed UNC Asheville on Thursday, then defeat No. 10 seed Boise State on Saturday to secure a spot in the Sweet 16. From there, Obama picked UCLA to beat No. 6 seed TCU – who he has upsetting No. 3 seed Gonzaga – and then knock off No. 1 seed Kansas.

It’s the best time of year! My #MarchMadness brackets will get busted soon enough, but here are my picks.

Who do you have winning it all? pic.twitter.com/H3MdBkJCmY
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 15, 2023

UCLA is the betting favorite to win the West Region and reach the Final Four at +200, per DraftKings Sportsbook.

Among the other notable figures who picked the Bruins to make the Final Four this year are TNT broadcaster Ernie Johnson, NCAA analyst Andy Katz and rapper Snoop Dogg, who picked UCLA to win it all.

If the Bruins are going to make it that far in the tournament, they are going to have to do so without Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Jaylen Clark. Coach Mick Cronin ruled the guard out for March Madness, but he did say Wednesday that Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Adem Bona could make his return from injury as soon as this weekend if the big man's shoulder is feeling good enough.

UCLA will have to lean on seniors Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell and David Singleton in their absence, as well as freshman guard Amari Bailey.

Obama also posted his bracket for the women's tournament, and he had UCLA making it to the Sweet 16 in that event. Obama has the Bruins beating No. 13 seed Sacramento State and No. 5 seed Oklahoma before losing to No. 1 seed South Carolina – his eventual national champions – in the Sweet 16.

UCLA men's basketball will start its NCAA tournament journey Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. PT, while UCLA women's basketball will tip things off Saturday at 8:30 p.m. PT.

Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnon
Follow All Bruins on Twitter at @FN_AllBruins
Like All Bruins on Facebook at @FN.AllBruins
Subscribe to All Bruins on YouTube

Read more UCLA stories: UCLA Bruins on Sports Illustrated
Read more UCLA men's basketball stories: UCLA Men's Basketball on Sports Illustrated