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Gov. Mark Dayton predicts the Minnesota Gophers will make it to the final round of the NCAA men's basketball championship and win the tournament.

Dayton filled out his bracket this week, which showed Minnesota taking on opponents like Butler and North Carolina. Dayton predicted Wisconsin losing in the first round, to Virginia Tech. In Dayton's bracket, Minnesota faces Duke University in the final round.

"I am excited to see our Minnesota Golden Gophers return to the NCAA March Madness Tournament," Dayton said in a statement. "I have picked them to win and look forward to watching them throughout the tournament."

The governor's bracket is part of the "Minneapolis Final Four Bracket Challenge," joining other Minnesota officials, sports figures and local notables. It's intended to to highlight Minnesota's role as host to the Final Four tournament at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2019.