March Madness first round predictions | NCAA bracket picks

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March Madness is in full effect and that means it's time to pick some upsets.

The transfer portal and NIL have upended the landscape of college basketball, but the 2026 NCAA Tournament feels like it could be a shift back toward some more Cinderellas coming in and causing some chaos.

Do the blue bloods of the sport have what it takes to avoid the upset? What about the new kids on the block? Or will the double-digit seeds have the final say?

Men's March Madness bracket predictions: 5 hints I think will happen in the first round​

Akron knocks off Texas Tech​

I'm going back-and-forth on this one so you'll see different answers from me on this game in particular. Akron was going to be an upset pick in the NCAA Tournament regardless of opponent, and they just happen to be lined up with Texas Tech.

McNeese upsets Vanderbilt​

The Cowboys don't need Will Wade to be successful and I've got Vanderbilt as one of the top upset probabilities of the season. Give me McNeese and the Aura.

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VCU upends North Carolina​

Like Texas Tech, North Carolina doesn't have its best player on the floor in the games where having the best players will matter and VCU has been underappreciated throughout the season.

NC State beats BYU​

There's always one team that comes out of Dayton and goes on the run. Many are starting to think AJ Dybantsa and BYU are back on track after a pair of wins in the Big 12 Tournament, but look at who they played (Kansas State and West Virginia). Give me NC State to beat Texas then put on an offensive show against BYU.

Santa Clara downs Kentucky​

Kentucky just hasn't been a very good team this year and has the early NCAA Tournament exit written all over it.

Full first round predictions for 2026 NCAA Tournament​

EAST REGION​

• Duke over Siena
• TCU over Ohio State
• St. John's over Northern Iowa
• Kansas over Northern Iowa
• Louisville over South Florida
• Michigan State over North Dakota State
• UCLA over UCF
• UConn over Furman

WEST REGION​

• Arizona over Long Island — But Fins Up anyway
• Utah State over Villanova
• Wisconsin over High Point
• Arkansas over Hawai'i
• NC State over BYU
• Gonzaga over Kennesaw State
• Missouri over Miami
• Purdue over Queens

MIDWEST REGION​

• Michigan over Lehigh
• Saint Louis over Georgia
• Akron over Texas Tech
• Alabama over Hofstra
• Tennessee over Miami (Ohio)
• Virginia over Wright State
• Santa Clara at Kentucky
• Iowa State over Tennessee State

SOUTH REGION​

• Florida over UMBC
• Clemson over Iowa
• McNeese over Vanderbilt
• Nebraska over Troy
• VCU over North Carolina
• Illinois over Penn
• Saint Mary's over Texas A&M
• Houston over Idaho

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: March Madness predictions | First round picks for NCAA men's bracket

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