This upcoming Thursday is marked on many college sports fans' calendars. Day 1 of Round of 32 action means the beginning of busted brackets. Hopefully, these March Madness predictions can help!
#9 Michigan St vs. #8 Mississippi St.
It's difficult to go against the experience of Tom Izzo, but Michigan State has been underperforming all season. 6'11 Tolu Smith is going to be a matchup nightmare in the post and on the glass. The Bulldogs will find themselves in a second-round battle.
#11 Duquesne vs. #6 BYU
Don't be tempted with a bracket upset. BYU averages the second-most 3-pointers per game in the entire country (11.2) and scores over 80 points a game playing in the most competitive conference: the Big 12. The Cougars should win by a healthy margin.
#11 Oregon vs. #6 South Carolina
Note that the University of Oregon only made the dance because they won the Pac-12 tournament (11 is the highest possible seed given to non-mid-majors). On the other hand, South Carolina was predicted to finish dead last in the SEC preseason poll and have flipped that narrative upside down. Take the Gamecocks in a virtual coin flip, as consistency should prevail.
#10 Nevada vs. #7 Dayton
If you're looking for a minor upset in your bracket: here it is. Both teams have had highly successful seasons in their conferences. The difference maker will be the scoring and experience of seniors Jarod Lucas and Kenan Blackshear, who will lead UNLV to the second round.
#12 McNeese vs. #5 Gonzaga
Oh, the classic 12-5 battle. McNeese finished their season 30-3 and rightfully deserves the buzz. I actually believe that Gonzaga is being disrespected and has been flying under the radar all season. They are quietly 7th in the country in scoring (84.9) and have too many scoring options to lose this early. Take the Zags.
#11 NC State vs. #6 Texas Tech
Just like Oregon, NC State needed a Cinderella run in the ACC Tournament to earn a spot in the field. I fear that magic is going to wear off over the week in between games, as they play a very competent Big 12 team in the Red Raiders. Look for Pop Isaacs to take over this game in a Texas Tech victory.
#13 Samford vs. #4 Kansas
To the casual fan, this looks like an elementary win for the Jayhawks. Don't be fooled, as Kansas is in shambles. Their recent form has been terrible and they have been playing shorthanded due to key injuries. Hunter Dickinson is projected to play in this game, but Samford has four players who average double digits and are fifth in the country in scoring. I feel confident that I know what to expect from Samford, and not the Jayhawks. Give me Samford in the upset of the day.
#10 Drake vs. #7 Washington State
The end of opening day could be a toss-up. Both are well over .500 and 20 wins on the season. When March hits, a leader needs to arrive out of the shadows and I believe that will be Tucker Devries. Devries is 6th in the country in scoring at 21.8 a game and that is the kind of scorer that can earn the unofficial nickname “Mr.March.” I'll take the Drake!
