March Madness 2026 bracket: NCAA Tournament picks, predictions by proven college basketball model SportsLine's model has nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds and revealed its optimal NCAA Tournament bracket 2026 By Daniel Lewis Mar 15, 2026 at 8:26 pm ET • 3 min read Imagn Images The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed, and Arizona, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas and Texas Tech are among the Big 12 squads who received high seeds in the 2026 March Madness bracket. Kansas was the last Big 12 team to win it all in 2022, but this year could bring home another title for the new-look conference. The NCAA Tournament bracket 2026 title, however, could go to a number of conferences, with Big Ten teams like Michigan, Purdue and Nebraska, SEC squads like Florida and Alabama and ACC programs like Duke and Virginia all well-positioned to make a run. The 2026 March Madness First Four tips on Tuesday, with the first round getting underway on Thursday, so now is the time to lock in 2026 NCAA bracket picks for contests and pools. Before filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket 2026, be sure to see the 2026 March Madness bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine . Their proven projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It has absolutely crushed its March Madness picks recently, beating over 91% of all CBS Sports brackets in four of the past seven tournaments. It was all over UConn's championship run two years ago and nailed 12 teams in the Sweet 16 last year. It also correctly predicted all four Final Four teams in 2025. It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016. There's no reason to rely on luck when there's proven technology to help you dominate your 2026 March Madness picks. Now, with the 2026 NCAA bracket revealed, the model is simulating the matchups and its results are in. You can only see it over at SportsLine . Top 2026 March Madness bracket picks (preview two matchups) One of the Midwest Region picks from the model: No. 9 Saint Louis defeats No. 8 Georgia in the first round. The Billikens know how to create easy shots better than anyone in the nation as the average distance of their 2-pointers is closer to the basket than any other team. That will present a problem for a Dawgs defense which already struggles, ranking 315th in the country in points allowed per game. As for Georgia on offense, it is high on quantity when it comes to the 3-pointer, ranking 27th in attempts but lacks quality from that area, ranking 182nd in 3-point percentage. Saint Louis' proficiency inside the arc shouldn't shadow what it does on the perimeter. The Billikens are third in Division I with 40.1% from beyond the arc, and they defend the 3-point line just as well. They rank fifth by allowing just 29.4% from downtown. They have the ability to make Georgia one-dimensional, as the Bulldogs are projected to lose their sixth straight NCAA Tournament game. Another surprise in the Midwest: the First Four winner of Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU knocks off 6-seed Tennessee in the first round. The Vols struggle at things which often rear their head come March Madness. One is that they connect on under 70% of their free throw attempts, and another is not cherishing the basketball. Just three SEC teams committed more turnovers per game than Tennessee, as it often gives opponents extra possessions. Both Miami (OH) and SMU could take advantage of Tennessee's weaknesses. No team in the sport has a better record than the RedHawks (31-1), and extra offensive possessions for them is almost giving Miami free points. They lead the country in field goal percentage, while SMU is just as potent offensively, ranking among the top three ACC teams in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. You can see the model's 2026 NCAA bracket picks here . How to make 2026 NCAA bracket predictions Who wins every tournament-defining matchup, and which region does the model project the No. 1 seed not making the Final Four, plus there being two double-digit seed stunners? With the model's track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you'll want to see which stunners it's calling this year before locking in any 2026 NCAA bracket picks . So what's the optimal NCAA Tournament 2026 bracket, and which NCAA Tournament double-digit seeds will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which region is loaded with upsets, all from the model that's beaten 91% of bracket players in four of the last seven tournaments . Join the Conversation comments