Nothing is assured to happen within the 2026 March Insanity bracket, however an 11-seed upsetting a 6-seed is as near a certainty as there’s. Each NCAA Match since 2005 has seen at the least one 11-seed knock off a sixth-seeded workforce within the first spherical. The groups seeded No. 11 within the NCAA Match 2026 are a mixture of mid-majors and energy convention groups, together with South Florida, who will face No. 6 Louisville on Thursday within the March Insanity bracket 2026.
USF has steadiness, with all 5 starters averaging over 11 factors per sport. In the meantime, Louisville is a query mark in March Insanity 2026 after star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. missed the ACC Match. The Cardinals are a distinct workforce with out him, and if he cannot go, Louisville might be on upset alert on this pivotal 6 vs. 11 matchup. Earlier than filling out your NCAA Match bracket 2026, you’ll want to see the 2026 March Insanity bracket picks from the confirmed laptop mannequin at SportsLine.
Their confirmed projection mannequin has simulated each sport within the match 10,000 occasions. It has completely crushed its March Insanity picks just lately, beating over 91% of all CBS Sports activities brackets in 4 of the previous seven tournaments. It was throughout UConn’s championship run two years in the past and nailed 12 groups within the Candy 16 final 12 months. It additionally accurately predicted all 4 Closing 4 groups in 2025.
It is aware of how one can spot an upset as properly. The identical mannequin has produced brackets which have nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016.
There is not any motive to depend on luck when there’s confirmed expertise that will help you dominate your 2026 March Insanity picks. Now, with the 2026 NCAA bracket revealed, the mannequin is simulating the matchups and its outcomes are in. You may solely see it over at SportsLine.
High 2026 March Insanity bracket picks (preview two matchups)
One of many Midwest Area picks from the mannequin: No. 9 Saint Louis defeats No. 8 Georgia within the first spherical. The Bulldogs have misplaced 5 straight NCAA tourney video games, which is the third-longest lively drought by any energy convention workforce. The weak point of their protection may make it six straight defeats because the Dawgs are permitting 79.2 ppg this 12 months, their most allowed in a season in over 50 years. It simply so occurs that Georgia’s first-round opponent boasts among the best offenses within the land.
The Billikens rank within the high 10, nationally, in factors per sport, discipline aim share and 3-point share. In addition they deliver it on the opposite finish of the courtroom, as per KenPom, Saint Louis is considered one of 4 groups to rank within the high 5 in each offensive and defensive efficient FG%. Add in that Saint Louis has the fourth-best ppg differential (+17.7) in Division I, and the Billikens might be poised for a deep tourney run.
One other shock within the Midwest: No. 5 Texas Tech defeats No. 4 Alabama within the second spherical. The Pink Raiders mix each a excessive quantity with a excessive effectivity with regards to the 3-point shot, rating fifth within the nation in each makes and share. In addition they have a star in Christian Anderson, who’s the workforce’s go-to man within the wake of JT Toppin’s season-ending damage. Anderson is considered one of two gamers in all of school basketball averaging at the least 18 factors and seven assists, together with his 7.6 assists rating third within the nation.
In the meantime, Bama is coming off a first-round loss within the SEC Match, regardless of being a 2-seed and dealing with 15-seed Ole Miss. No workforce has ever gained the nationwide title in the identical season through which it misplaced its convention match opener, however Bama could not even win multiple sport in March Insanity. The Tide’s 83.5 ppg allowed are probably the most by the college in 56 years, they usually’ve given up 87 ppg to their final 4 non-SEC opponents. Protection wins championships, and a scarcity of protection has the mannequin predicting Alabama does not even win its second-round matchup. You may see the mannequin’s 2026 NCAA bracket picks right here.
How you can make 2026 NCAA bracket predictions
Who wins each tournament-defining matchup, and which area does the mannequin mission the No. 1 seed not making the Closing 4, plus there being two double-digit seed stunners? With the mannequin’s monitor document of calling bracket-busting upsets, you will wish to see which stunners it is calling this 12 months earlier than locking in any 2026 NCAA bracket picks.
So what is the optimum NCAA Match 2026 bracket, and which NCAA Match double-digit seeds will shock school basketball? Go to SportsLine now to see which area is loaded with upsets, all from the mannequin that is overwhelmed 91% of bracket gamers in 4 of the final seven tournaments.
