Final yr, the SEC set a document with 14 groups within the NCAA Event bracket, a mark that wasn’t almost touched when the 2026 NCAA Event bracket was launched. The SEC shall be effectively represented once more with 10 groups, however some are 2026 March Insanity underdogs in want of pulling off NCAA Event upsets to go on a deep 2026 March Insanity run. The SEC boasts the reigning nationwide champions, the Florida Gators, as one among two SEC faculties to make final yr’s Last 4. How far must you place SEC faculties like Florida, Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas when making 2026 NCAA Event bracket picks?
Is that this the yr to construct NCAA Event 2026 brackets across the SEC, or might the Huge Ten, ACC and Huge 12 reign supreme for 2026 March Insanity picks? Earlier than you make your 2026 NCAA Event predictions, see the 2026 March Insanity bracket picks from the confirmed laptop mannequin at SportsLine.
Two years in the past, SportsLine’s laptop simulation nailed huge upsets, together with big wins by No. 11 Oregon over No. 6 South Carolina, No. 11 NC State over No. 6 Texas Tech, No. 10 Colorado over No. 7 Florida. Final yr, SportsLine’s laptop simulation nailed huge upsets, together with calling each 9-seeds that superior within the first spherical, No. 12 Colorado State over No. 5 Memphis, and No. 6 BYU advancing to the Candy 16. The mannequin has crushed over 91 % of all CBS Sports activities bracket gamers in 4 of the previous seven tournaments.
This mannequin, which simulates each recreation 10,000 instances, has nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016 and nailed UConn’s championship run in 2024. It nailed 12 groups within the Candy 16 and appropriately predicted all 4 Last 4 groups a yr in the past.
The SportsLine Projection Mannequin simulates each faculty basketball recreation 10,000 instances. It entered convention event week on a scorching 14-2 run on its top-rated over/underneath faculty basketball picks relationship again to final season, and is on a 28-21 run on top-rated CBB aspect picks. You should not even take into consideration making a choose with out seeing what their mannequin has to say.
Prime 2026 March Insanity bracket upset picks
One South Area shock the mannequin has recognized: No. 5 Vanderbilt defeats No. 4 Nebraska to advance to the Candy 16. The mannequin expects each groups to outlive the opening spherical and sq. off in an SEC vs. Huge Ten battle over the weekend. Nebraska climbed as excessive as No. 5 within the nation throughout its 20-0 begin to the season, however starting with its loss to Michigan to finish the proper document, the Cornhuskers are simply 6-6 over their final 12 contests. Nebraska has allowed not less than 74 factors in 5 of its final 12 video games, after doing so simply 3 times over its 20-0 begin.
In the meantime, Vanderbilt has been on a roll over the previous couple of weeks, scoring 91 factors towards No. 4 Florida in a 17-point victory to achieve the SEC Championship Recreation. The Commodores misplaced within the SEC ultimate, however Vanderbilt’s No. 12 scoring offense can run groups out of the fitness center. The Commodores common 86.4 factors per recreation this season, in comparison with a defensively centered Cornhuskers staff that ranks seventeenth in scoring protection however 114th in scoring offense. The mannequin is backing the offensively gifted Commodores in what it tasks as a possible second-round matchup.
One other South Area shock the mannequin has recognized: No. 10 Texas A&M knocks off No. 7 Saint Mary’s. The Aggies have the No. 4 scoring offense within the nation, averaging 87.7 factors per recreation, and the SEC squad could merely have an excessive amount of offensive firepower for Saint Mary’s to maintain tempo with. Saint Mary’s is 107th in scoring, counting on a top-10 scoring protection. Nevertheless, athletes like these at Texas A&M are at a unique stage to the typical competitors within the West Coast Convention that the Gaels performed nearly all of the season.
Texas A&M has six gamers averaging greater than 10 factors per recreation this season, and that may be an issue for Saint Mary’s. The Gaels are not any stranger to enjoying in March Insanity, however they had been a No. 5 seed in three of their final 4 event appearances. This Saint Mary’s staff could have a troublesome time towards the Aggies’ scoring, main the mannequin to venture Texas A&M to drag off the upset. See which different 2026 March Insanity upsets and matchups to focus on right here.
Methods to make 2026 NCAA Event bracket predictions
Who wins each tournament-defining matchup? And which groups will make stunning runs by the 2026 NCAA Event bracket? With the mannequin’s observe document of calling bracket-busting upsets, you will wish to see which stunners it is calling this yr earlier than locking in any 2026 NCAA bracket picks.
So what is the optimum NCAA Event 2026 bracket? And which NCAA Event Cinderella groups will shock faculty basketball? Go to SportsLine now to see which area options two mammoth upsets within the first spherical, together with one by a No. 14 seed, and see which 6-seed makes the Candy 16, all from the mannequin that is nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds.
