This. Is. March. Those are the three words you hear once the conference tournaments are in the books. Some teams’ seasons are over, but only 68 will be competing in March Madness. While you all are making your brackets, let’s preview each of the regions and my predictions.

First Four (March 17-18 in Dayton, OH)

• #16 UMBC (24-8) vs. #16 Howard (23-10)
• #11 Texas (18-14) vs. #11 NC State (20-13)
• #16 Prairie View A&M (18-17) vs. #16 Lehigh (18-16)
• #11 Miami (OH) (31-1) vs. #11 SMU (20-13)

My predictions: UMBC, NC State, and Prairie View A&M. Last but not least, Miami (OH)’s historic run will continue by beating SMU.

East Region First Round (March 19-20)

• #1 Duke (32-2) vs. #16 Siena (23-11)
• #8 Ohio State (21-12) vs. #9 TCU (22-11)
• #5 St. John’s (28-6) vs. #12 Northern Iowa (23-12)
• #4 Kansas (23-10) vs. #13 Cal Baptist (25-8)
• #6 Louisville (23-10) vs. #11 South Florida (25-8)
• #3 Michigan State (25-7) vs. #14 North Dakota State (27-7)
• #7 UCLA (23-11) vs. #10 UCF (21-11)
• #2 UConn (29-5) vs. #15 Furman (22-12)

My predictions: Duke, Ohio State, St. John’s, Kansas, UCLA, UConn. Upsets from this round include South Florida and North Dakota State. South Florida head coach Bryan Hodgson is a top candidate to take open jobs elsewhere, while Michigan State has had plenty of rough games throughout the season, especially against teams they are statistically better than.

South Region First Round (March 19-20)

• #1 Florida (26-7) vs. #16 Lehigh/Prairie View A&M
• #8 Clemson (24-10) vs. #9 Iowa (21-12)
• #5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. #12 McNeese (28-5)
• #4 Nebraska (26-6) vs. #13 Troy (22-11)
• #6 North Carolina (24-8) vs. #11 VCU (27-7)
• #3 Illinois (24-8) vs. #14 Penn (18-11)
• #7 Saint Mary’s (27-5) vs. #10 Texas A&M (21-11)
• #2 Houston (28-6) vs. #15 Idaho (21-14)

My predictions: Florida, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Nebraska, Illinois, St. Mary’s, and Houston. VCU will upset North Carolina with star player Caleb Wilson injured.

West Region First Round (March 19-20

• #1 Arizona (32-2) vs. #16 Long Island (24-10)
• #8 Villanova (24-8) vs. #9 Utah State (28-6)
• #5 Wisconsin (24-10) vs. #12 High Point (30-4)
• #4 Arkansas (26-8) vs. #13 Hawaii (24-8)
• #6 BYU (23-11) vs. #11 NC State/Texas
• #3 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. #14 Kennsesaw State (21-13)
• #7 Miami (FL) (25-8) vs. #10 Missouri (20-12)
• #2 Purdue (27-8) vs. #15 Queens (NC) (21-13)

My predictions: Arizona, Wisconsin, Arkansas, BYU, Gonzaga, Miami (FL), and Purdue. Utah State will upset an inconsistent Villanova team as a #9 seed. Jerrod Calhoun of Utah State is another trending candidate on the head coaching market.

Midwest Region First Round (March 19-20)

• #1 Michigan (31-3) vs. #16 Howard/UMBC
• #8 Georgia (22-10) vs. #9 St. Louis (28-5)
• #5 Texas Tech (22-10) vs. #12 Akron (29-5)
• #4 Alabama (23-9) vs. #13 Hofstra (24-10)
• #6 Tennessee (22-11) vs. #11 SMU/Miami (OH)
• #3 Virginia (29-5) vs. #14 Wright State (23-11)
• #7 Kentucky (21-13) vs. #10 Santa Clara (26-8)
• #2 Iowa State (27-7) vs. #15 Tennessee State (23-9)

My predictions: Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, and Iowa State. St. Louis upsets Georgia as a #9 seed. Their head coach, Josh Schertz, is yet another name garnering high interest for open head coaching positions, and can take that momentum into the tournament. Meanwhile, Akron upsets an injury-plagued Texas Tech team, who is without NBA prospect JT Toppin.

Cam’s Predictions – Second Round (March 21-22)

• #1 Duke over #8 Ohio State
• #5 St. John’s over #4 Kansas
• #11 South Florida over #14 North Dakota State
• #2 UConn over #7 UCLA
• #1 Florida over #8 Clemson
• #5 Vanderbilt over #4 Nebraska
• #3 Illinois over #11 VCU
• #2 Houston over #7 St. Mary’s
• #1 Arizona over #9 Utah State
• #4 Arkansas over #5 Wisconsin
• #3 Gonzaga over #6 BYU
• #2 Purdue over #7 Miami (FL)
• #1 Michigan over #9 St. Louis
• #4 Alabama over #5 Texas Tech
• #3 Virginia over #6 Tennessee
• #2 Iowa State over #7 Kentucky

Cam’s Predictions – Sweet Sixteen (March 26-27 in Houston, TX, San Jose, CA, Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.)

• #5 St. John’s over #1 Duke
• #2 UConn over #11 South Florida
• #5 Vanderbilt over #1 Florida
• #2 Houston over #3 Illinois
• #1 Arizona over #4 Arkansas
• #3 Gonzaga over #2 Purdue
• #1 Michigan over #4 Alabama
• #2 Iowa State over #3 Virginia

Cam’s Predictions – Elite Eight (March 28-29 in Houston, TX, San Jose, CA, Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.)

• #5 St. John’s over #2 UConn
• #2 Houston over #5 Vanderbilt
• #3 Gonzaga over #1 Arizona
• #1 Michigan over #2 Iowa State

Cam’s Predictions – Final Four (Saturday, April 4 in Indianapolis, IN)

• #2 Houston over #5 St. John’s
• #3 Gonzaga over #1 Michigan

Cam’s Predictions – National Championship (Monday, April 6 in Indianapolis, IN)

• #2 Houston wins its first national title over #3 Gonzaga, and Kelvin Sampson’s squad gets redemption from its loss the previous year.

We are bound to see many different upsets when we least expect them, coinciding with some favorites meeting their expectations. Will a top program or a smaller, underdog program take home the national title?

Brackets are due at noon on Thursday, March 19. Get yours in before it’s too late!