March Madness is officially here! Let’s dive into some of our favorite 2026 NCAA Tournament predictions, sleepers and Cinderellas will bust March Madness Brackets in 2026!
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2026 NCAA Tournament Predictions: Sleepers & Cinderellas
Let’s dive into a few 2026 NCAA Tournament predictions!
NCAA Tournament Sleepers & Cinderellas
Which Cinderella team (10-16 seed) do you think has the best chance of making it deep in the tournament, and why?
“Missouri has a viable path through the first two rounds, getting a first-round matchup against a Miami-Fla. squad that isn’t very deep and struggles at the free throw line, and then potentially getting Purdue and its Swiss cheese defense in Round 2. If Mizzou can make it through the first weekend, its probable Sweet 16 opponent would be Gonzaga, which so often face-plants earlier than it should. Missouri has struggled away from home this season, but the Tigers should have plenty of fan support in nearby St. Louis for their first two games.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“No. 10 seed Missouri is a team that can get to the Sweet 16. After a coin flip game against Miami, it draws arguably the weakest No. 2 seed in Purdue, whose legs could still be weary after a long run to the Big Ten Championship. The Tigers own wins over Florida, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee, all of whom are No. 6 seeds or better in the “Big Dance.””
– Mike Spector (BettingPros)
“I really like Akron, which was a three-point loss to Miami (OH) from being 18-0 and running through the MAC. They are a 12-seed with an opener against a Texas Tech team that finished 3-4 down the stretch without JT Toppin. That would set up a Round of 32 game against Alabama, who come into the tournament as losers in two of their last three games. Aside from the friendly matchups, Akron is a good basketball team led by Tavari Johnson and his 20.1 PPG. I like Akron to get to the Sweet 16.”
– Jason Kamlowsky (FantasyPros)
“If I had to choose one Cinderella team to make it deep, it would be 11-seed South Florida in the East region. They get a Louisville team in round one that should be getting their best player back in Mikel Brown Jr., but it isn’t a certainty how healthy he will be. That is followed by a potential round two matchup against a Michigan State team I believe can be vulnerable. ”
– Ari Koslow (FantasyPros)
“UCF, the No. 10 seed in the East, has built a resume that makes the mid-major a threat to potentially make a run in the tournament, as evidenced by seven victories over teams ranked in the top-50 of the KenPom rankings in large part because of wing Riley Kugel.”
– Chris Schommer (FantasyPros)
