March Madness is officially here! Let’s dive into some of our favorite 2026 NCAA Tournament predictions, including who will make it to the Final Four and which sleepers and Cinderellas will bust March Madness Brackets in 2026!
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2026 NCAA Tournament Predictions: Final Four Picks & Sleepers
Let’s dive into a few 2026 NCAA Tournament predictions!
NCAA Tournament Final Four Predictions
Who are your picks for the Final Four and why?
“Michigan, UConn, Houston, Arizona – This is a somewhat chalky Final Four, but I think there are five teams that stand out (Duke being the other) as better than everyone else. Michigan and UConn both had a hiccup game in the conference championships. They should be locked in from here. Arizona and Houston were the top two teams in the nation’s best conference. They are battle-tested and built to withstand the next three weeks.”
– Jason Kamlowsky (FantasyPros)
“If a team is top five both offensively and defensively in the KenPom rankings, that’s Final Four material. Duke and Arizona are top five on both ends of the floor this year, so I’ve got Duke coming out of the East and Arizona coming out of the West. Michigan lost only one game during the Big Ten regular season and is such a well-rounded team. I like the Wolverines to come out of the Midwest. And I like 3-seeded Illinois to make it out of the South thanks to a huge, physical frontcourt and the scoring of freshman point guard Keaton Wagler.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“Michigan State, Florida, Iowa State, and Arizona. I do not love Duke’s potential Sweet 16 matchup against St. John’s, and Iowa State, with its ability to spread the floor, is a bad matchup for Michigan. Otherwise, I expect the other No. 1 seeds to advance.”
– Mike Spector (BettingPros)
“I have Duke, Houston, Arizona, and Iowa State in my Final Four. I was very impressed by the entire Big 12 this season, and I believe that competition during the season will benefit them in the tournament. Arizona is my national champion, while Iowa State and Houston have proven to be able to beat any team on any given day. Meanwhile, Duke is the top overall seed and has been one of the most complete teams in the country all season. ”
– Ari Koslow (FantasyPros)
“My Final Four picks are Duke, Houston, Arizona, and Michigan. Despite being part of arguably the toughest region in the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East, Duke has the blue-chip talent to go up against anyone with confidence, led by potential No.1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, Cameron Boozer. Isaiah Evans and Cayden Boozer will need to make up for the loss of Caleb Foster to overcome a region that includes No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Michigan State to make it happen. Houston has played national championship-level basketball outside of losses against Arizona late in the season. With explosive guard Kingston Flemings leading the 2025 runner-up Cougars, the potential to return and avenge the loss is real, even with No. 1 Florida seed likely standing in their way in the Elite Eight in the South Region. In the West Region, Arizona’s body of work speaks for itself after rolling through most opponents with ease. The balance displayed by a lineup led by Jalen Bradley, Koa Peat, and Brayden Burries makes Arizona a pretty easy pick in the West Region. Michigan is loaded with talent despite the loss of L.J. Cason for an explosive, tall lineup led by Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, Eliot Cadeau, and Morez Johnson Jr., under head coach Dusty May. Combined with being rewarded with the most favorable regional as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest, Michigan’s national championship aspirations are very real.”
– Chris Schommer (FantasyPros)
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)
