Time is running out to fill out your men’s NCAA tournament bracket, but fear not—we’re here to help you make those final decisions. We know you may be still agonizing over which first-round upsets to pick or which underdogs to send to the second weekend, so this roundtable specifically addresses the lower seeds we’re putting our trust in—and staying away from—and why. Plus, we make our overall bold predictions for the bracket. Read on for our insight and advice, and follow it if you wish. (For our full round-by-round predictions, check out our expert brackets.)
First-round upset I feel good about
Pat Forde: No. 13 South Dakota State over No. 4 Providence. The Jackrabbits have won 21 straight—they can’t even remember what it feels like to lose and will play with an expectation of winning. The Friars, meanwhile, have a nice record and terrible metrics—and I’m siding with the metrics. Providence has had a great run, but the well of good fortune ran dry in New York last week and hasn’t been replenished yet.
