Top Picks To Spring a March Madness Upset

College basketball has reached the pinnacle of its season, and the annual NCAA curtain-closing tournament is just around the corner. But before anyone can start thinking about a trip to San Antonio in April, they first need to navigate the chaos that is March Madness.

Throughout the third month of the year, 128 teams will battle it out across 64 games in a bid to progress to the latter stages of the bracket and ultimately seal a spot in the final four. For the top seeds such as Auburn and Duke, avoiding potential banana skins is easier said than done.

Underdogs Marching Down the Bracket

Over the past decade, we’ve watched in awe as two No. 16 seeds orchestrated first-round shockers, while three No. 15 seeds made improbable runs to the Sweet 16. The pick of those was perhaps Saint Peter’s in 2022.

Led by defensive powerhouse KC Ndefo and scoring guard Doug Edert, the Peacocks shocked the world as they upset the number two ranked Kentucky Wildcats in the opening round, becoming just the tenth 15th seed to do exactly that with a stunning 85-79 overtime victory. But they weren’t finished there.

The Cocks then managed to knock off seventh seed Murray State in the second round, before dealing off another jaw-dropper at the Sweet Sixteen stage. There, they dumped out the number three ranked Purdue to become the first 15th seed to make it to the Elite Eight. Their journey came to an end at the hands of eventual finalists North Carolina, but not before they had gripped the nation.

Predicting such Cinderella stories can be great fun for those who are making their bracket predictions known. Online bookmakers are offering a plethora of prizes to players who can successfully rack up points throughout the month. Bovada’s March Madness bracket challenge is one such example, with more points being awarded for successful picks as the action progresses. It’s no wonder so many people are enthusiastic about putting together March Madness brackets!

Every year though, there are upsets, as Saint Peter’s highlighted a couple of years ago. If you are filling out a bracket of your own then perhaps bear in mind these four teams, teams that we feel have a great opportunity of springing a shock this year.

McNeese

Riding high after last season’s Southland Conference championship, the McNeese Cowboys earned respect despite their less-than-stellar showing against Gonzaga as a No. 12 seed. This year, they’re back with something to prove—and this team’s identity is all about disruption.

Ranked in the national top 20 for forcing turnovers, McNeese’s defense is relentless. Five players on the roster average at least one steal per game. They may not have much of a long-distance game in their arsenal but don’t underestimate their offensive potential.

If former star player Alyn Breed can return from his knee injury, McNeese becomes exponentially more dangerous. Armed with their aggressive defense, the Cowboys are more than capable of causing bracket-breaking havoc.

Akron

Fast-paced, perimeter-focused, and unrelenting—that’s Akron basketball in a nutshell. If the Zips emerge as the Mid-American Conference champion, they have the potential to make life difficult for anyone who makes it to the Big Dance.

Dynamic guards Nate Johnson, Tavari Johnson, and Isaiah Gray each contribute over 10 points and 2.5 assists per game. Off the bench, Bowen Hardman and Sharron Young are superb long-range snipers who are sure to keep defenses on their toes while also proving dangerous in clutch situations at the death. Tying it all together, James Okonkwo dominates the boards and is the MAC’s top rebounder, while Amani Lyles adds grit with nearly two offensive rebounds per game in a reserve role.

Merrimack

Think a No. 16 seed can’t hang? Think again. Merrimack enters the conversation with MAAC standout Adam Clark leading the way. The versatile guard is a true two-way force, delivering 19.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.5 steals per contest.

Shooting threats Matt Becht and Devon Savage add another layer of danger with relentless three-point shooting, combining for impressive conversion rates of more than 33 percent. Admittedly, the Warriors’ height—none of their core players stand taller than 6’7”—poses a potential challenge. Yet, as Saint Peter’s proved just a few years ago, smart playmaking and perimeter precision can make height disparities irrelevant.

UC San Diego

For UC San Diego, everything starts—and ends—with turnovers. No team forces them better than the Tritons, who rank second nationally in turnover generation while keeping their giveaways remarkably low.

Senior guard Hayden Gray headlines their swarming defensive effort, leading the country with 3.5 steals per game. Junior Chris Howell also creates havoc, chipping in with over two steals per game. Offensively, Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones is the main man. He scores at a rate of 19.8 per game and is complemented by reliable right-hand man Tyler McGhie. The sharpshooter drains 40.1 percent of his three-point attempts, and that could be crucial down the stretch in crunch games.