2016 March Madness Bracket Predictions: Round of 32 Upsets to Target

2016 March Madness Bracket Predictions – Round of 32 Upsets to Target: The first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament is well under way, and as expected there have already been plenty of surprises. Of course, the upsets aren’t likely to stop after the first two days, and with many Round of 32 matchups set, there are several potential upsets waiting to be cashed in on heading into the weekend. Here is a closer look at one underdog worth taking a chance on from each region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket.

2016 March Madness Bracket Predictions: Round of 32 Upsets to Target

South Region: No. 11 Wichita State Shockers over No. 3 Miami Hurricanes

I think everyone in the country, with the exception of the selection committee, knew that the Shockers were brutally underseeded, so it isn’t a big surprise that they rolled over Vanderbilt in the play-in game and handled sixth-seeded Arizona in the opening round. Wichita State faces a tougher task in the Round of 32 when it meets third-seeded Miami, but the Shockers should be up to the task. After all, the backcourt of Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet has averaged more than 30 wins per season over the last four years, reaching the Final Four in 2013. By the way, the Shockers also have the stingiest defense in the country, allowing just 59.3 points per game. Guard play is going to play a huge role in deciding the matchup with the Hurricanes, but as good as Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez have been for Miami, there is no denying that Baker and VanVleet are the more experienced, more proven tandem. Don’t be surprised when the Shockers are back in the Sweet 16.

West Region: No. 12 Yale Bulldogs over No. 4 Duke Blue Devils

After making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in an eternity, the Bulldogs are in no hurry to leave. They upset fifth-seeded Baylor, a team that could score in bunches but can lapse on the defensive end, in the first round and now set their sights on Duke, a team that can score in bunches but can lapse on the defensive end. Keep in mind, the Blue Devils needed a second-half comeback to get by UNC Wilmington in the first round, and they still allowed the Seahawks to score 85 points. Yale is a disciplined team on the defensive end and on the boards, so Duke is at least going to have to work for its points. If the Blue Devils’ defense is in one of its giving moods, the Bulldogs could easily take advantage to score the upset.

East Region: No. 9 Providence Friars over No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels

This matchup has trap game written all over it. As much as North Carolina can’t afford to look past Providence, it is almost impossible not to with either Kentucky or Indiana lurking in the Sweet 16. Enter the Friars, who have absolutely nothing to lose and two star-caliber players in Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn. The duo combined for half of Providence’s 70 points in a first-round win over USC, and as talented as the Tar Heels may be, the Friars have two potential X-factors that could level the playing field. If the Tar Heels aren’t fully invested in this game, Providence can make them pay.

Midwest Region: No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs over No. 3 Utah Utes

The original Cinderella is back at it as Gonzaga easily defeated Seton Hall in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Friday. The Bulldogs balance on both ends of the court was on full display, and they were particularly dominant on the defensive end on the boards. Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis reminded everyone that they are a pretty talented frontcourt, and between Wiltjer’s range on the offensive end and Sabonis’ size, the duo should test Utah star center Jakob Poeltl on both ends of the court. The Utes have some really ugly losses against top competition, so they aren’t unstoppable by any means. Gonzaga could give Utah all it can handle and more.

You can get expert 2016 March Madness picks and 2016 March Madness predictions this month from NSAwins.com’s top handicappers plus a pre-filled downloadable and printable 2016 March Madness Bracket to help you win your office pool!