The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket is out, which also means fans and experts alike around the country are on the quest for the perfect bracket.
The First Four games will tip off on Tuesday as the No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns face off against the No. 11 seed North Carolina State Wolfpack. They will be joined by a battle of No. 16 seeds as the UMBC Retrievers take on the Howard Bison.
ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas was one of the first notable names to unveil a prediction for how the tournament would unfold, and to no surprise, he is calling for a significant upset in round one.
Although we have grown to look for and love the No. 12 seed over No. 5 seed upsets, Bilas didn’t foresee a single one happening this year. Instead, the first upset he sees occurring is the No. 11 USF Bulls knocking off ACC power and No. 5 seed Louisville Cardinals.
Bilas cited the fact that Louisville could be without star player Mikel Brown Jr., who has missed the past four games with a back issue.
“One thing is for sure in this game: There will be a lot of long rebounds because both teams like to shoot 3s,” wrote Bilas. “This is a great upset pick: Mikel Brown Jr. has been out because of a sore back, and South Florida is tough. It’s worth rolling the dice on this one because Michigan State will likely beat either team.”
For USF, this would be a monumental win, as they haven’t appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 2011-12, when they advanced to the Round of 32.
The matchup will take place on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET and will air on TNT.
Related: John Fanta Predicts Winner of NCAA Tournament
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.