The South region of the 2022 NCAA Tournament bracket features the only two March Madness newcomers, No. 14 Longwood and No. 16 Bryant. While Bryant still must advance from the First Four, Longwood’s first March Madness 2022 game is against No. 3 Tennessee. The Vols have spent the entire season ranked and enter the NCAA Tournament 2022 with plenty of momentum after winning the SEC Tournament. Tennessee is hoping that carries over through the first round.
Potential matchups with Michigan and Villanova could then await the Volunteers, who are among the winningest college programs without a Final Four appearance. Can Tennessee stay hot and avoid one of the early 2022 March Madness upsets against Longwood? Before you make your 2022 NCAA Tournament predictions, see the March Madness bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s advanced computer model absolutely crushed its March Madness picks last tournament, beating over 92 percent of all CBS Sports brackets for the second time in three years. The model also nailed a whopping three teams in the Final Four last year.
It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 17 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds. It also nailed some massive upsets last tournament, including predicting the championship game between Gonzaga and Baylor, and hit Houston’s Midwest Region win even though the Cougars weren’t the No. 1 seed. Getting those picks right could literally make or break your March Madness bracket.
Now, SportsLine’s advanced computer model has simulated the entire NCAA Tournament 10,000 times to come up with the perfect 2022 NCAA Tournament bracket and find out which teams will pull off the biggest upsets. You shouldn’t even think about making a pick without seeing what their model has to say.
Top 2022 March Madness bracket upset picks
One team set to pull off a shocking upset in 2022 March Madness brackets: No. 13 Vermont shocks No. 4 Arkansas in the West region. Arkansas was a different team outside the state, as it went 17-2 at home but just 8-7 on the road and neutral sites.
Vermont was strong everywhere and is rolling entering the NCAA Tournament 2022 with eight straight wins. What’s most astounding is the dominance it has displayed during this streak, as Vermont’s average margin of victory is 24.4 points. Its two leading scorers, seniors Ryan Davis and Ben Shungu, ranked first and third, respectively, in the conference in scoring, while each also made over 40 percent of their three-point attempts.
The Razorbacks don’t have a single player shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc, and outside shooting has been their weakness all year. That weakness will only be magnified on this stage, a big reason why the Catamounts can steal a first round win.
Another huge curveball in the West Region: No. 10 Davidson upsets No. 7 Michigan State. Michigan State started off hot but has fizzled down the stretch, losing eight of its last 13 games. It also struggled all year against top competition and owns a 4-8 record against the Top 25. Davidson had just one game against a ranked team, but it was impressive in that contest with a neutral-site victory over No. 10 Alabama.
The Wildcats have an extremely versatile and balanced offense, as four players average in double-figures and all four knock down at least 38 percent of their three-pointers. As a team, Davidson ranks among the top 12 in the nation in both three-point percentage and turnovers committed, both of which are key metrics for March Madness 2022 success. Davidson also has an intangible in its favor in that the game takes place in South Carolina, less than a two-hour drive from Davidson’s campus. The model recognizes all of the advantages Davidson has and has the Wildcats winning in over 50 percent of simulations.
How to make 2022 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions
SportsLine’s model also says a No. 11 seed and a No. 5 seed make the Final Four. It also tells you which No. 12 and No. 10 seeds are a must-back. Nailing those picks could literally make or break your bracket. With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it is calling this year before locking in any NCAA bracket picks.
So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2022 bracket? And which underdogs will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine here to see which No. 11 and No. 5 seeds make the Final Four, plus which 12- and 10-seeds are a must-back, all from the model that’s nailed 17 double-digit seed upsets in the first round.
