There is something about the NCAA tournament that separates it from all the others, whether it be in pro or college sports. People who didn’t care about basketball all season will fill out a bracket and follow all the action, while the diehards were enthralled by this year’s action and move it to the top of their priority list. Maybe it’s the element of suspense, or the cinderella schools knocking off some of the powerhouses, or for some, the opportunity to get make bank off of their bracket. It’s mid-March and it is time for the madness to take over. College basketball’s most prized possession is up for grabs and not just two, or four, or sixteen teams have a chance to claim it–68 teams have an opportunity. The first round begins Thursday. Here is what to expect:

I’m not going to go round by round predicting every single game. You’ve probably heard plenty of predictions and opinions already. So instead of hearing the same stuff again, I’ll change it up. What makes March Madness exciting is the outcomes nobody saw coming. So before we go any further, here are some of my most outlandish predictions that might actually happen.

Four Top Five Teams Will Lose In The First Round:

There are a lot of talented mid-major programs seeded at 12 and up. Furthermore, there are a lot of shaky top five teams that should be put on upset watch. Let’s start by addressing the Kentucky-Davidson game. Davidson has two dynamic scoring threats, Kellan Grady and Peyton Aldridge, that will create havoc for the young Wildcats. They are coming in full of confidence with a five-game win streak, including two wins over Rhode Island, along with an A-10 tournament title. Kentucky is a phenomenal team and their freshman are starting to mature, but they are still missing that senior leadership.

Next up, Ohio State. They’ve had a phenomenal year. You can’t take that away from them. However, they get a tough South Dakota State team in the first round. The Jackrabbits were here last March and had a chance to beat Gonzaga, but a rough second half ended their tournament run. This year, with nine returning players, the Jackrabbits shot over 39% from beyond the arch and their big man Mike Daum averaged 23.8 points. Experience, three point shooting, and the presence of Daum in the paint will be enough for the first round upset.

This next upset wasn’t hard to seek out: New Mexico State is another one of those mid-majors that had a better season than anyone would’ve ever expected. They knocked off then #6 Miami, Illinois, and Davidson. Meanwhile, their opponent, the Clemson Tigers, lost their best player Donte Grantham to a season-ending injury earlier this year and of course have been shaky ever since. The only doubt I have with New Mexico State is their free throw shooting. If the Aggies have a single digit lead with under two minutes to go, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them blow the game at the line. Otherwise, this matchup has the ingredients for an upset.

West Virginia’s tournament history hasn’t been something the program has been proud of, and by the looks of it, things are just going to get worse. The Murray State Racers are dangerous. Jonathan Stark, the transfer from Tulane, is lethal when he has the ball. He is crafty and is a great shooter. The one thing this team lacks offensively is size. My biggest question is if this team can handle the Mountaineers press defense. If they limit turnovers and can hold Jevon Carter to under 20 points, they will win.

Steven F. Austin has had a history of pulling off some of the biggest upsets every year. They stunned VCU back in 2014, and took down 3 seed West Virginia two years ago. This year they have another chance to make it to the round of 32 with a win over a vulnerable Texas Tech team. The only thing they have to do is shut down Keenan Evans. Look at the Red Raiders’ past seven games. In the games they won, Evans was named the player of the game. When Evans was shut down by their opponents’ defense, the opposition won. If they do that, I am certain SFA will pull maybe the biggest shocker of the tournament.

Cinderella Story of the Year:

Every year in the Elite 8, there is typically one or two teams that has everyone scratching their heads wondering how they got there. Last year it was Xavier and South Carolina, and two years ago it was Syracuse. If you did not pick at least one 7 seed or higher to make it to the Elite 8, you’re doing your bracket wrong. This year, that team will be Providence. With the exception of maybe the first round, the Friars have a tough path to the Elite 8. They will potentially have to go through North Carolina and Michigan, but they seem to bring out their best against elite talent. They defeated Xavier twice this season, along with beating Villanova once during conference play, and nearly again in the Big East championship. Rodney Bullock, Alpha Diallo, and Kyron Cartwright are the main reason why this team will go far in the tournament. Head coach Ed Cooley and his Providence team will be this year’s Cinderella story.

Teams You Should Cheer For:

So your school did not make the big dance? No worries. Here are some of the most likable teams that could do some damage in the tournament.

Loyola (Chicago):

It is always good to cheer for the underdog, especially if they are the hometown team. For the first time since 1985, the Loyola Ramblers have punched a ticket to the big dance. Many mid-major teams get overlooked coming into the tournament due to their week schedules, however earlier this season, Loyola upset the Florida Gators on the road and tore through their Missouri Valley schedule. This is a team that should be on everybody’s upset radar. They will go into the tournament as an 11 seed and will take on Miami in the first round. Clayton Custer and Donte Ingram are talented enough to get this team past the first round, but do they have enough in them to get to the second weekend? Regardless, this is a team you should keep your eye on. Plus, Thursday is the anniversary of their 1963 National Championship win. So there’s that, too. 

Missouri:

Coming into the season, the Missouri Tigers were expected to no more than a five seed come tournament time. That notion was quickly spoiled when there star player, who was projected to be an NBA lottery pick, got hurt within two minutes of their first game. Michael Porter Jr. was expected to be out the whole year, but he battled back in time for the SEC tournament. Although Georgia spoiled Porter Jr.’s return, they still have a very good team coming into the tournament. Porter must play at the level he was expected to at the beginning of the season. As an 8 seed, they could potentially upset Xavier in the second round. Cheering for the comeback kid and a team that did not earn as much respect as they should have is a great route to go.

Auburn:

So you want to root for a potential title contender? If so, Auburn is your team. If you have read any of my articles this year, you have probably realized I have trust issues with the Tigers. Who could blame me? This team came out of nowhere, doesn’t necessarily have any star players, and is up and down.  Hell, you would have to go back to the Charles Barkley days to revisit the last time this team was legit. So what do they have? Grit and determination. This is a team that was in the middle of a massive FBI investigation before the season began, yet they focused more on their game then they did the drama and their results speak for themselves. Bruce Pearl has done a phenomenal job this year in getting his team to the top of the SEC and a high seed in the NCAA tournament. No, I’m not picking this team to make it to the Final Four, but maybe they can prove me wrong one more time.

Fate Of The One Seeds:

Virginia: I’ve heard a lot of people that picked Virginia to win the title say, “defense win championships.” Yeah, sure defense will get you far in the tournament, but you also need a consistent offense. That is my biggest concern with the Cavaliers. This is a team that is only averaging 67 points a game. Their road to the Final Four will end if they have to play Arizona in the Sweet 16. Especially with Allonzo Trier back, this team offers plenty of offensive threats, including a good defense. The Wildcats are the only team I see in the South bracket that can take down the #1 overall team in the nation.

Villanova: Want to hear what Villanova’s fate will be? Then keep scrolling. You’ll find them in the next section.

Kansas: For the 29th straight time, the Kansas Jayhawks are back in the tournament. This is a team that really concerned me at the beginning of the season, but matured throughout conference play and now are one of the best teams in the nation. Kansas is a second weekend team without a doubt, but a potential Elite 8 matchup against Duke or Michigan State concerns me. Kansas doesn’t have a ton of size besides Udoka Azubuike, who didn’t play at all during the Big 12 tournament and always seems to be in foul trouble. They also don’t have a ton of depth, another one of my concerns. Kansas will make another deep run, but it will end in the Elite 8 for the second consecutive year.

Xavier: I want to make this clear. There is not one other team besides the programs listed above that are more deserving of a #1 seed than Xavier. This team perfectly fits the description of a title contender. The one thing they don’t have is an easy path. In the second round, they will likely have to play the Missouri Tigers, a team that just got their NBA lottery pick back after missing the entire regular season. If they can get by the Tigers, then they have to go out to LA and likely take on an ambitious Gonzaga Bulldogs team. That is where I think their season will come to an end.

Final Four:

Arizona:

How They Got There: In my opinion, there are only two teams that I can see making it to the Final Four from the South: Arizona and Virginia. Those two teams are on a collision course to match up in the sweet 16. The Wildcats offense is good enough to out-score Virginia. Deandre Ayton, Rawle Alkins, and Allonzo Trier make up a solid all around offensive team. The rest of the South bracket isn’t very strong, so I see them getting by any threat they may have in the elite 8.

Fate: Arizona will have a short stay in San Antonio. Whether it be Gonzaga, Xavier or UNC, I don’t see them making it to the championship. Sure they are a solid all around team, but they have little experience and not much depth.

Gonzaga:

How They Got There: The West region probably has more Final Four contenders than any other region. After losing in the championship last year, the Bulldogs will have an ambition to get back and have another chance more so than any other team. A win over Xavier would only boost their confidence heading into the Elite Eight, potentially against Providence, North Carolina, Michigan, or Houston. Jonathan Williams, Killian Tillie, and Josh Perkins all have the skill-sets to get this team to San Antonio.

Fate: It will be deja vu all over again. I like them to get passed Arizona and into the championship, but they would be taking on a much more talented Villanova or Duke team. Another championship loss seems to be the route this team is heading.

Duke:

How They Got There: Duke will have to get through the toughest region in the tournament. They will potentially have to play Michigan State in the Sweet 16, then the Jayhawks in the Elite 8. They have enough talent to get by both teams and into the Final Four, but boy will it be a chore. Grayson Allen’s senior leadership along with Marvin Bagley and Gary Trent Jr.’s talent with get coach K’s team back to the San Antonio.

Fate: If Duke doesn’t have to play Villanova in the Final Four, then you can book their ticket to the championship, but knowing how easy it should be for the Wildcats to make it, they will have their hands full in the national semi-finals. If this matchup is destined to occur, it will come down to talent, which Nova just has more of. Duke will make it back to the Final Four for the first time since 2015, but will take an early exit.  

Villanova:

How They Got There: Villanova should be able to coast to the Final Four. Even if there are no major upsets in the East region, there are not many credible threats that are in their path. Purdue would be their toughest matchup, but the chances of them making it all the way to the Elite 8 aren’t very high, especially with their limited guard play.

Fate:  In the semi-finals, they will likely have to play Duke, Kansas, or Michigan State. All of those blue bloods have potential championship rosters, but nothing good enough to take down Jalen Brunson, Eric Pascal, and Donte Divincenzo. Unless Virginia makes it to the title game, there is not one other team in this bracket that is playing better basketball than the Villanova Wildcats. Coach Jay Wright along with Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges will win their second national title together.

Well, here we go. The amount of anticipation leading up to this tournament has been greater than any other in years prior. There are so many question marks heading into the big dance that anything can happen. After the intensity of the first weekend comes to an end, tune into The Forest Scout next week to get a full bracket breakdown of the final 32 teams. Want more bracket analysis? Click the link below to hear fellow college hoops expert Will Davis and I break down the bracket in its entirety.