2026 NCAA Tournament bracket: Sweet 16 predictions, March Madness second-chance picks by proven model
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2026 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 bracket is set, with three of the four No. 1 seeds advancing; defending champion Florida was eliminated by Iowa in the second round.
- No major mid-major Cinderella teams made it to the second weekend, but notable programs like Texas, Iowa, and Tennessee remain, raising questions about their potential to advance further.
- SportsLine's proven computer model, which has accurately predicted many past tournaments including all 2025 Final Four teams, has simulated every game 10,000 times to provide data-driven Sweet 16 picks.
- The model favors No. 2 seed UConn over No. 3 Michigan State in the East Region, citing Michigan State's late-season losses and UConn’s strong March performance under coach Dan Hurley.
- The model also predicts at least one Sweet 16 game will be decided by double digits and encourages fans to consult its detailed bracket projections before finalizing their picks.
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