March Madness Brackets: Expert Predictions for the 2026 Men’s Sweet 16
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Sports Illustrated writers Pat Forde, Kevin Sweeney, and Bryan Fischer updated their NCAA tournament brackets ahead of the Sweet 16, with many original picks remaining but some adjustments based on recent matchups.
- Pat Forde highlighted key Sweet 16 games, including St. John's potentially upsetting Duke, the intense Iowa-Nebraska rivalry, and the high-stakes Arizona-Arkansas and Houston-Illinois matchups.
- Bryan Fischer expressed confidence in Duke and Arizona reaching the Final Four, with Illinois edging Houston in a critical South region game, praising the overall high level of play in the tournament.
- Kevin Sweeney switched his South region pick from Houston to Illinois, citing Illinois' strong performance, while still backing Arkansas to challenge Arizona and expecting Duke and Michigan to advance despite tough competition.
- All three writers agree on the competitiveness of the Sweet 16, with several matchups seen as pivotal for determining the eventual Final Four teams in Indianapolis.
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