March Madness Sweet 16 predictions: Matchups, picks after wild opening weekend
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament features a mix of expected outcomes and upsets, highlighted by No. 9 Iowa's win over defending champion Florida and thrilling buzzer-beaters by St. John's and in the Nebraska-Vanderbilt game.
- In the East Region, Duke is favored over St. John's due to its defensive prowess and ability to control the pace, while UConn is predicted to upset Michigan State by leveraging its offensive complexity and defensive pressure.
- The South Region has Nebraska favored over Iowa due to superior pick-and-roll defense, and Illinois is expected to edge Houston in a strength-on-strength battle featuring relentless offensive rebounding versus turnover control.
- Arizona is the pick over Arkansas in the West Region, relying on depth and transition offense, while Purdue is favored against Texas due to its elite pick-and-roll game and overall offensive efficiency.
- In the Midwest Region, Michigan is predicted to defeat Alabama by dominating the paint and boards despite Alabama's exceptional three-point shooting, and Tennessee could upset Iowa State if Iowa State's injured star Joshua Jefferson is unable to play and Tennessee controls the boards and limits turnovers.
