Tribune's NCAA tournament bracket predictions, Final Four picks

Who will win 2026 NCAA bracket? Our best men's March Madness, Final Four predictions and picks are in for every game.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:48am

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The Columbia Tribune has filled out its predictions for the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament, including picks for the Final Four and national champion. The full 68-team field has been announced, and the Tribune has analyzed the potential paths to the national title in each region.

Why it matters

The NCAA Tournament is one of the most widely watched and anticipated sporting events of the year, with millions of fans filling out brackets and following the action. The Tribune's predictions provide insight into how the tournament could play out and which teams have the best chance of cutting down the nets.

The details

The Tribune has made its picks for every game in the tournament, from the opening round to the Final Four. In the East Region, the paper predicts a matchup between 1-seed Gonzaga and 3-seed Duke in the regional final. In the West, it has 2-seed UCLA facing off against 4-seed Arizona. The South Region final is projected to be between 1-seed Houston and 3-seed Baylor, while the Midwest Region final has 1-seed Kansas taking on 2-seed Texas.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • Missouri, a 10-seed, will face 7-seed Miami in the opening round on Friday, March 21, 2026 in St. Louis.

The players

Gonzaga

A perennial NCAA Tournament contender and the projected 1-seed in the East Region.

Duke

A 3-seed in the East Region, the Blue Devils are always a threat to make a deep tournament run.

UCLA

The 2-seed in the West Region, the Bruins are looking to return to the Final Four.

Arizona

The 4-seed in the West Region, the Wildcats have a talented roster and could pull off an upset.

Houston

The 1-seed in the South Region, the Cougars are a favorite to reach the Final Four.

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What’s next

The 2026 NCAA Tournament will begin on Friday, March 21, 2026, with the First Four games. The first round will take place on March 21 and 22, followed by the second round on March 23 and 24. The Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight will be played on March 28 and 30, respectively, with the Final Four scheduled for April 5 and the national championship game on April 7.

The takeaway

The Tribune's predictions provide a glimpse into how the 2026 NCAA Tournament could unfold, with several top teams like Gonzaga, UCLA, and Houston projected to make deep runs. However, the unpredictable nature of March Madness means that anything can happen once the games tip off, and fans will have to tune in to see which teams ultimately reach the Final Four and compete for the national title.