March Madness Experts Predict 2026 NCAA Tournament Champion

Bilas, Vitale, DeCourcy, and Fanta share their Final Four and title game picks

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:25pm

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As the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket is set, some of the biggest names in college basketball have revealed their predictions for the Final Four and national champion. Analysts like Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale, Mike DeCourcy, and John Fanta have shared their tournament brackets, with a range of top seeds and Cinderella teams making deep runs.

Why it matters

Comparing the expert predictions can give fans insight into the potential storylines and upsets that may unfold during March Madness. The varied picks also showcase the unpredictable nature of the tournament, where even seasoned analysts can have differing views on how the field will shake out.

The details

Jay Bilas has Arizona winning the national title, while Dick Vitale has Florida cutting down the nets. Mike DeCourcy has a surprise Final Four appearance from St. John's, and John Fanta is picking Duke to win it all. The experts have differing views on which top seeds will make deep runs, with Bilas and Vitale favoring more traditional powers, while DeCourcy and Fanta see potential for Cinderella stories.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket was officially set on Selection Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Jay Bilas

A college basketball analyst for ESPN and former Duke player.

Dick Vitale

A longtime college basketball commentator known for his enthusiastic broadcasting style.

Mike DeCourcy

A college basketball writer for Sporting News and Fox Sports.

John Fanta

A college basketball host and reporter for Fox Sports.

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What they’re saying

“Lots of people think Bilas would go with his alma mater, Duke, but he doesn't have the Blue Devils making it to the Final Four.”

— Jake Mozarsky, Author

“Vitale picked three out of the four one seeds to make it to Indianapolis, with Michigan — the team in the Midwest — the lone exception.”

— Jake Mozarsky, Author

“Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy has just one top seed making it to the Final Four, and it's the one that hasn't made the Final Four in over two decades.”

— Jake Mozarsky, Author

“Fanta is going with the No. 1 overall seed to take home the national championship, picking the Blue Devils to beat the Wolverines and bring home their first national championship since 2015.”

— Jake Mozarsky, Author

What’s next

The 2026 NCAA Tournament will begin on March 19, 2026, with the Final Four taking place in Indianapolis on April 5-7.

The takeaway

The varied predictions from these college basketball experts showcase the unpredictable nature of the NCAA Tournament, where even seasoned analysts can have differing views on how the field will unfold. Fans will have to tune in to see which experts' brackets hold up as the madness of March unfolds.