Experts Grade Their March Madness Bracket Predictions

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With no perfect brackets remaining in the major online challenges, the experts take a look back at how they fared in predicting the first two rounds of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Analysts from USA TODAY Sports graded their bracket picks, highlighting their best and worst selections as the field narrowed to the Sweet 16.

Why it matters

Filling out March Madness brackets is an annual rite of passage for sports fans, but it's notoriously difficult to predict the upsets and surprises that often define the NCAA Tournament. This story provides insight into how even seasoned experts struggled to forecast the early rounds, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the event.

The details

The article reviews the bracket predictions of several USA TODAY Sports analysts, including Blake Toppmeyer, Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Brent Schrotenboer, John Brice, Craig Meyer, and Eddie Timanus. Each expert's performance is graded, with a focus on their best and worst picks. For example, Toppmeyer correctly predicted VCU's upset of North Carolina but had BYU reaching the Elite Eight, while Mendoza lost three of his Sweet 16 teams in the first round.

• The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament took place in March 2026.