![\"March](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iibcvk5rkilwr1rhe4qp.jpg\")
<\/p>\nExplore RotoWire\u2019s AI-powered 2026 March Madness bracket: Projected champ, dark horses and betting odds you can\u2019t miss.<\/p>\n
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The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is around the corner. So it’s high time for the highs of March Madness to kick in across the country, consuming hoops fans of all backgrounds and making college basketball betting<\/a> a hot sports topic.<\/p>\n RotoWire.com used the AI tool Gemini to predict the March Madness bracket for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. RotoWire.com broke the tournament out by round, along with the percentage of times that the top 20 most successful teams won throughout the 100 simulated results.<\/p>\n Who Could Make Noise in March Madness?<\/p>\n The men’s basketball team atop stats wiz Ken Pomeroy’s KenPom rankings, and the NCAA’s in-house NET rankings, is tabbed to cut down the nets in Indianapolis come April 6. This should be no surprise for customers at sports betting apps<\/a> who follow college hoops.<\/p>\n In our projected bracket, UM’s path goes like this: Beating 16th seed Southeastern Missouri (88-52), eighth seed Utah State (81-66), fifth seed Arkansas (82-71), No. 2 seeds Purdue (74-70) and Houston (68-64) and finally Arizona in the championship game, 81-79.<\/p>\n Michigan’s most recent trip to the championship game came in 2018, when John Beilein led the Wolverines to the final before they bowed out to Villanova, 79-62. The Wolverines have made two national final appearances since 2013, though the school’s other trip ended on a sour note as well, with UM falling to Louisville 82-76, in 2013.<\/p>\n Michigan is one of the favorites in college basketball futures betting<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n Round-by-Round Full Bracket Win % Simulation <\/p>\n Filter: All Rounds First Round Second Round Sweet 16 Elite 8 Final Four Championship <\/p>\n Regional matchups \u00b7 Gemini AI predictions<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 88<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n SEM<\/p>\n SEMO<\/p>\n 52<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n UTA<\/p>\n Utah State<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n MIA<\/p>\n Miami<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n ARK<\/p>\n Arkansas<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n BEL<\/p>\n Belmont<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n VIR<\/p>\n Virginia<\/p>\n 65<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n LIB<\/p>\n Liberty<\/p>\n 58<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n IOW<\/p>\n Iowa<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n MIA<\/p>\n Miami (OH)<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n ILL<\/p>\n Illinois<\/p>\n 84<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n ETS<\/p>\n ETSU<\/p>\n 62<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n WIS<\/p>\n Wisconsin<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n TEX<\/p>\n Texas A&M<\/p>\n 67<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n PUR<\/p>\n Purdue<\/p>\n 82<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n NAV<\/p>\n Navy<\/p>\n 60<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n ARI<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 94<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n HOW<\/p>\n Howard<\/p>\n 61<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n SMU<\/p>\n SMU<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n AUB<\/p>\n Auburn<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n TEN<\/p>\n Tennessee<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n SFL<\/p>\n S. Florida<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n KAN<\/p>\n Kansas<\/p>\n 88<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n HIG<\/p>\n High Point<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n BYU<\/p>\n BYU<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n TEX<\/p>\n Texas<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n GON<\/p>\n Gonzaga<\/p>\n 80<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n NDA<\/p>\n N. Dakota St<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n VIL<\/p>\n Villanova<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n IND<\/p>\n Indiana<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n IOW<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/p>\n 85<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n WRI<\/p>\n Wright St<\/p>\n 63<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n DUK<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 91<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n BET<\/p>\n Bethune-Cookman<\/p>\n 55<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n STM<\/p>\n St. Mary’s<\/p>\n 64<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n GEO<\/p>\n Georgia<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n STJ<\/p>\n St. John’s<\/p>\n 82<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n SFA<\/p>\n S.F. Austin<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n ALA<\/p>\n Alabama<\/p>\n 95<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n UTA<\/p>\n Utah Valley<\/p>\n 78<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n LOU<\/p>\n Louisville<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n NEW<\/p>\n New Mexico<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n NEB<\/p>\n Nebraska<\/p>\n 80<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n AUS<\/p>\n Austin Peay<\/p>\n 63<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n SAI<\/p>\n Saint Louis<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n UCL<\/p>\n UCLA<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n UCO<\/p>\n UConn<\/p>\n 84<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n MER<\/p>\n Merrimack<\/p>\n 59<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n FLO<\/p>\n Florida<\/p>\n 89<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n LIU<\/p>\n LIU<\/p>\n 54<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n NCS<\/p>\n NC State<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n UCF<\/p>\n UCF<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n VAN<\/p>\n Vanderbilt<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n YAL<\/p>\n Yale<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan State<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n UNC<\/p>\n UNCW<\/p>\n 61<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n NCA<\/p>\n N. Carolina<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n OHI<\/p>\n Ohio State<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n TEX<\/p>\n Texas Tech<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n UCI<\/p>\n UC Irvine<\/p>\n 61<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n KEN<\/p>\n Kentucky<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n CLE<\/p>\n Clemson<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n HOU<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 78<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n POR<\/p>\n Portland St<\/p>\n 49<\/p>\n Regional matchups \u00b7 Gemini AI predictions<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 81<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n UTA<\/p>\n Utah State<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n VIR<\/p>\n Virginia<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n ARK<\/p>\n Arkansas<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n ILL<\/p>\n Illinois<\/p>\n 80<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n IOW<\/p>\n Iowa<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n PUR<\/p>\n Purdue<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n WIS<\/p>\n Wisconsin<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n ARI<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 84<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n AUB<\/p>\n Auburn<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n KAN<\/p>\n Kansas<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n TEN<\/p>\n Tennessee<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n GON<\/p>\n Gonzaga<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n BYU<\/p>\n BYU<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n IOW<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n VIL<\/p>\n Villanova<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n DUK<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 83<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n GEO<\/p>\n Georgia<\/p>\n 67<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n ALA<\/p>\n Alabama<\/p>\n 85<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n STJ<\/p>\n St. John’s<\/p>\n 88<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n UCO<\/p>\n UConn<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n UCL<\/p>\n UCLA<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n NEB<\/p>\n Nebraska<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n LOU<\/p>\n Louisville<\/p>\n 60<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n FLO<\/p>\n Florida<\/p>\n 81<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n NCS<\/p>\n NC State<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan State<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n YAL<\/p>\n Yale<\/p>\n 62<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n TEX<\/p>\n Texas Tech<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n NOR<\/p>\n North Carolina<\/p>\n 64<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n HOU<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n CLE<\/p>\n Clemson<\/p>\n 60<\/p>\n Regional matchups \u00b7 Gemini AI predictions<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 82<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n ARK<\/p>\n Arkansas<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n PUR<\/p>\n Purdue<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n ILL<\/p>\n Illinois<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n ARI<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n KAN<\/p>\n Kansas<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n IOW<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n GON<\/p>\n Gonzaga<\/p>\n 67<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n DUK<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 84<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n STJ<\/p>\n St. John’s<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n NEB<\/p>\n Nebraska<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n UCO<\/p>\n UConn<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n FLO<\/p>\n Florida<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan State<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n HOU<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n TEX<\/p>\n Texas Tech<\/p>\n 59<\/p>\n Regional matchups \u00b7 Gemini AI predictions<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n PUR<\/p>\n Purdue<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n ARI<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 85<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n IOW<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/p>\n 80<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n DUK<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 78<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n NEB<\/p>\n Nebraska<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n FLO<\/p>\n Florida<\/p>\n 60<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n HOU<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 63<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n National Semifinals \u00b7 Gemini AI predictions<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n HOU<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 64<\/p>\n ARI<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 81<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n DUK<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n 2026 NCAA National Champion \u00b7 Gemini AI prediction<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan 76<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n ARI<\/p>\n Arizona 72<\/p>\n \u2192<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n Gemini’s 2026 NCAA Champion<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n Final: 76\u201372<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Zoom: \u2212 100% + Reset View Scroll to zoom \u00b7 Click+drag to pan <\/p>\n 2026 NCAA MARCH MADNESS \u00b7 GEMINI AI PREDICTIONS<\/p>\n Midwest Region<\/p>\n R1<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 88<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n SEMO<\/p>\n 52<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Utah State<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Miami<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Arkansas<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Belmont<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Virginia<\/p>\n 65<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n Liberty<\/p>\n 58<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Iowa<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n Miami (OH)<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Illinois<\/p>\n 84<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n ETSU<\/p>\n 62<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Wisconsin<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Texas A&M<\/p>\n 67<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Purdue<\/p>\n 82<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n Navy<\/p>\n 60<\/p>\n R2<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 81<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Utah State<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Virginia<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Arkansas<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Illinois<\/p>\n 80<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Iowa<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Purdue<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Wisconsin<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n S16<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 82<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Arkansas<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Purdue<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Illinois<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n E8<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Purdue<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n West Region<\/p>\n R1<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 94<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n Howard<\/p>\n 61<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n SMU<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Auburn<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Tennessee<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n S. Florida<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Kansas<\/p>\n 88<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n High Point<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n BYU<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n Texas<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Gonzaga<\/p>\n 80<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n N. Dakota St<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Villanova<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Indiana<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/p>\n 85<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n Wright St<\/p>\n 63<\/p>\n R2<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 84<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Auburn<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Kansas<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Tennessee<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Gonzaga<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n BYU<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Villanova<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n S16<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Kansas<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Gonzaga<\/p>\n 67<\/p>\n E8<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 85<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/p>\n 80<\/p>\n East Region<\/p>\n R1<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 91<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n Bethune-Cookman<\/p>\n 55<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n St. Mary’s<\/p>\n 64<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Georgia<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n St. John’s<\/p>\n 82<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n S.F. Austin<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Alabama<\/p>\n 95<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n Utah Valley<\/p>\n 78<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Louisville<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n New Mexico<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Nebraska<\/p>\n 80<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n Austin Peay<\/p>\n 63<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Saint Louis<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n UCLA<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n UConn<\/p>\n 84<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n Merrimack<\/p>\n 59<\/p>\n R2<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 83<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Georgia<\/p>\n 67<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Alabama<\/p>\n 85<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n St. John’s<\/p>\n 88<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n UConn<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n UCLA<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Nebraska<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Louisville<\/p>\n 60<\/p>\n S16<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 84<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n St. John’s<\/p>\n 75<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Nebraska<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n UConn<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n E8<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 78<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Nebraska<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n South Region<\/p>\n R1<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Florida<\/p>\n 89<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n LIU<\/p>\n 54<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n NC State<\/p>\n 74<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n UCF<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Vanderbilt<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Yale<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Michigan State<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n UNCW<\/p>\n 61<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n N. Carolina<\/p>\n 77<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n Ohio State<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Texas Tech<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n UC Irvine<\/p>\n 61<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Kentucky<\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Clemson<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 78<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n Portland St<\/p>\n 49<\/p>\n R2<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Florida<\/p>\n 81<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n NC State<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Michigan State<\/p>\n 71<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Yale<\/p>\n 62<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Texas Tech<\/p>\n 66<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n North Carolina<\/p>\n 64<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Clemson<\/p>\n 60<\/p>\n S16<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Florida<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Michigan State<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 70<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Texas Tech<\/p>\n 59<\/p>\n E8<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Florida<\/p>\n 60<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 63<\/p>\n \u2b26 FINAL FOUR \u2b26<\/p>\n Midwest vs South<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 68<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n 64<\/p>\n West vs East<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 81<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n CHAMPIONSHIP GAME<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 76<\/p>\n \u2713<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n \u2192<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n 2026 Champion<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 76\u201372<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Top Championship Contenders<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd47 Favorite<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n Michigan<\/p>\n 18%<\/p>\n Projected Seed: #1<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd48 Contender<\/p>\n ARI<\/p>\n Arizona<\/p>\n 15%<\/p>\n Projected Seed: #1<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd49 Dark Horse<\/p>\n DUK<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n 13%<\/p>\n Projected Seed: #1<\/p>\n Full Simulation Rankings \u2014 All Teams<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n ARI<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n DUK<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n HOU<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n UCO<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n IOW<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n FLO<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n PUR<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n ILL<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n GON<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n NEB<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n KAN<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n VIR<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n MIC<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n STJ<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n TEX<\/p>\n 17<\/p>\n ALA<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n NOR<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n BYU<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n ARK<\/p>\n Who Else Could Make Noise in March Madness?<\/p>\n UM gets top billing in our March Madness projections, but the Coach Tommy Lloyd’s team (25-2) is ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, while sitting third overall on both KenPom.com and in the NCAA’s NET rankings as of Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n To get to Indy (which was where Arizona won the program’s lone national championship over Kentucky in 1997), Lloyd’s team went through Howard, Auburn, Kansas, Iowa State and Duke in our projected bracket. If it happens for real, it would mark the Wildcats’ first trip to the national final since a 2001 run that ended at the hands of the Blue Devils in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n A surprise candidate to go far this March is coach Fred Hoiberg’s Our projections show Hoiberg’s bunch earning a No. 3 seed, earning wins over Austin Peay, Louisville and UConn before eventually bowing out to Duke in the Elite Eight. At Caesars sportsbook<\/a>, as of Feb. 25, the Cornhuskers have +1600 odds to make the Final Four.<\/p>\n The Cases For Duke And Houston<\/p>\n The other two teams that are projected to make the Final Four (Duke and Houston) are expected to do so as No. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively. We have the Blue Devils beating Bethune-Cookman, Georgia, St. John’s and Nebraska before dropping a two-point game to Arizona in the national semifinal.<\/p>\n For the Our projections say that such a trek would come on the heels of wins over Portland State, Clemson, Texas Tech and Florida.<\/p>\n As for the national final, our projections show a back-and-forth affair between two of the strongest teams in men’s college basketball, with the Wolverines emerging from a 76-72 slugfest with the Wildcats. Michigan seeks its second national title and first since Steve Fisher led them to paydirt in 1989 after he took over the job on the eve of the tournament.<\/p>\n![\"Michigan\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Michigan.png\")
Michigan is the pick to win it all this spring, with coach Dusty May’s squad expected to roll through March Madness.<\/p>\n![\"Michigan\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047160_815_130.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"SEMO\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2546.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Utah](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/328.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Miami\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2390.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Arkansas\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Belmont\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2057.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Virginia\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/258.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Liberty\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2335.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Iowa\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2294.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/193.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Illinois\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/356.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"ETSU\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2193.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Wisconsin\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/275.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/245.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Purdue\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2509.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Navy\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2426.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Arizona\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/12.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Howard\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/47.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"SMU\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2567.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Auburn\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Tennessee\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2633.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"S.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/58.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Kansas\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2305.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"High](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2272.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"BYU\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/252.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Texas\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047175_683_251.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Gonzaga\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2250.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"N.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2449.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Villanova\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/222.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Indiana\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/84.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Iowa](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/66.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Wright](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2750.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Duke\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047180_394_150.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Bethune-Cookman\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2065.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"St.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2608.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Georgia\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/61.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"St.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2599.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"S.F.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2617.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Alabama\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/333.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Utah](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3084.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Louisville\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047185_940_97.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/167.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Nebraska\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/158.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Austin](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2046.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Saint](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/139.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"UCLA\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047188_881_26.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"UConn\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047189_831_41.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Merrimack\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2827.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Florida\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/57.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"LIU\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/112358.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"NC](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/152.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"UCF\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2116.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Vanderbilt\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047193_547_238.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Yale\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/43.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Michigan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/127.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"UNCW\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/350.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"N.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/153.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ohio](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047196_985_194.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2641.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"UC](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/300.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Kentucky\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772047198_18_96.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Clemson\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/228.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Houston\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/248.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Portland](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2502.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Midwest<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
West<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"Arizona\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Arizona.png\")
Arizona Wildcats could finally be in line to snap the program’s 25-year Final Four drought in 2026.<\/p>\n![\"Nebraska\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Nebraska.png\")
Nebraska Cornhuskers, who have zero men’s NCAA Tournament wins in school history.<\/p>\n![\"Houston\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Houston.png\")
Houston Cougars, a third trip to the Final Four since 2021 would give head coach Kelvin Sampson his fourth trip to the Final Four (and third with Houston).<\/p>\n