The odds of selecting a flawless bracket in the NCAA Tournament are 1 in 9.2 quintillion. That's about as likely as finding Elvis, the King himself, alive and well, riding a unicorn atop a rainbow whilst getting struck by lightning on February 29th. In other words, your chances aren't great.
To make matters worse, every other "expert" on the subject of filling a full-proof bracket will have a completely differing opinion about who will be this year's champion, Cinderella, or early exit.
Fret no longer, my friend, for I have filled out a perfect bracket, and I'm here to share my wisdom with you. Ignore all other 9.2 quintillion brackets, because here are my picks for every first-round matchup of the NCAA Tournament.
Picking every NCAA Tournament game: Round 1
EAST REGION
1 Duke vs 16 Sienna
Duke is really, really good. Teams don't stumble upon the number one overall seed, and such is the case for Cameron Boozer and company.
Pick: Blue Devils
8 Ohio State vs 9 TCU
Ohio State has two of the most exciting offensive threats in the tournament in their backcourt, but TCU's defense could give the Buckeyes fits.
Pick: Frogs
5 St John's vs 12 Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa is 361st in the nation when it comes to scoring the basketball, and 441st in rebounds per game. Don't be surprised if the Red Storm's trademark defense keeps this 12 seed below 50 points.
Pick: Johnnies
4 Kansas vs 13 Cal Baptist
I do not trust Kansas to made a run in this year's tournament, despite the incredible effort of Flory Bidunga and the undeniable talent of Darryn Peterson. CBU's Dominique Daniels is liquid fire, and could enjoy a legacy performance after taking down UVU in the WAC championship.
Pick: CBU
6 Louisville vs 11 South Florida
South Florida will be a very popular upset pick with Louisville star Mikel Brown Jr's health in question. Both teams want to play fast, and I'm running with the Bulls in a shootout.
Pick: USF
3 Michigan State vs 14 N Dakota St
Tom Izzo's team may not have quite the luster of some previous seasons, and sure Jeremiah Fears needs to grow up a little, according to Izzo, but the Spartans are fundamental, and they share the ball as well as anyone in the nation.
Pick: Sparty
7 UCLA vs 10 UCF
The Bruins have faced injury trouble and uneven performances all season long, but there's simply too much firepower on Mick Cronin's squad for UCF slow down, despite the Knight's tough style of play.
Pick: California, Los Angeles
2 UConn vs 15 Furman
Dan Hurley wins in March. Period. Furman may be the most dangerous 15-seed in the bracket, but there's simply too much going for the Huskies in this matchup.
Related: Inside the mind of Dan Hurley, UConn's dynastic mastermind
Pick: Huskies
SOUTH REGION
1 Florida vs 16 Prairie View/Lehigh
The Gators are still defending their title from last season, and you'd be crazy to pick against them in the first round.
Pick: Gators
8 Clemson vs 9 Iowa
Bennett Stirtz led Drake to an incredible run in last season's tournament. Along with his coach and a gaggle of his teammates migrating to join the Hawkeyes, Iowa is experienced and dangerous in March. Sorry, Clemson, but you're the underdogs here.
Pick: Hawkeyes
5 Vanderbilt vs 12 McNeese St
McNeese St is no longer the product of Will Wade, and Vanderbilt just plowed through the SEC Tournament despite key injuries. Vandy rolls.
Pick: Vandy
4 Nebraska vs 13 Troy
The Cornhuskers are searching for their program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win. They've been excellent all season, and in honor of Keisei Tominaga, may they finally secure that victory in 2026.
Pick: Huskers
3 Illinois vs 14 Penn
Pick the Quakers in a demathlon or oatmeal-making competition. Bet on the Illini in a basketball game.
Pick: Illini
7 Saint Mary's vs 10 Texas A&M
Randy Bennet and the Gaels play the game slow, methodically, and under control. The Aggies are the complete antithesis to Saint Mary's play style -- they run hard, and push the tempo. Are they unpredictable? A touch. But SMC isn't built to recover if they fall behind early. Bucky ball.
Pick: A&M
2 Houston vs 15 Idaho
Houston is smothering, suffocating, and debilitating. Idaho meets the incinerator.
Pick: Coogs
WEST REGION
1 Arizona vs 16 Long Island
With respect to Long Island, who have an awesome mascot and finished first in the NEC, it's "Fins Down" as my national champion pick "Bear Down".
Pick: 'Cats
8 Villanova vs 9 Utah State
The Aggies have not been successful in the tournament in recent years. This year feels different, somehow, and Mason Falslev has his day against Kevin Willard in his first year leading 'Nova.
Pick: Aggies all the way
5 Wisconsin vs 12 High Point
Wisconsin is explosive at their best, and unmentionable at their worst. High Point wins, and they continue to win, as they've proved in their active winning streak of 14 games. If the Badgers aren't careful, a supremely confident High Point team makes a statement.
Pick: HPU
4 Arkansas vs 13 Hawai'i
Darius Acuff will collect the headlines and absorb all the attention for Calipari's Arkansas team, and for good reason. The rainbow connection is shattered in round one.
Pick: Woo Pig Sooie
6 BYU vs 11 Texas/NC State
BYU faces an identity crisis. Sure, having the nation's leading scorer and potential number one pick, AJ Dybantsa, can smooth over most rough edges, but what version of the Cougars will arrive in the Big Dance? The one that took down Iowa State and Texas Tech, or the one that was blown out by 30+ against UCF? Recent indicators suggest BYU basketball is actually playing their best ball of the year, and that's what I expect in round one.
Pick: Cougs
3 Gonzaga vs 14 Kennesaw State
This is an abnormal Gonzaga team, but still a very strong one. Mark Few's experience and steady hand pushes the Zags past the outmatched Owls behind the pure horsepower of Graham Ike.
Pick: Zags
7 Miami (FL) vs 10 Missouri
Flip a coin -- this is an incredibly even matchup. Both of which are entirely capable of reaching the Sweet 16. But Missouri gets the benefit of playing this game in Saint Louis. Tigers advance.
Pick: Mizzou
2 Purdue vs 15 Queens
Purdue by a mile, obviously, after winning the Big 10 Tournament. I'm not sold on the Boilermakers long-term potential, but they don't break a sweat against Queens.
Pick: Purdue
MIDWEST REGION
1 Michigan vs 16 Howard
Michigan has been incredible all season long, and they're not slowing down against Howard, despite the HBCU's momentum carried over from winning in the First Four.
Pick: Go Blue
8 Georgia vs 9 St Louis
Georgia is much-improved with firepower from a slew of transfers, but Robbie Avila and the Bilikens will be the face of Cinderella in March. Sorry, Bulldogs.
Pick: Bilikens
5 Texas Tech vs 12 Akron
Yes, first-team All-American JT Toppin is out for the year after his ACL positively betrayed him near the end of the regular season, but Christian Anderson and company haven't skipped a beat. Sorry Akron, but Tech is just too good.
Pick: Red Raiders
4 Alabama vs 13 Hofstra
I'm so very tempted to pick Hofstra in the upset, but it would be unwise to bet against the Crimson tide, who have Elite Eight upside in this year's bracket.
Pick: Roll Tide
6 Tennessee vs 11 Miami (OH)/SMU
I'm so very sorry, but no matter what happens in the First Four, Miami of Ohio doesn't advance past the Vols. The Redhawks are not "fraudulent", they went undefeated in the regular season, and that's undeniable. An amazing season has to come to an end at some point.
Pick: Vols
3 Virginia vs 14 Wright St
Do not sleep on the Cavaliers -- this is a team that can compete with anybody and I fully expect them to this March. They've lost just five games this year (two of which were against Duke), and have the veteran presence to weather the Madness.
Pick: Cavaliers
7 Kentucky vs 10 Santa Clara
Am I punishing Mark Pope and Kentucky for intruding on every single BYU basketball game all season? I've seen so much UK in late-game losses this year, and Santa Clara just seems much hungrier to prove something this year, reaching the tournament as an at-large.
Pick: Mustangs
2 Iowa St vs 15 Tennesse St
Iowa State could very well reach the Final Four practically on accident in their section of the bracket, and TJ Otzelberger's team is as good as anybody in the nation. Their defense pulverizes Tennessee State.
Pick: Cyclones