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March Madness 2021 bracket predictions: NCAA Tournament picks from top-rated college basketball model

The West Region of the 2021 NCAA bracket is loaded with big-time playmakers. Gonzaga (26-0) is the No. 1 overall seed, and the Bulldogs feature the nation’s most prolific offense at 92.1 points per game. If the Zags want to make a deep run in the 2021 March Madness bracket, they’ll need to get strong production from Corey Kispert and Drew Timme. Kispert enters the NCAA Tournament 2021 averaging 19.2 points per game, while Timme is producing 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds.

The West Region of the 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket also features the likes of Iowa’s Luka Garza, who ranks third in the nation at 23.7 points per game, and Southern California’s Evan Mobley, who’s averaging 21.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in his last three outings. Will Gonzaga run the table and become the first undefeated National Champion since Indiana in 1976, or will Iowa, USC or another team represent the West in the Final Four? Before making any 2021 March Madness bracket predictions, be sure to check out the 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine. 

Their proven projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It absolutely crushed its March Madness picks last tournament, beating nearly 90 percent of all CBS Sports brackets one year after finishing in the top five percent. The model also nailed 14 teams in the Sweet 16 last time.

It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 15 of the 26 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds the last four tournaments. It also nailed massive upsets last time, including huge wins by No. 13 seed UC-Irvine over No. 4 seed Kansas State, No. 10 seed Florida over No. 7 seed Nevada, and No. 12 seed Oregon over No. 5 seed Wisconsin.

There’s simply no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2021 March Madness picks. Now, the model has simulated every possible matchup in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and revealed its optimal bracket. You can only see it over at SportsLine.

Top 2021 March Madness bracket picks

One team set to disrupt 2021 March Madness brackets: The No. 14-seed Colgate Raiders. The model says they upset No. 3 Arkansas in a first-round matchup in the South Region.

The Raiders feature the nation’s second most prolific offense at 86.3 points per game. Colgate has been able to light up the scoreboard thanks to its productive shooting from three-point range. The Raiders are averaging 9.1 three-pointers per game, and they’re making a whopping 40 percent of their shots from behind the arc.

Colgate’s efficient offense is led by guard Jordan Burns, who’s averaging 17.0 points, 5.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds. The senior is converting 41.5 percent of his three-point attempts and is knocking down 89.6 percent of his shots from the charity stripe.

Arkansas, meanwhile, has struggled to stop teams on the defensive end of the floor, allowing opponents to score 70.7 points per game on average, which ranks 188th in Division I college basketball. The model sees Colgate as the most dangerous No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament 2021 bracket, making the Raiders a strong team to back.

Another team to back in your 2021 NCAA Tournament picks: The No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers. SportsLine’s model is calling for the Badgers to pull off the upset of No. 8 North Carolina in a first-round matchup on Friday, going against many NCAA bracket picks by experts. 

The Tar Heels rank first in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage (41.2) and rely heavily on Garrison Brooks, Armando Bacot, Day’Ron Sharpe and Walker Kessler to impose their will on that end of the floor. But it’s a necessity because they don’t shoot the ball well and will have their work cut out against a Wisconsin squad that has size of its own.

Micah Potter (6-foot-10), Nate Reuvers (6-foot-11) and Tyler Wahl (6-foot-9) are all regulars in the rotation and help Wisconsin rank among the top quarter of Division I teams in defensive rebounding percentage (74.8). Meanwhile, D’Mitrik Trice is a strong decision-maker on the ball for Wisconsin and a major reason why the Badgers rank second in the nation in turnover percentage (13.5). The model expects Wisconsin to mitigate North Carolina’s advantage on the offensive glass and be the more efficient team offensively, which is why they advance in over 60 percent of simulations.

How to make 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions

SportsLine’s model also has one region where you absolutely need to pick the No. 2 seed, and the Nos. 10 and 13 seeds both deliver huge first-round upsets. Nailing those picks could literally make or break your bracket. With the model’s proven track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it is calling this year before locking in any bracket picks.

So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2021 bracket? And which underdogs shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which double-digit seeds you can back with confidence, all from the model that’s nailed 15 of the 26 double-digit seed upsets the past four years.

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NCAA Tournament 2021 bracket: Computer simulation makes surprising March Madness upsets

March Madness is one of the marquee events in sports and after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of last year’s event, the 2021 NCAA Tournament will be one of the most highly-anticipated ever. However, the 2021 NCAA bracket will have a different feel with powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, and Louisville missing out, while Gonzaga, Baylor, Michigan and Illinois claimed the No. 1 seeds. With limited non-conference schedules and several teams interrupted by COVID-19, filling out your 2021 March Madness brackets could be a challenge.

Double-digit seeds have a long history of making surprising runs, but with several small conferences and mid-majors primarily playing conference games, will schools like Santa Barbara or Winthrop be ready to take on top programs? Having the answers to those questions and understanding the March Madness matchups can give you a huge leg up in your 2021 NCAA Tournament pools. Before making any 2021 March Madness predictions, be sure to check out the 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket picks from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.

Last tournament, SportsLine’s computer simulation nailed massive upsets, including huge wins by No. 13 seed UC-Irvine over No. 4 seed Kansas State, No. 10 seed Florida over No. 7 seed Nevada, and No. 12 seed Oregon over No. 5 seed Wisconsin.

This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has nailed 15 of the 26 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds the past four tournaments and nailed 14 teams in the Sweet 16 last time.

There’s simply no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2021 March Madness pools. Now, the model has simulated every possible matchup in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and revealed its bracket. You can only see it over at SportsLine.

Top 2021 March Madness bracket upset picks

One team set to pull off a shocking upset in 2021 March Madness brackets: No. 9 St. Bonaventure beats No. 8 LSU. The Bonnies have several marks of a team that could go deep in the 2021 March Madness bracket. They’re a top-100 squad nationally in three-point shooting, knocking down 35.4 percent from deep. They can also defend. In fact, no team has scored more than 65 points against them since Feb. 12.

The Tigers are unquestionably talented, but they were streaky this season as well. They lost back-to-back games three different times and had losses against three non-tournament teams: Georgia, Saint Louis and Ole Miss. The Bonnies took down UCLA in 2018, and SportsLine’s model likes their chances of picking up their eighth NCAA Tournament win in program history in this pivotal 8-9 matchup in the East Region.

Another huge curveball in the East Region: No. 12 seed Georgetown pulls off the upset against No. 5 seed Colorado. The Hoyas are one of the most well-known college basketball programs, with five Final Fours and four national title games. After starting the season 5-10, Georgetown won eight of its final 10 games, including a blitz through the Big East Tournament with four wins in four days to earn an automatic bid.

Patrick Ewing’s squad limited opponents to just 36.8 percent shooting from the floor during the Big East Tournament and 28-of-106 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Colorado is coming off a disheartening loss to Oregon State in the Pac-12 Tournament. That’s a big reason why the model has Georgetown over Colorado as a potential 12-5 upset to consider for your 2021 NCAA Tournament picks.

How to make 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions

SportsLine’s model also has one region where you need to pick the No. 2 seed, while the Nos. 10, 11 and 13 seeds all deliver huge first-round upsets. Nailing those picks could literally make or break your bracket.

So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2021 bracket? And which underdogs shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which No. 2 seed you need to target, and see which region you need to pick the 10, 11, and 13 seeds, all from the model that’s called 15 of the 26 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds in the last four tournaments.

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NCAA bracket predictions: Proven model reveals surprising March Madness 2021 tournament picks

March Madness 2021 has already seen plenty of surprises, as Oregon State and Georgetown claimed bids to the 2021 NCAA Tournament with shocking conference tournament wins. The No. 12-seed Beavers will face No. 5 Tennessee in the Midwest Region of the 2021 NCAA bracket, while the No. 12-seed Hoyas draw No. 5 Colorado in the East. Those teams don’t have impressive overall records, but they’re certainly potential 2021 NCAA bracket-busters given how well they played in their conference tournaments.

Will one of those surprising champions be among the double-digit seeds that make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament 2021 bracket? And which teams should you target with your NCAA bracket picks? Before making any 2021 March Madness bracket predictions, be sure to check out the 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine. 

Their proven projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It absolutely crushed its March Madness picks last tournament, beating nearly 90 percent of all CBS Sports brackets one year after finishing in the top five percent. The model also nailed 14 teams in the Sweet 16 last time.

It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 15 of the 26 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds the last four tournaments. It also nailed massive upsets last time, including huge wins by No. 13 seed UC-Irvine over No. 4 seed Kansas State, No. 10 seed Florida over No. 7 seed Nevada, and No. 12 seed Oregon over No. 5 seed Wisconsin.

There’s simply no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2021 March Madness pools. Now, with the 2021 NCAA bracket being revealed, the model is simulating the matchups and its results are in. You can only see it over at SportsLine.

Three 2021 March Madness bracket games to watch

One of the key 2021 March Madness matchups to keep an eye on: No. 8 LSU vs. No. 9 St. Bonaventure in the East Region. The Tigers average 82.2 points per game, while the Bonnies have an elite defense that gives up just 60.1. The winner of this matchup also likely gets a crack at top-seeded Michigan, a team that could be without star senior Isaiah Livers (foot).

Also in the East, No. 10 Maryland takes on No. 7 UConn. NBA prospect James Bouknight missed significant time for the Huskies this season with an elbow injury, but he’s back and could lead a deep run through the March Madness 2021 bracket. While the Terrapins were just 16-13 overall this season, a brutal Big Ten schedule should have them ready for the tournament, so this one could be extremely competitive.

Over in the Midwest, there’s upset potential when No. 14 Morehead State meets No. 3 West Virginia. The Mountaineers are unquestionably talented, but they lost three of their last four games entering the NCAA Tournament 2021. Morehead State, meanwhile, has won seven straight and boasts a stifling defense that gives up just 63.4 points per game. You can see the model’s picks for these games and every other here.

How to make 2021 NCAA bracket predictions

Who wins those three tournament-defining matchups? And which teams will make surprising runs through the 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it is calling this year before locking in any NCAA bracket picks.

So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2021 bracket? And which underdogs will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which double-digit seeds you can back with confidence, all from the model that’s nailed 15 of the 26 double-digit seed upsets the past four years.

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March Madness 2021 bracket predictions: NCAA Tournament picks from advanced college basketball model

The 2021 NCAA bracket is out and millions of people are entering March Madness brackets before Friday’s first round. Historically, No. 9 seeds have won more often than No. 8 seeds, making the four compelling 8-9 matchups among your most difficult decisions as you make your 2021 March Madness picks. Loyola-Chicago is the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region, but they’ll have to make sure they’re not looking ahead to a potential matchup against in-state rival Illinois with Georgia Tech to deal with first.

The Yellow Jackets won the ACC Tournament and enter March Madness 2021 having won eight games in a row. Who should you pick in that difficult 8-9 matchup, and which teams will make a deep run in the 2021 March Madness bracket? Before making any 2021 March Madness bracket predictions, be sure to check out the 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine. 

Their proven projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It absolutely crushed its March Madness picks last tournament, beating nearly 90 percent of all CBS Sports brackets one year after finishing in the top five percent. The model also nailed 14 teams in the Sweet 16 last time.

It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 15 of the 26 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds the last four tournaments. It also nailed massive upsets last time, including huge wins by No. 13 seed UC-Irvine over No. 4 seed Kansas State, No. 10 seed Florida over No. 7 seed Nevada, and No. 12 seed Oregon over No. 5 seed Wisconsin.

There’s simply no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2021 March Madness picks. Now, the model has simulated every possible matchup in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and revealed its optimal bracket. You can only see it over at SportsLine.

Top 2021 March Madness bracket picks

One team set to disrupt 2021 March Madness brackets: The No. 14-seed Colgate Raiders. SportsLine’s model is calling for them to stun the No. 3-seed Arkansas Razorbacks in a massive first-round upset. The Raiders went 14-1 during the regular season and have established themselves as one of the most efficient offenses in the country, ranking second behind only Gonzaga in scoring (86.3 points per game).

The Raiders are 63-21 in their last three seasons, and senior guard Jordan Burns has proven he’s prepared for the big stage. Burns had 32 points in a first-round matchup against Tennessee in the 2019 NCAA Tournament and is averaging 17.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 42.2 percent from the three-point line.

Arkansas ranked 192nd in the country in scoring defense and struggled to contain LSU guards Cameron Thomas and Javonte Smart in the SEC Championship Game. That’s why the model predicts Colgate to be the most likely No. 14 seed in the NCAA bracket 2021 to advance, making the Raiders a double-digit seed worthy of strong consideration as you fill out your NCAA Tournament picks.

Another team to back in your 2021 NCAA Tournament picks: No. 10-seed Virginia Tech. The model is projecting that the Hokies take down No. 7 Florida in the first round of the South Region. Virginia Tech coach Mike Young has done an admirable job in his second year in Blacksburg, guiding the Hokies through multiple COVID-19-related disruptions to a 15-5 record and 9-4 mark in ACC play.

Forward Keve Aluma, who followed Young from Wofford, has been a force for Virginia Tech. He’s averaging 15.6 points, eight rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Florida, meanwhile, enters the NCAA Tournament 2021 having lost three of its last four games. The Gators haven’t scored more than 74 points in a contest since January, and SportsLine’s model is calling for Virginia Tech to advance in well over 50 percent of simulations.

How to make 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions

SportsLine’s model also has one region where you absolutely need to pick the No. 2 seed, and the Nos. 10 and 13 seeds both deliver huge first-round upsets. Nailing those picks could literally make or break your bracket. With the model’s proven track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it is calling this year before locking in any bracket picks.

So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2021 bracket? And which underdogs shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which double-digit seeds you can back with confidence, all from the model that’s nailed 15 of the 26 double-digit seed upsets the past four years.

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March Madness upset predictions: First-round NCAA tournament picks


USA TODAY

Published 1:10 a.m. ET March 15, 2021 | Updated 7:10 a.m. ET March 15, 2021

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SportsPulse: Coming off a year with no NCAA basketball tournament, it might be good to get a refresher on how to set the perfect bracket and Mackenzie Salmon is here to help.

USA TODAY

It happens every year. Selection Sunday comes and goes and suddenly, the pressure is on to pick your March Madness bracket.

You agonize over which first-round upsets to pick. Will it be Georgetown over Colorado? Or will Winthrop take down Villanova? 

And then, inevitably, you always pick the one that doesn’t happen. 

Our experts are here to help. We asked five of our college basketball gurus from across the USA TODAY Network to pick the entire NCAA Tournament bracket and this list below is made up of every first-round upset they picked. 

Need more analysis? We’ve got you covered:  

ANALYSIS FOR EVERY TEAM:   East |  Midwest |  South |  West

EXPERT PICKS: 5 experts make the call on every NCAA Tournament game

PRINTABLE BRACKETS: Get yours to make your NCAA Tournament picks!

START UP YOUR POOL: Create a pool, invite your friends and dominate the bracket. Sign up here!

COMMITTEE MISSED A FEW: What the NCAA Tournament committee got wrong on Selection Sunday

Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports columnist 

West: 

No. 12 UC Santa Barbara over No. 5 Creighton

East: 

No. 9 St. Bonaventure over No. 8 LSU 

No. 11 Michigan State/UCLA over No. 6 BYU

South: 

No. 9 Wisconsin over No. 8 North Carolina 

No. 12 Winthrop over No. 5 Villanova 

No. 13 North Texas over No. 4 Purdue 

No. 10 Virginia Tech over No. 7 Florida 

Midwest: 

No. 9 Georgia Tech over No. 8 Loyola-Chicago 

No. 10 Rutgers over No. 7 Clemson 

See Dan Wolken’s full March Madness bracket picks here.

***

Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports reporter 

West: 

No. 12 UC Santa Barbara over No. 5 Creighton

No. 11 Wichita State over No. 6 Southern California

No. 10 VCU over No. 7 Oregon 

East: 

No. 11 Michigan State over No. 6 BYU

South: 

No. 12 Winthrop over No. 5 Villanova 

No. 13 North Texas over No. 4 Purdue 

No. 14 Colgate over No. 3 Arkansas 

Midwest: 

No. 14 Morehead State over No. 3 West Virginia 

No. 10 Rutgers over No. 7 Clemson 

See Scott Gleeson’s full March Madness bracket picks here.

***

Keith Jenkins, Cincinnati Enquirer sports reporter 

West: 

No. 9 Missouri over No. 8 Oklahoma 

No. 11 Wichita State/Drake over No. 6 Southern California

East: 

No. 12 Georgetown over No. 5 Colorado 

No. 11 Michigan State/UCLA over No. 6 BYU

No. 10 Maryland over No. 7 Connecticut

South: 

No. 9 Wisconsin over No. 8 North Carolina 

No. 11 Utah State over No. 6 Texas Tech 

Midwest: 

No. 9 Georgia Tech over No. 8 Loyola-Chicago 

No. 14 Morehead State over No. 3 West Virginia

See Keith Jenkins’ full March Madness bracket predictions here. 

***

Gregg Doyel, Indianapolis Star sports columnist 

West: 

No. 12 UC Santa Barbara over No. 5 Creighton 

No. 11 Wichita State/Drake over No. 6 Southern California 

East: 

No. 9 St. Bonaventure over No. 8 LSU 

No. 12 Georgetown over No. 5 Colorado 

No. 10 Maryland over No. 7 Connecticut 

South: 

No. 9 Wisconsin over No. 8 North Carolina 

No. 10 Virginia Tech over No. 7 Florida 

Midwest: 

No. 9 Georgia Tech over No. 8 Loyola-Chicago 

No. 12 Oregon State over No. 5 Tennessee

No. 10 Rutgers over No. 7 Clemson

See Gregg Doyel’s full March Madness bracket predictions here.

***

Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic sports reporter

WEST: 

No. 9 Missouri over No. 8 Oklahoma 

EAST: 

No. 9 St. Bonaventure over No. 8 LSU

SOUTH: 

No. 9 Wisconsin over No. 8 North Carolina

See Michelle Gardner’s full March Madness bracket picks here.

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2021 March Madness TV schedule, tip times: How to watch the NCAA Tournament, TV announcer assignments

Fans can finally enjoy an NCAA Tournament bracket once again after a two-year hiatus, which is a glorious feeling. Now let’s help you plan the upcoming week by laying out every March Madness game on every channel — announcing teams and venues included.

Included below: tip times, a complete TV schedule, locations and announcing crews or all games on CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV during March Madness. While you’re here, don’t forget to head on over and grab an NCAA Tournament printable bracket so you can get to picking and printing.

CBS will provide coverage of this year’s Final Four on Saturday, April 3 along with the national championship on Monday, April 5. Pregame coverage for the Final Four will begin at 2 p.m. ET with the first game set for 5 p.m. The title game will tip at 9 p.m. Jim Nantz, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery and Tracy Wolfson will be on the call for the Final Four and national championship games.

In total, CBS will broadcast 24 games, while Turner Sports will air 43 across its three networks (TBS, TNT and truTV). March Madness Live will again be your home for live streaming access to the 2021 NCAA Tournament with all 67 games being aired live online. All times Eastern

The field is set! Create a bracket pool to compete against friends or play solo for your chance to win a brand new Nissan Rogue and a college basketball dream trip. Get in the action today.

2021 March Madness announcing teams

Play-by-Play / Analyst // Reporter

  • Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
  • Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
  • Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl
  • Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner  // Dana Jacobson
  • Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // Evan Washburn
  • Lisa Byington / Steve Smith // AJ Ross
  • Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // AJ Ross
  • Spero Dedes / Brendan Haywood // Lauren Shehadi
  • Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // AJ Ross
  • Brad Nessler / Steve Lavin // Evan Washburn

2021 NCAA Tournament dates, schedule

First Four

Thursday, March 18 

5:10 p.m. (16) Texas Southern vs. (16) Mount St. Mary’s
Brad Nessler / Steve Lavin / Avery Johnson // Evan Washburn
truTV
6:27 p.m. (11) Drake vs. (11) Wichita State
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
TBS
8:40 p.m. (16) Appalachian State vs. (16) Norfolk State
Brad Nessler / Steve Lavin / Avery Johnson // Evan Washburn
truTV
9:57 p.m. (11) UCLA vs. (11) Michigan State
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
TBS

First round

Friday, March 19, 2021

12:15 p.m. (10) Virginia Tech vs. (7) Florida
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
CBS
12:45 p.m. (14) Colgate vs. (3) Arkansas
Spero Dedes / Brendan Haywood // Lauren Shehadi
truTV
1:15 p.m. (16) Drexel vs. (1) Illinois
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner  // Dana Jacobson
TBS
1:45 p.m. (11) Utah State vs. (6) Texas Tech
Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // Evan Washburn
TNT
3 p.m. (15) Oral Roberts vs. (2) Ohio State
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl
CBS
3:30 p.m. (16) Hartford vs. (1) Baylor
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith // AJ Ross
truTV
4 p.m. (9) Georgia Tech vs. (8) Loyola Chicago
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
TBS
4:30 p.m. (12) Oregon State vs. (5) Tennessee
Spero Dedes / Brendan Haywood // Lauren Shehadi
TNT
6:25 p.m. (13) Liberty vs. (4) Oklahoma State
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner  // Dana Jacobson
TBS
7:10 p.m. (9) Wisconsin vs. (8) North Carolina
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl
CBS
7:15 p.m. (15) Cleveland State vs. (2) Houston
Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // Evan Washburn
truTV
7:25 p.m. (13) North Texas vs. (4) Purdue
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // AJ Ross
TNT
9:20 p.m. (10) Rutgers vs. (7) Clemson
Spero Dedes / Brendan Haywood // Lauren Shehadi
TBS
9:40 p.m. (11) Syracuse vs. (6) San Diego State
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
CBS
9:50 p.m. (14) Morehead State vs. (3) West Virginia
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith // AJ Ross
truTV
9:57 p.m. (12) Winthrop vs. (5) Villanova
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner  // Dana Jacobson
TNT

Saturday, March 20

12:15 p.m. (12) Georgetown vs. (5) Colorado
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // AJ Ross
CBS
12:45 p.m. (13) UNC Greensboro vs. (4) Florida State
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
truTV
1:15 p.m. (14) Eastern Washington vs. (3) Kansas
Brad Nessler / Steve Lavin // Evan Washburn
TBS
1:45 p.m. (9) St. Bonaventure vs. (8) LSU
Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // Evan Washburn
TNT
3 p.m. (16) Mount St. Mary’s/Texas Southern vs. (1) Michigan
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl
CBS
3:30 p.m. (12) UC Santa Barbara vs. (5) Creighton
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith // AJ Ross
truTV
4 p.m. (15) Iona vs. (2) Alabama
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // AJ Ross
TBS
4:30 p.m. (11) Wichita St./Drake vs. (6) USC
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
TNT
6:25 p.m. (15) Grand Canyon vs. (2) Iowa
Brad Nessler / Steve Lavin // Evan Washburn
TBS
7:10 p.m. (10) Maryland vs. (7) UConn
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl
CBS
7:15 p.m. (13) Ohio vs. (4) Virginia
Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // Evan Washburn
truTV
7:25 p.m. (9) Missouri vs. (8) Oklahoma
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // AJ Ross
TNT
9:20 p.m. (16) Norfolk St./Appalachian St. vs. (1) Gonzaga
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
TBS
9:40 p.m. (11) Michigan St./UCLA vs. (6) BYU
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // AJ Ross
CBS
9:50 p.m. (14) Abilene Christian vs. (3) Texas
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith // AJ Ross
truTV
9:57 p.m. (10) VCU vs. (7) Oregon
Brad Nessler / Steve Lavin // Evan Washburn
TNT

Second round

Sunday, March 21 — Noon start (CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV)
Monday, March 22 — Noon start (CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Lucas Oil Stadium

Sweet 16

Saturday, March 27 — 2 p.m. start (CBS, TBS)
Sunday, March 28 — 1 p.m. start (CBS, TBS)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse

Elite Eight

Monday, March 29 — 7 p.m. start (CBS)
Tuesday, March 30 — 6 p.m. start (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium

Final Four

Saturday, April 3 — 5 p.m. start (CBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium

National Championship

Monday, April 5 — 9 p.m. (CBS)
Lucas OIl Stadium

Get every pick, every play, every upset and fill out your bracket with our help! Visit SportsLine now to see which teams will make and break your bracket, and see who cuts down the nets, all from the model that nailed 15 of the 26 double-digit upsets the last four tournaments!

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NCAA bracket 2021: Printable March Madness bracket, tournament field set on Selection Sunday

How amazing does it feel to be on the cusp of tip off for the 2021 NCAA Tournament? After a two-year wait, the greatest sporting event in the history of the world returns in just a few days — and everyone is juiced to see the ball thrown in the air for the first time.

When you think about it, this NCAA Tournament might well be the most cherished in history. And we know you want that bracket. You need that bracket. Great news: We are here to give you that bracket.

Below you will find a printable 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket courtesy the home of March Madness: your friends at CBS Sports. Thank you for swinging by. Be sure to continue to check in all month as we will have the most extensive coverage of the NCAA Tournament anywhere: picks advice, stats to know, stories, must-watch video, podcasts, breaking news, scoops — all of it. 

As usual, we have every way imaginable to make the bracket available on the device of your choice as well. This is the best way to prep for our Bracket Games, too. 

Expanded Selection Sunday coverage continues all Sunday night and throughout the week on CBSSports.com and CBS Sports HQ, our free 24/7 news streaming service that is watchable on any streaming device. 

The field is set! Create a bracket pool to compete against friends or play solo for your chance to win a brand new Nissan Rogue and a college basketball dream trip. Get in the action today!

March is here, and the NCAA Tournament is back. Our bodies are ready. Is your bracket?

Click here to enlarge and print the blank 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket.

Get every pick, every play, every upset and fill out your bracket with our help! Visit SportsLine now to see which teams will make and break your bracket, and see who cuts down the nets, all from the model that nailed 15 of the 26 double-digit upsets the last four tournaments!

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2021 Big Ten Tournament bracket, schedule: Live scores, updates, dates, live stream for March Madness

Minnesota’s nearly month-long streak of misery finally came to an end on Wednesday as the No. 13 seed Gophers knocked off No. 12 seed Northwestern 51-46 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to snap a seven-game losing streak. The Gophers will advance to play No. 5 seed Ohio State in Thursday’s second round as the Buckeyes look to snap a losing streak of their own.

Though still projected as a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament in Jerry Palm’s Bracketology, Ohio State dropped four straight games against quality foes to end the regular season and will be looking to generate some momentum against the Gophers. Minnesota won the first meeting 77-60 on Jan. 3 behind a 27-point outburst from center Liam Robbins. But Robbins did not play in Wednesday’s win over Northwestern due to a sprained ankle, and he may not be 100% even if he can return Thursday.

Whoever comes out on top on Sunday evening will have withstood a gauntlet as the Big Ten is projected to have nine NCAA Tournament teams, including four teams projected as either No. 1 or No. 2 seeds in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Ohio State. Of those four, only the No. 5 seed Buckeyes will be in action Thursday as the other three secured double-byes to Friday’s quarterfinals.

Below is the full schedule and tip times for the tournament.

2021 Big Ten Tournament schedule, scores

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis
Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) | Follow live: CBS Sports App  

All times Eastern; some start times approximated

First round — Wednesday, March 10
Game 1: No. 13 Minnesota 51, No. 12 Northwestern 46 | Recap
Game 2: No. 11 Penn State 72, No. 14 Nebraska 66 | Recap

Second round — Thursday, March 11
Game 3: No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 Michigan State | 11:30 a.m. on Big Ten Network
Game 4: No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 13 Minnesota | 2 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Game 5: No. 7 Rutgers vs. No. 10 Indiana | 6:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Game 6: No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 11 Penn State | 9 p.m. on Big Ten Network

Quarterfinals — Friday, March 12
Game 7: No. 1 Michigan vs. Game 3 winner | 11:30 a.m. on Big Ten Network
Game 8: No. 4 Purdue vs. Game 4 winner | 2 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Game 9: No. 2 Illinois vs. Game 5 winner | 6:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Game 10: No. 3 Iowa vs. Game 6 winner | 9 p.m. on Big Ten Network

Semifinals — Saturday, March 13
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner | 1 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com

Big Ten Tournament Championship Game — Sunday, March 14
Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com

Follow below for updates, analysis and highlights throughout the event.

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2021 ACC Tournament bracket: Schedule, scores, updates, dates, location, live stream for March Madness

Duke began what it hopes will be a miraculous run in the ACC Tournament on Tuesday by playing some of its best basketball of the season just three days after getting trounced by North Carolina to close the regular season. That loss relegated the Blue Devils to playing in the first round as the No. 10 seed in the conference tournament, and they handled the task with ease by shellacking No. 15 Boston College 86-51.

The win sends Duke on to face No. 7 seed Louisville in Wednesday’s second round. The Blue Devils (12-11) may need to win the ACC Tournament to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995, and doing so will require winning five games in five days. It will be a tall ask for a team that has not won five consecutive games all season, but Tuesday’s win was a good start as the Blue Devils drilled 15-of-32 3-pointers and forced 20 turnovers by the Eagles.

You don’t have to wait until the field of 68 is announced to fill out your brackets. Play Conference Bracket Challenge presented by Hertz and pick the tournaments for a $10,000 cash prize or start a pool and compete against friends. No purchase necessary, see Rules for details.

The Duke-Boston College game was the second of three games on the first day of the ACC Tournament. The first was far more competitive as No. 13 seed Miami outlasted No. 12 seed Pittsburgh 79-73, advancing to play No. 5 seed Clemson on Wednesday. The last of the three games was the most thrilling of the day, though.

Notre Dame’s chances of going to the NCAA Tournament are virtually nonexistent, but Trey Wertz gave the No. 11 seed Fighting Irish a moment to remember from this postseason when he hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to secure an 80-77 win over No. 14 seed Wake Forest on the first day of the ACC Tournament. Notre Dame closed the game on a 17-2 run to advance to play North Carolina on Tuesday.

Below is the full schedule and tip times for the tournament.

2021 ACC Tournament schedule, scores

Location: Greensboro Coliseum — Greensboro, North Carolina
Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) | Follow live: CBS Sports App  

All times Eastern; some start times approximated

First round — Tuesday, March 9
Game 1: No. 13 Miami 79, No. 12 Pittsburgh 73 | Recap
Game 2: No. 10 Duke 86, No. 15 Boston College 51 | Recap
Game 3: No. 11 Notre Dame 80, No. 14 Wake Forest 77 | Recap

Second round — Wednesday, March 10
Game 4: No. 8 Syracuse vs. No. 9 NC State | Noon on ACC Network
Game 5: No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 13 Miami | 2:30 p.m. on ACC Network
Game 6: No. 7 Louisville vs. No.10 Duke | 6:30 p.m. on ACC Network
Game 7: No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 Notre Dame | 9 p.m. on ACC Network

Quarterfinals — Thursday, March 11
Game 8: No. 1 Virginia vs. Game 4 winner | Noon on ESPN
Game 9: No. 4 Georgia Tech vs. Game 5 winner | 2:30 p.m. on ESPN
Game 10: No. 2 Florida State vs. Game 6 winner | 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
Game 11: No. 3 Virginia Tech vs. Game 7 winner | 9 p.m. on ESPN

Semifinals — Friday, March 12
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner | 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner | 9 p.m. on ESPN

ACC Tournament Championship Game — Saturday, March 13
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner | 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Follow below for updates, analysis and highlights throughout the event.

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Mars madness! China, UAE to reach the Red Planet this week ahead of epic NASA rover landing

Mars missions from China and the United Arab Emirates arrive in orbit around the Red Planet this week, followed by the landing of NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance next week.

The UAE’s Hope orbiter is set to arrive at the Red Planet on Tuesday, with China’s Tianwen-1 mission following less than a day later. Here’s what to expect and how to watch or follow live.

The Emirates Mars Mission, also known as Hope, is the Gulf state’s first interplanetary mission. Launched in July 2020, the Hope orbiter is the first of three spacecraft currently homing in on Mars after journeys of more than 250 million miles (400 million kilometers).

Related: NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance in home stretch to the Red Planet

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The action will begin Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT, 7.30 p.m. local time at the UAE Space Agency headquarters in Abu Dhabi). At that time, Hope will burn its engines for 27 minutes to reduce its speed from over 75,000 mph (121,000 kph) to about 11,200 mph (18,000 kph), slow enough for Mars to gravitationally capture Hope.

The UAE Space Agency is providing a webcast for live coverage of the historic event. A live tracker also gives information and a sense of perspective for the 200-day-plus journey to the Red Planet.

The stakes will be high for the $200 million mission. If the maneuver does not go according to plan the spacecraft might not enter orbit. The Soviet Union’s 1973 Mars 4 mission failed to enter orbit due to engine problems and carried on past the planet, while NASA’s 1999 Mars Climate Orbiter mission burned up in the atmosphere after getting too close to Mars during its orbit insertion attempt.

Related: The United Arab Emirates’ Hope mission to Mars in photos

An artist’s depiction of the UAE’s Hope Mars orbiter. (Image credit: MBRSC)

Despite the dangers there is excitement and optimism among those behind the mission, and an understanding of the exceptional event in which Hope is participating.

“For the first time, three spacecraft from three different nations are arriving to Mars a couple of days apart and that, for me, is remarkable,” Sarah Al Amiri, chairperson of the UAE Space Agency, said during a virtual event hosted on Feb. 1 by the U.S.-UAE Business Council, a nonprofit organization based in Washington. 

If it enters orbit successfully Hope will begin science observations to provide new insights into the Martian atmosphere and weather.

Following Hope is China’s Tianwen-1 orbiter and rover, which will make their own orbit insertion attempt less than a day later. 

This is China’s first independent interplanetary mission and represents a big step in the country’s ambitions and capabilities. Following Tianwen-1’s orbit insertion attempt from home will be more challenging however. 

China has provided numerous updates on the progress and status of the mission and on Friday (Feb. 5) released an impressive image of Mars from 1.36 million miles (2.2 million km) away. 

However, China mostly does not publicize major mission timelines ahead of time. The country’s space authorities offer no live tracking and, as with China’s previous major missions, a webcast will only be available a few hours before the event or, more likely, not at all. The CGTN YouTube channel is one possibility in the event that a webcast is offered, as is the Chinese language CCTV account on Sina Weibo.

Despite this we have a good idea of when the spacecraft is due to make its own Mars orbit insertion attempt. 

By picking up signals sent between Tianwen-1 and Chinese ground stations amateur radio operators are able to determine information about the spacecraft’s speed and position and calculate the arrival time at Mars. 

Daniel Estévez, an amateur radio operator who tracks spacecraft together with fellow enthusiasts, calculates that Mars orbit insertion around 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT, 8 p.m. Beijing time), meaning Tianwen-1’s braking burn will begin up to half an hour before this. As will the Hope orbiter, Tianwen-1 will need a long burn of its main engines to slow the spacecraft enough to allow it to be captured by Mars’s gravity. The main engines were tested through smaller maneuvers on the way to Mars.

China’s Tianwen-1 Mars probe is seen by a tiny camera ejected from the spacecraft in a photo captured 15 million miles from Earth. (Image credit: CNSA)

An update is expected to follow swiftly from the China National Space Administration and Chinese media after the maneuver if the spacecraft successfully enters orbit. 

Tianwen-1 is expected to go into a highly elliptical orbit — an elongated, oval-shaped orbit rather than a circular one — which will see the spacecraft approach as close as a few hundred miles away from Mars out to about 112,000 miles (180,000 km) away. 

The orbiter will alter its orbit over time, reducing its furthest distance from Mars during separate observation and science orbit phases. 

The spacecraft will also prepare for the landing attempt of the mission’s rover, currently expected to follow in May.

Before then NASA’s Perseverance rover is expected to arrive at Mars for its landing attempt on Feb. 18. 

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