March Madness upset picks are in high demand as the tournament begins, with fans seeking bracket-busting surprises. The first round of the NCAA Tournament is often full of surprises, making it one of the most exciting sporting events of the year.
From historic victories like UMBC over Virginia to Fairleigh Dickinson’s takedown of Purdue, underdog wins are the heart of March Madness. While picking these upsets is tough, we’ve got five matchups that could shake things up this year.
1. No. 13 Yale over No. 4 Texas A&M
- When: Thursday, 7:25 p.m. ET (TBS)
- Why: Texas A&M struggles with scoring, ranking 322nd in field goal percentage. While the Aggies excel in offensive rebounds, Yale is one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the nation. If Yale can dominate the glass, they have a solid chance at pulling off the upset.
2. No. 11 Drake over No. 6 Missouri
- When: Thursday, 7:35 p.m. ET (truTV)
- Why: Under new coach Ben McCollum, Drake has thrived with a 30-3 record. Meanwhile, Missouri has stumbled, losing 5 of its last 7 games. The Bulldogs’ slow, methodical play style could frustrate Missouri, giving Drake the edge.
3. No. 11 VCU over No. 6 BYU
- When: Thursday, 4:05 p.m. ET (TNT)
- Why: VCU has been severely underseeded, entering with a 28-6 record and dominance in the Atlantic 10. Their top-50 efficiency on both sides of the court, led by Max Shulga, could exploit BYU’s defensive weaknesses.
4. No. 13 High Point over No. 4 Purdue
- When: Thursday, 12:40 p.m. ET (truTV)
- Why: Purdue is struggling, losing 6 of its last 9 games. Without former star Zach Edey, their defense has become porous. High Point, ranked in the top 25 for offensive efficiency, could capitalize on Purdue’s vulnerabilities.
5. No. 12 Colorado State over No. 5 Memphis
- When: Friday, 2 p.m. ET (TBS)
- Why: A classic 12-over-5 upset could be in store. Colorado State enters on a 10-game win streak with Nique Clifford dominating. Memphis’ lack of competition in the AAC could expose them to a dangerous Rams squad.
Source: USA Today
