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    Sweet 16 predictions: Experts pick who will advance in March Madness bracket

    Sweet 16 predictions: Experts pick who will advance in March Madness bracket
    Matthew Glenesk, USA TODAY
    ·
    3 min read

    How's your bracket looking?

    Probably not so bad if you picked all the favorites.

    But there were a few surprises in the Men's NCAA Tournament first two rounds, the biggest being No. 9 Iowa taking down defending champion Florida.

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    That result means we won't get a second straight Final Four with all No. 1 seeds. So who will reach Indianapolis? First things first, who will in this week's Sweet 16 ?

    March Madness predictions redo: Revised Final Four picks ahead of Sweet 16

    How'd we do? Grading our brackets: Revisiting our March Madness predictions

    USA TODAY Sports staff made their picks. Check them out below:

    Iowa Hawkeyes forward Cooper Koch (8) celebrates after a play against the Florida Gators in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena.
    1 /25

    Iowa shocks Florida with statement NCAA tournament upset

    Iowa Hawkeyes forward Cooper Koch (8) celebrates after a play against the Florida Gators in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena.

    SOUTH REGION (in Houston)

    Nebraska vs Iowa prediction

    No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa, 7:30 p.m. (TBS/truTV )

    • Blake Toppmeyer:Nebraska

    • Paul Myerberg:Nebraska

    • Jordan Mendoza:Nebraska

    • John Brice:Nebraska

    • Matt Glenesk:Nebraska

    • Craig Meyer:Iowa

    • John Leuzzi:Nebraska

    • Austin Curtright:Iowa

    • Ehsan Kassim:Nebraska

    Houston vs Illinois prediction

    No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois, 10:05 p.m. (TBS/truTV )

    • Blake Toppmeyer:Houston

    • Paul Myerberg:Houston

    • Jordan Mendoza:Houston

    • John Brice:Houston

    • Matt Glenesk:Houston

    • Craig Meyer:Houston

    • John Leuzzi:Illinois

    • Austin Curtright:Houston

    • Ehsan Kassim:Illinois

    WEST REGION (at San Jose)

    Purdue vs Texas prediction

    No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas, 7:10 p.m. (CBS)

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    • Blake Toppmeyer:Purdue

    • Paul Myerberg:Purdue

    • Jordan Mendoza:Purdue

    • John Brice:Purdue

    • Matt Glenesk:Purdue

    • Craig Meyer:Purdue

    • John Leuzzi:Purdue

    • Austin Curtright:Purdue

    • Ehsan Kassim:Texas

    Arkansas vs Arizona prediction

    No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas, 9:45 p.m. (CBS)

    • Blake Toppmeyer:Arizona

    • Paul Myerberg:Arizona

    • Jordan Mendoza:Arizona

    • John Brice:Arizona

    • Matt Glenesk:Arkansas

    • Craig Meyer:Arkansas

    • John Leuzzi:Arizona

    • Austin Curtright:Arizona

    • Ehsan Kassim:Arkansas

    Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

    1 /37

    See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

    Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

    MIDWEST REGION (in Chicago)

    Michigan vs Alabama prediction

    No 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan 7:35 p.m. (TBS/truTV )

    • Blake Toppmeyer:Michigan

    • Paul Myerberg:Michigan

    • Jordan Mendoza:Michigan

    • John Brice:Michigan

    • Matt Glenesk:Michigan

    • Craig Meyer:Michigan

    • John Leuzzi:Michigan

    • Austin Curtright:Michigan

    • Ehsan Kassim:Alabama

    Iowa State vs Tennessee prediction

    No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee, 10:10 p.m. (TBS/truTV)

    • Blake Toppmeyer:Tennessee

    • Paul Myerberg:Iowa State

    • Jordan Mendoza:Iowa State

    • John Brice:Iowa State

    • Matt Glenesk:Tennessee

    • Craig Meyer:Tennessee

    • John Leuzzi:Iowa State

    • Austin Curtright:Iowa State

    • Ehsan Kassim:Tennessee

    EAST REGION (at Washington D.C.)

    Duke vs St. John's prediction

    No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John's, 7:10 p.m. (CBS)

    • Blake Toppmeyer:Duke

    • Paul Myerberg:St. John's

    • Jordan Mendoza:Duke

    • John Brice:Duke

    • Matt Glenesk:St. John's

    • Craig Meyer:Duke

    • John Leuzzi:Duke

    • Austin Curtright:Duke

    • Ehsan Kassim:Duke

    Michigan State vs UConn prediction

    No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Michigan State, 9:45 p.m. (CBS)

    • Blake Toppmeyer:Michigan State

    • Paul Myerberg:Michigan State

    • Jordan Mendoza:Michigan State

    • John Brice:Michigan State

    • Matt Glenesk:Michigan State

    • Craig Meyer:UConn

    • Austin Curtright:Michigan State

    • Ehsan Kassim:UConn

    • John Leuzzi:UConn

    Sweet 16 schedule: Game tip times, dates

    THURSDAY, MARCH 26

    • 7:10 p.m.:No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas (West), CBS

    • 7:30 p.m.:No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa (South), TBS/truTV

    • 9:45 p.m.:No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas (West), CBS

    • 10:05 p.m.:No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois (South), TBS/truTV

    FRIDAY, MARCH 27

    • 7:10 p.m.:No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John's (East), CBS

    • 7:35 p.m.:No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama (Midwest), TBS/truTV

    • 9:45 p.m.:No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Michigan State (East), CBS

    • 10:10 p.m.:No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee (Midwest), TBS/truTV

    This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness predictions: Sweet 16 expert picks for NCAA bracket

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