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March Madness: 8 bold predictions for 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Brian Rauf

Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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MURRAY, KY – FEBRUARY 09: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers reacts in the second half of the game against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars at CFSB Center on February 9, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won 86-55. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MURRAY, KY – FEBRUARY 09: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers reacts in the second half of the game against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars at CFSB Center on February 9, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won 86-55. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1) There will be 10 first-round upsets

Upsets happen every year in the NCAA Tournament, but it’s normally just a handful of lower seeds that are able to pull off opening round victories.

This year, however, I think we’ll see a lot more than the normal amount. I’m predicting 10 upsets in the first round.

Parity was one of the biggest storylines of the college basketball season as there was constant turnover in the bottom half of the AP Top 25 poll. Many teams are capable of going on hot stretches and beating quality opponents, yet those same teams can also turn around and go on a losing streak against lesser competition.

We’ve also seen an influx of quality mid-majors this year. Murray State has an All-American in Ja Morant, Belmont, VCU, and Nevada got at-large bids, and five non-power conferences put multiple teams into the Big Dance.

You can read more about all the upsets I think will happen here, but I want to make sure I highlight a few teams.

Old Dominion is the lowest seed (14) I’m predicting to win a game. They got a great matchup against a struggling Purdue team with a recently inconsistent Carsen Edwards and have already proven they can beat quality teams, knocking off VCU and Syracuse during the season.

I also have two No. 13 seeds winning in UC Irvine and Northeastern, which is probably my biggest surprise of the tournament. You can find a full breakdown in the link but it boils down to this – UC Irvine is a great defensive team going up against a shorthanded K-State squad that struggles offensively (plus that game’s in San Jose), and Northeastern is a quality three-point shooting team that will take advantage of KU’s lackluster perimeter defense.

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