Your inbox approves Men's coaches poll Women's coaches poll Play to win 25K!
NCAA TOURNAMENT
Men's College Basketball

NCAA Tournament 2022 upset predictions: The men's first-round March Madness upsets to watch

USA TODAY Sports

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 New Mexico State over UConn, UAB over Houston or Chattanooga over Illinois?

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

Our experts are here to help. We asked six 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

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!

DON'T MAKE THESE MISTAKES: Tips to help you dominate your bracket picks

'DEVASTATED AND HEARTBROKEN': Seven of NCAA Tournament's biggest Selection Sunday snubs

Connecticut Huskies forward Isaiah Whaley (5) celebrates with guard Tyrese Martin (4) after blocking a shot in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats at the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY reporter 

West: 

No. 12 New Mexico State over No. 5 Connecticut

No. 11 Rutgers/Notre Dame over No. 6 Alabama

No. 10 Davidson over No. 7 Michigan State

East: 

No. 12 Wyoming/Indiana over No. 5 Saint Mary's

No. 11 Virginia Tech over No. 6 Texas

South: 

No. 9 TCU over No. 8 Seton Hall

No. 12 UAB over No. 5 Houston

No 13 Chattanooga over No. 4 Illinois

No. 10 Loyola-Chicago over No. 7 Ohio State

Midwest: 

No. 9 Creighton over No. 8 San Diego State

No. 13 South Dakota State over No. 4 Providence

No. 11 Iowa State over No. 6 Louisiana State

No 10 Miami (Florida) over No. 7 USC

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

Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports columnist 

West: 

No. 9 Memphis over No. 8 Boise State

No. 12 New Mexico State over No. 5 Connecticut

No. 11 Rutgers/Notre Dame over No. 6 Alabama

No. 10 Davidson over No. 7 Michigan State

East:

No. 9 Marquette over No. No. 8 UNC

No. 11 Virginia Tech over No. 6 Texas

South:

No. 12 UAB over No. 5 Houston

No. 11 Michigan over No. 6 Colorado State

No. 10 Loyola-Chicago over No. 7 Ohio State

Midwest: 

No. 11 Iowa State over No 6 LSU

No. 10 Miami (Florida) over No. 7 USC

No. 15 Jacksonville State over No. 2 Auburn

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

Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports college reporter

West: 

No. 9 Memphis over No. 8 Boise State

No. 12 New Mexico State over No. 5 Connecticut

East: 

No. 9 Marquette over No. 8 UNC

No. 11 Virginia Tech over No. 6 Texas

South:

No. 9 TCU over No. 8 Seton Hall

No. 12 UAB over No. 5 Houston

No. 11 Michigan over No. 6 Colorado State

No. 10 Loyola-Chicago over No. 7 Ohio State

Midwest:

No. 13 South Dakota State over No. 4 Providence

No. 11 Iowa State over No. 6 LSU

See Paul Myerberg's full March Madness bracket picks here.

Erick Smith, USA TODAY Sports college reporter

West:

No. 12 New Mexico State over No. 5 Connecticut

No. 11 Rutgers/Notre Dame over No. 6 Alabama

No. 10 Davidson over No. 7 Michigan State

East:

No. 11 Virginia Tech over No. 6 Texas

South:

No. 9 TCU over No. 8 Seton Hall

No. 11 Michigan over No. 6 Colorado State

No. 10 Loyola-Chicago over No. 7 Ohio State

See Erick Smith's full March Madness bracket picks here.

Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports college reporter

West:

No. 12 New Mexico State over No. 5 Connecticut

No. 13 Vermont over No. 4 Arkansas

No. 10 Davidson over No. 7 Michigan State

East:

No. 11 Virginia Tech over No. 6 Texas

South:

No. 9 TCU over No. 8 Seton Hall

No. 10 Loyola-Chicago over No. 7 Ohio State

Midwest:

No. 13 South Dakota State over No. 4 Providence

See Eddie Timanus' full March Madness bracket picks here.

Jordan Guskey, Kansas beat writer for The Topeka Capital-Journal

West: 

No. 9 Memphis over No. 8 Boise State

East:

No. 9 Marquette over No. 8 UNC

No. 12 Wyoming/Indiana over No. 5 Saint Mary's

South:

No. 11 Michigan over No. 6 Colorado State

No. 10 Loyola-Chicago over No. 7 Ohio State

Midwest: 

No. 10 Miami (Florida) over No. 7 USC

See Jordan Guskey's full March Madness bracket picks here.

Featured Weekly Ad