Instant men's March Madness bracket: Predicting every game - ESPN

For the past three decades or so, I've printed out a blank bracket on Selection Sunday to fill out as the NCAA tournament is announced. I used to hem and haw over my selections for days, and it never worked out, so now we're taking tinkering out of the process and revealing my bracket picks… instantly.

So here's my true instant bracket, filled out (by hand!) as the field was announced. And I promise not to make any changes. No second-guessing here!

Note: Winners in bold.

Jump to:
East | West
Midwest | South
Final Four

WEST REGION

(11) NC State 82, (11) Texas 78

MIDWEST REGION

(11) SMU 91, (11) Miami (Ohio) 81
(16) UMBC 70, (16) Howard 65

SOUTH REGION

(16) Prairie View A&M 69, (16) Lehigh 78

FIRST ROUND

(1) Duke 85, (16) Siena 59
(8) Ohio State 74, (9) TCU 72
(5) St. John's 69, (12) Northern Iowa 63
(4) Kansas 74, (13) California Baptist 62

(6) Louisville 88, (11) South Florida 83
(3) Michigan State 77, (14) North Dakota State 66
(7) UCLA 84, (10) UCF 75
(2) UConn 80, (15) Furman 61

SECOND ROUND

(1) Duke 75, (8) Ohio State 66
(4) Kansas 68, (5) St. Johns 75

(3) Michigan State 79, (6) Louisville 74
(2) UConn 71, (7) UCLA 67

SWEET 16

(1) Duke 73, (5) St. John's 71
(2) UConn 68, (3) Michigan State 64

ELITE EIGHT

(1) Duke 72,(2) UConn 73

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REGION ANALYSIS

The subplots in the East are wildly intriguing — and it doesn't take long to get rolling. There's a potential second-round coaching matchup between Rick Pitino and Bill Self. What will Pitino have up his sleeve to slow down Darryn Peterson? There's a potential second-round sideline spectacle between Dan Hurley and Mick Cronin. And look at the point guards in the