NCAA Tournament 2019: Predicting the perfect March Madness bracket

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts after a play against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 23: Ethan Happ #22 and Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers discuss during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on February 23, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

South Region – San Jose, CA (Friday, March 22)

5 Wisconsin vs. 12 Oregon

In most 5-12 matchups, seeing the Oregon Ducks as the lower seed would be a juicy opportunity to pick an upset. Despite losing star freshman Bol Bol before the turn of the calendar year, the Ducks have gone on a late-season run that saw them win the Pac-12 Tournament title to earn their berth in March Madness. With great defense, they could be dangerous — they just won’t be when they face the Wisconsin Badgers.

The issue for the Ducks is that Wisconsin plays the same brand of basketball as them, but they’re just better at it. Moreover, Ethan Happ is the X-factor for the Badgers as a consistent scoring option down low, which will prove to be the difference as the No. 5 seed advances.

Pick: Wisconsin

4 Kansas State vs. 13 UC Irvine

This has upset special written all over it. For one, the Kansas State Wildcats and UC Irvine Anteaters both want to play the exact same way. They are both defensive-minded teams that want to slow the game down and win methodically. Whenever you’re in that type of low-scoring affair that suits both teams, anything can happen in the NCAA Tournament. However, Kansas State also limps into this game.

The Wildcats’ best player, forward Dean Wade, missed the Big 12 tourney with a foot injury and was still in a walking boot on Selection Sunday. He may still return, but with the injury being that close, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be at 100 percent effectiveness. With that in what should be a close matchup regardless, the Anteaters pull off the upset.

Pick: UC Irvine

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