March Madness 2022: Predicting every First Round upset in the NCAA Tournament

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 13: Lucas Williamson #1 of the Loyola Ramblers reacts after his three-point basket in the first half against Northern Iowa Panthers at Joseph J. Gentile Arena on February 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

7. Potential March Madness Upsets – South Region: No. 10 Loyola-Chicago vs. No. 7 Ohio State

The 7-10 game is rife with potential upsets every year as this matchup often features underachieving power conference teams as the 7-seed. Five 10-seeds have gone on to secure first-round victories in the past two NCAA Tournaments, including Maryland and Rutgers a year ago.

The 10-seed in the Midwest Region is a very dangerous Loyola-Chicago team that is loaded with NCAA Tournament experience. Cameron Krutwig may have graduated while Porter Moser is now coaching Oklahoma but Lucas Williamson leads a group that has a lot of the same players that upset Illinois to earn a trip to the Sweet 16.

Another Big Ten team could be the Ramblers’ next victim as Ohio State limps into March Madness as a 7-seed. Expectations were high for the Buckeyes after they upset then-No. 1 Duke early in the season but Ohio State is slumping after dropping four of their final five games, including losses to Maryland, Nebraska and Penn State.

None of those teams made the field, which isn’t a good sign for Ohio State since they aren’t playing great basketball at the moment. Loyola-Chicago is fresh off a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and could pull another March Madness upset by knocking out the Buckeyes here.

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