Sleeper Teams that will surprise

[Ripper32]

Which team can be this year's St. Peter's or FAU? Maybe even a lesser team from a power 6?

 

[61cygni]

No huge upsets for me, but I know I'm getting suckered in by Michigan State, and I have New Mexico to S16

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I don’t think we’ll see a big Cinderella run this year. The separation of the teams at the top feels higher this year than in previous years. I could see Yale potentially making a run to the second weekend. Samford could take down a hobbled Kansas. Maybe Charleston wins a shootout against Bama.

 

[Ripper32]

No huge upsets for me, but I know I'm getting suckered in by Michigan State, and I have New Mexico to S16

UNM is an interesting case because of the stylistic challenges they bring into these games. New Mexico has those 3 dynamite guards who are lightning quick. Dent may be actually as talented as House, which is a seemingly ludicrous statement to make. They push the pace and take teams out of their comfort level. The only problem with UNM is if their two bigs get in foul trouble. There isn't much there beyond Toppin and Joseph.

 

[BleedHuskyBlu]

Mississippi state to beat UNC

Vermont over Dook

Texas vs Tennessee is going to be block buster

 

[superjohn]

McNeese State

Mississippi State

 

[Ripper32]

McNeese State

Mississippi State

McNeese has 4 major contributors who shoot over 40 pct from 3.

 

[Ripper32]

Dauster has GCU beating SMC on the back of Foster. He thinks Foster could win them a game or two.

 

[That Guy]

Probably McNeese. 30-3 is no joke, and Will Wade is a good coach. This is not a great Gonzaga team like in years past and if they win that game I can see them beating a banged up Kansas to get to the S16.

 

[auror]

Due to all the upsets of top seeds in the low major conference tournaments the 13-16 seeds are quite weak this year. The 1s and 4s are quite strong as well.

I don't anticipate a lot of huge crazy seed upsets compared to the last few years. Most upsets will probably come from the 9-12 range. 11s over 6s seem particularly good. I might be buying the NC state train. Winning 5 in 5 has in the past led to good NCAA tourny results.

 

[HooperScooper]

I might be buying the NC state train. Winning 5 in 5 has in the past led to good NCAA tourny results.

Could have been because the ACC just isn't very good.

 

[businesslawyer]

Mississippi state to beat UNC

Vermont over Dook

Texas vs Tennessee is going to be block buster

This is not as talented a Vermont team as they normally send. Well coached and work hard, but I don’t think they have the physical talent to be competitive against any winning P-6 team.

Yale is a better choice if you’re looking for that level upset.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Due to all the upsets of top seeds in the low major conference tournaments the 13-16 seeds are quite weak this year. The 1s and 4s are quite strong as well.

I don't anticipate a lot of huge crazy seed upsets compared to the last few years. Most upsets will probably come from the 9-12 range. 11s over 6s seem particularly good. I might be buying the NC state train. Winning 5 in 5 has in the past led to good NCAA tourny results.

This.

The flip side of bubble teams being left out is that the 11-13 lines are much, much weaker than usual (except for New Mexico, who should have been a 9 and got screwed like the rest of the MWC). The 14-16 lines are about the same, actually.

I expect very few first round upsets but potentially a number of second round upsets. After the first 3 teams (us, Houston, Purdue) and the next 4 (UNC, Tennessee, Arizona, ISU), there's actually not a lot of separation between the #3 seeds and the #7 seeds.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of brackets with Sweet 16s like 1-4-6-7.

 

[superjohn]

Could have been because the ACC just isn't very good.

ACC stinks.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Vermont over Duke.

BYU to the S16

Boise/Colorado over Florida

New Mexico over Clemson

 

[Tenspro2002]

Oh, I will say this -- Clemson is going nowhere. They got an absolute gift as a 6. Short them, whoever their opponent is.

 

[Hoophound]

McNeese can play. They could get to the FF. Seems mid majors getting to the FF is no longer uncommon.

 

[JungleLobo]

Which team can be this year's St. Peter's or FAU? Maybe even a lesser team from a power 6?

Stetson is throwing their hat in the ring

 

[WrenchFan69]

I think this is going to be a year where the bad P5 teams that didn't deserve to get in win a game or 2. Michigan State immediately comes to mind as a Sweet 16 attendee despite having an NIT-bubble resume

 

[August_West]

Oh, I will say this -- Clemson is going nowhere. They got an absolute gift as a 6. Short them, whoever their opponent is.

Vegas has them as an underdog to an 11 seed. Thats all you need to know.

 

[3rdbass]

Dauster has GCU beating SMC on the back of Foster. He thinks Foster could win them a game or two.

He looks like Kadary Richmond with a better shot.

 

[controlfade]

Grand Canyon and Mcneese are 2 for me

 

[rrskyjf]

Oakland beating Kentucky

 

[Tex-Lager93]

I keep seeing Grand Canyon...which is making me want to go St Mary's. It's almost the same roster as that team LY - which played us tough. Mahaney, Saxen, Marciuliones, Ducas. If they slow it down and grind, they're tough.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

In general I think all the mountain west teams outside of SDSU are very underseeded. Wouldn’t be surprised to see any one of those teams make a run to the elite 8.