NCAA bracket predictions: Model reveals surprising March Madness 2024 tournament picks

The 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed and the four No. 1 seeds are the UConn Huskies, Purdue Boilermakers, Houston Cougars and North Carolina Tar Heels. There have only been four NCAA tournament brackets in history that haven’t had at least one No. 1 seed make the Final Four, including last season. Which No. 1 seeds are most likely to make a deep run during March Madness 2024 and how can you avoid having to redline your 2024 NCAA bracket early on?

Successful 2024 March Madness picks are all about striking the right balance with your 2024 NCAA tournament bracket picks. Which 2024 March Madness upsets should you eye for the first weekend and how can you nail your 2024 Final Four picks to win your NCAA Tournament pools? Before making any 2024 March Madness bracket predictions, be sure to check out the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Their proven projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It has absolutely crushed its March Madness picks recently, beating over 92 percent of all CBS Sports brackets three of the past five tournaments. In an upset-laden 2023 NCAA Tournament, the model was all over UConn’s shocking Final Four run as a 4-seed. It went an amazing 23-9 in the first round, including an astounding 12-4 in the Midwest and West regions.

It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 20 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016. There’s simply no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2024 March Madness picks. 

Now, with the 2024 NCAA bracket revealed, the model is simulating the matchups and its results are in. You can only see it over at SportsLine.

Three 2024 March Madness bracket games to watch

One of the most intriguing 2024 March Madness matchups to watch: No. 8 seed Florida Atlantic will take on No. 9 seed Northwestern in the East Region.  A Final Four team a season ago, FAU brought back 90% of its production and won 25 games in its first season in the AAC. Johnell Davis averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and the fourth-year guard was stellar during the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Northwestern went 21-11 overall and 12-8 in conference play with four Quad 1 wins. Boo Buie has already scored 2,156 points during his career with the Wildcats and he’ll try to prove himself as one of the nation’s best guards against one of last year’s tournament darlings.

Another 2024 March Madness matchup to keep an eye on: No. 5 seed San Diego State will match up with No. 12 seed UAB in the East. Brian Dutcher led his team to the Final Four for the first time in program history last year before falling in the national championship to UConn. This year, the Aztecs only went 4-9 in Quad 1 games and Dutcher’s squads were bounced in the first round of their previous three tournament appearances before their Final Four run. The Blazers won the AAC Tournament in their first season in the league and Andy Kennedy guided them to their fourth consecutive 20-win season. Yaxel Lendeborg averages 13.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season and will match up with SDSU big Jaedon Ledee in the first round.

Another 2024 March Madness matchup to watch out for: No. 4 seed Auburn will battle No. 13 seed Yale in the East Region. Bruce Pearl led the Tigers to the 2024 SEC Tournament championship and now Auburn will make its fifth appearance in the March Madness bracket in the last six seasons. Pearl led the Tigers to the Final Four in 2019, but his team hasn’t made it to the Sweet 16 since. Yale also won its conference tournament this season and has five players averaging in double-figures. Danny Wolf averaged 14.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season and the 7-footer could be a matchup problem for a relatively small Auburn lineup. You can see the model’s 2024 NCAA bracket picks here.

How to make 2024 NCAA bracket predictions

Who wins every tournament-defining matchup? And which teams will make surprising runs through the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it’s calling this year before locking in any 2024 NCAA bracket picks.

So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2024 bracket? And which NCAA Tournament Cinderella teams will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which double-digit seeds you can back with confidence, all from the model that’s called 20 upsets by double-digit seeds.