2026 March Madness picks: Predictions for every first-round game in the bracket

Trends flood the lead-up to the NCAA Tournament, but numbers without context rarely tell you what's actually about to happen in March. The real edges live in the matchups -- in how styles clash, where defenses crack and which players can tilt a game. That's the approach here. These aren't blind picks for every first-round game in the bracket. They're scouting reports -- built on data, personnel and the eye test -- to project how each matchup could unfold. The First Four starts Tuesday. Here's a quick look at how we expect those games to shake out. No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard: Howard has terrific, switchable wing defenders like Bryce Harris, Ose Okojie or Alex Cotton who can give UMBC star...