Upset alerts for brackets
Experts are flagging multiple double‑digit seeds as legitimate first‑round threats — USA Today lists eight games with high upset potential and DraftKings’ Dan Johnson names five teams to consider if you want bracket edge USA Today guide DraftKings picks. CBS Sports' SportsLine simulations also predict several bracket‑busting results, while pundits note Duke is the No. 1 overall seed despite vulnerability across the field CBS Sports sims Bilas takes.
VCU, Akron and Northern Iowa are named repeatedly as first‑round threats by outlets tracking upsets, with USA Today highlighting those mid‑majors as dangerous double‑digit seeds. (usatoday.com) SportsLine’s model ran each matchup 10,000 times and its CBS Sports writeup notes the simulation still surfaces multiple double‑digit winners in the first round, rather than a door‑stopper bracket. (cbssports.com) DraftKings analyst Dan Johnson argues five lower seeds have real Sweet 16 upside, describing them as “legitimate” upset candidates who could reach the second weekend. (dknetwork.draftkings.com) Market lines back some of those calls: DraftKings‑sourced odds show Akron at roughly +260 moneyline in a 12‑5 spot and Northern Iowa listed around +440 in a 12‑5 line in pregame pricing updates. (newsbreak.com) Historic context points the other way — ESPN notes only five double‑digit seeds advanced in the 2025 first round — but multiple models and experts this year are flagging more volatility than last season’s chalk. (espn.com) Even with Duke the No. 1 overall seed, Sports Illustrated and other analysts call out specific roster issues — SI flags injuries to Foster and Ngongba — as reasons matchups against hungry lower seeds could become perilous. (si.com)
