My 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament predictions
By: Evan Troxel
My predictions to win are listed after each matchup.
I am posting these predictions at the very last minute so some predictions may not or will not be completed until after the first four or eight games of the Round of 64 games are played.
I am predicting the first slate(s) of games that are going to be played first today, Thursday, March 16th, 2023, so all of you don't think I am cheating!
This story/post will be updated every 20 to 30 minutes until I predict all 63 winners and losers of the final 63 games of the NCAA Men's Basketball Division I-A Championship Tournament!
NOTE: I will provide a prediction for each round for each matchup only if both teams I predicted to win from the previous round, don't advance to the next round!
South Region (2nd Round/1st Round, Round of 64)
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (130th day of season, 29-5) vs #16 Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders (130th day of season, 24-10), March 16th, 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS: Alabama Crimson Tide
#8 Maryland Terrapins (130th day of season, 21-12) vs #9 West Virginia Mountaineers (130th day of season, 19-14), March 16th, 12:15 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS: West Virginia Mountaineers (Loss, Maryland wins 67-65)
#5 San Diego State Aztecs (27-6) vs #12 Charleston Cougars (31-3), March 16th, 3:10 p.m. Eastern Time, truTV: San Diego State Aztecs
#4 Virginia Cavaliers (27-5) vs #13 Furman Paladins (27-7), March 16th, 12:40 p.m. Eastern Time, truTV: Furman Paladins
#6 Creighton Bluejays (21-12) vs. #11 NC State Wolfpack (23-10), March 17th, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT: Creighton Bluejays
#3 Baylor Bears (22-10) vs. #14 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (27-7), March 17th, 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT: Baylor Bears
#7 Missouri Tigers (24-9) vs #10 Utah State Aggies (26-8), March 16th, 1:40 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT: Missouri Tigers
#2 Arizona Wildcats (28-6) vs #15 Princeton Tigers (21-8), March 16th, 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT: Arizona Wildcats
East Region (2nd Round/1st Round, Round of 64)
#1 Purdue Boilermakers (29-5, 130th day of season) vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (20-15, 131st day of season), March 17th, 6:50 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT: Purdue Boilermakers
#8 Memphis Tigers (26-8) vs. #9 Florida Atlantic Owls (31-3), March 17th, 9:20 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT: Memphis Tigers
#5 Duke Blue Devils (26-8) vs. #12 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (30-4), March 16th, 7:10 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS: Duke Blue Devils
#4 Tennessee Volunteers (23-10) vs. #13 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (26-7), March 16th, 9:40 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS: Tennessee Volunteers
#6 Kentucky Wildcats (21-11, 131st day of season) vs. #11 Providence Friars (21-11, 130th day of season), March 17th, 7:10 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS: Kentucky Wildcats
#3 Kansas State Wildcats (23-9) vs. #14 Montana State Bobcats (25-9), March 17th, 9:40 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS: Kansas State Wildcats
#7 Michigan State Spartans (19-12, 131st day of season) vs #10 USC Trojans (22-10), March 17th, 12:15 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS: Michigan State Spartans
#2 Marquette Golden Eagles (28-6) vs #15 Vermont Catamounts (23-10), March 17th, 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS: Marquette Golden Eagles
Midwest Region (2nd Round/1st Round, Round of 64)
#1 Houston Cougars (31-3) vs. #16 Northern Kentucky Norse (22-12), March 16th, 9:20 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT: Houston Cougars
#8 Iowa Hawkeyes (19-13) vs. #9 Auburn Tigers (20-12), March 16th, 6:50 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT: Auburn Tigers
#5 Miami Hurricanes (25-7, 131st day of season) vs. #12 Drake Bulldogs (27-7, 129th day of season), March 17th, 7:25 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS: Miami Hurricanes
#4 Indiana Hoosiers (22-11) vs. #13 Kent State Golden Flashes (28-6), March 17th, 9:55 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS: Indiana Hoosiers
#3 Xavier Musketeers (25-9) vs. #14 Kennesaw State Owls (26-8), March 17th, 12:40 p.m. Eastern Time, truTV: Xavier Musketeers
#6 Iowa State Cyclones (19-13) vs. #11 Pittsburgh Panthers (23-11), March 17th, 3:10 p.m. Eastern Time, truTV: Iowa State Cyclones
#7 Texas A&M Aggies (25-9) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (22-13), March 16th, 9:55 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS: Texas A&M Aggies
#2 Texas Longhorns (26-8) vs. #15 Colgate Raiders (26-8), March 16th, 7:25 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS: Texas Longhorns
West Region (2nd Round/1st Round, Round of 64)
#1 Kansas Jayhawks (27-7) vs. #16 Howard Bison (22-12), March 16th, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS: Kansas Jayhawks
#8 Arkansas Razorbacks (20-13) vs. #9 Illinois Fighting Illini (20-12), March 16th, 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS: Arkansas Razorbacks
#5 Saint Mary’s Gaels (26-7) vs. #12 VCU Rams (27-7), March 17th, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS: Saint Mary's Gaels
#4 UConn Huskies (25-8) vs. #13 Iona Gaels (27-7), March 17th, 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS: Iona Gaels
#6 TCU (21-12) vs. #11 Arizona State Sun Devils (23-12), March 17th, 10:05 p.m. Eastern Time, truTV: Texas Christian University (TCU)
#3 Gonzaga Bulldogs (28-5) vs. #14 Grand Canyon Lopes (24-11), March 17th, 7:35 p.m. Eastern Time, truTV: Gonzaga Bulldogs
#7 Northwestern Wildcats (130th day of season, 21-11) vs. #10 Boise State Broncos (128th day of season, 24-9), March 16th, 7:35 p.m. Eastern Time, truTV: Boise State Broncos
#2 UCLA Bruins (29-5) vs. #15 UNC Asheville Bulldogs (27-7), March 16th, 10:05 p.m. Eastern Time, trueTV: UCLA Bruins
South Region (3rd Round/2nd Round, Round of 32)
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (132nd day of season 30-5), #9 West Virginia Mountaineers (132nd day of season, 20-14), March 18th: Alabama Crimson Tide
East Region (3rd Round/2nd Round, Round of 32)
#1 Purdue Boilermakers (30-5, 132nd day of season) vs. #8 Memphis Tigers (27-8), March 19th: Purdue Boilermakers
New Prediction because my predicted winners of the 1/16 seed and 8/9 seed games both lost!: #9 Florida Atlantic Owls (32-3) vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (21-15), March 19th: Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
#2 Marquette Golden Eagles (29-6) vs #7 Michigan State Spartans (20-12), March 19th: Michigan State Spartans
Midwest Region (3rd Round/2nd Round, Round of 32)
West Region (3rd Round/2nd Round, Round of 32)
South Region (4th Round/3rd Round, Round of 16)
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (31-5) vs. #5 San Diego State Aztecs (29-6), March 24th: Alabama Crimson Tide
#2 Arizona Wildcats (30-6) vs. #3 Baylor Bears (24-10), March 24th: Baylor Bears (Baylor Bears chosen by default before all games are played on March 17th since the Arizona Wildcats have already been knocked out of the NCAA Tournament)
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #6 Creighton Bluejays (23-12) vs. #15 Princeton Tigers (23-8), March 24th: Creighton Bluejays
East Region (4th/Round/3rd Round, Round of 16)
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #4 Tennessee Volunteers (25-10) vs. #9 Florida Atlantic Owls (33-3), March 23rd: Tennessee Volunteers
#6 Kentucky Wildcats (23-11) vs. #7 Michigan State Spartans (21-12), March 23rd: Michigan State Spartans
Midwest Region (4th Round/3rd Round, Round of 16)
#2 Texas Longhorns (28-8) vs. #3 Xavier Musketeers (27-9), March 24th: Texas Longhorns (Prediction change: Xavier Musketeers over Texas Longhorns, before Xavier's 1st game of the NCAA Tournament was completely over with)
West Region (4th Round/3rd Round, Round of 16)
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #4 UConn Huskies (27-8) vs. #8 Arkansas Razorbacks (22-13), March 23rd: Arkansas Razorbacks
South Region (5th Round/4th Round, Round of 8)
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #5 San Diego State Aztecs (30-6) vs. #6 Creighton Bluejays (24-12), March 26th: Creighton Bluejays
East Region (5th/Round/4th Round, Round of 8)
#1 Purdue Boilermakers (32-5) vs. #7 Michigan State Spartans (22-12), March 25th: Michigan State Spartans
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #3 Kansas State Wildcats (26-9) vs. #9 Florida Atlantic Owls (34-3), March 25th: Kansas State Wildcats
Midwest Region (5th Round/4th Round, Round of 8)
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #2 Texas Longhorns (29-8) at #5 Miami Hurricanes (28-7), March 26th: Texas Longhorns
West Region (5th Round/4th Round, Round of 8)
New Prediction for no particular reason at all!: #3 Gonzaga Bulldogs (31-5) vs. #4 UConn Huskies (28-8), March 26th: Gonzaga Bulldogs
Final Four National Semifinal #1 (6th Round/5th Round, Round of 4)
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (33-5) vs. #7 Michigan State Spartans (23-12), April 1st: Michigan State Spartans
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #5 San Diego State Aztecs (31-6) vs. #9 Florida Atlantic Owls (35-3): Florida Atlantic Owls
What I think will probably happen: San Diego State Aztecs defeat Florida Atlantic Owls
Final Four National Semifinal #2 (6th Round/5th Round, Round of 4)
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #4 UConn Huskies (29-8) vs. #5 Miami Hurricanes (29-7): Miami Hurricanes
What I think will probably happen: UConn Huskies defeat Miami Hurricanes
National Championship Game (7th Round/6th Round, Round of 2)
New Prediction because my predicted winners both lost!: #5 Miami Hurricanes (30-7) vs. #9 Florida Atlantic Owls (36-3): Miami Hurricanes
Who I think will win the National Championship based on the following matchups:
San Diego State Aztecs vs. Miami Hurricanes: Miami Hurricanes
San Diego State Aztecs vs. UConn Huskies: UConn Huskies
Florida Atlantic Owls vs. Miami Hurricanes: Miami Hurricanes
Florida Atlantic Owls vs. UConn Huskies: UConn Huskies
What I think will probably happen: UConn Huskies defeat San Diego State Aztecs
I think the San Diego State Aztecs will win the National Championship if the UConn Huskies or the Miami Hurricanes don't win it! I like the San Diego State Aztecs to defeat the Miami Hurricanes a lot more than the San Diego State Aztecs to defeat the UConn Huskies in the National Championship Game.
The Michigan State Spartans can win their first National Title since the 1999-2000 season, 23 years ago! Tom Izzo is currently the longest-tenured active head coach at one college/university in Division I-A Men's Basketball!
Alternative Predictions to win the National Championship:
The Houston Cougars will win to honor Jim Nantz in his final season play-by-play broadcasting a Men's Division I-A Basketball Final Four on television at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas! For those of you who don't know, Jim Nantz's Alma Mater is the University of Houston!
Or the Gonzaga Bulldogs will finally get over the hump and win the National Championship!
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