The air crackles with anticipation. The brackets are here. 🏀🤯 Yahoo Sports AM has finally dropped the lineup for what promises to be a March Madness showdown for the ages. Forget the office pool, this is about bragging rights, sleepless nights, and maybe even a few shattered keyboards. Get ready to lock in your picks and join the conversation – the madness begins now!
Breaking News in the Sports World
The sports world has been abuzz with recent developments, and Instachronicles is here to bring you the latest news and updates. From big-money extensions in the NFL to a teenage tennis sensation making waves, we’ve got you covered.
Bengals Sign Top Wideouts to Big-Money Extensions
The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to big-money extensions with their top two wideouts, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase, who has become one of the NFL’s top receivers, has signed a four-year deal worth $161 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. Higgins, on the other hand, has inked a four-year deal worth $115 million, making him the league’s highest-paid WR2.
Teenage Tennis Sensation Mirra Andreeva Wins Indian Wells
Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva has made history by becoming the youngest female champion at Indian Wells since Serena Williams in 1999. Andreeva’s impressive run saw her defeat the top two players in the world in back-to-back matches, cementing her status as a rising star in the tennis world.
Newcastle Wins First Major Domestic Trophy Since 1969
Newcastle has ended one of English soccer’s most famous droughts by defeating reigning champion Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup final. This marks the club’s first major domestic trophy since 1969, and is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.
March Madness Kicks Off
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is finally here, and Instachronicles is excited to bring you the latest news and analysis. From the SEC’s record-breaking 14 teams to the bracket breakdown, we’ve got everything you need to know.
SEC Sets Record with 14 Teams in NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has made history by becoming the first league to send 14 teams to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. This shatters the previous record of 11 set by the Big East in 2011, and is a testament to the SEC’s dominance in college basketball.
Analysis of the Left and Right Sides of the Bracket
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket has been revealed, and Instachronicles is here to break down the left and right sides of the bracket. From Auburn’s potential matchup with Louisville to Florida’s title hopes, we’ve got expert analysis and insights to help you make informed decisions.
South Region: Auburn’s reward for earning the No. 1 overall seed? A potential matchup with an under-seeded Louisville team… in Kentucky. Michigan vs. Michigan State in the Elite Eight? Not if the Wolverines look past a very dangerous UCSD squad (30-4 record, 36th in KenPom).
West Region: Florida is the new title favorite, St. John’s is on fire, Drake has all the makings of a Cinderella, and the two-time defending champions can’t be ignored. Bill Self vs. John Calipari is quite the coaching matchup, and Calipari vs. Rick Pitino would be even better.
East Region: The fate of this region may come down to the state of Cooper Flagg’s ankle (the latest: expected to play on Friday). Elsewhere: Alabama has the nation’s highest-scoring offense, Arizona rarely goes quietly in March, and BYU is a trendy pick to make a deep run.
Midwest Region: If the seeds hold, No. 1 Houston vs. No. 2 Tennessee could be a defensive battle for the ages. But don’t be surprised if March regulars like Kentucky (NCAA-record 62 appearances), Purdue (2024 runner-up), and Gonzaga (nine straight Sweet 16s) muck things up.
Women’s Bracket and First Four Games
The Bruins Take Center Stage in Women’s NCAA Tournament
The First Four Games Produce Thrilling Finishes
Start Times and TV Broadcast Info for Remaining Games
First Four Games
The action begins tomorrow with No. 16 St. Francis PA vs. No. 16 Alabama State (South) and No. 11 North Carolina vs. No. 11 San Diego State (South).
Then on Wednesday, it’s No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s vs. No. 16 American (East) and No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 Xavier (Midwest).
Start Times and TV Broadcast Info
Below are the start times for the remaining First Four games and all 32 first-round games. (All times are Eastern.)
| Day | Time | Game | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:40 p.m. | No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s vs. No. 16 American | TBD |
| Tuesday | 9:10 p.m. | No. 11 Xavier vs. No. 11 Texas | TBD |
| Thursday | 12:15 p.m. | No. 9 Creighton vs. No. 8 Louisville | CBS |
| Thursday | 12:40 p.m. | No. 13 High Point vs. No. 4 Purdue | TruTV |
| Thursday | 1:30 p.m. | No. 14 Montana vs. No. 3 Wisconsin | TNT |
| Thursday | 2 p.m. | No. 16 SIU Edwardsville vs. No. 1 Houston | TBS |
| Thursday | 2:50 p.m. | No. 16 Alabama State vs. No. 1 Auburn | CBS |
| Thursday | 3:15 p.m. | No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Clemson | TruTV |
| Thursday | 4:05 p.m. | No. 11 VCU vs. No. 6 BYU | TNT |
| Thursday | 4:35 p.m. | No. 9 Georgia vs. No. 8 Gonzaga | TBS |
| Thursday | 6:50 p.m. | No. 15 Wofford vs. No. 2 Tennessee | TNT |
| Thursday | 7:10 p.m. | No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 7 Kansas | CBS |
| Thursday | 7:25 p.m. | No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Texas A&M | TBS |
| Thursday | 7:35 p.m. | No. 11 Drake vs. No. 6 Missouri | TruTV |
| Thursday | 9:25 p.m. | No. 10 Utah State vs. No. 7 UCLA | TNT |
| Thursday | 9:45 p.m. | No. 15 Omaha vs. No. 2 St. John’s | CBS |
| Thursday | 10 p.m. | No. 12 UC San Diego vs. No. 5 Michigan | TBS |
| Thursday | 10:10 p.m. | No. 14 UNC Wilmington vs. No. 3 Texas Tech | TruTV |
| Friday | 12:15 p.m. | No. 9 Creighton vs. No. 8 Louisville | CBS |
Bracket Breakdown and Predictions
Region-by-Region Analysis of the Men’s Bracket
South Region: Auburn’s reward for earning the No. 1 overall seed? A potential matchup with an under-seeded Louisville team… in Kentucky.
Michigan vs. Michigan State in the Elite Eight? Not if the Wolverines look past a very dangerous UCSD squad (30-4 record, 36th in KenPom).
Coaches’ Matchups and Potential Upsets
Bill Self vs. John Calipari is quite the coaching matchup, and Calipari vs. Rick Pitino would be even better.
Notes on the Bubble, Multi-Bid Leagues, and Snubs
The bubble: North Carolina (36 NET ranking), Texas (39), Xavier (45) and San Diego State (52) were the “Last Four In,” while Ohio State (41), Boise State (44), West Virginia (51) and Indiana (54) were the “First Four Out.”
Multi-bid leagues: SEC (14), Big Ten (8), Big 12 (7), Big East (5), ACC (4), Mountain West (4), West Coast (2).
First Four: The action begins tomorrow with No. 16 St. Francis PA vs. No. 16 Alabama State (South) and No. 11 North Carolina vs. No. 11 San Diego State (South).
First Four Games Produce Thrilling Finishes
The action resumes on Wednesday with two more games.
Start times for each of the first-round games are set, along with all the TV broadcast info.
The first round gets underway on Thursday with 16 games and then 16 games on Friday.
Title Favorites and Dark Horse Contenders
Florida has the best odds to cut down the nets (+350 at BetMGM) after winning Sunday’s SEC championship game.
Duke (+360) is right behind them, followed by Auburn (+400), Houston (+600), Alabama (+1200) and Tennessee (+1400).
Notes on the Bubble, Multi-Bid Leagues, and Snubs
The bubble: North Carolina (36 NET ranking), Texas (39), Xavier (45) and San Diego State (52) were the “Last Four In,” while Ohio State (41), Boise State (44), West Virginia (51) and Indiana (54) were the “First Four Out.”
Multi-bid leagues: SEC (14), Big Ten (8), Big 12 (7), Big East (5), ACC (4), Mountain West (4), West Coast (2).
First Four: The action begins tomorrow with No. 16 St. Francis PA vs. No. 16 Alabama State (South) and No. 11 North Carolina vs. No. 11 San Diego State (South).
Conclusion
So, there you have it: the brackets are finally out, and the madness is about to begin. Yahoo Sports AM has laid out the contenders, the favorites, and the potential dark horses, giving us a glimpse into the thrilling tournament ahead. From the powerhouses aiming for a repeat to the underdogs hungry to make their mark, the stage is set for an unforgettable clash of titans. But the real significance of these brackets goes beyond just predicting the winner. They represent a collective dream, a shared passion that transcends individual teams and rivalries. They capture the essence of competition, of striving for excellence, and of experiencing the unpredictable beauty of a single-elimination tournament. As the games unfold, we’ll witness narratives unfold, legends be made, and memories forged that will resonate for years to come. The question isn’t just who will hoist the trophy, but what stories will these brackets tell?