Arizona, Utah State and Madness
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Our March Madness experts pick the winner for No. 8 Villanova vs No. 9 Utah State in the 2026 NCAA Tournament on March 20
The Mountain West always features a few teams that have the chance to make deep runs in the NCAA tournament if they can get hot. This year, the conference's best chance at success in March is Utah State,
Following a madness-promising first day of upsets, the NCAA Tournament has turned into a high-major affair. The Sweet 16 invite is for power-conference programs only. Advocates for fewer automatic qualifiers and bracket expansion will have a field day with this one.
The Big Ten has the target well within reach as the conference seeks its first national championship since Michigan State won it all in 2000. With six teams advancing to the Sweet 16, the conference will have multiple teams with solid chances at reaching the Final Four after it missed out last season.