Millions of people filled out a 2022 March Madness bracket, but with Kentucky, Baylor, Tennessee and Iowa all being eliminated on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament 2022, it’s time to reset your strategy for the Sweet 16. One of the toughest March Madness Sweet 16 matchups to decipher is UNC vs. UCLA. The Tar Heels knocked off the defending champion Baylor Bears on Saturday, while UCLA cruised to victory over Saint Mary’s.
Will UCLA make its second consecutive appearance in the Elite Eight, or will UNC pull off another March Madness 2022 upset? Who will advance in other Sweet 16 matchups like Duke vs. Texas Tech and Villanova vs. Michigan? Before locking in your March Madness predictions, be sure to check out the 2022 NCAA bracket picks from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s advanced computer model absolutely crushed its March Madness picks last tournament, beating over 92 percent of all CBS Sports brackets for the second time in three years. The model also nailed a whopping three teams in the Final Four last year.
It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 17 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds. It also nailed some massive upsets last tournament, including predicting the championship game between Gonzaga and Baylor, and hit Houston’s Midwest Region win even though the Cougars weren’t the No. 1 seed.
There’s simply no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2022 March Madness picks. Now, the model has simulated every possible matchup for the remainder of the 2022 NCAA Tournament and revealed its updated bracket. You can only see it over at SportsLine.
Top 2022 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 picks
One team to back in 2022 March Madness brackets: No. 3 Purdue over No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s. The Boilermakers knocked off Yale and Texas to reach the Sweet 16 for the sixth time under head coach Matt Painter. Purdue is led by Jaden Ivey, who’s averaging 17.6 points per game. Ivey has scored 20 or more points in three of his last four outings and is knocking down 46.4 percent of his field goals this season.
Saint Peter’s could also have trouble guarding center Zach Edey, who’s averaging 14.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Purdue’s 7-foot-4 big man is coming off a strong showing against Texas, recording a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He’s now recorded double-double in three of his last four games. Saint Peter’s doesn’t play with a traditional center and no starter stands over 6-foot-7. That’s a big reason why the model has Purdue ending Saint Peter’s Cinderella run in the 2022 NCAA bracket.
Another team to back in your 2022 NCAA Tournament picks: No. 4 seed UCLA cruises to the Elite Eight with a win over No. 8 seed North Carolina in the East Region. The Tar Heels pulled off a massive upset over the defending champion Baylor on Saturday. However, UNC nearly blew a 25-point lead, needing overtime to knock off the Bears. UCLA, meanwhile, is coming off a dominant performance against Saint Mary’s, securing a 16-point victory.
UCLA is an extremely disciplined team and rarely turns the ball over. In fact, the Bruins average just 9.0 turnovers per game, which ranks second in the country. Meanwhile, UNC had 21 turnovers in its victory over Baylor. In addition, North Carolina ranks 151st in field-goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to make 42.8 percent of their shots.
How to make 2022 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions
SportsLine’s model has also identified an underdog that wins in well over 60 percent of simulations in the Sweet 16. It’s also calling for a shocking team to make a run to the championship game. With the model’s proven track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it is calling this year before locking in any bracket picks.
So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2022 bracket? And which underdogs shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which teams you can back with confidence, all from the model that beat over 92 percent of bracket players two of the last three years.
